by Sandi Lynn
“I can’t believe your Mom did this,” Sara spoke as she looked around.
“I can’t either.” I hooked my arm around her. “It needs some work.”
“Yeah. It does need updated, but it’s still perfect.”
“Well, what do you think?” I heard Nathan’s voice from behind.
Turning around, I saw him standing in the doorway with a grin on his face.
“We love it, bro. I can’t believe Mom did this.”
“I can. She wanted you nice and close to her.” He grinned.
“Shit. That’s right. She’s just right around the block.”
“Yep, and she loves to pop in unexpectedly way too much.”
Six Months Later
We finally completed the remodel on our townhome, and everything worked out perfectly. Sara and I picked everything together. From the cabinets, countertops, moldings, fixtures, flooring and every piece of furniture to fill our new home.
“This is the last box,” I spoke as I set it down on the floor.
“Everything turned out perfect.” Sara smiled as she stood in our newly renovated kitchen.
“You’re perfect.” I wrapped my arms around her from behind.
“No. You’re perfect,” she spoke.
“I think you’re more perfect.” I kissed the top of her head.
“Okay, you two knock it off. We all know you’re both perfect.” Elijah smirked as he and Aspen walked in with Mila.
“Aspen, I’m so happy you’re here. I can’t wait to show you what we did upstairs,” Sara excitedly spoke as they walked out of the kitchen.
“This looks great, bro. You two did a magnificent job.”
“Thanks.” I patted his back.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. “You have that look.”
“Nothing’s wrong. Absolutely nothing. You and Nathan were right.”
“About what?”
“About being in love. I thought I was happy being a bachelor, but I really never was.”
“You grew up, little brother.” He smiled. “Welcome to adulthood.”
“Hello, hello.” I heard my mother’s voice and Elijah let out a chuckle.
“Better you than me,” he said.
Two months after Sara came back from California, we got word that Jack had passed away. My mother had his body flown back to New York, and we gave him a proper burial as a family. Sara and I would occasionally visit his grave site where we would put down fresh flowers. He died alone, and a part of me felt bad for him. Nobody should have to die all alone. But it was the choice he made when he left New York. As angry as I was throughout the years, I was happy I got the chance to know him, even if it was for a short time. Nathan was neutral about the situation, and Elijah still harbored some resentment. But overall, our family was stronger than ever.
Epilogue
Two Years Later
Over the past two years, there had been some big changes to our family. Elijah and Aspen welcomed their second child, a son, whom they named Carter Charles Wolfe, after our grandfather. Nathan and Allison finally got married and nine months later, their daughter, Aurora Victoria Wolfe, entered the world. A couple months after Sara and I moved into the townhouse, I proposed to her and she graciously accepted. Our family, that was made up of just the four of us, was growing fast, and it made my mother incredibly happy.
Sara finally completed her fellowship and had officially become a trauma surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital. With that out of the way, it was time to plan our wedding, something I had been looking forward to for the past two years. Six months later, she finally became Mrs. Mason Wolfe, and I was the happiest man alive.
“I love you, Mrs. Wolfe.” I grinned as I brushed my lips against her.
“I love you too, Mr. Wolfe.”
After our ceremony, and before we headed to the reception, we went to Central Park to take some pictures.
“Everyone please gather around the fountain with Mason and Sara standing in the middle,” our photographer spoke.
We did as she asked as she told us to smile while she snapped our family photo. A photo that would hang on the wall in each of our homes to remind us how precious our family is.
My brothers and I stood back for a moment while everyone else headed towards their limos to go to the reception. It was only the three of us, just like it used to be before our women walked into our lives.
“Look at us. All the Wolfe brothers are married. Did you ever think we’d be standing here together as married men?” Elijah asked.
“I had my doubts.” Nathan smirked.
“Never. But I’m happy we are. I couldn’t imagine my life without Sara.”
“I couldn’t imagine my life without Aspen and the kids.”
“I couldn’t imagine my life without Allison and the kids.”
“I can still imagine my life without kids for the moment.” I grinned.
Elijah sighed as he placed his hand on my shoulder. “Just wait, little brother. Your time will come soon and then we’ll all be standing somewhere in this park together as fathers.”
Elijah was right. A year later, Sara gave birth to our son, Wyatt Jackson Wolfe. As we gathered in Central Park for our annual family picnic, the three of us stood with a drink in our hand as we watched our children. A new generation of the Wolfe family had emerged, and the start of a new legacy was born.
Get a sneak peek of the first two chapters of LOGAN (A Hockey Romance) on the next page.
Logan
Blurb
Logan
I was one of the best players in the NHL and as fast as lightning on the ice. Hockey was my life. It consumed me. It was the one thing I could commit to. I was a bachelor—happy and living the ultimate dream. Then the accident happened, and the doctors told me I’d never play hockey again. My life went to hell in the blink of an eye. All hope and the will to live was gone: until Brooke Alexander walked into my life.
