Hot for the Jerk, page 36
“No, man,” I said, fear sending shots of adrenaline through me. “Something’s wrong.”
“Just stay still,” Nilsson said, dropping to one knee beside me. “Paramedics are coming.” He rested a hand on my shoulder and gave me his best “dad” face, since he really was like a father to all of us. Stern, but fair. Encouraging, but not demeaning. He was honestly the best coach I’d ever had.
I swallowed and nodded, the flash of the paramedic’s red jackets coming into my peripheral vision. They had the spine board and after asking me some questions and assessing things, they lifted me onto the board and strapped me in. My helmet was off now, and my eyes shifted over the crowd as the gurney rolled me across the ice to the exit.
“On three,” the taller paramedic said when we reached the step to leave the ice. “One … two … three.” They lifted me, but it was a smooth transition.
All I could hear was the thundering of my own pulse in my ears and the deafening clap of the crowd. I was about to close my eyes when dark brown chunky curls framing a heart-shaped face, and alert amber eyes caught my attention.
I would remember those eyes anywhere.
Gabrielle Campbell, my hockey billet host for three years, stared back at me with fear and worry. She had two children—two teenagers—with her. It’d been ages since I’d seen Damon and Laurel. They were just toddlers when I lived with them, but Gabrielle hadn’t changed a bit. She was still gorgeous. Still had that serious, guarded way about her, and when we locked eyes, her cheeks pinked up in a very sexy way. They were right on the edge of the bottom bowl, against the glass for the exit. A great spot to watch the game and see the players as they entered and exited the ice.
All I could do was blink. My arms were strapped to my sides, and I was told not to move.
She followed me with her gaze.
“Hi,” I mouthed, offering her a faint smile.
Her throat moved on a swallow, and the intensity of fear in her eyes increased. She did mouth, “Hi,” back, prompting my heart to do an extra little jump.
And then I was gone, rushed into the ambulance and off to the hospital as my mind swirled with memories from my time spent living with the Campbells, and panic that I’d never play hockey—or walk—again.
Get Book 2 in The Single Moms of San Camanez: The Vino Vixens ~ Hot for the Hockey Player —> https://books2read.com/HFTHP-VV-SMSC
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
There are so many people to thank who help along the way. Publishing a book is definitely not a solo mission, that’s for sure. Thank you to Michael Newkirk for his through and thoughtful edit, to Megan J. Parker-Squier from EmCat Designs, your covers are awesome. I love these covers so much, you outdid yourself.
Author Ember Leigh, my author bestie, who beta-read this for me and gave me tremendously helpful and honest feedback.
Danielle Young who helped talk me through this book when there were gaps I couldn't close and blinders I couldn't see past. Author Kathleen Lawless who was the sounding board and voice of experience and insight I needed when I thought I'd painted myself into a corner. Our chat on the beach at sunset was exactly what I needed to work through the fog.
My fabulous assistant, Megan MacPhail of Kiss My Smut, what would I do without you? You are amazing and I SO appreciate all your hard work, beautiful graphics and organization. Thank you!!!
My parents, in-laws and brother, thank you for your unwavering support. The Small Human and the Tiny Human, you are the beats and beasts of my heart, the reason I breathe and the reason I drink. I love you both to infinity and beyond. And lastly, of course, the husband. You are my forever, my other half, the one who keeps me grounded and the only person I have honestly never grown sick of even when we did that six-month backpacking trip and spent every single day together. I never tired of you. Never needed a break. You are my person. I love you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A Canadian West Coast baby born and raised, Whitley is married to her high school sweetheart, and together they have two beautiful daughters and a fluffy dog. She spends her days making food that gets thrown on the floor, vacuuming Cheerios out from under the couch and making sure that the dog food doesn’t end up in the air conditioner. But when the kids are in school, and it’s not quite wine o’clock, Whitley sits down, avoids the pile of laundry on the couch, and writes.
