Team Player: A Sports Romance Anthology Read online

  Team Player

  A Sports Romance Anthology

  Adriana Locke

  Charleigh Rose

  Ella Fox

  Emma Scott

  Kate Stewart

  Kennedy Ryan

  L.J. Shen

  Mandi Beck

  Meghan Quinn

  Rochelle Paige

  Sara Ney

  Welcome to the team!

  Hot jocks. We love them all.

  Sexy baseball players. Intense footballers. Sweaty MMA fighters, and sizzling hockey hotties. Score!’

  The good news? Eleven bestselling authors have gathered to give you a set of stories focused on the men we love most—sports heroes. We bet you’ll love this thick … book.

  The bad news? The men in these novellas don’t actually exist.

  *This anthology does not contain calories, just eleven original, never-before-seen stories by the following authors: Adriana Locke, Mandi Beck, Charleigh Rose, Kennedy Ryan, LJ Shen, Meghan Quinn, Rochelle Paige, Ella Fox, Kate Stewart, Emma Scott, and Sara Ney. We aren’t responsible for melted devices.

  Copyright © 2017 by

  Adriana Locke (Cross)

  Charleigh Rose (Yard Sale)

  Ella Fox (Out of Formation)

  Emma Scott (One Good Man)

  Kate Stewart (Sweeping the Series)

  Kennedy Ryan (Full Court Press)

  L.J. Shen (The End Zone)

  Mandi Beck (Sin Bin)

  Meghan Quinn (Back in the Game)

  Rochelle Paige (Slapped Into Love)

  Sara Ney (Switch Hitter)

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author(s), except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  SIN BIN

  Prologue

  1. Stella

  2. Jason

  3. Jason

  4. Jason

  5. Stella

  6. Jason

  7. Stella

  8. Jason

  9. Jason

  10. Stella

  11. Jason

  Thank you for reading!

  About the Author

  Also By Mandi

  Find Mandi

  OUT OF FORMATION

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Epilogue

  Books by Ella Fox

  YARD SALE

  Yard Sale definition

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Epilogue

  Other books from Charleigh Rose

  SLAPPED INTO LOVE

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Epilogue

  Also by Rochelle Paige

  About the Author

  BACK IN THE GAME

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

  SWEEPING THE SERIES

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  About The Author

  FULL COURT PRESS

  1. Decker

  2. Avery- Ten. Years. Later

  3. Avery

  4. Decker

  5. Avery

  6. Decker

  7. Avery

  8. Decker

  9. Avery

  10. Decker

  11. Avery

  12. Decker

  13. Avery

  14. Decker

  Untitled

  Release Alert!

  Books By Kennedy Ryan

  GRIP Series (Grip & Bristol) – FREE in KU

  The Bennett Series

  Connect With Kennedy!

  About the Author

  SWITCH HITTER

  1. Amelia

  2. Amelia

  3. Dante

  4. Dante

  5. Amelia

  6. Amelia

  7. Amelia

  8. Amelia

  9. Amelia

  About The Author

  ONE GOOD MAN

  Dedication

  1. All Along the Watchtower

  2. Subterranean Homesick Blues

  3. You Can’t Always Get What You Want

  4. She’s Got You

  5. Leader of the Pack

  6. Nothing But a Heartache

  7. Sunny Afternoon

  8. What Is and What Should Never Be

  9. Don’t You Want Somebody to Love?

  10. Bad Moon Rising

  11. I Fall to Pieces

  12. Stay With Me

  13. Tomorrow Never Knows

  14. People Get Ready

  15. I’m a Believer

  Epilogue: 1975

  About the Author

  THE END ZONE

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  More Books By L.J. Shen

  CROSS

  Dear Reader

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

  Books by Adriana Locke

  About the Author

  SIN BIN

  Copyright 2017 Mandi Beck

  To Ran, you’re always my loudest, rowdiest, most supportive fan. I love you.

  “You miss one-hundred percent of the shots you never take—“

  Wayne Gretzky

  Prologue

  Jason

  It took all of a minute for me to know, without a doubt, that I was going to have Stella Cruz naked and screaming my name in the near future. I didn’t care that she was a student. No, that’s a lie. I cared. I just didn’t let it stop me. There was something about her that called to me on a level I wasn’t used to. And that was without her saying a word. I felt the pull as she silently wat
ched me from across the Treatment room.

  Those dark eyes following as Levi and I moved around the space. At first, I thought she was watching him, but nah, Stella Cruz isn’t interested in what Levi is offering to every girl on campus. The way her gaze traveled over me when she thought I wasn’t looking tells me she’s wicked interested in what I might be able to offer her. I can guarantee it’s more than any of these pricks at FU can give her. I’ve got ten years on these guys. That’s a whole lot of pussy. I’ve learned a lot along the way and have done things with, and to, women that would make a frat boy blush.

  The thought of what it might take to make her blush makes me hard. Right now as she sits there in her sports bra and spandex, legs swinging, her skin the color of coffee with the perfect amount of cream. I can’t wait to see what color that pretty skin turns when I have her underneath me. Just please let her fine ass be legal, because if she is, I’m going to show her that I can score off the ice as well as I can on it.

  1

  Stella

  This pitching clinic is turning my arm to Jell-O. I walk into the therapy room in my sports bra and yoga pants and head over to the table, hopping up to wait for the team’s doctor. As I wait, I roll my shoulder. It’s tender but nothing major. I’m going into my Senior year, gotta make it last just one more season.

