Playing To Win (The York Bombers Book 2) Read online

  Playing To Win

  A York Bombers Hockey Novel

  Book 2

  Lisa. B. Kamps

  Playing To Win

  Copyright © 2017 by Elizabeth Belbot Kamps

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the express written permission of the author.

  The York Bombers is a fictional semi-professional ice hockey team, its name and logo created for the sole use of the author.

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation to anyone bearing the same name or names, living or dead. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any individual, place, business, or event is purely coincidental.

  Photographer: CJC Photography

  http://www.cjc-photography.com

  Cover Model: Quinn Biddle

  https://www.facebook.com/quinnbiddleofficial

  Artwork and Cover Design by Jay Aheer of Simply Defined Art

  http://www.simplydefinedart.com/

  Table Of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Other titles by this author

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Epilogue

  Crossing The Line preview

  Once Burned preview

  About the Author

  Other titles by this author

  For the gang of Kamps Korner—you guys are the best and I’m so thankful for all your support and encouragement!

  Other titles by this author:

  THE BALTIMORE BANNERS

  Crossing the Line, Book 1

  Game Over, Book 2

  Blue Ribbon Summer, Book 3

  Body Check, Book 4

  Break Away, Book 5

  Playmaker, A Baltimore Banners Intermission Novella

  Delay of Game, Book 6

  Shoot Out, Book 7

  The Baltimore Banners: 1st Period Trilogy

  Books 1-3 Boxed set

  The Baltimore Banners: 2nd Period Trilogy

  Books 4-6 Boxed set

  On Thin Ice, Book 8

  Coach’s Challenge, A Baltimore Banners Intermission Novella

  One-Timer, Book 9

  Face Off, Book 10

  THE YORK BOMBERS

  Playing The Game, Book 1

  Playing To Win, Book 2

  Playing For Keeps, Book 3

  Playing It Up, Book 4

  Coming Soon

  FIREHOUSE FOURTEEN

  Once Burned, Book 1

  Playing With Fire, Book 2

  Breaking Protocol, Book 3

  Into the Flames, Book 4

  Second Alarm, Book 5

  Coming Soon

  STAND-ALONE TITLES

  Emeralds and Gold: A Treasury of Irish Short Stories (anthology)

  Finding Dr. Right

  Time To Heal

  Dangerous Passion

  Be sure to sign up for Lisa’s newsletter, Kamps’ Korner, for exciting news, sneak peeks, exclusive content, and fun, games, and giveaways! You don’t want to miss it!

  Can’t wait for the newsletter? Need to get your fix of hockey, firefighters, passion and news daily? Then please join Lisa and a great group of readers and fans at Kamps Korner on Facebook!

  Chapter One

  “Hey, sweetheart. The check?”

  Megan Bradley tensed at the call, nearly dropping the glass she had been washing. Had he been talking to her? She glanced around, realized that she was the only one there. Of course, he’d been talking to her. Why had everyone left? Now, of all times.

  She took a deep breath and quickly dried her hands, moved to the register and printed out Jason Emory’s tab. Her fingers shook as she walked across to give it to him, as much from nerves as from embarrassment. She handed him the bill, their fingers brushing as he took it without even looking at her.

  Of course he didn’t. He never did. Had she expected anything different? She pasted a smile on her face, wondering if it looked as awkward as it felt. Probably. But it didn’t matter because he still didn’t look at her, just pulled some bills from his wallet and tossed them on the bar and walked away.

  Just like always.

  Megan stood there, feeling like the world’s biggest idiot. Would she ever learn? She took the money, shoved the bills into a neat pile as Jason’s teammate, Harland Day, leaned over and caught her attention, giving her a small smile.

  “You deserve better, kiddo. He’s not worth the heartache.”

  She looked up, her brows lowered in a frown. Kiddo? Did she look that bad? But she didn’t get a chance to ask him, didn’t get a chance to respond at all because he slid from the stool and headed toward the door. Then the rest of his words sunk in and she stared after him. What had he meant?

  He’s not worth the heartache.

  And he’d been so serious, so intent when he’d said it.

  Oh God, had she been that obvious? Heat filled her face as she grabbed the check and cash and hurried back to the register. No, she couldn’t have been that obvious. Could she?

  No, of course not. And even if she was, did it really matter? She could probably prance around in a G-string and unicorn head and Jason Emory still wouldn’t notice her.

  Laughter drifted from the table in the corner and she looked up. No, he wouldn’t notice her—but he had no trouble noticing the trio of girls that had come in earlier. He was with them now, his arm wrapped around the shoulders of one of them. His teammate, Zach Mummert, was keeping the other two women occupied.

  Megan slammed the register drawer closed and willed herself to look away from the spectacle in the corner.

