Hockey Allies Bachelor Bid #3
Slater Knox is known around the league as the tough enforcer for the Buffalo Bedlam. His popular social media accounts and open relationship with the fans have made him one of the most beloved players in hockey. They've also earned him a spot in the All Star game, and an invitation to be a bachelor at a charity auction. For all his living in the spotlight, he's hiding a secret... He's in love with his best friend and keeping quiet grows harder each day.
Noah Alzado is the newest addition to the team, and has spent the last few months joined at the hip with his best friend Slater. Slater is everything Noah wants, but won't let himself have. They are best friends, roommates, and teammates, that's three complications too many. Plus, Noah guards his private life as fiercely as Slater shares his own. His best option is to keep his head down, help his team win, and not do anything stupid... like kissing Slater again.
Everything comes to a head during All Star weekend, where the best in the league compete for ultimate bragging rights, and at the auction, where temptation is hot enough to melt the ice. The chemistry between Slater and Noah is scorching, but can they lower their defenses enough to make a play for love?
Original Review July 2020:
Noah Alzado is the newest addition to the team, and has spent the last few months joined at the hip with his best friend Slater. Slater is everything Noah wants, but won't let himself have. They are best friends, roommates, and teammates, that's three complications too many. Plus, Noah guards his private life as fiercely as Slater shares his own. His best option is to keep his head down, help his team win, and not do anything stupid... like kissing Slater again.
Everything comes to a head during All Star weekend, where the best in the league compete for ultimate bragging rights, and at the auction, where temptation is hot enough to melt the ice. The chemistry between Slater and Noah is scorching, but can they lower their defenses enough to make a play for love?
I can't imagine two people more opposite when it comes to their stance on privacy. Slater is open with his fans on social media and Noah keeps things close at hand, not wanting to rock the boat. Perhaps it's one of the things that make them best friends, opposites attract in love and sometimes opposites attract in friendship.
Both men want the same thing: each other but they also don't want to lose the friendship, both on and off the ice. Taking that step is one of the hardest things either has possibly ever faced. Watching them figure it out is heartwarming, the whole tough on the ice and tender at home really works for me. Don't get me wrong, there were times I wanted to shake them, knock their heads together but that's what makes this story work. They each have faults, they each have pluses and together they can be magic, if they let themselves and for that final answer you'll have to read Scoring Slater for yourself.
Susan Scott Shelley is not entirely a new author for me, I read a short story in a holiday collection a couple of years ago, recalling that short and Scoring I look forward to more. If you haven't read her before than Scoring Slater is a great intro to a new author.
RATING:
Susan Scott Shelley
Both men want the same thing: each other but they also don't want to lose the friendship, both on and off the ice. Taking that step is one of the hardest things either has possibly ever faced. Watching them figure it out is heartwarming, the whole tough on the ice and tender at home really works for me. Don't get me wrong, there were times I wanted to shake them, knock their heads together but that's what makes this story work. They each have faults, they each have pluses and together they can be magic, if they let themselves and for that final answer you'll have to read Scoring Slater for yourself.
Susan Scott Shelley is not entirely a new author for me, I read a short story in a holiday collection a couple of years ago, recalling that short and Scoring I look forward to more. If you haven't read her before than Scoring Slater is a great intro to a new author.
RATING:
Chapter One
The sun breaking through the storm clouds over the Toronto skyline made for a perfect picture.
Slater Knox lifted his phone, tapped the camera icon, and then took a moment to play with a filter, deepening the blue of the sky and the gleam of sunlight off of the buildings.
The peaceful scene before him, the calm after the storm, called to him. His left side ached from the punches he'd received in the previous night's game. His right hand ached from the punches he'd thrown. Thinking about the events that led up to that fight, and the dirty hit the opposing team's player had taken at Slater's captain was enough to get his blood boiling all over again. He'd done more damage than he'd received, and had likely made a new enemy, but hopefully had taught that rookie a lesson.
In the three years he'd been in the league, he'd carved out a reputation. Fighter, enforcer, protector, the names all meant the same thing to him. He didn't play dirty, but if opposing teams did, he doled out retaliation, or his preferred term, justice, fast and furious.
He took a few photos, then noticed the lens had also captured his reflection in the hotel room window. Inspiration struck. The fans were always happy to see him in a photo, but adding in other teammates always made them even happier. He adjusted the angle of the phone and shifted his body closer to the teammate by his side. In the corner of his vision, Noah Alzado didn't move, didn't even look up from his gazing out the window, and Slater captured three photos before moving back to his original perch at the other end of the window. He scrolled through the photos, examining them for the best one to post to social. The ones with his and Noah's reflections, side by side, were his favorites.
Hotel room hangouts while on a road trip were a regular thing, not a big deal at all. But everything was different with Noah. The fans had picked up on it too, from their comments and speculations whenever Slater shared a photo of the two of them together.
"Careful, Knoxie." Noah’s amused voice curled around Slater’s nickname like an endearment. "You’ve taken so many pictures today, you'll end up with a repetitive motion injury in your finger."
