The Puck Bunny — Stephanie Queen

SaraWhat made me so self-conscious? It was my name. Not Sara--my last name--Bellagamba. (I knew you'd understand.)When I was young I couldn't say it right and when I tried, the kids made fun of me.Handy Hint: explaining the meaning of your name--Bellagamba means beautiful leg in Italian--to a bunch of five-year-olds won't stop their teasing. In fact, I think it's like some kind of trigger for escalation.And I'm pretty sure if I didn't run, they would have stoned me for being crazy. (only slightly exaggerating)Fast forward to my current post college career and nothing much has changed. I'm still self conscious and still have a tendency to say ridiculous things at inopportune moments.Except now I'm working for the Boston Brawlers NHL organization, my dream job--because I'm a massive hockey fan and a particular fan of one player--Quinn James.The Brawlers just signed him and I almost passed out with excitement over the unexpected news.I won't lie--I want him. (Yes, that way.) Bad.Fat chance of that happeningEven if I weren't so self conscious, I'm not in his league. He dates starlets and models and was last seen with a princess on his arm...QuinnWhy did I sign a deal with the Boston Brawlers?I was a f**ing NHL super star in L.A.. My life was perfectly scripted with fame, fortune and all kinds of women throwing themselves at me.But a hushed up incident with a certain princess caused me to miss seeing my dad on his death bed. Now my family is pissed at me. And I need to deal with them--and the loss of my dad.So I signed with the Brawlers, uprooted from L.A. to come back east and return to my roots.Between hockey and dealing with the need to square things with my family and get real about relationships, I have plenty to concentrate on.So why do I find Sara, the awkward little puck bunny and big f-ing distraction, so irresistible?Why do I let Sara Bellagamba of all people, sidetrack me from what's most important in my life, family and hockey?The Puck Bunny, a Boston Brawlers Hockey Spin-off, is the first in the Some Girls Like It Cold Series, a funny and poignant romp where the awkward girl gets her dream guy against all the odds, scoring big for her team which includes every secret Puck Bunny everywhere. And the dream guy gets the deeply satisfying life with the dream girl he never knew he desperately wanted. HEA Ending! (duh!)(Warning: language and sex for a mature audience.)