Slapshot by Jami Davenport

BRYCE:
I’m the guy the entire team loves to hate. Not only am I one of the Sockeyes’ best players, but I make sure everyone knows it. No woman has ever held my heart until I meet Tia. She’s everything I am, gorgeous, rude, arrogant with a capital ‘TUDE, and we’re both concealing soul-shattering pain. Together we’re fire and ice, a combo I can’t resist and one that has me worried I’ve finally succumbed to the worst four-letter word in the English language–LOVE.

TIA:
After my mother’s tragic death, I’ve lashed out and driven away everyone who ever cared about me. The pain is so great, I feel I don’t deserve friendship or love. Along comes Bryce. We’re kindred spirits. He’s as damaged as I am. Out of our grief, something special begins to sprout, but our tendency to destroy anything good in our lives threatens the best thing that’s ever happened to us. Only Bryce refuses to give up on us while I’m finding old habits die hard and barricading my heart is easier than opening up and risking being hurt again.