The last man I ever wanted to see again was Blake ‘Bubba’ Richards. Unfortunately, my career depends on getting him to talk.
Before Blake Richards became a famous NHL hockey player, he was Irondale's golden boy...and the bane of my damn existence.
He spent high school calling me Brittanica Brown, getting on my last nerve, and once put a frog in my locker knowing I was terrified of them.
Twenty years later, I still haven't forgiven his ass.
Now I'm a sportswriter, Blake's professional hockey career is over, and the cocky boy I remember has returned to our small Virginia hometown a wealthy, reclusive former NHL star with a past he refuses to discuss.
He doesn't give interviews.
He barely makes public appearances.
And he definitely doesn't want to talk to me.
Then my boss discovers we went to high school together and gives me one assignment:
Get Blake Richards to talk.
My opportunity comes when Blake agrees to host a charity hockey event for underprivileged kids. Suddenly I'm spending entirely too much time with my former high-school tormentor...and discovering the man underneath all that muscle, attitude, and smart-ass mouth isn't anything like the boy I remember.
He's still infuriating.
Still entirely too handsome.
Still calling me Brittanica Brown just to watch my eye twitch.
But now he's also coaching kids who adore him, quietly helping families when nobody's watching, and insisting that a sportswriter who covers hockey should know how to skate.
Apparently, he's volunteered to teach me.
Bad fucking idea.
Because somewhere between our constant arguing, family members who won't mind their business, nights at the local country bar, and one extremely hands-on skating lesson, hating Blake Richards starts getting complicated.
The closer I get, the more I realize the arrogant hometown hockey star I've resented for twenty years has scars nobody can see.
And the biggest story of my career might be the one story that isn't mine to tell.
I came looking for an interview.
I found the boy I never really knew.
And falling for Bubba fucking Richards might be a hell of a lot scarier than that damn frog ever was.
My Redneck Hockey Player is an enemies-to-lovers small-town sports romance featuring a reclusive former NHL star, a smart-mouthed sportswriter, former high-school enemies, forced proximity, he falls first, family meddling, a wounded hero, emotional healing, plenty of bickering, and one very overdue apology for putting a damn frog in her locker. 🐸🏒❤️
Before Blake Richards became a famous NHL hockey player, he was Irondale's golden boy...and the bane of my damn existence.
He spent high school calling me Brittanica Brown, getting on my last nerve, and once put a frog in my locker knowing I was terrified of them.
Twenty years later, I still haven't forgiven his ass.
Now I'm a sportswriter, Blake's professional hockey career is over, and the cocky boy I remember has returned to our small Virginia hometown a wealthy, reclusive former NHL star with a past he refuses to discuss.
He doesn't give interviews.
He barely makes public appearances.
And he definitely doesn't want to talk to me.
Then my boss discovers we went to high school together and gives me one assignment:
Get Blake Richards to talk.
My opportunity comes when Blake agrees to host a charity hockey event for underprivileged kids. Suddenly I'm spending entirely too much time with my former high-school tormentor...and discovering the man underneath all that muscle, attitude, and smart-ass mouth isn't anything like the boy I remember.
He's still infuriating.
Still entirely too handsome.
Still calling me Brittanica Brown just to watch my eye twitch.
But now he's also coaching kids who adore him, quietly helping families when nobody's watching, and insisting that a sportswriter who covers hockey should know how to skate.
Apparently, he's volunteered to teach me.
Bad fucking idea.
Because somewhere between our constant arguing, family members who won't mind their business, nights at the local country bar, and one extremely hands-on skating lesson, hating Blake Richards starts getting complicated.
The closer I get, the more I realize the arrogant hometown hockey star I've resented for twenty years has scars nobody can see.
And the biggest story of my career might be the one story that isn't mine to tell.
I came looking for an interview.
I found the boy I never really knew.
And falling for Bubba fucking Richards might be a hell of a lot scarier than that damn frog ever was.
My Redneck Hockey Player is an enemies-to-lovers small-town sports romance featuring a reclusive former NHL star, a smart-mouthed sportswriter, former high-school enemies, forced proximity, he falls first, family meddling, a wounded hero, emotional healing, plenty of bickering, and one very overdue apology for putting a damn frog in her locker. 🐸🏒❤️