Jill Shalvis - Time Out

2012

Dear Reader,

Who doesnt love a sports hero? Theres just something about a guy whod lay it all on the line for the win. Mark Diego is a NHL head coach, and a lifelong athlete. Hes used to winning, and getting his way. Too bad no one ever told Rainey Saunders that.

Rainey and Mark havent seen each other in years when my story opens, but their past is indelibly imprinted in their minds.

These two were a challenge for me. Mark wanted things to go his way (and since hes a man, you can guess which way that was). And Rainey was determined to call the shots. Sparks flew from my keyboard every day during the writing of this book. My fingers are still smoking.

This is my first Harlequin Blaze novel in a while, but it wont be my last. There is still a lot more heat left in the keyboard, so stay tuned. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy Time Out. I sure did.

Happy reading,

Jill Shalvis

www.jillshalvis.com

www.jillshalvis.com/blog (be sure to sign up for my newsletter on the right sidebar to keep up to date!)

www.twitter.com/jillshalvis

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Thanks to both Mary and Melinda, two dear friends, without whom this book would have had a lot of mistakes. If theres still mistakes, blame them.:)

AS ALWAYS, RAINEYS brain was full, too full, but one thought kept rising to the top and wouldnt leave her alone. Tell me again, she asked Lena. Why do we like men?

Her best friend and wingman-even though Lena was no longer technically single-laughed. Oh, honey. We dont have enough time.

They both worked at the beleaguered North District Rec Center in Santa Rey, a small mid-California beach town. Lena handled the front desk. Rainey was the junior sports coordinator, and today she was running their biweekly car wash to raise funds for their desperate sports program. Sitting on a stool in the driveway of the rec buildings parking lot, Rainey directed cars in and accepted customers money, then sent them through to the teenagers who were doing the washing. She kept her laptop out for the slow times. In between cars shed been working on the upcoming winter sports schedule while simultaneously discussing all things men. Rainey was nothing if not a most excellent multitasker.

And maybe the slightest bit of a control freak.

I thought you were going to try that online dating service, Lena said.

I did. I got lots of offers for hookups.

Lena laughed. Well, what were you looking for?

Coffee, a few laughs, a connection A real connection, which Rainey was missing lately. Her last two boyfriends had been great but not great enough. Lena thought she was picky. In truth, Rainey was looking for something that shed only felt once before, a very long time ago, when shed been sixteen and stupid. Men suck.

Mmm, Lena said. If theyre very good, they do. Listen, youve had a dry spell, is all. Get back in the pool, the waters warm.

I havent had a dry spell, Ive just been busy. Okay, so shed had a little bit of a dry spell. Shed been spending a lot of time at work, trying to keep the teens in the North District-the forgotten district-out of trouble. That alone was a full-time job. She turned to the next car. Mrs. Foster had the highest beehive in all the land, and had been Raineys fourth grade teacher. Thanks for supporting the rec centers car wash, Rainey said.

Youre welcome. Her beehive, bluer now than ever, still quivered. I was going to go to South District since theyre giving away ten minute back massages with each wash, but Im glad I didnt. I overheard about your dry spell, dear. Let me get you a date with my grandson, Kyle.

Great. A pity date. No, thats-

Hes quite the catch, you know, Mrs. Foster said. Ill have him call your mother for your number.

Really, its not necessary-

But Mrs. Foster was already driving forward, where her car was immediately attended to by a group of Raineys well-behaved teens.

Okay, not all that well-behaved. Rainey had coerced them here on threat of death and dismemberment, but they desperately needed the money if they wanted a baseball and softball season.

Score on Mrs. Fosters grandson, Lena said dryly. Think Kyle still has buck teeth?

My mom wont give him my number. Probably. Okay, she totally would. Rainey had gone to school with Kyle, so her mother would think him safe enough. Plus, shed turned thirty last week and now her mom was on a mission to get her married before it was too late. Hot and sweaty, Rainey swiped her forehead. It might be only June, but it was ninety degrees, and shed been sitting out here for hours. Her Anaheim Ducks ball cap shaded her face for the most part but she could feel that shed still managed to sunburn her nose, and her sunglasses kept slipping down her damp face.

Theyd fed the teens pizza about an hour ago, and the kids were using the fuel to scrub cars and squirt each other every chance they got. They were down a few bodies since Rainey had kicked four of the guys out, the same four who always gave her trouble. Theyd been trying to coerce one of the younger teen girls into the woods with them.

Even long before the fires had devastated Santa Rey the previous summer, the North District had been steadily deteriorating, and that core group of four were hell-bent on deteriorating right along with the area. Working at the rec center was far more than a job for Rainey. She genuinely cared about this community and the kids, but those boys had no interest in her help. She couldnt allow them back, not after today, and given that theyd called her a raging bitch as theyd vacated the premises, the hard feelings were mutual.

Rick promised to take me out to dinner tonight, Lena said.

Rick was a lifelong friend of Raineys as well as her boss, and also Lenas boyfriend. Huh, she said. He promised me some summer league coaches. Coaches who wouldnt quit when the going got rough, like the volunteer coaches tended to do. Its three days before the start of the season.

Hes on it, Lena said, just as the man himself walked by, all dark eyes, dark hair, and a dark smile that never failed to get him what he wanted.

He flashed it at Rainey now. I promised, Rick said. And Ill deliver.

Great, Rainey said. But when-

But nothing. Hed given Lena a quick, soft smile and was already gone, back inside the building to wield his power there.

I hate it when he does that, Rainey grumbled.

Lena sighed dreamily. If he hadnt tasked me with a hundred things more than I have time to manage this morning, Id totally want to have his babies.

Honey, youre dating him. Youve been dating him for a year now. Chances are decent that you will be having his babies.

Lena beamed, ridiculously happy. Rainey wasnt jealous. Yes, Rick was hot, but they were friends, and had been since high school. Because of it, they knew far too much about each other. For instance, Rainey knew Rick had lost his virginity behind the high school football stands with their substitute P.E. teacher. In turn, Rick knew that Rainey had tried to lose her virginity with his brother-the last guy shed felt that elusive connection with-and been soundly rejected. At the humiliating years-old memory, she slumped in her seat. What if my dry spell is like the Sahara Desert, never-ending?

All you have to do is take a man at face value. Dont go into it thinking you can change them. Men arent fixer-uppers, not like a house or a car. You buy them as is.

Well I havent found one yet whos not in need of a little fixing.

Lena laughed. No kidding, Ms. Control Freak.