Delayed Penalty Part 27

Later that night, lying on Optimus Prime with Ami, I had a lot to be thankful for. This time, this year, we were a family.

If morning never came, I knew in my heart, I saved this girl and I loved her. To me, that was all that mattered this Christmas.

I'll never be anything more than what I am right now, what I've always been. A hockey player playing with his heart and soul.

My point? In hockey, we don't give up. It doesn't matter if we're tied, winning, or down by three. Hockey players are in it no matter what, giving their heart to the game. Being with a woman, being in love, same deal for me. Every goal you snag at the crease, there's two ways of getting it: the easy way, when the goalie isn't paying attention, and the hard way, when he's playing the f.u.c.king pipes for all he's worth.

That was me. I played the pipes. I crossed the line and stood up for what I believed was worth it-the goal I wanted. This girl.

There are times that you never want to cross a line. Maybe fear holds you back, but there's something important about crossing a line. You'll never know what side to be on until you cross it.

You'd be surprised to see what could be waiting for you on the other side of the blue line.

The action on the ice continues with the next book in the Crossing the Line series this winter...

Offsides: A player on the attacking team enters the attacking zone before the puck does.

I'm used to being the player.

I'm cool with it. I'm Leo Orting, the goofy center and team captain for the Chicago Blackhawks that no one ever takes seriously.

Being the star front-man of the team, I'm involved in every play. My lifestyle, much like any professional athlete, has its perks, and mostly between the legs of countless puck bunnies.

One girl, my favorite regular, Callie Pratt, has been on my mind for a while. It wasn't like I was in love with her, but I did think of her a lot. That's a lie. I thought about her all the time and found every excuse I could to call her, send an inappropriate text, or be around her in some way. She was cool and never played into the c.r.a.p I spewed, but part of me wanted her to see what I was really about under the crude jokes.

Trying to cure my mild obsession with her, I took her home after a playoff game to satisfy that urge.

Well, that one night created a surprise we never saw coming and we found ourselves offsides, trying to avoid a penalty.

The boy You, just you! You see everything I don't, and when I least expected it, your gestures help me see it.

Honey girl I'm not pleased that you learned to spit. Please stop that and we can go back to throat punches and dropkicks. Love you, baby girl.

Callie I f.u.c.king love you. Yes, it's true. And I think you've always known that. Thank you so much for our hockey lunch dates that never really kept on subject and pus.h.i.+ng me to think outside the box and socialize. I can't stay in the woods all day. You've proven that!

Maxann Thank you for everything you've done for this novel and pus.h.i.+ng me along the way to help me see what Evan and Ami needed to make their love come alive. Oh, and your love for Leo!

My sister Go Blackhawks!

My parents Thank you for always allowing me to be me.

I have to thank Sarah for the cover and her love for the Blackhawks!

Madison Thank you for the extra eyes on the story and helping me see where I tend to repeat myself.

Kari, Laura, and Judie (The Hooker Hood) I love you girls. Thank you for always being there for me. I hope as you read this you are curled up with your JAR hoodies!

The original Gearheads, Tara, Danielle, Heather, Dianna, Megan, Tanya, Portia, Barb, Shanna, Dee, Traci, Brooke, Brenda, Kari, Laura, Bree, Mich.e.l.le, Judie, Denise...I know there's more but these are the one who have been there from the beginning and I appreciate my pit lizards so much!

I also have to thank some of the girls who pimped Delayed Penalty before it was out: Tara, Kim, Tray, Liliana, Melissa, Brooke, Kari, Laura, Judie, Callie, Megan, Heather, Christine, Barb and Kim.

To the hockey players who let me bombard them with questions, thank you boys! Couldn't have done it without you and you know who you are so no names will be mentioned. I promised.

And the bloggers who make my books s.h.i.+ne: Shh Mom's Reading, The Book Hookers, Stick Girl Book Reviews, Totally Booked, Smardy Pants Book Blog, Kindlehooked, Romantic Reading Escapes Book Blog, Sugar and Spice Reviews, Chris' Book Blog, The Book Avenue Review, Flirty and Dirty Book Blog, Reading Is My Breathing and Up All Night Book Blog.

Shey Stahl used to be an Administrative a.s.sistant before making the decision to become a full time writer. Now she rarely leaves her laptop and orders take out every night. She lives in Was.h.i.+ngton with her adrenaline junky husband and overactive little girl who is convinced she has magical powers and lives in a castle.

You can follow her on Twitter @SheyStahl or Facebook under: Shey Stahl, or, if you would like more, visit her website at: www.sheystahl.com to keep up to date on her future projects.

Additional novels by Shey Stahl: Waiting for You, Racing on the Edge and Everything Changes.

end.