Checking It Twice

When the new hockey team captain crashes into the town’s Christmas queen, sparks fly faster than falling snow. Ree: Running Blue Ridge’s most magical Christmas pop-up shop should be enough to keep me busy, but apparently the universe has other plans. Like having Evan Callahan—six feet-plus of hockey captain perfection—literally body-check me into a pile of fake snow and candy canes during our first planning meeting. One mistletoe mishap later, and suddenly I’m co-hosting “Christmas on Ice” with the most gorgeous grump who secretly loves stop-motion Christmas movies and makes the worst gingerbread hockey players. Between stolen kisses under twinkling lights, festival emergencies, and trying not to melt every time he smiles, I’m falling faster than a rookie in their first pair of skates. But I swore off athletes after my ex-fiancé left me at the altar, and Evan’s got a whole team counting on him to stay focused. Dating the town’s Christmas coordinator during the biggest week of the year? That’s a penalty neither of us can afford. Can a hockey team captain and a Christmas queen find their happily ever after in just a few days? Or will this holiday romance get checked into the boards?