Chapter 1

Hannah

B ook club is little more than an excuse to get together with some of the best ladies I know and spill the tea. Figuratively of course, Sofie runs the best bookshop in Glacier Bay and none of us would dare spill real tea. I look forward to book club once a month, even if today was an exception and we'd decided on an impromptu get-together.

Instead of discussing the book we'd agreed on last book club, tonight's been turned into a pre-Valentine's Day night just for us ladies. In addition to the table for the normal goodies, Sofie has a big white wicker basket full of books wrapped in pink or white wrapping paper. She's written something about each book on the wrapping to give an idea of what the story inside was about. Her Galentine's Day gift for us.

As the newest member I don't know the women from Crestfield well yet since they can't always make it. Sofie's the only Crestfield lady here tonight because she owns the store we're sitting in. She closed the store for the day so we don't have to worry about any patrons as we all sit in cozy armchairs surrounded by bookshelves.

The armchairs are big enough that even I can relax into them without fear of the chair breaking. They're nothing like the flimsy fold-up chairs I'd thought we'd be using. So as I sit comfortably, surrounded by wood bookshelves that look like they were hand carved, I enjoy the very cozy ambiance despite the bright white lights. The lights are the only thing I'd change, some antique-looking sconces would do wonders for the space.

"I can't believe you really did that," Maria tells Lia as she places a box from her bakery down. "I mean, I'm glad you did, but I thought you were going to mope forever."

The box had Maria's bakery logo on it and I couldn't wait to get my hand on one of her creations. The scent of the chocolate creation is making my mouth water as I wonder what treat is inside the box she holds.

At my first book club Maria had brought something for us to sample before deciding if she should add it to her menu. Now that her bakery was a hockey fan favorite she had steady business, and since Lia had a new job, Maria was in the process of hiring more staff to help.

Lia put the book she'd picked up down and reached for the box. "I was not."

Sofie snorts and pats Lia's head before snatching Maria's box and taking it to her chair. "Please, we've all been there."

"Not me," I say as I lift my glass of lemonade to my lips.

The group turns to stare at me.

"Really?" Maria asks. Her brown eyes big with questions. "You've never moped after a breakup?"

Now I snort. "Are you kidding me? Lou's never let me date someone long enough to get a boyfriend."

Maria scowls at the mention of Lou. I don't fully understand what all that is about, but I am glad to have someone on my side who doesn't think my brother is a hockey god who can do no wrong.

"Then who were you pining over the day we met?" Lia asks, as she tucks some of her sleek red hair behind her ear.

I envy the simple gesture and her ability to have gorgeous hair after a long day of work. My frizzy curls never tuck away that easily, and it is all I can do to get it into a ponytail or bun for work.

I stare at my drink, watching the little bead of condensation drip down the side. "No one."

Sofie lifts a chocolate cheesecake brownie and says, "Oh, there's a story there. Spill it."

I look around the group, each of them watching me and waiting.

"Can I at least have a brownie first?" I ask.

Maria takes back her box. "After."

After a deep sigh, I start sharing. "When I got pushed down on the playground, Lou was there to pick me up and make the other kid eat dirt. When the girls in jr. high made fun of my curls, he put spiders in their hair. When a guy made me cry because he said something about my thick thighs, Lou made sure that guy never spoke to me again."

"But...?" Lia asks.

"But then we went to college, and he was the hockey star on the team that all the girls wanted, I was just his little sister. A guy from the team was in my English class, and started flirting with me. Lou flipped out and made sure everyone knew I was off limits."

"That's no fair!" Charlotte says in outrage. "Have you ever kissed a guy?"

I shake my head no. Thinking about Matt and the flirty winks he'd give me when the professor droned on about Romeo and Juliet still makes my heart soar years later. I'd practically lived for our moments together sophomore year.

Maria hands me the box of brownies. "Take them. You definitely need chocolate more than the rest of us."

My brother Lou talked my ear off for nearly thirty minutes while he praised the glory that was Maria's brownies. Lia had snuck him one when Maria wasn't around. Unfortunately, I knew he wasn't talking about her normal bakery ones. I'd bought a box of those and he'd told me it wasn't the same. But I have no desire to eat in this moment.

Lia looks at me thoughtfully. "Is that guy still on Lou's team?"

I take a big swallow of my drink, before saying in a tight, quiet voice. "Maybe."

"Oh!" Charlotte claps her hands together in joy.

"It's not a big deal. He barely even knows I exist. Lou made sure of that."

The only issue I've ever, really, had with my brother is the fact that he's so protective of me. Sure as kids we'd squabble like normal siblings, but if anyone else messed with me Lou put a stop to it. At first I'd been all too happy to have him fight my battles for me, but somewhere along the way he started fighting battles for me that didn't need to be fought.

Maria laughs, and the sound of it lifts my spirit. "Oh, Hannah. We're going to get you a hockey sweetheart."

I smile, but it holds no real joy. "I'm fine. I've accepted that I'm going to be single forever."

Sofie shakes her head. "Now that's just sad. You're not even twenty-five."

"Besides, I can't date a hockey player," I tell them.

"Because Lou says so?" Maria asks.

I shake my head hard. "No. My contract. There's a strict no-dating clause. I'll get fired."

When Dan, the team goalie, had asked for my help with declaring his love to Alexis, one of the team physicians, I'd learned the anti-dating clause was specific to me, and courtesy of my brother. The team owner and coach had wanted Lou, and Lou had negotiated my offer without me knowing. Just protecting me like always. I still hadn't confronted him.

Charlotte grins. "But is there a no kissing clause?"

My jaw pops open.

"What?" Charlotte shrugs innocently. "You don't have to date someone to kiss them."

"I couldn't do that," I protest.

Maria rolls her shoulders before looking at me with a gleam in her eye. "Then we're going to have to find you someone else so you get over mystery hockey guy."

My eyebrows raise in surprise, "And how do you propose that?" I ask her.

She smiles and lifts her phone. "Speed dating."

Goosebumps break out over my skin. "You can't be serious."

"There's one two days from now at the Pizza Pub, It's the Sweethearts Shuffle."

"Valentine's Day?"

"What better day to have it?" Charlotte asks.

I stand up from my seat, and put the brownie box down. I walk my glass over to the table with the lemonade pitcher. Nerves have made my mouth dry.

Lia clears her throat. "Unless you want help getting him to notice you?"

The thought of Matt paying attention to me makes my stomach flip. But the thought of ruining Matt's friendship with Lou, and the impact that would have to the team… I can't do it, can I?

"I couldn't do that to Lou or the team," I tell her.

Sofie comes over to me and gives me a gentle hug. "Well if you change your mind. We're here for you. We'll do whatever the birthday girl wants."

I blink, taken aback. "Birthday?"

Charlotte lets out a cackle, and asks me, "Did you really think we wouldn't find out it's your birthday tomorrow?"

"How?" I ask.

Maria smiles at me, "That brother of yours begged me to sell him a box of your favorites. I almost made an exception to his ban."

Sofie fills in the next part as she pulls a gift bag from behind a shelf, "But I happened to be at the bakery, and well, the idea for tonight happened. Beth and the others all wish you a happy birthday and wish they could have made it tonight."

"You guys!" Tears prick at the corner of my eyes. I've only known these women for a little over a month, and already they're proving themselves as the best friends I've ever had.

They all surround me and I end up at the center of a group hug.