Time Out & Body Check: Time Out / Body Check
In these fan-favorite sports romance stories, winning is everything…Time Out by Jill ShalvisNHL coach Mark Diego is spending the off-season in his hometown coaching teenage girls. However, he didn't expect to be working with Rainey Saunders, his childhood friend–and the woman he's always had a thing for. Unfortunately, they don't see eye to eye. And when their tempers flare, Mark and Rainey discover their fireworks don't just burn angry–they burn very, very hot!Body Check by Elle KennedyThe moment hockey star Brody Croft first sees good girl Hayden Houston at the bar, he's riveted. Brody's ready to shed his bad-boy ways for the sexy brunette and settle down. And after a mind-blowing night in bed with Hayden, he knows she's the one. Now all he has to do is convince her that he's her one…
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In these fan-favorite sports romance stories, winning is everything…
Time Out by Jill Shalvis
NHL coach Mark Diego is spending the off-season in his hometown coaching teenage girls. However, he didn’t expect to be working with Rainey Saunders, his childhood friend—and the woman he’s always had a thing for. Unfortunately, they don’t see eye to eye. And when their tempers flare, Mark and Rainey discover their fireworks don’t just burn angry—they burn very, very hot!
Body Check by Elle Kennedy
The moment hockey star Brody Croft first sees good girl Hayden Houston at the bar, he’s riveted. Brody’s ready to shed his bad-boy ways for the sexy brunette and settle down. And after a mind-blowing night in bed with Hayden, he knows she’s the one. Now all he has to do is convince her that he’s her one…
Praise for New York Times bestselling authorJill Shalvis
“Hot, sweet, fun and romantic! Pure pleasure!”
—#1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr
“Shalvis thoroughly engages readers.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Ms. Shalvis draws the reader into her stories immediately and creates a devastatingly tender love story… She knows how to deliver.”
—Rendezvous
“Romance does not get better than a Jill Shalvis story.”
—Romance Junkies
Praise for Elle Kennedy
“Each story I pick up by Kennedy has me falling further and further in love with her writing. She has quickly become one of my favorite go-to authors for a sexy good time!”
—Book Pushers
“Kennedy fans and newcomers will relish the well-crafted plot, witty dialogue, and engaging characters.”
—Publishers Weekly
“With her clear and distinctive voice, Elle Kennedy is definitely becoming an author I will watch out for!”
—Fresh Fiction
Time Out
Jill Shalvis
Thanks to both Mary and Melinda, two dear friends, without whom this book would have had a lot of mistakes. If there are still mistakes, blame them. :)
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
AS ALWAYS, RAINEY’S brain was full, too full, but one thought kept rising to the top and wouldn’t leave her alone. “Tell me again,” she asked Lena. “Why do we like men?”
Her best friend and wingman—even though Lena was no longer technically single—laughed. “Oh, honey. We don’t have enough time.”
They both worked at the beleaguered North District Rec Center in Santa Rey, a small mid-California beach town. Lena handled the front desk. Rainey was the junior sports coordinator, and today she was running their biweekly car wash to raise funds for their desperate sports program. Sitting on a stool in the driveway of the rec building’s parking lot, Rainey directed cars in and accepted customers’ money, then sent them through to the teenagers who were doing the washing. She kept her laptop out for the slow times. In between cars she’d been working on the upcoming winter sports schedule while simultaneously discussing all things men. Rainey was nothing if not a most excellent multitasker.
And maybe the slightest bit of a control freak.
“I thought you were going to try that online dating service,” Lena said.
“I did. I got lots of offers for hookups.”
Lena laughed. “Well, what were you looking for?”
Coffee, a few laughs, a connection… A real connection, which Rainey was missing lately. Her last two boyfriends had been great but… not great enough. Lena thought she was picky. In truth, Rainey was looking for something that she’d felt only once before, a very long time ago, when she’d been sixteen and stupid. “Men suck.”
“Mmm,” Lena said. “If they’re very good, they do. Listen, you’ve had a dry spell, is all. Get back in the pool, the water’s warm.”
“I haven’t had a dry spell, I’ve just been busy.” Okay, so she’d had a little bit of a dry spell. She’d been spending a lot of time at work, trying to keep the teens in the North District—the forgotten district—out of trouble. That alone was a full-time job. She turned to the next car. Mrs. Foster had the highest beehive in all the land, and had been Rainey’s fourth grade teacher. “Thanks for supporting the rec center’s car wash,” Rainey said.
“You’re welcome.” Her beehive, bluer now than ever, still quivered. “I was going to go to South District since they’re giving away ten-minute back massages with each wash, but I’m glad I didn’t. I overheard about your dry spell, dear. Let me get you a date with my grandson, Kyle.”
Great. A pity date. “No, that’s—”
“He’s quite the catch, you know,” Mrs. Foster said. “I’ll have him call your mother for your number.”
“Really, it’s not necessary—”
But Mrs. Foster was already driving forward, where her car was immediately attended to by a group of Rainey’s well-behaved teens.
Okay, not all that well-behaved. Rainey had coerced them here on threat of death and dismemberment, but they desperately needed the money if they wanted a baseball and softball season.