A lover of all things decadent; wine, cheese, chocolate and spicy erotic romance, Whitley brings the humorous side of sex, the ridiculous side of relationships and the suspense of everyday life into her stories. With single dads, firefighters, Navy SEALs, mommy wars, body issues, threesomes, bondage and role-playing, Whitley’s books have all the funny and fabulously filthy words you could hope for.
MORE BOOKS BY WHITLEY COX
THE DARK AND DAMAGED HEARTS SERIES
Love, Passion and Power: Part 1
The Dark and Damaged Hearts Series: Book 1
https://books2read.com/LPP1-DDH
Kendra and Justin
*
Love, Passion and Power: Part 2
The Dark and Damaged Hearts: Book 2
https://books2read.com/LPP2-DDH
Kendra and Justin
*
Sex, Heat and Hunger: Part 1
The Dark and Damaged Hearts Book 3
https://books2read.com/SHH1-DDH
Emma and James
*
Sex, Heat and Hunger: Part 2
The Dark and Damaged Hearts Book 4
https://books2read.com/SHH1-DDH
Emma and James
*
Hot & Filthy: The Honeymoon
The Dark and Damaged Hearts Book 4.5
https://books2read.com/HF-DDH
Emma and James
*
True, Deep and Forever: Part 1
The Dark and Damaged Hearts Book 5
https://books2read.com/TDF1-DDH
Amy and Garrett
*
True, Deep and Forever: Part 2
The Dark and Damaged Hearts Book 6
https://books2read.com/TDF2-DDH
Amy and Garrett
*
Hard, Fast and Madly: Part 1
The Dark and Damaged Hearts Series Book 7
https://books2read.com/HFM1-DDH
Freya and Jacob
*
Hard, Fast and Madly: Part 2
The Dark and Damaged Hearts Series Book 8
https://books2read.com/HFM1-DDH
Freya and Jacob
*
THE QUICK BILLIONAIRES SERIES
Quick & Dirty
Book 1, A Quick Billionaires Novel
https://books2read.com/QDirty-QBS
Parker and Tate
*
Quick & Easy
Book 2, A Quick Billionaires Novella
https://books2read.com/QEasy-QBS
Heather and Gavin
*
Quick & Reckless
Book 3, A Quick Billionaires Novel
https://books2read.com/QReckless-QBS
Silver and Warren
*
Quick & Dangerous
Book 4, A Quick Billionaires Novel
https://books2read.com/QDangerous-QBS
Skyler and Roberto
*
Quick & Snowy
The Quick Billionaires, Book 5
https://books2read.com/QSnowy-QBS
Brier and Barnes
*
THE SINGLE DADS OF SEATTLE SERIES
Hired by the Single Dad
https://books2read.com/HBTSD-SDS
The Single Dads of Seattle, Book 1
Tori and Mark
*
Dancing with the Single Dad
https://books2read.com/DWTSD-SDS
The Single Dads of Seattle, Book 2
Violet and Adam
*
Saved by the Single Dad
https://books2read.com/SBTSD-SDS
The Single Dads of Seattle, Book 3
Paige and Mitch
*
Living with the Single Dad
https://books2read.com/LWTSD-SDS
The Single Dads of Seattle, Book 4
Isobel and Aaron
*
Christmas with the Single Dad
https://books2read.com/CWTSD-SDS
The Single Dads of Seattle, Book 5
Aurora and Zak
*
New Year's with the Single Dad
https://books2read.com/NYWTSD-SDS
The Single Dads of Seattle, Book 6
Zara and Emmett
*
Valentine’s with the Single Dad
https://books2read.com/VWTSD-SDS
The Single Dads of Seattle, Book 7
Lowenna and Mason
*
Neighbors with the Single Dad
https://books2read.com/NWTSD-SDS
The Single Dads of Seattle, Book 8
Eva and Scott
*
Flirting with the Single Dad
https://books2read.com/FWTSD-SD
The Single Dads of Seattle, Book 9
Tessa and Atlas
*
Falling for the Single Dad