Brooke
I was hired to help Logan Jackson get back on the ice. I had rules. Rules he needed to follow if he was going to play hockey again. He was stubborn, defiant, and nothing I couldn’t handle. Rehabilitation was going to be difficult and pure hell. I had to break him in order to help him. I knew what it was like to have your dreams taken away from you, and I was determined to give him his dream back, even if it meant losing him.
Chapter 1
Logan
“He shoots and he scores!”
The crowd cheered as I skated around the ice with a wide grin and my stick proudly held up in the air. The adrenaline that rushed through me never got old. The first game of the season and three goals, shot by yours truly, bringing home the win for our team. My teammates gathered around me; wild beasts throwing their bodies around in excitement at the victory that was ours. Screams filled the arena. I scanned the crowd, but the only thing I could focus on was how my dad wasn’t there to watch me. Skating off the ice, the team headed to the locker room where champagne sprayed all over us, celebrating our win.
“You’re fast and furious, bro,” my best friend and teammate, Tommy, said.
“Thanks, Tommy. We all played a great game tonight.”
Our coach, Gene Young, entered the locker room with a wide grin on his face.
“Excellent game, boys. I’m proud of each and every one of you. Practice tomorrow at eight a.m. sharp. Our next game is with the L.A. Kings and I want to blow those sons of bitches out of the water. Losing isn’t an option. Understand?”
“Yes, coach,” we all spoke as he walked out of the locker room.
There was much celebrating to do and we were about to head out to Louie’s Bar. Grabbing my bag, I walked out of the locker room where my two brothers, Brandon and Owen, were leaning up against the wall.
“Great game, bro.” Owen fist-bumped me.
“You were amazing out there tonight. I’m so proud of you.” Brandon smiled as he patted my shoulder.
“Where’s Dad?” I asked with a hint of disappointment.
/> “I’m sure he was passed out drunk somewhere,” Brandon spoke.
I didn’t know why disappointment shadowed inside me. He rarely attended my games, and when he did, he was usually drunk before he showed up.
“Forget about him.” Owen hooked his arm around me. “Let’s go find some girls and get laid tonight.”
As we walked into Louie’s Bar, the team was already sitting down at our usual table. Taking our seats, I grabbed the bottle of beer that was already waiting for me.
“To the amazing Lightning Logan.” Beer bottles clanked together.
That was what they called me, Lightning Logan, because I was as quick as lightning on the ice. I was introduced to hockey when I was six years old when my dad took me to my very first game. From that moment on, becoming an NHL hockey player consumed me. It was my life and all the hard work I’d put into it paid off. I was scouted by the New York Rangers at the age of seventeen when I played for my high school team and took us to the nationals. Scoring three goals in under a minute and being the fastest player on the ice snagged me a place on the team with a starting salary and contract that nearly gave me a heart attack. A year after proving my value, consecutive wins and scoring the goal that won us the Stanley Cup with four seconds left in the game, I was endorsed by Nike, Gillette, Coca Cola, and Polo Ralph Lauren, bringing me into the top ten highest paid endorsed athletes in the world.
I had it all. Fame, fortune, and pretty much any woman I wanted. Dating to me was an occasional dinner and sex. Or most of the time, just sex. There were a lot of one-night stands, especially when we played away games. Relationships and commitments were a definite no for me. I was already in a committed relationship and it was with hockey. The one and only love of my life. I’d watched some of my teammates with their girlfriends and it never worked out. The arguing and the constant jealousy were always at the forefront of their relationships. I didn’t have time for that shit, nor did I want it. I was happy being a bachelor, doing a job I loved more than anything in the world and fucking beautiful women, knowing they’d be gone the next morning.
After kicking back another beer, I got up to use the restroom. When I was finished, I walked out and saw a pretty girl who stood about five feet four with long black hair leaning up against the wall.
“Hey.” She smiled. “Aren’t you Logan Jackson from the New York Rangers?”
“Hi, and yes, I am.” I politely smiled back.
“I was at the game and you were amazing out there.” She bit her bottom lip.
Placing my hands in my pockets, I spoke, “Thank you.”
“Today’s my twenty-first birthday and the tickets were a present from my friends. They know how much I love hockey.”
She had a great smile and big brown eyes. I needed to celebrate my win and she was just the girl to help me with that.
“Since it’s your birthday and your twenty-first, let me buy you a drink.”
“Thank you. That would be great.”
“What’s your name?”
“Tori.”
“Nice to meet you, Tori.” I extended my hand to her.
When I walked back to the table to tell the guys I was sitting up at the bar with Tori, my brother, Owen, lightly took hold of my arm and pulled me into the corner.
“Way to go, bro.” He smiled.
“It’s her twenty-first birthday and I’m just buying her a drink to celebrate her legal drinking age.” I winked.
“Have fun tapping that ass.” He patted me on the back before he and Brandon left the bar.
The rustling of the sheets and a low moan awoke me from a sound sleep. I lay there frozen, trying to remember my actions from last night. My head hurt. Too many beers followed by several shots of tequila really did me in. The only thing I remembered was her screaming out my name multiple times.
