Hockey Holidays Read online

  Books 4-6 Boxed set

  On Thin Ice, Book 8

  Coach's Challenge, A Baltimore Banners Intermission Novella

  One-Timer, Book 9

  Face Off, Book 10

  First Shot At Love, A Baltimore Banners Short Story

  Game Misconduct, Book 11

  Fighting To Score, Book 12

  Matching Penalties, Book 13

  The York Bombers

  Playing The Game, Book 1

  Playing To Win, Book 2

  Playing For Keeps, Book 3

  Playing It Up, Book 4

  Playing It Safe, Book 5

  The York Bombers Boxed Set 1

  Books 1-3

  Playing For Love, Book 6

  Playing His Part, Book 7

  The Chesapeake Blades

  Winning Hard, Book 1

  Loving Hard, Book 2

  Playing Hard, Book 3

  Firehouse Fourteen

  Once Burned, Book 1

  Playing With Fire, Book 2

  Breaking Protocol, Book 3

  Into the Flames, Book 4

  Second Alarm, Book 5

  Feel The Burn, Book 6

  Coming Soon

  Stand Alone Titles:

  Finding Dr. Right

  Time To Heal

  Dangerous Passion

  Dangerous Heat

  Illicit Affair

  Coming Soon

  About Lisa B. Kamps

  Lisa B. Kamps is the author of the best-selling series The Baltimore Banners, featuring "…hard-hitting, heart-melting hockey players…" [USA Today], on and off the ice. Her Firehouse Fourteen series features hot and heroic firefighters who put more than their lives on the line and she's introduced a whole new team of hot hockey players who play hard and love even harder in her newest series, The York Bombers. The Chesapeake Blades--a romance series featuring women's hockey--recently launched with WINNING HARD.

  Lisa currently lives in Maryland with her husband and two sons (who are mostly sorta-kinda out of the house), one very spoiled Border Collie, two cats with major attitude, several head of cattle, and entirely too many chickens to count. When she's not busy writing or chasing animals, she's cheering loudly for her favorite hockey team, the Washington Capitals--or going through withdrawal and waiting for October to roll back around!

  Email | Website

  Susan Scott Shelley - Holding On Tight

  Buffalo Bedlam

  For defenseman Vince Forsberg and his boyfriend Joseph Parelli, the pressure to make their first Christmas together perfect leads to a lot of chaos, holiday mishaps, and some unexpected results.

  To my readers,

  Happy Holidays from the Buffalo Bedlam.

  Chapter One

  "…and all I want for Christmas is you…"

  Lyrics and melody floated in the air, mixing with laughter and conversations. Whistling along with the song, Joseph Parelli weaved his way through the crowded apartment, smiling and nodding at the throng of Buffalo Bedlam players and their significant others. Everyone had gone all out in their attire for the team's ugly sweater party, from garish sweaters with blinking lights to cable-knit eyesores with dancing reindeer.

  The tacky blue and white surfing snowmen decorating his chest ensured that he fit right in. On the surface anyway. No amount of holiday silliness could squash the slight discomfort he still felt when thrust into situations with the full-on group of players, wives, and girlfriends. Although they were welcoming, he hadn't been around them enough to remember everyone's names, let alone forge many friendships.

  Clutching his phone like the lifeline it was, he headed for the recently vacated area he'd spotted beside the Christmas tree. There, a large floor-to-ceiling window gave him a view of downtown Buffalo, and hopefully, the minute he needed to collect his bearings and regroup.

  Strands of twinkling lights and holiday decorations brightened up windows on neighboring buildings. And, several stories down, a steady stream of traffic pulsed with the stoplights' alternating flashes of red, yellow, and green.

  As much as he liked his newly adopted city, living by Lake Erie just wasn't the same as living by the Atlantic Ocean. And morning runs along Canalside weren't the same as morning runs along the beach. But Buffalo, New York had one thing that Asbury Park, New Jersey did not: Vince Forsberg. And for Vince, Joseph would do just about anything.

  Including willingly giving up his home and a job he enjoyed. And moving away from his friends and family and everything familiar.

  He'd expected things to get better once he found a job, met new people, and got settled into a new routine. But nearly three months post-move, job prospects weren't looking good. He peered at his phone screen and the latest dash of disappointment at the top of his inbox. Finding out he didn't get the bar manager job after he'd been so sure he had it in the bag stung pretty badly.

  "There you are. Brought you a drink." Vince, wearing a matching sweater, came to a stop at his side. Blond hair tousled and blue eyes twinkling, the Buffalo Bedlam defenseman and love of his life carried two tumblers of Scotch. His smile faded as he studied Joseph's face. "You okay?"

  "Absolutely." He quickly lowered his phone. "One hundred percent."

  "Why don't I believe you?" Without waiting for a response, Vince set the drinks down and then nudged him toward the hallway and then into a guest bedroom where the party-goers had stored their coats.

  Joseph craned his neck as he entered the blissfully quiet space. "What are you doing? Coat room or not, I don't think Celek wants people hanging out in here."

  Vince closed the door, shutting out the noise. The lines of concern on his face deepened. "Talk to me. I can tell something's wrong."

  "Are you a psychic now? That actually might explain why you're one of the league's best defensemen."

  "Cute. But really, your poker face stinks." Vince gently hip checked him. "Besides, I like thinking I'm able to read you."

  "So much for hiding it well." Sighing, he leaned into his boyfriend. No matter how many times his gaze rested upon Vince, the man still took his breath away. When Vince's arms came around him, Joseph relaxed into the comfort of his embrace. "I didn't get the job."

  "The one you were so excited about? I'm sorry."

  Joseph shrugged. "Yeah. Well."

  Vince kissed his temple and then hugged him tighter. They were almost evenly matched in height and build, but the similarities ended there. "Something good will turn up."

  "I hope so. It's been almost three months. I know that's not long compared to how long some people are unemployed, but I didn't think it would be this hard. I've applied for every nightclub manager, every bar manager position out there. I know I'm well qualified, this last place told me that I was too qualified. Hearing that is a little discouraging."

  "You don't have to worry about how long it takes you. What's mine is yours." Vince's strong fingers flexed and rubbed over Joseph's back. He paid for the house, the groceries, and all of the bills. Joseph contributed what he could, but at best, it was a quarter of what Vince put in.

  Restless, Joseph moved out of the embrace. "As generous as that is, I have to pull my own weight. The money coming in from renting out the shore house helps, but it's not enough to live on. Especially not in the off-season. Not many people are looking to spend a week at the Jersey shore during the winter."

  "You know…" Vince's gaze dropped to the snowmen woven across Joseph's chest. "Maybe we should think about putting it up for sale."

  "No."

  "Why not? You don't need it to help supplement Nonna's expenses anymore." Vince had generously helped out there, taking over the monthly amount Joseph added to his grandmother's account to make sure that she wanted for nothing at her resort-like retirement community. With his multi-million dollar contract to play for the Bedlam, the supplement was like a droplet of water in the ocean.

  "I know that." He turned toward the bed. Staring at the mattress piled high with coats was easier than looking Vince in the eyes. "B