Sawyer Bennett – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read

Sawyer Bennett – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.books2020.com Sat, 28 Feb 2026 17:33:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 http://www.books2020.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/favicon.png Sawyer Bennett – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.books2020.com 32 32 Whiskey Words and Whispers (Sweet Tea & Trouble #1) Read Online Sawyer Bennett http://www.books2020.com/whiskey-words-and-whispers-sweet-tea-trouble-1-read-online-sawyer-bennett Sat, 28 Feb 2026 17:33:43 +0000 http://www.books2020.com/whiskey-words-and-whispers-sweet-tea-trouble-1-read-online-sawyer-bennett Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary Authors: Sawyer Bennett Series: Sweet Tea & Trouble Series by Sawyer Bennett
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Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 68864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)

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In the delightfully nosy town of Whynot, North Carolina, secrets and sweet tea never stay cold for long. When sparks fly between two locals—one returning home and one with secrets to hide—the gossip mill isn’t the only thing turning up the heat.

Penny Pritchard thought she’d traded in small-town chatter for political banter when she left to build a big career in Washington, D.C. But when her beloved Aunt Muriel needs help running Central Café—the local hotspot for gossip, grits, and good intentions—Penny comes home with a suitcase full of high heels and denial about just how much she’s missed this place.

Enter Sam-Pete Rochelle, the easygoing bartender at Chesty’s with a smile that could make a girl forget her rules and a secret bigger than the town itself. Everyone thinks he’s just the guy pouring whiskey and fixing the jukebox. No one suspects he’s actually a wildly popular, very rich, and very anonymous author of steamy fantasy romance novels.

When the truth is revealed and it’s time for Sam to stop hiding behind his pen name, Whynot loses its collective mind. The church ladies are clutching their pearls, Floyd’s hosting a “Banned Books & Bourbon” club, and the mayor’s calling an emergency meeting about moral decay. And Penny? Penny is learning firsthand that Sam doesn’t just talk the talk where his books are concerned. Sam excels at walking the walk, if you know what I mean.

Now, Penny is torn between her two worlds. Does she go back to the career that provides a sense of fulfillment and purpose or stay in the small town with the man who writes about epic love stories and might just be her own real-life happily ever after?

A laugh-out-loud, heart-swoony friends-to-lovers romance about second chances, southern charm, and finding the courage to write your own story—one rumor at a time

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER 1

Sam

The smell of honeysuckle is the only aromatherapy I need. It’s the scent of the South, and even on a tough day, it can pull me out of a funk. While the cicadas haven’t started their summer music just yet, at least the worst of the yellow pine pollen is gone.

Spring has settled into Whynot and there’s no other place I’d want to call home.

I lock the door to my duplex, tuck my keys into my back pocket, and start the walk toward Main. The sun is warm enough today to bake the sidewalk, and the days are stretching longer. The sky is the kind of pale gold that gives the illusion that everything has been dusted with sugar, and I make a mental note to remember that simile for later use.

My shift at Chesty’s starts in twenty minutes and my walk there will only take five, but I love this stroll through town. It’s five blocks of routine, five blocks of familiarity.

I’m a habitually early person and despise those who are chronically late, which some may say is a fault to be so hard-line about. But I consider it disrespectful to be tardy over and over again, or as my mee-maw would always say, “If you can show up late, you can show up on time—you just choose not to.”

Mrs. Beasley’s on her porch swing, fanning herself with what I bet is an old church bulletin. Her hound dog is sprawled out on his side, and he opens a lazy eye at my approach.

She lifts her chin when I pass. “Evenin’, Sam-Pete.”

I can feel the dimples pop from the unbidden grin. You can separate generations in this town by what they call me. Samuel, if it’s one of the church elders, Sam-Pete for those in my parents’ age group since that was my nickname from toddlerhood all the way through high school, and just Sam from those who know me best and therefore know it’s what I prefer these days.

I tip my head and call back. “Evenin’, Mrs. B. Ol’ Chester there looks pretty lazy today.”

“He’s sheddin’ something fierce. On my last nerve, I tell you. I could knit a sweater with how much fur he’s blowin’.”

“But you love him anyway,” I call back over my shoulder.

“That I do,” she says, and leans over to pat the old dog’s back.

A couple of teenagers in a mud-splattered truck holler something that sounds like, “Free beer at Chesty’s!” and I wave back because it’s easier than explaining marketing doesn’t work that way.

Whynot’s a tiny town in central North Carolina, but it packs more personality than should legally fit between the feed store and the water tower. White clapboard houses lean into each other like old friends. Flower boxes explode with petunias. Somebody’s frying something three streets over, and the smell makes my stomach growl.

When I walk past Central Café, I try to see into the darkened restaurant, but it’s too gloomy. I can make out the tables with chairs stacked on them, but not much else. I try to imagine the smell of Muriel’s biscuits and the way they used to perfume this whole stretch of sidewalk, but she’s been closed down now for a week, and there’s no sign of her reopening in the near future. I swear you could tell the time of day by what you’d smell as you walked by.

“Damn shame,” I mutter, because the old diner was the heartbeat of Whynot. It’s where gossip ran rampant, but friendships only got deeper as people bonded over blueberry pancakes in the morning and Muriel’s famous meatloaf at night.

I adjust my pace, cross to the other side where the pavement cracks around an old crepe myrtle, and keep moving. The neon sign of Chesty’s glows weakly in the waning daylight—red letters flickering in welcome to the parched citizen.

I push through the door, and the bell gives its half-hearted jingle. Chesty’s smells like stale smoke from the days when it was legal to smoke indoors and the faint sour of spilled beer, making it fall squarely within the description of a dive bar. Sunlight stripes the room through the blinds, doing little to brighten up the inside.

