Cage

Sometimes fate sends a sign, and sometimes it sends a bloodhound with a hot hockey player holding its leash, dragging it off you.

Owen Stone is not your usual hockey player. He’s a six-foot-two single dad with dark hair, ocean eyes, and muscles for days. He’s also a last-minute trade trying to find a home for his seven-year-old daughter, his psychic sister, and his adoring bloodhound. Naturally, my hockey-star cousin tells him to move in with us, and I’m a sucker for a good dog.

Gina Bradford hits me right in my weakness. She’s tall for a girl, with strawberry-blonde hair, bright green eyes, and a sweet smile. She’s also a champion dog groomer, judge, and owner of a pure-bred show poodle, who is also a notorious towel thief.

When my new teammate invites me to be their roommate until I find a home for my crew, I should’ve said no. I’ve survived the worst, and I’ve achieved my dream of playing in the NHL.
My focus is on winning games and taking care of my daughter, not romance.

Until our dogs start acting like fated mates whose sole purpose is to push us together. And a charity calendar forces us to work together. And a highway accident strands us overnight in a hotel with only one room… and only one bed.

We said it was just once. We’ve both been hurt. But once is never enough.
My daughter loves her, and even my psychic sister predicted the girl of my dreams would be holding a dog.
It takes a little faith and a lot of courage, but what we’ve found is more than a cage. It’s a love that shows up, even when you’re not looking for it.

(Cage is a hockey romance with a broody single dad, an FMC obsessed with dogs/not love, roommates-to-lovers, close proximity, “just once,” chosen family, and loads of spicy fun. No cheating, no cliffhanger, and no third-act breakup.)

Teasers

Excerpt

I love having her fingers in my hair. I love having her touch me, take care of me… even if it was f–king torture not to be able to hold her, kiss her, tell her all the things on my mind.

Then our dogs solidified everything. Those crazy canines have known since the day they met this family belongs together.

Now I’m standing on the sidewalk in front of her house. Looking up, I see the light is on in her room, and I jog up the steps, entering the code on the lock and slipping off my boots inside the door.

Soft, yellow light comes from a glowing cube in the corner, and the flowers surrounding her form a fragrant garden. She’s the enchanting creature in the center, holding my heart, my soul, my future, everything in the palm of that slim hand tucked beneath her cheek.

Stepping closer, I notice her eyes are closed. I take a knee, and I see she’s asleep.

For a moment, I drink her in. She’s so beautiful, her soft hair curling on her cheek. I’m torn between needing to touch her and wanting to let her rest.

With a soft inhale, she moves, blinking her eyes open, and when she sees me, she jumps awake, then her face relaxes with a smile.

Reaching up to me, she whispers, “You came.” “You were waiting.”