Penalty Kill — Lexi James

STELLA

My bakery is my prized possession -- the one thing I can say I did pretty much on my own. My family has always helped whenever I've let them, albeit not as often as they'd like me to.

But when a situation arises that I can't handle on my own, it's hard to turn down a hot NHL player when he offers to help.
Should be simple enough…if only he wasn't my brother's best friend, and the only man to make my toes curl from a kiss.

MILES

I moved across the country a week after signing with the New York Cyclones. That was also the week I met her. I wish I could say it was some epic love story…but unfortunately, that wasn't the case. The night I met Stella was the same night I learned just how off limits she was.

As the new guy on the team, I wasn't about to break the golden rule that first week, especially when my teammates quickly became family. But years later, things have changed, and when Stella finds herself in a sticky situation -- refusing help from everyone except me -- what kind of man would I be to leave her to fend for herself?

I just didn't expect I'd fall again so fast.