Page 1 of Second Goal

Prologue

Kiley

Imposter.

Fake.

Sham.

My brain screams the accusations as music and laughter float around me.

The room seems to buzz, energized by the happiness of the newly married couple dancing to their first song as husband and wife. God, I swear their love is almost tangible. Like something I can hold on to when the ugliness of my past threatens to drown me. But that love belongs to them, not me.

The truth is, even though the groom is technically my brother, I know I don’t belong here.

I swallow the lump of unease that rises in my throat. I’ve tried to accept the new family that I’ve been given. But it’s difficult. Especially when I catch my brother’s gaze and see the corners of his lips turn down in the frown he tries unsuccessfully to hide.

Not that I blame his reaction. I came crashing into his life like a train wreck a little more than a year ago. It hadn’t been my intention to cause trouble, but chaos has always seemed to follow me.

Just like our mother.The thought pushes into my head, but it’s my brother’s voice that screams the accusation. He’s never said the words out loud. At least not to my face. But I know it’s what he’s thinking every time he looks at me.

I’m a reminder of the life he escaped when his adoptive parents pulled him out of the system, giving him the opportunity to be something in this world.

An opportunity he made good on.

His whole life is a kind of foster kid Cinderella story. Which is one of the reasons the media loves him, and one of the ways I was able to track him down. Because my brother just happens to be Kane Madden. The Annihilator’s golden boy and one of the top paid defensemen in the NHL. To the world, Kane is more than just a hockey star, he’s an inspiration, or as the media like to call him - a true American icon.

But he’s also a bit of a dick.

At least to me.

As much as I hoped for some sibling connection, it just hasn’t happened. And despite how hard my new sister-in-law keeps pushing that I’m part of their family, I haven't been able to swallow the happy pill these people have obviously taken.

Brynne glances over at me and gives a small wave before my brother spins her around and plants ahard kiss on her mouth, making her giggle.

I sigh, but despite my attempt to smile, I can’t get rid of the feeling like my whole world is about to crumble around me. Because all of this is just... too good.

“What’s wrong?” A deep, rough voice behind me rolls through my body. God, that voice. It ignites a flame in my core, a spark that has no right being lit. Especially not by the gorgeous, bossy, overprotective and extremely off-limits man I know it belongs to.

Don’t turn around, my brain warns. But I don’t listen. Slowly, I shift my body toward the enormous one hovering over me, taking a steadying breath when I do.

Blake Starowics.

My brother’s best friend and the star goalie for the Annihilators.

“Nothing,” I lie, tilting my chin up and meeting the gray eyes that are trained on me.

Hard.

Intense.

And so damn sexy.

My heart stutters without permission like it always does whenever the man enters my personal space. Which, for the sake of my health, is way too often. Especially since my brother set me up in an apartment across the hall from the insanely gorgeous, six-foot-one wall of muscle. And tonight, wearing what is no doubt an overpriced designer suit that fits his frame perfectly, the man looks delicious.Andcompletely out of my league.

“I’m just tired.” Another lie. But then I’ve told so many of them lately, it’s becoming second nature.

Blake keeps watching me like he’s searching for something. But I learned years ago how to mask my emotions. After a few seconds, he makes a noise at the back of his throat that sounds a bit like a growl, before looking away.

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