Larry’s behind the bar, wiping down its scarred top. He glances at the clock and then at me. “Why are you always early?”

“To balance out the way you’re always late, my friend,” I say easily as I step through the pass-through to join him behind the bar.

Larry snorts. “You’re the only man in Whynot who treats bartending like it’s air traffic control.”

Pap’s already parked on his usual stool, elbows planted like he owns the place—which, technically, he does. He’s the kind of old where you can’t tell if the lines on his face come from laughter or stubbornness, but knowing the man the way I do, it’s probably both.

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Advertisement Atlas (Pittsburgh Titans #19) Read Online Sawyer Bennett http://www.books2020.com/atlas-pittsburgh-titans-19-read-online-sawyer-bennett Sun, 01 Feb 2026 09:23:58 +0000 https://www.books2020.com/atlas-pittsburgh-titans-19-read-online-sawyer-bennett Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Sports Authors: Sawyer Bennett Series: Pittsburgh Titans Series by Sawyer Bennett
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Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)

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As a star left-winger for the Pittsburgh Titans, Atlas Karolak thrives on the ice but keeps his personal life uncomplicated. That all changes when tragedy strikes, pushing him into an unlikely partnership that tests his patience, challenges his heart, and threatens to rewrite everything he thought he knew about love and family.

Playing professional hockey wasn’t just a dream, it was the only one that ever mattered. I’ve worked my whole life for this career, and now that I’m playing for the Pittsburgh Titans, I’m exactly where I want to be. My life feels complete.

Until the day it doesn’t.

Losing my best friend to cancer shatters me in ways I didn’t see coming. And as I’m trying to figure out how to say goodbye, I’m blindsided again—because he’s named me and Maddie St. James as joint guardians of his daughter.

Maddie and I… we’re not friends. We’re barely acquaintances. If I’m oil, she’s water, and we’ve never managed to mix without friction. But for the sake of a little girl who’s already lost too much, we need to find neutral ground and figure out how to co-parent.

Are we capable? I’d like to think so. Are we scared out of our minds? Without a doubt. Can we put our differences aside and work together? Honestly, it depends on the day. But when stress turns into stolen glances, which turn into nights we can’t take back, our partnership gets a whole lot more complicated.

Because what started as obligation is starting to feel a lot like forever

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

PROLOGUE

Atlas

I stand outside Gray’s condo, knuckles hovering an inch from the door, but I don’t knock.

Not yet.

My heart is heavy, my hand clenched in a tight fist that could as easily punch the door as politely rap on it to announce my arrival. If I just stay here in the hallway long enough, maybe I won’t have to face what’s waiting inside.

I’ve been here many times before. Every time I played in Chicago, I stayed with Gray rather than at the team hotel. I couldn’t miss the opportunity to spend time with my closest friend.

This building’s nice, high-rise glass and steel, with a view of the lake if you’ve got the right corner, which he does not. Gray worked his ass off for it, although an accountant’s salary doesn’t get you much in the way of space these days. I remember relaxing on the balcony, reminiscing about the old days back in Buffalo. Distance may have separated us after we became adults, but we always stayed tight. Daily texts, weekly calls and in the summer, we always went somewhere together. Boys’ trips that involved adventure and way too much beer.

But that was all before… this.

Stage four lung cancer.

It doesn’t seem real, not when I say it in my head. Gray never smoked a day in his life, and still he’s the one whose body betrayed him. It’s not fucking fair and that’s really the reason I want to punch the door.

This is the guy who was always steady, always the responsible one, and now he’s fading from this earth.

I don’t have long to spend with him. The Titans play tonight against the Chicago Bobcats, and I’ve got to head to the arena in a few hours. I took a commercial flight here from Pittsburgh and I’ll reconnect with the team after tonight’s game for the rest of this road trip.

But I had to come. I couldn’t pass up this opportunity, not when Gray has been given a handful of weeks, maybe a month if he’s lucky. And just on the other side of this door, I’ll visit with him beside his hospice bed and try to put on a brave face.

I take a deep breath, flex my hand, then let it drop to my side. My stomach twists. I’m not ready to see how bad it’s gotten.

I picture him as a kid—us in Buffalo, sticks clattering on the pavement, pretending we were hockey stars while the streetlights buzzed overhead. Gray’s steady calm to my hot head. He was the one person I could count on when my parents flaked, when my dad missed another game or my mom shrugged me off with a “You’re tough, Atlas. You can handle it.”

Gray never said that. He just showed up. Always.

Which is why I can’t keep standing here like a coward.

I finally knock.

The door opens and I’m not surprised to come face-to-face with Maddie. Of course she’d be here. She’s the one caring for Gray until the end.

I already feel my jaw tighten, which happens whenever I’m in her presence.

Maddie St. James is petite, maybe five three tops, with a sharp blond bob that cuts at her jawline. Underneath, streaks of black peek through, deliberate and edgy. Her eyes are the kind of blue that catch you off guard—brilliant and intense. She bears a small silver stud in her nose. She’s striking, yeah. But she’s also prickly as hell, standing there with her arms crossed, expression flat like she’s already tired of me.

And the worst part? I don’t even know why she irritates me so much, but she does. The way she looks at me grates, like I’ve already failed some unspoken test.

She doesn’t greet me. Just steps back, silent, making space for me to come in.

“Where’s Grayce?” I ask, brushing past her, the silence too loud.

“Napping,” she says, clipped.

“And Gray?”

She tips her chin toward the bedroom down the hall. “See for yourself. He’s been waiting for you.”