https://books2read.com/FFTSD-SDS
The Single Dads of Seattle, Book 10
Liam and Richelle
*
THE SINGLE MOMS OF SEATTLE
Hot for Teacher
https://books2read.com/HFT-SMS
The Single Moms of Seattle, Book1
Celeste and Max
*
Hot for a Cop
https://books2read.com/HFAC-SMS
The Single Moms of Seattle, Book 2
Lauren and Isaac
*
Hot for the Handyman
https://books2read.com/HTHM-SMS
The Single Moms of Seattle, Book 3
Bianca and Jack
*
Mr. Gray Sweatpants
A Single Moms of Seattle spin-off book
https://books2read.com/MrGraySweatpants
Casey and Leo
THE HARTY BOYS
Hard Hart
https://books2read.com/HH-HB
The Harty Boys, Book 1
Krista and Brock
*
Lost Hart
The Harty Boys, Book 2
https://books2read.com/LH-HB
Stacey and Chase
*
Torn Hart
The Harty Boys, Book 3
https://books2read.com/THART-HB
Lydia and Rex
*
Dark Hart
The Harty Boys, Book 4
https://books2read.com/DH-HB
Pasha and Heath
*
Full Hart
The Harty Boys, Book 5
https://books2read.com/FH-HB
A Harty Boys Family Christmas
Joy and Grant
THE YOUNG SISTER SERIES
Not Over You
A Young Sisters Novel, Book 1
https://books2read.com/not-over-you
Rayma and Jordan
*
Snowed in with the Rancher
A Young Sisters Novel, Book 2
https://books2read.com/snowed-in-rancher
Triss and Asher
*
Second Chance with the Rancher
A Young Sisters Novel, Book 3
https://books2read.com/second-chance-rancher
Mieka and Nate
*
Done with You
A Young Sisters Novel, Book 4
https://books2read.com/done-with-you
Oona and Aiden
*
WINTER HARBOR HEROES
Co-Written with Ember Leigh
The Bastard Heir
Winter Harbor Heroes, Book 1
https://books2read.com/the-bastard-heir
Harlow and Callum
*
The Asshole Heir
Winter Harbor Heroes, Book 2
https://books2read.com/the-asshole-heir
Amaya and Carson
*
The Rebel Heir
Winter Harbor Heroes, Book 3
https://books2read.com/the-rebel-heir
Lily and Colton
*
The Matchmaking Heirs
First Winter Harbor Christmas
Winter Harbor Heroes, Book 4
https://books2read.com/the-matchmaking-heirs
Callum, Harlow, Carson, Amaya, Colton, Lily
*
THE SINGLE DADS OF SAN CAMANEZ: THE BREW BROTHERS
Rescued by the Single Dad
The Single Dads of San Camanez: The Brew Brothers, Book 1
https://books2read.com/RBTSD-BB-SDSC
Brooke and Clint
*
Summer with the Single Dad
The Single Dads of San Camanez: The Brew Brothers, Book 2
https://books2read.com/SWTSD-BB-SDSC
Justine and Bennett
*
Smitten with the Single Dad
The Single Dads of San Camanez: The Brew Brothers, Book 3
https://books2read.com/SMIT-BB-SDSC
Vica and Wyatt
*
Challenged by the Single Dad
The Single Dads of San Camanez: The Brew Brothers, Book 4
https://books2read.com/CBTSD-BB-SDSC
Chloe and Dom
*
STANDALONE TITLES
Doctor Smug
https://books2read.com/DoctorSmug
Daisy and Riley
*
Hot Dad
https://books2read.com/Hot-Dad
Harper and Sam
*
Snowed In & Set Up
https://books2read.com/SISU
Amber, Will, Juniper, Hunter, Rowen, Austin
*
Love to Hate You
https://books2read.com/Love2HateYou
Alex and Eli
*
Lust Abroad
https://books2read.com/Lust-Abroad
Piper and Derrick
FIND ME HERE
Online store: Whitleycoxbookshop.com
Website: WhitleyCox.com
Patreon: https://patreon.com/authorwhitleycox
Bonus Epilogues: https://whitleycox.com/bonus-material/
Email: readers4wcox@gmail.com
Instagram: @CoxWhitley