  When the players from the York Bombers, the local minor league hockey team, had started coming into her parents’ place, Megan had thought it was a dream come true. All those hot players, up close and personal? What wasn’t to love about that?

  The reality was a little different. For the most part, they were nice and polite. And her parents hadn’t had any trouble with them. Of course, her parents also appreciated the slight increase in sales whenever the players came in—probably because it drew in a swarm of women. Megan didn’t exactly share their appreciation.

  No, she didn’t harbor any delusions—she was a realist, with her feet planted firmly on the ground. She knew she could never hope to even come close to the women that appeared in droves and swarmed around the players, flitting from one to the next. To be honest, she didn’t even want to be like them. She didn’t fault them, didn’t judge them—that just wasn’t who she was.

  Besides, she was nothing more than an ugly duckling swimming in a sea of glittering swans. Her hair was too straight and too brown. She was physically awkward, too lean and lanky on the bottom and too big and heavy on the top. She lived in faded jeans that always ran on the bagg
y side, shirts two sizes too big, and wacky, colorful Converse Chucks. She’d never be the belle of the ball and that was fine by her; she liked who she was, felt comfortable in her own skin. Besides, she wouldn’t know how to act if she was suddenly the center of attention.

  That didn’t mean she didn’t fantasize every once in a while. That didn’t mean she didn’t wonder how it would feel, for just one night, to change places with one of the glittering swans.

  And it certainly didn’t mean she wanted to stand there and watch Jason Emory fawn all over someone else.

  “Why do you torture yourself like that?”

  Megan spun around then groaned. Did Haley just instinctively know when to sneak up on her and catch her staring at Jason? Or was it just coincidence? Knowing Haley, probably a little of both.

  “I’m not torturing myself.”

  “Then what do you call it?”

  “Appreciating the view.”

  Haley turned so she had a clear view of the small group of five in the corner. She tilted her head to the side, narrowed her eyes, and stared.

  And kept staring, until one of the girls at the table noticed and gave her a dirty look. Haley gave the girl a bright smile and a cheerful waved then turned back to Megan.

  “Okay, the guy with two girls I can kind of see. I mean, all that thick dark hair? And check out those tats. You know I have a weakness for tats.”

  “That’s Zach, and that’s not who I’m watching. Uh, I mean looking at.”

  “I think the word you’re looking for is ‘stalking’ and I know you mean the other one. And for the hundredth time, I just don’t get it.”

  “You don’t think he’s cute?”

  Haley looked over her shoulder one more time, shrugged, then leaned into the cooler to pull out several bottles of beer. “He’s okay. But he doesn’t do it for me. It’s those eyes—they’re too freaky. Like, super-freaky.”

  “Are you kidding me? His eyes are gorgeous!” And they were: a stunning glacier-blue, clear and intense. At least, Megan thought they must be intense; she didn’t know since she had never actually looked into them before.

  “They’re dog eyes.”

  “What?”

  “Oh, don’t get so indignant. I’m right and you know it. He has dog eyes, like a Husky or something.”

  “Not hardly. Not even close. Jason’s eyes are…they’re heart-stopping. Dreamy. Intense.”

  “Yeah, okay. And how many times have you lost yourself in his heart-stopping, dreamy, intense gaze?”

  Megan didn’t bother to answer, just leaned forward to wipe down the already clean bar. Haley laughed then nudged her with her hip.

  “Yeah, thought so. Megan, just go over and say hi. It’s not that big a deal.”

  “No, I’m good.”

  “You are such a chicken shit. Just do it.”

  “I told you, I’m good. Besides, I just kind of tried that.”

  “You did? What happened?”

  “Um, nothing. He paid the tab without even looking at me and then his friend told me he wasn’t worth the heartache.”

  “His friend? Mr. Tat?”

  “No, another one.”

  Haley brushed the hair back from her face and looked around—no doubt searching for Jason’s other friend. Megan nudged her, just as much to get her attention as to stop her from looking around too much. People noticed Haley—how could they not, with a vibrant personality that matched her vibrant hair? And when people noticed Haley, they noticed her, too.

  And Megan didn’t like being noticed.

  “Stop looking around, he’s not here anymore.” She grabbed a few glasses from the drainer, wiped off the last drops of water, then hung them from the overhead rack.

  “Well did you even ask him what he meant by that?”

  “Of course not! Do I look like a total fool?”

  “You don’t look like any kind of a fool.” Haley leaned against the bar and pinned Megan with a studious stare. “If you like him, why don’t you just go over and say hi?”

  “I told you, that didn’t work.”

  “Did you actually try talking to him, or did you just slide the bill across and stand there?”

  Megan didn’t answer. She didn’t need to. Haley released a long sigh and shook her head. “I don’t get you. You’re usually not this quiet and shy. What is it about Mr. Freaky-Eyes that brings out this side of you?”

