Defending Hayden

Book 2: Second Chances

by L.P. Dover

Genres: Sports; Contemporary Romance; New Adult Romance

Synopsis

The Carolina Cougars keep fighting for love as the Second Chances series from bestselling author L. P. Dover continues! In Defending Hayden, a damaged football star teams up with the only woman who can take the pain away.

No one’s tougher than Carolina Cougars linebacker Derek McLaughlin. But when a fatal car accident claims the life of his girlfriend, Derek finds himself caught in a destructive spiral of drugs, alcohol, and meaningless sex. But not even a string of one-night stands can ease the hurt. Football is all he has left. Then fate leads him back to the scene of the crash, and into the arms of a kind, gorgeous woman who sees past his façade to the man he once was . . . and can be again.

When a chance roadside encounter brings Derek into her life, veterinarian Hayden Hunter isn’t fooled by his bad attitude: All bark and no bite, he’s hiding a wounded heart beneath that gruff demeanor. And Hayden wants to be the one to kiss it all better. Soon they both find that a dose of passion is potent medicine. But when a hidden enemy lashes out at Hayden, Derek steps up to do what he does best: put his body on the line in the name of love.

Don’t miss any of New York Times bestselling author L. P. Dover’s red-hot Breakaway novels:
HARD STICK | BLOCKED

Or these heartwarming Second Chances romances:
CATCHING SUMMER | DEFENDING HAYDEN | INTENDED FOR BRISTOL

“L. P. Dover knows how to create the men who make us swoon, the book boyfriends we all want.”—New York Times bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin

Praise for Defending Hayden

“L. P. Dover delivers a sexy and intriguing romance with Defending Hayden, sure to get your heart beating.”—New York Times bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin

“Sexy and emotional with characters you will root for, Defending Hayden is a great addition to the Second Chances series!”—Elisabeth Barrett, author of the Return to Briarwood series

“Defending Hayden is a smart and heartwarming story that is impossible to put down. Throw in a sexy football player and some lovable animals and you’re all set.”—Stina Lindenblatt, author of This One Moment

Includes an excerpt from another Loveswept title.

Release date: June 28, 2016

Publisher: Loveswept

Print pages: 244

Sample

Prologue

Derek

The night air was cool, the wind whipping by us as we rode in Brianna’s convertible. The top was down, and we’d just left a party at the Second Street Bar downtown. Evan was in the backseat, laughing and talking to Bri, while I watched in amusement. She always drove so I could have a good time with the guys. How could I have gotten so lucky?

“What did you tell Luke?” Evan asked her.

She shook her head. “Can’t tell. It’s Luke’s and my secret. But I did say what I would want if I were in Lara’s place. I just made him promise that whatever happens, he wouldn’t tell her it was my idea.”

Evan bellowed out a laugh. “Oh, hell.”

“Exactly.” Brianna laughed, too.

Lara wasn’t going to take that jackass back. Even I wasn’t stupid enough to sleep with a girl and dismiss her for three months, expecting her to stick around. Luke might as well get over it and move on. Brianna placed her hand over mine and smiled. I had no idea how she could put up with my smart mouth, but I was lucky she did.

For the longest time, we were alone on the dark country road, but then a set of lights caught up to us from behind. Brianna tilted her mirror to get the lights out of her face. “That’s annoying.”

I glanced over my shoulder at the black Dodge Ram lifted truck behind us. “What the hell is this guy doing?” The truck sped up, going way too fast, getting closer by the second.

“Brianna, speed up,” Evan yelled. She slammed on the gas, but the person behind us kept pursuing, the front of the truck inches away from us.

“What the heck?” I hissed, flipping the person off.

Brianna grabbed my hand and yanked it down. “Derek, stop! It’ll just piss them off more.”

“I don’t give a crap. They’re riding our tail.” If the guy didn’t stop, I was going to get out and kick his butt at the next red light.

Brianna’s car was no match for the truck, which could easily run us right over. The idiot was probably drunk.

“When we get up close to the high school, pull over and let the idiot by,” Evan suggested. Then, out of nowhere, the truck slammed into us from behind and we jarred forward.

“Dammit!” I growled. Brianna screamed, and tears streamed down her cheeks. I grabbed her thigh and squeezed. “Keep driving, baby.”

Drenched in sweat, I swung my legs over the side of the bed. The memories of that night six months ago still plagued my mind. Whether I was asleep or awake, Brianna’s screams always echoed in my ears. Every time I heard them, they shot like a knife through my heart. It didn’t matter where I was or what I was doing, her cries always came back to haunt me. I could be wasted with a bottle of rum in my hands, doped up on pain meds, or even screwing another female. Nothing helped. Even my request to be traded from the Carolina Cougars to another team was denied. Couldn’t they see I needed to get away? I’d endured six months of hell, and it hadn’t gotten any easier. Football was all I had, but I couldn’t bear to be in the same damn city where Brianna was taken away from me. Not to mention she was pregnant when she died. I didn’t just lose her—I lost my child as well. I couldn’t do it any longer.

A set of headlights shone through the bedroom window and a horn blew down the street. The sound sucked me back into my nightmare.

Brianna’s cries were all I could hear as everything moved in slow motion. I cursed at the guy in the truck, especially when he pulled up beside us. It was dark and I couldn’t see his face, but when I tried to get a better look, he slammed into the side of Bri’s car, jarring me to the left. Evan flew out of the car before we flipped over, and though I tried to grab Brianna’s hand, I was ripped away from her. Darkness overtook me and the pain went away. I was at peace . . . until I was brought back to hell.

Sucking in a breath, I ran my hands through my damp hair. I wasn’t big into the church scene, but I had my faith. That night I swore I saw the light drawing me closer. Maybe Brianna was there, holding my hand as we moved toward it. It had been ripped away from me in a flash when I’d heard Evan screaming my name and felt his fists pounding on my chest.

I rubbed a hand over my heart, the pain so excruciating I could barely breathe. What the heck was I going to do? Getting out of bed, I found my jeans on the floor and slipped them on. I didn’t want to look at the bed, knowing very well there was a mistake lying in it. I didn’t even know her name; I didn’t care. All I wanted was an escape from the pain. Disgusted with myself, I put on my shirt and grabbed my keys and phone off the dresser. I had to get the heck out of there.

As soon as I got in my car, I sped out of the driveway and dialed Evan’s number. “Derek, what’s up?” he answered. It was two in the morning, but he knew my routine. Every time I messed up, I called him.

“I can’t do it anymore,” I told him. “I’m done. I don’t want to be a part of the team, and I don’t want to be in this city. I’m leaving.”

He sighed. “Where are you gonna go? Your family’s here. Why won’t you let me help you?”

I squeezed the steering wheel hard with my free hand, my eyes burning. Everything inside me felt like it was going to explode. If I gave in to that, no one around me would be safe. The only solution was to leave. I didn’t want to drag anyone else down with me, especially Evan. He was the one who’d saved me, who’d brought me back to life. But he was also the one who’d brought me back to hell.

“Derek, you there? Talk to me, brother.”

“I’m sorry, Townsend, but there’s nothing you can do.” I tossed the phone out the window and heard it shatter on the road as I sped past. There was nothing anyone could do.