I never meant for him to matter. I only wanted a job, a chance to keep my sisters safe. But Slade Mercer is impossible to ignore. Cold. Arrogant. Handsome. Intriguing. He pulled me into his world. And suddenly I am not sure if I am saving him or if he is saving me. - - - - Aspen Hart only needed a better job. She needed safety for her sisters. They needed a home and a real roof over their heads. And maybe, if she was lucky, she could bring a little Christmas magic back into their lives. They had lost too much in the last year. Aspen refused to let another winter pass with the three of them sleeping in a car or in a crowded shelter where danger waited in every corner. So when an unexpected opportunity appeared, Aspen walked into a job interview she was not qualified for and prayed for a miracle. She actually got the job. Then the next day an arrogant, unbelievably rude man fired her. Slade Mercer was not just a professional hockey player. He was the best center the country had seen in years. A hero on the ice, adored by fans who had no idea he was the villain in his own memories. Nightmares followed him everywhere, and he had no plan to escape them. Not until he met Aspen. Something in her eyes carried the same kind of pain he thought only he understood. He felt the pull immediately, but he refused to let her get close.