At First Smile – Melissa Whitney

“Being a hockey player is what you are, it’s not who you are.” “You may be one of the few who think that.” Face pinched, she lets out a sibilant breath. “Well, most people lack imagination.” My lips drag up at the corners. She sighs. “What are you protecting me from, Rowan?

Yes, you’re famous. Yes, your life is messy right now because of punch-gate, but what is it you’re really scared of?” “Me… I’m scared of me.” It’s almost a croak. “Oh, Rowan,” she whispers, her stiff posture eases and the steely expression melts. “It’s not forgiveness you don’t think you deserve… It’s me.” The words cluster and choke in my throat. “You didn’t leave to protect me, not really. You left to protect yourself. You waited to make your move fearing that you’d somehow disappoint me, but I think you didn’t want to let yourself down.

That I’d turn out to be just like everyone else and not see you. You didn’t give me…us a chance.” Shaking her head, she starts walking away. “You’re right.” Spinning, I follow her. “I’m fucking terrified.” She stops but doesn’t pivot to face me. “I am petrified I’ll let you down. I let down everyone who’s ever loved or had faith in me. I’m scared I’ll break your heart, or you’ll break mine.”

I take a steadying breath. “I’ve always let that fear control me, keep me away…protect me. I don’t want to be safe if it means throwing away a chance to be with you. I am more scared than I’ve ever been that you’ll walk away.” I fist my hands at my sides. “But if that’s what you want, I understand. I just don’t want to hide from you anymore. So, here I am.” I swing up both hands. “I’m Rowan Iverson. I play hockey for the L.A.

Bobcats. They call me Rowdy Rowan. I’ve been in every penalty box in the NHL…twice. I punched Landon Phillips and I’m not sorry about it. I’ve never really been in a real relationship. I tried with Emma Sinclair, but she was more interested in raising her public profile. I wasn’t heartbroken about our breakup.

That relationship was more about me trying to do what I thought I was supposed to, not about how I felt about her. In the year I dated Emma, I didn’t feel an ounce for her of what I felt in just thirty-five hours with you… That I still feel for you. God, I want you so bad and that hasn’t dulled in the last week, it’s only gotten stronger.

I care about you… so, so much and that scares me. And I’m okay with being afraid because you’re worth it.” As if in slow motion, Pen turns. Her eyes glossy and lips drawn into the sweetest smile. My heart soars and I go on, “I’m scared of thunderstorms.

Disability advocate Pen Meadows is on a mission; grab a breakfast sandwich, find her gate, and listen to her smutty audiobook. Only, the sexy, tall man in front of her at Tim Hortons may prove a worthwhile distraction. His soft Irish lilt and mix of gruff sweetness make Rowan Iverson unlike any man she’s ever met.

After a brief meet/cute, and even briefer goodbye, the social media influencer ends up seated beside Rowan on a cross-country flight. Rowan Iverson desperately wants to get back to Los Angeles without calling further attention to himself. A potentially career-ending incident at hockey’s biggest game could transform the NHL’s top defenseman into its most hated player. The last thing he wants is for his mess to trip up Pen. A mid-flight detour forces him to realize that his goal to resist her bright smile may be a game he’s already lost.

Back in the reality of their jobs and lives in Los Angeles, Pen learns that the man she’d spent one incredible night with isn’t who she thought. He’s a player and Pen doesn’t play games, especially when her heart is at stake. Can Rowan prove to Pen that he is who he wants to be…just hers? 1kitap1.com/en At First Smile Copyright © 2024 by Melissa Whitney All rights reserved.

This is a work of fiction. The characters are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Although it’s fair to say that anyone enjoying a life so full of love is lucky indeed. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Digital eISBN-979-8-9904334-3-4 Print ISBN: 979-8-9904334-2-7 1kitap1.com/en CONTENTS Author’s Note/Content Warning Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Epilogue Sneak Peek – Finding Home Also by Melissa Whitney Acknowledgments About the Author 1kitap1.com/en To everyone who’s ever been told that they weren’t the main character, I see you.

1kitap1.com/en AUTHOR’S NOTE/CONTENT WARNING My Dear Reader, In so many ways this is the riskiest book I’ve ever written. As a legally blind woman that has been losing her sight since the age of six, I have seldom saw myself as the main character (pun intended). There is limited thoughtful/accurate representation of legally blind characters within media, especially characters that are crafted by someone that is legally blind.

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

Book Information

• Unique ID: df634a484da1f9a9
• File Extension: .pdf
• File Size: 2,930,270 bytes (2.795 MB)
• Title: –
• Author: Unknown
• ISBN: 9798990433434, 9798990433427
• Pages: 307
• Language: English (en)

Reading & Word Statistics

• Estimated Reading Time: 509.7 minutes
• Total Words: 101,940
• Total Characters: 556,812
• Average Words per Page: 332.05
• Average Characters per Page: 1813.72

Most Frequent Words

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