“Morning,” she whispered in my ear as she placed her hand on my shoulder.
“Morning,” I mumbled.
“I had the best time last night and the best birthday ever.”
“I’m happy you had a nice birthday.” I got up from the bed and went into the bathroom. “I have practice in a couple of hours, so I think it’s best if you got dressed and headed home. I can call you a cab.”
I threw on a pair of sweatpants and headed to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee.
“Are you serious?” she asked as she emerged from the bedroom.
“Serious about what?”
“About me leaving. I thought maybe last night meant something. I mean, it just seemed like we had a connection.”
Shit. She was one of those girls. I rolled my eyes before I turned around and looked into her sad puppy eyes.
“Listen, Tori. You’re a great girl and all, but last night was just a one-time thing. We both drank too much and had some fun. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one-night stand you’ve had.”
The sadness in her eyes turned to rage. “Actually, you are. I don’t do this kind of thing. I’m not that kind of girl.”
“Then why did you do it with me?” I asked nonchalantly.
“Because I felt something when we first met, and I got the vibe that you felt it too. I guess I was wrong,” she spoke as she slipped her feet into her heels. “You may be a good fuck, but you’re a total asshole, and you know what? Karma is a bitch.” She stormed out the door, slamming it behind her.
I sighed as I poured myself a cup of coffee. Walking into the bathroom to take a shower, I heard my phone beep with a text message from Owen.
“How was that chick last night?”
“I don’t really remember. But she just left all pissed off and called me an asshole.”
“Lightning Logan strikes again. Anyway, you’re going to dinner at Dad’s tonight, right?”
“Shit. Is that tonight?”
“Yep. Seven o’clock.”
“Why is he having us over for dinner anyway?”
“Apparently, he met someone, and he wants to introduce us to her.”
“Fuck. You have got to be kidding.”
“Nope, bro. Just be there and try to be nice.”
“I can’t make any promises.”
The feeling in the pit of my stomach wasn’t a good one. Whoever this woman was, I hoped she knew what she was getting herself into. Anger ripped through me and the only way I knew how to deal with it was taking it out on the ice.
Chapter 2
Logan
I started my warmup with some diagonal dribbles, increasing my speed until I was at full force around the ice before moving the puck from side to side. I started practice on my own before the rest of the team arrived.
“Hey,” Tommy shouted from the other side of the wall. “Are you ready for me?”
Looking up at him with a smile, I spoke, “Bring it on, bitch.”
He furiously skated out on the ice, heading towards me with his stick in position, ready to steal the puck out from under me. Moving my stick from side to side, protecting the puck in every way possible, I shot it across the ice as Tommy and I raced for it.
“Dude, you’re on fire today. What’s up?” he asked as his stick stole the puck.
“Going to my dad’s for dinner. I guess he met someone.”
“Is that a good thing?” We battled for the puck.
“I’m not sure yet.” Our sticks tangled and I stole the puck.
“It’s been eighteen years, dude. It’s about time your old man went out and met someone.”
“Eighteen drunken years. I wonder if she knows he’s an alcoholic.”
“Guess you’ll find out tonight.”
Coach Gene and the rest of the team skated out on the ice as he told us to line up for conditioning.
“Okay, listen up, boys. Tomorrow night, we play against the Washington Capitals on our turf. I don’t want any mishaps with them like last season. I know some of you have problems with the players, but for the sake of the game, keep it clean. They won their first game of the season like us. Let’s not let them win their
second game. When you’re done conditioning, I want to go over some new plays for tomorrow night. Now let’s get moving.”
About thirty minutes into practice, the coach called me off the ice.
“What’s up, coach?”
“I’m putting you on warning right now for tomorrow’s game. That little stunt you pulled last season with Gavin Machard cost us the win of the game, not to mention the fact that he was out all season rehabilitating the knee you broke.”
“He came at me first.” I pointed my finger at him.
“Doesn’t matter. You broke the kid’s knee and cost him the season and us the game. Stay away from him. Do you understand me? You’re the best player on this team. Shit, you’re pretty much the best player in the whole damn league. Don’t fuck it up, because I will pull you from the game.”
“No you won’t. You need me and you know it. Without me on this team, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
“You’re a cocky son of a bitch, Logan. Now get back out there and finish practice.”
“I don’t need practice, coach.” I winked as I skated back onto the ice.
Upon exiting my building, Ollie, my brother Brandon’s driver, opened the door.
“Good evening, Logan.” He politely smiled.
“Good evening, Ollie.” I smiled back as I climbed in next to my brother. “Where’s Owen?” I asked, as I didn’t see him.
“He’s going to meet us there. He had something to do.”
“I swear to God, if he bails, I’m kicking his ass.”
Brandon chuckled. “He’s not bailing and I’m sure he would kick your ass, little brother.”
Pulling up to my childhood home, I sighed. “Are Aunt Vanessa and Uncle Alan coming?”
“I don’t think Dad invited them. I believe it’s just us.”