  The noise around me increases into excited chatter. This is a common space for the Fulton University athletes. With only one area for all of us, whether we need just a soak in an ice bath, a stretch, or more extensive therapy, this is the place for everyone. Being coed, the things that go on in this one area of the Athletic Department are legit insanity. I’ve seen break ups and makeups, hook ups and fights. All you have to do is wait and you won’t be disappointed.

  Like right now. Levi Sexton, the captain of the hockey team, is walking through with who I’m guessing is not a student from here or anywhere else the way the guys are acting. The other girls in the room must have picked up on it because there is way too much hair fluffing and tata readjusting going on right now for him to just be another student. He’s hot. That’s no lie, but I have no time for anything more than a hook up and that isn’t gonna happen. I’m on track to graduate early and ain’t no man alive worth messing with that. I’ve got plans and they don’t include this guy or anyone else.

  Before I can talk myself out of my vow of celibacy the department’s doctor comes over.

  “Stella, how’s the arm?” He’s straightforward. Literally, the worst bedside manner of any doctor on the planet, but he’s good and that’s all that matters. After my shoulder injury Sophomore year, I’m careful and do exactly what he tells me to.

  “Good, Dr. Grayson. Little sore, but I’m training hard.”

  He just nods, makes some notes in the chart, ignoring the noise around him. “Let’s get it rubbed out and iced.”

  “Sounds good. “

  “I’ll see who has time. Sit tight, one of the therapists will be right over.”

  I thank him but he’s already moving on to go get one of the three physical therapists always on. “Nice to see you again, Dr. Grayson.” I mumble.

  I’m just about to pop my earbuds in when Levi and his friend come back out of the weight room. I don’t even have to look, I can tell by the shift in the air. I’m probably the only girl on the softball team that hasn’t hooked up with Levi. Hell maybe on campus. They don’t call him “Sexy” Sexton for nothing.

  I watch in appreciation as the two men make their way toward me. His friend is wearing a Chicago hockey hat, I recognize it as the same one Levi wears all the time, his jeans and Henley might as well be a suit in this room. It’s kind of nice to see a guy in something other than sweats, not that that’s not hot as hell. This is just a different hot. Adult hot. The way is mouth is set, I can’t tell if he’s a pissed or in pain. Levi catches me watching them and winks. All I can do is shrug. I have no shame. That man just got the eye fucking of his life and he doesn’t even know it.

  When they don’t stop until they’re next to me, I can feel my pulse start to race. Damn it. I’m not the kind of girl who gets a racing heart over a guy.

  “Hey Cruz. How’ve you been? I haven’t seen you around much.”

  “Sexy.” I greet. After catching me checking out his friend, I do my best to ignore his knowing smirk. “I’ve been taking a few extra classes. Not much time for anything other than studying and ball.”

  I can feel the warmth of his friends gaze roaming over my not nearly covered enough body without even seeing him do it. I’m not sure if I’m brave enough to look at him, the way my body is reacting to his nearness. He makes the decision for me when he clears his throat.

  “Oh, my bad. Stella Cruz, this is Jason Dagger. Jason, Stella. She’s the Fire’s starting pitcher. Chick’s a beast.” Levi says, his voice dropped to an exaggerated octave, making me laugh.

  Jason offers his hand. The rational side of my brain is screaming for me to not touch him, while the rest of me is urging me to touch all of him. Or let him touch all of me. Slowly I slip my hand into his and will myself not to close my eyes at the contact. There’s something about this man that has me acting a fool. He oozes confidence in a way that’s just as cocky as Levi, but more controlled. I feel a little zing of excitement rip through me. Damn.

  “Stella.” I detect the hint of Boston in his tone. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Jason.”

  When I take the hand he offers, he smiles at me with what looks like expectation, but I’m not sure what he’s expecting. My brow raised in question, I wait for him to enlighten me. When he doesn’t, I drop his hand. He looks a little surprised when I pull my hand from his.

  My guess is he’s not used to women not throwing themselves at him. I can’t blame them. I kinda want to throw myself at him. But it has nothing to do with who he may be, because I honestly don’t know, and everything to do with how he looks, the way he carries himself and the reaction my body is having to him. Like someone flipped a switch on my girl bits. They’re all lit up for Jason Dagger.

  “Shoulder acting up again?” Levi asks, allowing me to swing my attention his way.

  “Little bit. Nothing a little massage won’t fix. This is my last year on the mound, I’ll survive until graduation.”

  Out of the corner of my eye I see Jason smile, if you can call it that, at something I said. Curious, I look over at him but that hint of a smirk is already gone and he has that pissed off in pain look again. Maybe he is in pain.

  Doing some digging I ask Levi, “What are you guys doing down here?”

  “We had to come down and talk to Coach Kiehn about some ice time. Figured we’d hit the weights a little too.” Levi says, glancing around the room, probably looking for whatever chick he’s gonna let come back to his place with him. The guy gets more ass than a subway seat. It’s incredible really. “You going to the award dinner tonight?”

  “Yep. Your dad will have my ass if I’m not there.” Levi’s dad is my coach and the man doesn’t play when it comes to his team and his rules.

  “Be right back you guys. I gotta go see a chick about…something.” Levi laughs when I roll my eyes at his lame ass attempt to hide the fact he’s penciling in a hook up. I don’t even think he heard what I said.

  “Is Charlie still a PT here?” Jason asks the moment Levi walks away, startling me.

  “He is.”

  “Have him rub you down. He’s the best.”

  “Oh, you went to school here?”

  “It’s been awhile, but yeah.”

  “So, are you a coach now or what?” I ask, curious. I half expect him not to answer.