I hesitate for a beat, then move down the hall. Maddie trails behind me, her presence a weight I don’t want but can’t shake.

The bedroom hits me like a punch.

It’s not Gray’s room anymore, it’s a hospital. The curtains are half-drawn and the smell of antiseptic hangs in the air. And in the middle of it all is Gray.

He’s in bed, wasted away. His face is gaunt, skin pale, cheekbones sharp where there used to be strength. His eyes are sunken but alert, his frame swallowed by the blankets. He looks fragile. And Gray was never fragile.

Maddie bustles around the bed, uttering a tut-tut sound that I distinctly remember my preschool teacher making when I spilled chocolate milk. “Gray, you promised you’d drink more,” she chides, taking a glass with water from beside the bed and handing it to him. Her voice is brisk—typical Maddie—but not unkind.

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Advertisement Formula Dreams (Race Fever #4) Read Online Sawyer Bennett http://www.books2020.com/formula-dreams-race-fever-4-read-online-sawyer-bennett Sun, 07 Dec 2025 21:06:41 +0000 http://www.books2020.com/formula-dreams-race-fever-4-read-online-sawyer-bennett Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Sports Authors: Sawyer Bennett Series: Race Fever Series by Sawyer Bennett
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Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >84

Things heat up on and off the track when the first female driver in Formula International history goes head-to-head with one of the sport’s biggest names. Formula Dreams is a high-speed enemies-to-lovers standalone romance.

Francesca Accardi is rewriting the record books at Titans Racing. With the first female team owner in her corner and the weight of history on her shoulders, she knows the only way to silence doubters is to win. Every lap. Every race.

Ronan Barnes dominates on Sunday and dares the world to judge him on Monday. Arrogant, electric, relentless, he has no time for niceties—or for the rookie who refuses to yield. Forced together for press tours and charity laps, their sniping becomes a spark neither can shake. But rival teams don’t tolerate distractions, sponsors spook fast, and one misstep could cost Francesca her seat and Ronan his shot at the championship.

When Ronan’s private life—and his mother’s addiction—become an issue he can no longer avoid, Francesca is there as his emotional support. Compassion cracks his armor. He defends her in the paddock; she stands beside him when it matters. Enemies become allies. Allies become something no rule book can define.

With a title on the line, they must her hard-won seat, his crown, or a future together—if they dare cross the line

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER 1

Francesca

Suzuka City is home to the Japanese Global Prix circuit and has often been called the holy grail of motorsport. The figure-eight track was built in the early sixties as a test track for the major Japanese automotive titans and is known to be a significant test of a driver’s skill.

It’s the kind of race that reveals the drivers who truly belong in Formula International.

There are three tiers in Formula International. FI3 is where you learn how to race professionally—still brutal, still competitive, but more forgiving. FI2 is the true proving ground with heavier, faster cars and tougher competition. You either stand out or you vanish. My entire life in this sport has been a battle and I’ve clawed my way to the top by winning in wet conditions, passing veterans who thought I didn’t belong, and learning to hone my mental fortitude.

Now I’m in the top tier and the first woman in Formula International. I’ve got more to prove than I ever have.

I’ve raced Suzuka before—both times at the FI2 level—but leveling up to FI means my car is faster and stronger. That means the track is more dangerous. In FI2, the car gave me room to breathe, a steppingstone to the big leagues. Engines maxing out at 620 horsepower and top speeds of 322 kilometers per hour made for decent grip and control as you slingshot yourself around the track. You could even afford a slight misjudgment here or there and come away relatively unscathed.

FI doesn’t give second chances. These machines are heavier and hit 370 kilometers per hour on the straights. They corner with twice the downforce and pull Gs hard enough to leave bruises on your body. A millisecond of hesitation and you’re in the wall.

So while I’ve raced this before and have done sims of this track more times than I can remember, it’s a completely different beast today. One that could devour me whole.

The reality of that comes in waves. Sometimes it feels like it might drown me—the high expectations of Titans Racing pressing onto my chest like a cinder block. But there are times it sharpens and clears my focus.

Today… I’m not sure which version of the pressure I’m holding. Probably both.

The scent in the trailer is doing weird things to my nose. It’s a combination of rubber, oil and the faint trace of citrus from a diffuser someone plugged in near the engineering bay. I’m not sure I like it.

The air is electrified with excitement but tempered with tension. Calling this building a trailer is probably an understatement. It’s a custom-built, climate-controlled paddock unit that was flown here to Japan in a cargo plane. It’s one of several the Titans’ team hauls from circuit to circuit and they are plush. Inside, everything is lined in deep purple, gray and white, and there’s framed art that hangs on the walls. The team’s branding is everywhere, from the telemetry screens to the stitched Titans’ logos on every chair back.

It’s all stacked together with different areas like the garage, the briefing room, data stations, private space to suit up, and a hospitality suite that provides breakfast, lunch and dinner. It takes upward of a hundred people for every race including engineers, mechanics, electricians, pit-stop crew, caterers, waiters, chefs and medical staff.

Oh, and two drivers—me and Nash Sinclair.

When Brienne Norcross bought the Titans racing team last year, the reported figure was close to eight hundred million. And that’s just the acquisition cost. Running it? Easily another two hundred and fifty million a season once you factor in car development, travel, personnel, engineering, simulator tech, and media. The engines alone are worth several million each. The cars—built from handlaid carbon fiber, titanium and leading-edge tech—cost more than private jets and crash way more often.