  “I don’t know. I just…” Megan’s voice trailed off as she tried to figure out how to put into words everything she was feeling. “He’s so…so everything, and I’m not even close to what he likes.”

  “That sounds so pathetic and so not like you. And how do you even know what he likes if you won’t even talk to him?”

  Megan ignored the pathetic reference. “Seriously? Have you seen the girls he hangs with? No wonder he doesn’t even notice me. I don’t even come close.” And yikes, she really did sound pathetic. Apparently, Haley thought so too because her friend took a step closer and fixed her with such a ferocious glare that Megan automatically stepped away from her.

  “You’re right. You don’t come close. You’re a hundred times better than those girls. And I don’t ever want to hear you say something like that again. That is so not like you and you know it.”

  Megan put her hands up in mock surrender, hoping that the hair hanging in her face hid the tell-tale flush she felt creeping up her cheeks. “Okay. Okay. Forget I said anything.”

  But Haley ignored her and kept on talking, her voice rising with each word. “And if he doesn’t notice you, then he doesn’t deserve you and I don’t understand why you’d even be interested!”

  “Haley! Keep your voice down.” Megan grabbed her arm and looked around, worried that someone would overhear them—worried that the group at the corner table would hear them. But no, the group was blissfully ignoring them, wrapped up in their own intimate conversation.

  Megan sighed and released her friend’s arm. Maybe Haley was right. Maybe she was chasing after nothing more than wisps of smoke. Maybe it said things about her—all the wrong things—that she was dying to attract the attention of someone who didn’t even notice her.

  “Maybe you’re right. And maybe I am being stupid. But don’t you ever fantasize about being somebody else? Somebody different than who you are? Just for one day. Or one night. Just to see what it’s like?”

  Something flashed in Haley’s hazel eyes, a shadow that was gone with one quick blink. Haley glanced over her shoulder, a frown creasing her face as she studied the small group. Her expression cleared as she turned back to Megan.

  No, not cleared. Her expression became thoughtful—almost too thoughtful. Megan took a step back, every ounce of her being suddenly on alert as her self-preservation kicked in. “I don’t know what you’re thinking, but no. Whatever it is, no.”

  “I didn’t say anything.”

  “You don’t have to. I know that look on your face. So just—no.”

  “But I didn’t even say anything!”

  “Good. Because the answer is no.”

  “You didn’t even hear the question.”

  “Ha! I knew you were up to something.” Megan stepped around her and grabbed a rag from the top of the sink. Maybe if she busied herself with wiping down the bar, or dusting, or mopping the floor—something, anything—Haley would get the point and leave her alone.

  No such luck.

  Haley stepped in front of her, a gleam in her eyes. “What if you could?”

  Megan should step around her, ignore her. She knew she should. But there was something about the glint in Haley’s eyes, something about the calculation etched in her crooked grin, that held Megan prisoner.

  She swallowed, glanced over her shoulder, looked back at Haley. “Could what?”

  “Be someone else for a day. Would you do it?”

  Megan opened her mouth to respond, to tell Haley she was crazy and that something like that was impossible. She snapped her mouth closed before the words came out.
They’d sound too much like a challenge and the last thing she wanted to do was give Haley a challenge.

  Or was it? Was that really why she was afraid to answer? Because if anyone could accomplish something like that, it would be Haley.

  But become someone different? No, that was too much. Not even Haley could do something like that.

  Megan shook her head, freeing her mind of impossible thoughts and fairytale wishes. “I think you’ve been studying too hard or something.”

  “You’re evading the question.”

  “Because that’s what I do best.”

  “Megan, I’m being serious here.”

  “God forbid. Serious? You?” Megan tried to step around her but Haley caught her arm and held her in place.

  “Answer the question. If you could be someone else for one night, would you do it?”

  “I don’t know. It depends on who I’d be. Gandi? Sandra Bullock? The late-night weatherman?” She tried to be flip, to derail whatever was going through Haley’s mind. Her attempt completely failed.

  “Why do you always have to be such a smartass?”

  “Who, me? I’m never a smartass!”

  “Yes, you are. When you want to be. Around the right people, anyway. And stop changing the subject.”

  “I’m not—”

  “What would you do if you could grab Mr. Freaky-Eyes’ attention for one night?”

  Megan narrowed her eyes and tried to look threatening. The effort was completely wasted.

  Okay, maybe because—just for a quick minute—the idea held some intrigue. No, impossible. She should not be indulging whatever harebrained idea Haley was cooking up.

  She really shouldn’t.

  But they were just playing ‘what if’, right? No harm in that. Not like anything would ever happen, not in real life.

  Megan tugged her arm from Haley’s grip and looked over at the corner table. Zach Mummert was busy entertaining the two girls, both of whom seemed to be fighting for prime position on his lap. She immediately dismissed them and let her gaze fall on Jason Emory.