A win-win negotiation?
Truman âTruâ Jelinekâs life is pretty much off the rails. With his professional hockey career on thin ice, and his personal life falling apart, heâs ready to implement some serious changes. Helping Jenny Martinâthe only girl heâs ever lovedâmake her dreams a reality is a good place to start.
Thereâs just one problem: Jenny doesnât want his help. She barely wants to speak to him. But Tru is prepared to negotiate a deal that even Jenny canât refuse. As trading favors turns into sharing passion, he has to face the truth that when it comes to Jenny, the game is far from over.
âI donât need charity from anyone.â
Jennyâs voice was flat, hard. âLeast of all from you.â
Despite the surge of irritation at her stubbornness, Tru said calmly, âAll Iâm offering you is a foot in the door. Iâll make a few calls and get you some job interviews. The rest is up to you.â
She didnât look convinced.
âScoutâs honor.â He held up two fingers. Then three fingers. Then two again. What was that damn salute anyway?
Jenny smiled wryly. âYou and Jake were thrown out of the Scouts.â
He grinned. âItâs the thought that counts.â Sobering, he caught her gaze. âI wonât do anything you donât want me to. You have my word.â
Jennyâs smile faded.
Damn. Wrong thing to say. âThis time, I will keep my promise,â he added quickly.
She studied his face for a few moments, then nodded. âOkay. Thanks.â
It was a start. Now he had to make sure he didnât screw things up.
Dear Reader,
Welcome back to the world of the New Jersey Ice Cats! I was thrilled and touched that so many of you wrote to tell me how much you enjoyed A Perfect Distraction (MILLS & BOON Superromance, September 2013) and that you wanted more stories about these strong, dedicated and delicious hockey players. Iâm especially pleased that you wanted Tru and Jenny to have their own book, and Iâm happy to be able to bring it to you.
I love reunion and second chance stories, because itâs so satisfying when two people you feel are meant to be together find their way back to each other. When love overcomes painful mistakes and finds a path through the minefield of the past.
Jenny and Tru are two such people. Jenny intrigued me from the moment she strutted onto the page. I knew the âqueen of the puck bunniesâ wasnât a typical groupie and that her past with Tru held the answer to her behavior. As for Tru, I knew that whatever heâd done, it had been with the best of intentions. He wasnât a bad person, just a stubborn man, with a tendency to believe he knew better than anyone else.
I hope you enjoy reading Tru and Jennyâs story and discovering how they find their way back to each other. I love to hear from readers, so please drop me a line at [email protected] or Box 174, Regis House, 23 King Street, Cambridge CB1 1AH, England.
Anna Sugden
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Former marketing executive and primary school teacher Anna Sugden loves reading romance novels and watching films with happy endings. She also loves watching hockey and football, where she prefers a happy ending for her teams. When sheâs not writing or researching hockey players for her books, she makes simple craft projects and collects penguins, autographs and memorabilia, and great shoes. Anna lives in Cambridge, England, with her husband and two bossy black cats. Learn more about Anna, her heartwarming romances and her shoes at www.annasugden.com.
For Keith, who makes every day happy and special. I love you.
For my wonderful âbabyâ sister, Manda. This oneâs for you!
Acknowledgments
Kate Lutter and Maria Imbalzano for their invaluable critiquesâI miss our meetings!
Beth Andrews, Terri Garey, Kathleen Long, Janice Lynn and Tawny Weberâwho always have my back.
The Romance Banditsâfor their love and support.
CHAPTER ONE
âTHE TOWN OF Elmside is tonight mourning the passing of one of their beloved and most popular figures, Pastor Douglas Boult.â
The newscasterâs words made the laughter die in Jenny Martinâs throat. Her mind froze, abandoning the celebrity gossip sheâd been sharing with her friend Maggie. Her coffee cup dropped from her nerveless fingers as she spun to look across the Ice Catsâ family room toward the large flat-screen television. She barely noticed the hot, wet patch on her black jeans; her attention was focused on the photograph of the smiling, white-haired man that now filled the screen.
The smiling face of evil.
Bile churned her stomach as the newscaster read tributes from local dignitaries.
â...Pillar of the community...champion of youth programs...a spiritual leader...â
âAre you all right?â Maggie laid her hand on Jennyâs arm. âYou look like youâve seen a ghost.â