Hockey Holidays Read online

  Clutching his buzzing phone, he headed for the recently vacated area he'd spotted near the entrance. It was quieter there, and it would be easier to see Vince when he came back from the restroom.

  The flashing lights and pulsing beat brought back dozens of memories of good times spent. But he was ready for new places and creating new memories with Vince and the Bedlam crew.

  As much as he missed living by the ocean, he couldn't wait to get back to Buffalo. Because Buffalo meant one thing: life with Vince. And for Vince, Joseph would do anything.

  Including waiting to have the wedding until hockey season was over.

  His phone screen lit up with texts from Slater, Leo, Celek, and Noah offering their congratulations on the engagement. Grinning, he responded to each one.

  A new email alert popped up.

  From Ben.

  Steeling himself in case of rejection, he opened the message.

  Read it.

  Blinked.

  And then read it again.

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

  "Absolutely. One hundred percent. And I really mean it this time." He held out his phone. "Ben emailed. I got the job. Good salary, good benefits. He wants me to stop in later this week."

  "Congratulations!" Vince set the drinks down on a nearby empty table and then pulled him into a hug. "I knew it."

  Warmth radiated through his body, and he couldn't contain his grin. "I can't believe it."

  "Everything is working out."

  His smile grew even wider. "True. And no matter what happens, it'll be amazing because you'll be there."

  "Always."

  He traced his finger over the band on Vince's finger. "I can't wait to marry you."

  "Same here." Vince's smile slowly softened his features. He laced their fingers together and drew Joseph into one of the shadowed spaces along the wall.

  Joseph licked his lips and lowered his head. His heartbeat pounded in time with the beat. Vince leaned into him and cupped a hand on the back of his neck. Strong fingers held him in place, and Joseph gladly gave in to the kiss. He could happily spend the rest of his life kissing Vince.

  Surrounded by the circle of Vince's arms, there wasn't any other place in the world he'd rather be.

  He and Vince might not have had a picture perfect Christmas. But they had each other. And together, they'd handle anything that came their way.

  ~ THE END ~

  Books by Susan Scott Shelley

  Buffalo Bedlam series

  Making His Move

  Fighting For More

  Taking His Shot

  Skating On Chance

  Holiday Hearts series

  Kiss Me Again

  More Than Words

  All I Want

  Marry Me

  Game of Love series

  Rekindled

  Captivated

  Enamored

  Rocked by Love series

  Love Notes

  Love Song

  Philadelphia Frenzy series

  Mad Scramble

  Hometown Hero

  About Susan Scott Shelley

  USA TODAY bestselling author Susan Scott Shelley writes stories with heat and heart where love always wins. Her romances give readers lighthearted and emotionally satisfying escapes into happily ever after. In addition to crafting stories, she is also a professional voice over artist and enjoys lending her voice to a wide range of projects. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and is an avid fan of her hometown sports teams. Her favorite things include coffee, sports, running, and hard rock.

  You can email Susan [email protected] or find out more at her website.

  Kate Willoughby - His Christmas Cinderella

  When Gideon Aguilar mistakes Bailey Peng for his Uber driver, it leads to a night he can't forget. But after she disappears the next morning, will he be able to find his perfect fit?

  Chapter One

  Bailey Peng couldn’t believe it when professional hockey player Gideon Aguilar made eye contact with her and waved.

  The mall parking lot was a total zoo and she should have known not to come here this close to Christmas, but she’d procrastinated so long on getting a dress for tonight’s party, she’d had to wear the new dress out of the store and get her face done up at one of the makeup counters. Even considering these desperate timesaving measures, she was still barely going to make it in time.

  But worry over her lateness disappeared when Gideon Aguilar flagged her down.

  His handsome Latin features included a gorgeous bronzed complexion that complimented his jet-black hair and deep-set brown eyes. And that swoon-worthy beard…it wasn’t a bushy lumberjack tangle. No. It was a finely-groomed, masculine thing of beauty that somehow still managed to show off his square jaw.

  Simultaneously confused and thrilled by his greeting, she waved back and he smiled.

  “Hi, are you my ride? Cindy?” he asked after she pulled over and rolled the window down. His voice was deliciously gravelly and low and it did things to her insides.

  OMG. He thinks I’m his Uber driver.

  Her first instinct was to set him straight, but if she confessed, he would wait for his real driver and the encounter would be over before it started. She’d watched a few videos of him taking part in practical jokes, so she decided to go along with it to see how far she could get. At the very least, she could give him an actual ride wherever he was going.

  ‘Yes, but my phone is on the blink,” she said. “Remind me where you’re going…?”

  As he got into her Prius, he pretty much filled the whole interior and her heart raced at being in such close proximity to the hockey star who just signed with her hometown NHL team, the San Francisco Dragons. She very quickly checked her appearance in her sun visor mirror. The makeup counter girl had done a great job accentuating her almond-shaped eyes and even lined her upper lid with a moderate cat-eye. Her other best feature was her mouth. She had a small mouth but plump upper and lower lips and the makeup girl had brushed on a gorgeous shade of red that matched the cocktail dress she’d ended up buying. She’d also splurged on a pretty headband with tiny poinsettias on it.

  “Hi,” Gideon said, seemingly distracted by the gift bag he was holding that had somehow gotten caught up in his scarf. “I’m going to a restaurant called Willow and Aspen.”

  “Willow and Aspen,” she echoed.

  She’d lived in San Francisco her whole life but didn’t know where that restaurant was. She’d never even heard of it.

  She picked up her phone intending to GPS her way but saw a text from her friend, Indigo Williams: Girl, where are you? Are you on your way?

  Bailey was supposed to be going to her own work Christmas party with Indigo. They both worked as a cable car conductors. Their party, dubbed “Sausages, Suds and Santa,” was being held at a bar and grill that boasted twenty kinds of sausages and fifty brands of beer on tap. It sounded like fun, except for the fact that the only co-worker she genuinely liked was Indigo. As the only two females on the crew, she and Indigo had naturally gravitated toward each other, but now they were great friends. Their senses of humor meshed beautifully, they were both twenty-five, they both had overbearing families.

  Because of the sausage party theme, they had planned to keep a tally of penis jokes. Two points if they made the joke themselves. One if they heard an innocent remark that could be taken as a penis joke. Whoever won had to treat the other to a spa pedicure and Bailey had intended to win. But that was before Gideon Aguilar got into her car.

  Bailey replied to Indigo as fast her thumbs could tap: Gonna be criminally late. Huge apologies. Will explain later.

  Glancing back, she saw Gideon putting on his seat belt.

  “Oh, look. My phone’s working again,