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Advertisement Lucky (Pittsburgh Titans #18) Read Online Sawyer Bennett http://www.books2020.com/lucky-pittsburgh-titans-18-read-online-sawyer-bennett Wed, 29 Oct 2025 22:15:05 +0000 http://www.books2020.com/lucky-pittsburgh-titans-18-read-online-sawyer-bennett Genre: Alpha Male, Erotic, Insta-Love, Sports Authors: Sawyer Bennett Series: Pittsburgh Titans Series by Sawyer Bennett
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Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)

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Matteo “Lucky” Branson has it all—an elite hockey career, a massive fanbase, and the kind of charm that trends effortlessly on TikTok. As the fun-loving left winger for the Pittsburgh Titans, he’s built a brand on superstition and swagger. But when a viral dating challenge puts him opposite a woman who couldn’t care less about his fame, Lucky’s about to learn the hard way that some games don’t follow the playbook.

They call me Lucky for a reason. My grandmother swears I was cursed at birth—yet somehow, I’ve been kissed by fate every day since. I’ve got my rabbit’s foot, a shamrock tattoo, and quirky rituals by the dozen—and it’s all worked so far. Life’s been smooth. Hockey, clout, fun... I’m skating through.

Until I meet Winifred Shaw. Winnie. She’s smart, bold, and laugh-out-loud funny, with a TikTok following that rivals mine and a dating challenge that’s going viral. The premise? Thirty days of dating to prove an average woman can still land a decent guy. I’m the first to accept the challenge—one night, one chance, and then she moves on. But the moment she rolls her eyes at me, I’m hooked.

She thinks I’m just another overhyped athlete with a pretty face and a lucky streak. But I see her—confident, curvy, electric—and I don’t just want a second date. I want every single one after that.

I’ve always trusted luck to get me where I need to be. But this time? I’m ready to fight for it

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER 1

Lucky

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times—lighting is everything.

I angle my phone slightly toward the brass-framed mirror in the men’s room of Lux, a swanky Pittsburgh steakhouse that caters to professional athletes, hedge fund managers, and women in dresses that are practically sprayed on.

Not that I’m complaining.

I adjust my position slightly so viewers can better see my reflection from the side—my profile is always the best—and hit the record button.

“This is a get-ready-with-me for another night of being emotionally unavailable but devastatingly hot,” I say into the front-facing camera. I smooth a hand over my hair, tilt my head dramatically, and wink. “Step one—deodorant. But just on the left side. Gotta keep ’em guessing.”

I hit stop, throw a filter on it, and post it with the caption: “Still a better love story than my last situationship.”

Within seconds, comments start rolling in.

Fire emojis.

“Marry me.”

One user writes, “Daddy?” which, honestly, feels a little aggressive before appetizers.

And there’s always a critic. “Bet you’re a 10 until you open your mouth.”

I snort. Fair enough. People either love my egocentric posts or they hate ’em. But if you put yourself out there, you have to take the good with the bad. My true social media fans know that I can go over the top, but when it boils down to it, I’m really very charming.

At least, that’s what I keep telling myself, and I haven’t been sued yet.

I tuck my phone into my pocket and head back out to the private dining room where the guys are waiting. The energy in the room is easy, loud and a little reckless—the kind that always follows a win on the road or a week with too much travel. We’re home for a bit, and we’re celebrating like we mean it. A handful of times a month, the entire team—players only and no SO’s—get together to have a nice meal in an expensive restaurant.

Foster’s at the head of the table I’m sitting at, already halfway through a whiskey neat. North and King are arguing about whether the bartender is flirting with one of them or both, but both agree they really don’t care since their girls are perfect in every way. Rafferty’s shoving truffle fries into his mouth like he hasn’t seen food in days, and Atlas is hunched over his phone, grinning like a jackass.

“There he is,” Foster says when I slide into the empty seat beside him. “Took you long enough. What were you doing, filming another thirst trap?”

“Gotta keep the internet hydrated.” I gesture to my jaw. “I mean… have you really looked at this thing?”

“Your narcissism is getting out of control,” King says, shaking his head, but his lips twitch to reveal his amusement.

“That’s rich coming from a man who’s googled himself in front of me.”

“Once,” he grumbles.

Penn strolls in then, looking smug and suspiciously well sexed. He drops into a chair across from me and steals a fry from Rafferty, who grunts in protest.

“You’re late,” North says.

Penn shrugs. “Blame Mila. She—”

“Nope,” Foster cuts in, raising his glass. “Whatever you’re about to say, we don’t want it.”

We laugh. It’s good to see Penn like this—carefree, happy, in a relationship that clearly suits him. And more importantly, fitting in with a comfort level that I didn’t think possible from a man like him. I credit Mila with teaching him about loyalty and love. They’ve been dating for a little over a month and it’s been a game changer for my man.

We order our entrees, settle in, and somewhere between my steak tartare and Foster’s third drink, he taps his spoon against his highball glass lightly enough to quiet the guys at our table. “I bought the ring.”

I blink. “For Mazzy?”

“No, for the hot hostess,” he says. Then he grins. “Yeah, for Mazzy.”

Atlas slaps the table. “About fucking time.”

The congratulations roll out in a wave. Penn throws a crumpled napkin at him. King mimes a prayer. North raises his glass.

“Any plans for the proposal?” I ask. “I could film it for you.”

Foster rolls his eyes. “No thank you. I don’t want to end up a trending video.” He sips his drink. “Thinking something low-key but meaningful. I want her to be surprised.”

“Fake a fight,” Rafferty offers. “Then drop to your knee mid-argument.”

“Romantic,” I reply sarcastically. “May I suggest—Mazzy, even though I’m wrong about everything, will you marry me anyway?”

Foster guffaws. “You joke, but that will probably induce a yes.”