He lifted his gaze from his phone to where Noah leaned against the hotel room's windowsill a few feet away. The mug of tea steaming in his hands sent wisps of heat curling around his face.
With the sunlight spilling across Noah's features, highlighting his dark hair, perfect profile, the stubble on his jaw, and the inked images covering his arms, the man looked even more devastatingly handsome than usual. And that was saying a lot.
Breath caught in Slater's lungs, and the sarcastic reply he'd readied died in his throat. He couldn't help taking a photo to capture that moment. He could already imagine the image, tinted in black and white or left in full color, hanging as a print in a gallery. Just like the photography exhibit they'd visited on their last day off.
Noah grimaced and raised his mug to shield his face. "No more pictures."
"Come on, one more?" Slater made his plea with a smile and his best puppy dog eyes. The guys liked to give him a hard time about how often he posted, but most of them were happy to pose for a photo to share with the fans. Noah, however, had limited patience for it. "Take a selfie with me. I promised the fans I'd check in before the game."
An eye roll followed a sip of tea, and Noah shook his head, but his blue eyes were twinkling. "You've already checked in with them three times today. One selfie at breakfast, one live video during the morning skate after you found out you won the fan vote as Last Man In for the All Star game, and another selfie after you woke up from your pre-game nap."
Slater grinned. "Stalking my feed, were we?"
A flush bloomed into Noah's cheeks and ears and he shifted his gaze to the horizon. "I can't help noticing when you tag me in things."
But he hadn't tagged Noah in the photo of himself in bed, posted hours after the morning skate video. Thinking of bed, and of what he'd been dreaming about during that nap, and more specifically who, Slater swallowed and willed his traitorous body and heart not to react. He'd kept his attraction a secret for the almost five months that they'd been roommates. Falling in love with his best friend hadn't been part of his plan, but it had happened, slowly, and he didn't know what to do about it.
He certainly couldn't act on it… Could he? They'd been friends for years. Noah's last relationship had ended that summer, right before he'd been traded to the Bedlam. After his breakup, he'd said that he needed a break from dating. Even now, he still didn't seem eager to set out to find someone new. But if Noah was ready, what was the chance that he could return those feelings? There were too many unknowns and too many risks.
Slater set his phone down and reached for his cup of coffee. For the past month, he'd been wrestling with the question of whether to tell Noah how he felt. A hotel room in Toronto, hours before a game, was not the time to share his feelings. Maybe there wouldn't be a good time. Ever. He needed to shift his focus to something else. "It's great that we're both going to the All Star Game. I wasn't sure I'd get voted in."
"Yeah, right. You have the largest social media following of any of the guys in the running for Last Man In. Hell, you're one of the most-followed guys in the league."
That was true. He worked hard at the relationship he'd developed with the fans. "Still, it's different getting in because I interact a ton with the fans rather than getting in because I have one of the hardest shots in the league or lead the team in points."
Both of those reasons were why Noah had been selected. Slater couldn't have been prouder for his friend, but now, being able to share the All Star weekend experience with him made getting in that much sweeter.
Noah shifted away from his spot by the window and rested his hip against the back of the chair behind him. His black T-shirt and black athletic pants more than hinted at the strong muscles they hid, they beckoned and tempted. "You might not lead in points, but you do lead our team in penalty minutes. I'd like to see a game with the enforcers from each team."
"Might as well just put us all in a boxing ring." He snorted at the idea. "It would be fun, but I don't think that's the image the league wants to project."
"No kidding, but you know people would watch it." Noah laughed, and then sent Slater a beaming smile. "Knoxie, you being there is going to make that weekend even better."
"Yeah? You're not going to get sick of me?" They were roommates, drove to and from games and practice together, spent the bulk of their spare time together, had vacationed together, and spent holidays together. Fans and teammates joked that they were joined at the hip. There wasn't anyone else Slater wanted to be with.
Noah's gaze roamed over his face, lingered on his lips for a moment, and then lifted to meet Slater's gaze. He licked his lips and his eyes sparked with an intensity that sent warmth buzzing along Slater's skin. "No."
"Oh." Slater's heartbeat kicked into higher gear, thudding as wonder mixed with desire. He and Noah watched each other, and the urge to reach out and touch was overwhelming, but so was the notion that if he moved an inch, he'd break whatever spell was holding them captivated. Maybe he should say something to Noah.
His phone buzzed and chimed, startling him. Noah glanced at the phone and something in his eyes shuttered and he took a step back.
Instinct had him reaching for the phone before his thoughts caught up with his movements. Slater read the message, blinked, and then read it again, out loud. "It's a message from the Hockey Allies charity. They're holding a bachelor auction during All Star weekend and want me to be one of the bachelors."
"They reached out to me too, a few weeks ago."
Slater nearly dropped his phone as he gaped at Noah. "And you didn't say anything to me about it? Why not?"
One shoulder lifted in a single shrug. "Because I told them no. I didn't see the need to mention it after that."
"Dude. Still. We tell each other all kinds of random shit that happens to us."
