Jace Knight and Nick Kane play hockey for, the Buffalo Blades. Jace’s younger sister lives with him, being a pro hockey player affords him that luxury. Their mom died of cancer. When that happened, their dad checked out mentally, by overworking, to numb out. Jace is the one, who took over the care of, Cora. Becoming the father figure, but now that she is so close, to twenty and in college. He is taking things way, too far out of the boundary lines. Making it embarrassing for, her and himself.
The thing is, she didn't just have her overly protective brother, to contend with, but his best friend. She also has the team's, captain, Nick. He too is protective, sometimes bordering on possessive. Which doesn't sit right with, Cora. You see she has had a crush on, Nick, since forever. So, she would know if, Nick is flirting or making a pass at her. No such event has occurred. Her brother, Jace the assistant captain, has not killed, Nick so nope, never happened. Cora is in a stage of rebellion, concerning her brother. He wants, to know where she’s going, with who, what time she will be back, and how she will get, to and from.
That does it, her last straw. She says she is going out with, Ava. Cora really didn’t want to, but she did want, to get a normal college experience. To be free of, her two jailers. So, they end up at a seedy bar. Thank goodness they are with, Ava a teacher/friend. When she left, she had two of the guys in the band, her students promise, to get her home safely, and untouched. Or bad grades for them. Well, she got home blitzed, and it is, Nick who met her at the door. Her brother is dead, to the world. He is the one that put her in her pj’s. Grrr! He didn't like, that she was out and so drunk, she didn't remember any of it, the next day. So, quietly he reminds her. But, in a gruff, and scary reality way.
So starts their need, to be a secret part of, their innermost secrets that, become a reality. But, must keep on the down low with rules and everything. There’s too much to lose, too many to hurt, and a lot of commitment issues that can’t possibly be fulfilled, or dealt with. But, when someone from Nick and his twin Nicky's background ambushes them. Their presents can possibly tip, Nicole's sobriety over the edge. Yet, it affects, Nick almost more. Leaving him in a dark place, taking it out on, Cora.
So, no more sexy nights, or cuddling. No more being in each other's pockets. This story does have triggers, for sure. Let's just put that out there. Anger issues are real, druggie parents are real, brain-dead uncaring, and selfish parents are real, but asking for help is also the first step. So, hope is there. Loved all the characters, and the storyline that kept me reading straight through.