“Is Bowie Jane in on this?” North asks. That’s Foster’s irrepressibly adorable daughter, who he has full custody of. Mazzy started out as her nanny and then, well… they became a cliché.

“I haven’t shown her the ring because she can’t keep a secret to save her life. But she’s been begging me to propose to Mazzy for months. I’ll bring her in on the proposal, but it will be a last-minute thing.”

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Advertisement Formula Freedom (Race Fever #3) Read Online Sawyer Bennett http://www.books2020.com/formula-freedom-race-fever-3-read-online-sawyer-bennett Sat, 30 Aug 2025 08:42:28 +0000 http://www.books2020.com/formula-freedom-race-fever-3-read-online-sawyer-bennett Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Sports Authors: Sawyer Bennett Series: Race Fever Series by Sawyer Bennett
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Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 286(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >74

The Race Fever series from New York Times Bestselling Author Sawyer Bennett continues as one of the hottest drivers to hit the Formula International circuit makes waves across the racing world in Formula Freedom, a forbidden romance standalone.

Reid Hemsworth is still a relatively new face in the racing world but hasn’t wasted any time making a name for himself. No stranger to standing on the podium, Reid’s success isn’t all champagne showers and post-race parties. He may be considered a rising star in the sport, but to his brother, Lance, Reid stole his chance at racing glory and that can never be forgiven.

Lara Candlish grew up with the Hemsworth brothers, the three of them wasting away the hours of their youth riding waves together in the Australian surf. But as they got older and Reid’s career started to take off, their trio splintered under the weight of Lance’s jealousy. In the end, one brother had the career and one got the girl, but they both wanted what the other had.

When Lara finds herself trapped in an increasingly volatile relationship, she turns to the one man she knows she can trust above anyone else—Reid. Harboring deep feelings for much of his life, Reid doesn’t hesitate to bring Lara into his inner circle to provide her with the safety that she needs, no matter how much that might infuriate his brother. Their forced proximity quickly uncovers feelings he thought he’d left behind and Reid is prepared to act on them. But when his brother finds out that Reid now has the career and the girl, the situation goes from bad to worse.

As the relationship between Reid and Lara intensifies, so does the danger, and one truth becomes abundantly clear. Reid will stop at nothing to protect the one thing he now knows he can never live without—Lara

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER 1

Reid

Tonight, I’m standing in the middle of a private rooftop party in downtown Melbourne, surrounded by glittering city lights, champagne flutes and a crowd that reeks of wealth, ambition and the desperate need to be seen. I’m Australian—born and raised in Torquay—but Melbourne is my favorite city. It pulses with a kind of effortless cool that speaks to me. It’s my second full season on the FI circuit and the third race of the season is just three days away. The cars are faster in FI and so are the social events. This is a time for the drivers to mingle with the corporate sponsors and it’s not a part of the job I mind. I’m a natural extrovert and enjoy talking to people.

Of course, you have to balance that with keeping your focus sharp because truly… winning races is the best PR move anyway.

The city has come alive with Formula racing fever. Banners for the Melbourne Global Prix drape across every corner and the streets are filled with fans wearing their favorite team gear. We start practice rounds day after tomorrow and I’m already getting antsy, my nerves humming like a live wire. It’s a beautiful and terrible sensation all at once, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The sponsor party is in full swing, and I’m scanning for my buddy Carlos Moreno. He races for Union Jack Motorsports based in London and is about the nicest guy you could ever hope to know. He’s also quick-witted and funny… the kind of guy everyone considers a brother. Since I moved up to FI last season, we’ve become pretty tight, and he’s the person I tend to hang with during our downtime.

“Reid Hemsworth. There you are.”

A hand covers my arm—an elegantly manicured one covered in gemstone rings. I turn slowly to find a woman in a slinky silver cocktail dress with a neckline that plunges almost to her navel. The material clings to her like it was sprayed on and leaves nothing to the imagination. Blond hair in waves over one shoulder. Stiletto heels that make her nearly my height. She’s undeniably gorgeous and I’d have to be dead not to notice that.

I give her a welcoming smile because I assume she’s the guest of some important VIP or an actual VIP herself. “Hello.”

She squeezes my arm and slides closer than necessary. I peg her accent as Scandinavian. “I’ve been looking for you,” she says, lips brushing dangerously close to my cheek. “We didn’t get a chance to finish our conversation in Monza last year.”

I blink, any memory of her escaping me. Yes, she’s stunning in a way that most women couldn’t touch, but for the life of me, I can’t remember her. The Monza Global Prix was months ago.

She can tell I don’t recognize her, and she says, “My father owns Quantrex.”

Shit, right. One of the sponsors of Matterhorn FI, and I have a vague recollection of her being quite handsy when we met in Monza.

“Of course,” I say, offering a polite smile and stepping back just enough to break her hold. “Good to see you again.”

“You look delicious tonight.” Her eyes scan me openly, unapologetically. “Got plans after this? We could go to my suite for a drink.”

Normally, I’d flirt back. I’d have already ordered us both another round to see where the night might go. I mean, why would I pass up this offer? And why the hell did I pass it up in Monza? The best I can come up with is an attack of conscience—maybe it’s a conflict of interest. Her father is a sponsor for Matterhorn, and I’m one of two Matterhorn drivers.

Regardless, I’m not going there or anywhere. Not tonight. I’m too close to the race and I won’t let anything deter my focus.

I glance over her shoulder, scanning for a way out—and then spot exactly who I need.

“Gunner!” I call, loud enough over the music that he can hear me from where he’s standing at the bar.