The tips of his ears reddened. Noah shifted his feet and peered into his mug. "Maybe I was worried you'd try to talk me into it and make me feel bad about saying no."
Surprise spiked faster than the caffeine hit from the dark roasted brew he'd consumed. "Have I ever tried to make you do something you didn't want to do?"
"Dancing at the club on New Year's Eve."
"That's different. That was dancing with me and having fun with our friends, and you ended up having a great time." Slater pushed away the memory with the brush of his hand. Hurt bloomed, surprising him, and anger followed. He was Noah's protector on the ice, a role that had carried off-ice too. Surely, Noah knew him better than that. "I'd never push you with something if you were uncomfortable."
"Yeah well." He wandered to the windowsill, sighed, and then moved back to the chair again. "I gave them a big donation to make up for it."
Slater glanced at the message again, and thought of all of the LGBTQ kids he'd worked with at summer hockey camps for the past few years and all of the people who had reached out to him to share their own stories of coming out. He had a voice and a presence and he intended to use them, but at the same time, he understood why Noah didn't like the spotlight. "I get why you said no, okay? I do. But I think I'll tell them yes."
Noah's gaze snapped to Slater's face. "You're not serious?"
"Why not? It'll be fun and it's for a great cause." He took a deep breath and decided to test the waters. "Who knows, maybe I'll meet someone."
He studied Noah's face, hoping for a reaction. One way or the other.
Noah's brows raised. He set his mug on the sill, ran a hand through his hair, and his gaze flickered with something Slater couldn't name. "Are you looking… Do you want… You really think you'll meet someone through a charity auction?"
"Celek met Victoria at the fundraiser we did for the animal shelter." Slater hooked his thumbs into his pockets and tried to calm his pounding heart. "And three months later, they're still going strong."
Noah's lips flattened into a line. "That's different."
"How? Lots of couples we know met randomly." He crossed his arms over his chest and waited.
Noah's features darkened into a scowl and Slater could almost see the wheels turning as Noah struggled to come up with a decent argument. There wasn't one.
Huffing out a sigh, Noah leaned against the chair and crossed his arms over his chest, matching Slater's stance. His tattoos, dark and sexy, shifted as his muscles bulged and flexed. "Still. I don't think you should do it."
"Well, I do." He weakened, taking another risk, opening himself up to hope. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't."
Noah's gaze intensified into a blazing blue. His lips pressed together again and a line formed between his brows. Finally, he shifted his scrutiny to the wall behind Slater. "No reason why you shouldn't, Knoxie."
Damn. One word from Noah, one crumb of interest, one syllable, and he would've turned down the auction opportunity.
He pasted on a smile. "Um, great."
"Yeah. Great." Noah pushed away from the chair and picked up his mug. "Listen, I'm heading back to my room."
"We don't have to be on the team bus for another hour."
"I know." He smiled but his eyes didn't crinkle in the corners the way they usually did. "I need to call home anyway. I'll see you downstairs later."
"Wait." Slater moved to block his path. "Are you mad? You seem mad."
"I'm not mad, Knoxie. I'm not anything at all." Noah stepped past him and continued through the room. He didn't look back as he walked out the door.
Slater stood rooted to his spot as the door closed. What the hell? Noah was angry, or something else if angry didn't fit, but he wasn't fine. He knew his friend well enough to know a lie when he heard one. Maybe he could have worded things better. Maybe it didn't matter at all.
He settled on the bed with his phone and his mug of coffee and a head filled with confusion. The rustled, rattled feeling was as uncomfortable as the aches in his body. He hated when he and Noah were at odds.
Needing a distraction, he scrolled through the photos he'd posted on his favorite social app. So many pictures and videos included Noah. So many fans' comments had mentions of boyfriends, as though the fans wanted them to get together as much as Slater did.
Maybe the invitation to the auction was the universe's gentle nudge for him to move on from Noah. He hadn't dated anyone since Noah had rolled into town. Hadn’t wanted to pursue anything with the guys who’d shown him the least bit of interest, either. Not with Noah being everything he wanted. He went back to the photos in his camera roll, and uploaded the one of the city skyline with only his reflection in the window. Maybe it was time to stop living in his head, hoping for something that might never happen.
He tapped on the message from the auction's coordinator. Typing out extra exclamation points in his response made up for an enthusiasm he didn't feel.
He'd do the auction.
Anything to get Noah out of his head and out of his heart.
Hot hockey players on the auction block…
Win a date with a professional hockey player during All Star weekend in Chicago. From leading scorers to fan favorites to guys you love to hate, watch the players strut their stuff in support of the Hockey Allies charity.
Place a bid. You just might find someone to keep you warm.
USA TODAY bestselling author Susan Scott Shelley writes romance with heat and heart that celebrates love without limits. She enjoys watching hockey, training for her next run, reading romance novels, and binging episodes of her favorite British TV shows. Susan lives in Philadelphia with her husband and also works as a professional voice over artist. A city girl who likes being out in nature as often as possible, she has yet to meet a plant she hasn’t wanted to take home and she really wants a pet crow.
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