My teammate, Gunner James, looks at me and then his gaze lands on the woman beside me. His eyes gleam and he makes his way over. He’s tall, broad-shouldered, and has that easygoing American charisma that makes people instantly like him. He’s been with Matterhorn FI a few years longer than me. He’s fast, disciplined, and still rides the line between cocky and humble better than most.

As he approaches, I turn to the woman. “Have you met Gunner James? He’s one of the sharpest drivers on the grid.”

Her eyes shift with interest. “Is that so?”

Gunner arrives just in time. “What’s up?” he asks, grinning like he already knows I’m trying to escape.

I clap him on the shoulder. “Just making introductions. Gunner, this is… sorry, your name is slipping me at the moment.”

“Brita,” she says, her tone flirty and aloof at the same time.

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Advertisement Penn (Pittsburgh Titans #17) Read Online Sawyer Bennett http://www.books2020.com/penn-pittsburgh-titans-17-read-online-sawyer-bennett Tue, 05 Aug 2025 19:56:23 +0000 http://www.books2020.com/penn-pittsburgh-titans-17-read-online-sawyer-bennett Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Sports Authors: Sawyer Bennett Series: Pittsburgh Titans Series by Sawyer Bennett
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Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >83

Penn Navarro is the best player in the league—unstoppable on the ice, untouchable off it. But the moment the game ends, so do the celebrations. Because no amount of goals, no number of wins, can silence the demons that haunt him.

Hockey is my life. It’s what I was born to do. That’s not ego talking, just fact—I’ve spent years honing my skills, earning my place among the elite. But talent doesn’t erase my mistakes, and no amount of success will make me forget the damage I’ve done. It’s why I keep my distance from my teammates, because if you never let anyone in, you’ll never get hurt. Or those are the lies that I tell myself.

Mila Brennan represents the darkest parts of my history. She’s a ghost I’ve tried to bury, the reminder of everything I’ve lost. When she shows up in Pittsburgh looking for me, I know nothing good will come of it, because our sins don’t stay forgotten. They fester, waiting for the perfect moment to strike, and Mila’s arrival means my time is up.

The past isn’t just knocking at my door—it’s kicking it down, crumbling all the walls I’ve built around myself in the process. And when the danger comes for us both, I’m forced to do the one thing I swore I never would. Let her in

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER 1

Penn

The roar of the Titans’ crowd is just a memory as I pull into my neighborhood, the quiet hum of my sports car a far different sound than the thunderous arena I just left. Another home win, another solid performance. It should feel good, and for a while, it did. I relished the brief celebration at center ice when the last buzzer sounded, about the only time I truly bonded with my teammates.

But then it was over and I moved on, aiming to get through another day.

I roll my shoulders as I drive, working out the tension from the game. I played well tonight, which is admittedly harder than usual. It’s been a struggle keeping my head in the game lately, playing with the same cool composure I’m known for. I hate that I’ve let myself get rattled by things that should’ve been left in the past, by memories I’ve tried to bury.

And by that goddamn teddy bear last week with the card that read I remember. Do you?

Of course, I remember. There’s not a fucking day that goes by that those awful memories don’t trickle into my brain, taking over and running rampant. Sometimes, I think I might be going crazy, but then other times—like when I’m on the ice—I can let it all go. I suppose if I could play hockey twenty-four seven, I wouldn’t be so tortured, but that’s an obvious impossibility.

My driveway appears, flanked by two massive stone columns and arched steel gates, locked tight for security. I force myself to loosen the grip on my steering wheel as I come to a stop beside the electronic lock pad. My house looms in the distance, cutting through the dark thanks to the multitude of lights placed strategically around the base and in bushes. It’s done for aesthetic purposes, but it’s also a safety measure.

I haven’t invited any of my teammates over since I moved to Pittsburgh, and I wonder if they’d think it’s beautiful or that I’m overly paranoid. A suburban fortress—high walls, a locked gate, a security system that would make any billionaire proud.

Ultimately moot since I have no desire to share any part of me with them.

I roll down my window and punch the code into the electronic keypad, the security cameras blinking their silent watch. The gates swing open and I guide my car along the curved driveway, the tires whispering against the pristine pavement. My home is enormous, coming in at almost ten thousand square feet, multi-leveled and outfitted with every luxury imaginable. It’s what any wealthy professional athlete would aspire to, yet it feels like nothing more than a place to exist. The only person I ever wanted to share it with—my dad—is gone. He never got to see the peak of my success, which is a travesty because I only became as good as I am to make him proud.

The left wing of the house has a five-car garage, and I pull into the far right stall, closest to the interior entrance. The second holds my Mercedes G-Wagon, but the other three are empty. Although I could fill each bay with a high-end car, two is more than enough and some would say one more than I actually need.

I kill the engine, letting silence settle around me as I step out. The overhead lighting casts long shadows, bouncing off the sleek hood of my car. A McLaren, because why not? And the G-Wagon? I paid cash for it. My contract with the Titans is lucrative, and I’ve got nothing else to spend the money on. No family, no social life, no extravagant hobbies—just a massive house, ridiculous cars, and a career that’s the only thing keeping me sane.

I head inside, passing through the mudroom into the cavernous kitchen. Stainless steel appliances, marble countertops, floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of nothing but darkness at this hour. I pull a beer from the fridge, pop the top, and take a long swig.

Congrats on a good game, Penn.

The den is my sanctuary, dark and minimalist, the large flat-screen mounted above the fireplace already tuned to ESPN. I sink into the couch, flipping to the post-game highlights, brew in hand. The ESPN anchor drones on about our win, about our offensive pressure and airtight defense, but I’m not really listening—not until I see myself on the screen.

And I fall back into the memory of a near perfect play tonight as the TV commentator drones on.

There I am, flying down the ice, legs burning but adrenaline fueling every stride. The Demons’ defense is scrambling, trying to get into position, but I see the gap before they do. Stone is charging up the left wing, Boone streaking down the right. Bain and King are holding the blue line, ready to pinch if needed, but this is mine.

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Advertisement The Past (Bluegrass Empires #4) Read Online Sawyer Bennett http://www.books2020.com/the-past-bluegrass-empires-4-read-online-sawyer-bennett Thu, 12 Jun 2025 17:16:05 +0000 http://www.books2020.com/the-past-bluegrass-empires-4-read-online-sawyer-bennett Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary Authors: Sawyer Bennett Series: Bluegrass Empires Series by Sawyer Bennett
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Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 70174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >74

Before ascending the throne of the Blackburn Empire in Kentucky horse country, they were just Tommy and Fiona, two teenagers from opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Young love bloomed during an Irish summer set amidst the rolling green hills and lush pastures of Tipperary County.

Fiona Conlan grew up sheltered by her overbearing parents and vibrating with the need for something more. In the summer of 1978, she found exactly what she needed. Ready to test the boundaries set for her, Fiona trained in the exhilarating and dangerous sport of steeplechase, and in an even more rebellious move, started secretly dating a young and brash American she knew her parents would never approve of.

Too much partying and not enough studying during his sophomore year of college had Tommy Blackburn’s parents desperate to get the future heir of the family business to take life a little more seriously. What better way to do that than to send him to Ireland to work at Glenhaven, a massive thoroughbred and breeding operation run by a family friend. But Tommy’s wild ways followed him across the pond and he couldn’t help but pursue the beautiful redhead with fire in her eyes and a wild spirit just waiting to break free.

Tommy and Fiona fell hard and fast, a secret love built from stolen moments. Rife with drama and disapproval, they overcame it all to set the stage for a new generation of Blackburns to run their American Empire. Their epically romantic journey was anything but easy, but you can’t get to the present without The Past.

The A Blackburn Novel is an opposites attract, long distance love story within the Bluegrass Empires series. All books in the series can be enjoyed as standalones.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER 1

Fiona

Blackburn Farms, Kentucky – Present Day

The house is silent.

Too silent.

And it’s times like these that the grief moves back in, settling upon me like a weighted blanket that never feels comforting, merely claustrophobic.

I’m in the formal sitting room, my favorite because of the big windows that overlook the long, oak-lined driveway. Next month the leaves will start turning colors and dropping, but for now, we’re soaking up the last warm rays of summer.

A cup of tea sits on the table, untouched but only because it’s still cooling. The boxes of photo albums from the attic are stacked beside me, on the floor, and piled onto an adjacent chair. More spill across the coffee table—frozen moments of a life now fractured.

It’s been almost a month since my youngest son, Wade, died, and there are times I think I can survive this.

And there are times… like right now… I don’t want to go on.

I pick up an album, a dulled burgundy canvas covering with a placard on the front that doesn’t identify the year or what’s inside. While I was the type of mother who took a million pictures of my kids as they grew up and dutifully put them in protective coverings inside the albums, I never labeled them. Over the years, I would memory surf, and the disorganization never bothered me. On the contrary, it was always a lovely surprise, not knowing what I would find when I opened one up.

I flip the cover and my heart lurches at the very first photograph. It’s of all my children, taken a good twenty-five years ago, if I’m guessing at their ages. Ethan, the oldest, already looking so serious, as if he knew he’d be running the Blackburn empire one day. My precious twin girls, Kat and Abby, holding hands as they jump off the dock and into the pond.

And there’s Wade… always the most mischievous, pushing his brother Trey into the water from the bank. A perfect moment frozen by the snap of the shutter, when everyone was happy and carefree and never suspected the tragedy that would befall us one day.

I focus on Wade with his toothy grin and smile at the look of shock on his brother’s face as he realizes he’s about to get very wet. I close my eyes… calling back the memory, letting it play in my head like a beloved motion picture. Their shrieking laughs that never once grated on my nerves, no matter how rambunctious or playfully rotten my brood could be.

My throat tightens. I press my fingers against my lips, willing myself to hold it together. It’s been a month and it’s time to let the pain go and only remember the good times.

Another photo—Trey, Kat and Abby splashing in the pond shallows as Ethan watched over them. Wade, no older than five, drowsily curled in my lap. My beloved Tommy must have taken this picture when I wasn’t paying attention, and I run my fingertip over Wade’s precious face. His life so full, so bright. And now, we’re all missing a piece we can never replace.

I bite my lip, but it doesn’t stop the tears that spill. I don’t bother to wipe them away, knowing more will just replace them.

Besides, I’m Irish. We’re big on our feelings and I’ve never been one to quash them for the sake of unnecessary stoicism. I’m a mother, and I’m allowed to grieve the loss of a child.

A quiet shuffle of feet pulls me from my thoughts. I glance up to see Sylvie standing in the doorway, her small frame hesitant, her green eyes filled with something I recognize—pain and uncertainty. She’s only been with us for five months, a granddaughter who was a stranger to me when she stepped foot on Blackburn Farms, and now as precious to me as all my children. She’s Ethan’s only child and still finding her place, still adjusting to a family she didn’t know existed until recently. Wade was her uncle for only a handful of months, and yet they bonded tight. She’s mourning him, same as we all are.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she says softly, her accent lilting over the words. She was raised on a beautiful winery in France, a legacy that she might return to one day when she’s older.

But for now… she’s ours.

“Yer not interrupting,” I assure her, patting the space beside me. “Come, sit.”

She pauses only a moment before crossing the room and curling up beside me. Her small hand presses against my arm, offering comfort. A child, but so intuitive, so aware of emotions bigger than she should have to carry.

“Where’s yer dad?” I ask.

“Working with Skylar,” she murmurs.

I wince at the reminder. The new hire who’s taking over Wade’s duties as one of our horse trainers.

She peers down at the album. “Who is that?” she asks, pointing to the photo I’d just been looking at.

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >74

Advertisement North (Pittsburgh Titans #16) Read Online Sawyer Bennett http://www.books2020.com/north-pittsburgh-titans-16-read-online-sawyer-bennett Thu, 01 May 2025 18:18:50 +0000 http://www.books2020.com/north-pittsburgh-titans-16-read-online-sawyer-bennett Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Sports Authors: Sawyer Bennett Series: Pittsburgh Titans Series by Sawyer Bennett
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Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >83

New to the Pittsburgh Titans but no stranger to relentless ambition, North Paquette knows exactly how to put in the work to ensure the win. But this time, the stakes are personal because the game isn’t just on the ice.

Life as a member of the Pittsburgh Titans is pretty freaking fantastic. I live in one of the best cities around, get paid to play the game I love and enjoy all the perks of being a professional hockey player. While many of those perks are because of who I am, one in particular is because of who I know.

Farren Abrams wasn’t on my radar until she came to town to visit her brother Rafferty. She’s smart, sarcastic, sexy as hell and can talk hockey like a pro. So when a night out with the team became a drunken hookup with Farren, there were zero complaints from yours truly. We had our fun and then she went back home—no harm, no foul. Now she’s moved to Pittsburgh permanently and while she’s still looking for some fun, I’m starting to look for more.

The more time I spend with Farren the more I like her, but to say she’s relationship averse is an understatement. Something in her past has caused her to head for the hills whenever someone gets too close, but she shuts down whenever I push for details. When she rejects my attempts to take this thing to the next level, I’m forced to seek help from none other than Rafferty, who has no idea I’m banging his little sister. With his assistance, I set out to do the one thing none of those chumps in Farren’s past have taken the time to do—help her face her demons and give her something worth staying for

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER 1

Farren

The bus ride from Calgary to Pittsburgh was as miserable as I expected—sticky seats, crying babies, and the pungent scent of despair mixed with stale coffee. I should have flown, but my budget is limited and the bus was the more frugal option. None of that matters, though, because Calgary is far behind me and new adventure awaits.

The moment I stepped off the bus and inhaled the crisp December air, I knew I’d made the right decision. I need a fresh start, and where better than in Pittsburgh, with Rafferty, who will have to love me no matter what?

My two suitcases and carry-on are unwieldy as I drag them down the hall to Rafferty’s door. His condo building is sleek and modern, all polished steel and glass—so much like my big brother. He’s always been the one with his act together, while I’ve been the firecracker, lighting up and fizzling out just as fast.

I’d like to say things might be different with this fresh start, but it’s highly unlikely. New city and big adventure—still the same old Farren, and the bigger portion of me is just fine with that. I don’t need anything new… just different.

I press the buzzer and wait, bouncing on my heels with nervous energy. When the door finally swings open, Rafferty’s eyes widen in shock before narrowing suspiciously. His broad frame fills the doorway, reminding me just how much space my brother can take up, both physically and with his protective presence. Rafferty isn’t just my brother—he’s a defenseman for the Pittsburgh Titans, having joined the team back in September from the Edmonton Grizzlies. He’s been making waves ever since, known for his bone-crunching hits and no-nonsense style of play.

At six six with a broad chest and shoulders that span almost the entire doorway, Rafferty is imposing even without his gear on. But it’s his face that my eyes roam over as I take him in. High cheekbones and full lips that match my own, our biggest difference being that he’s clearly had his nose broken before and I haven’t. I’m almost twenty-four and he’s three years older, but we’re often asked if we’re twins, we look so much alike. His radiant blue eyes study me critically and though I’ve teased him endlessly about his perpetually serious expression, those eyes have always held love and loyalty when staring back at me.

A faint scar above his eyebrow and another on his chin add to his ruggedness, a reminder of the physical toll hockey takes, but they only make him more striking. He’s the picture of a protective sibling and a professional athlete rolled into one, and right now, he’s looking at me like I’ve shown up to crash his well-ordered life.

“Surprise,” I chirp, throwing my arms wide.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” he growls, even as he jerks me into an all-encompassing embrace before lifting me up and twirling me around. His tone is gruff, but the squeeze he gives me says everything—he’s happy to see me, even if he’s about to give me hell. “No, seriously… what in the fuck are you doing here?”

I grin up at him. “Does a little sister need a reason to visit her most awesome big brother?”

He arches a skeptical brow as I slide past him, thumbing back at my luggage. “Grab my bags.”

“How long are you planning on staying? An eternity?” He places my suitcases at the edge of the short hallway that leads to the guest rooms.

“Maybe.” I strut into his kitchen like I own the place, grabbing a beer and cracking it open. I’ve been here twice before and know that the garbage can slides out from a cabinet drawer to the left of his sink where I toss the bottle cap.

“Did you fly in?” he asks. “I could’ve sent a car to pick you up if you’d told me you were coming.”

I settle down on an island stool, one foot planted on the floor and the other casually swinging. “Took the bus. It was a last-minute decision. I just… needed a change of scenery.”

My gaze drops down to the bottle, hoping I sound breezy enough to satisfy him and hoping he doesn’t get overly nosy. I take a sip of beer, looking around the kitchen to avoid his gaze.

“What’s going on?” he asks, and there’s no hiding the suspicion in his voice.

I meet his gaze and hold it. “Nothing’s going on.”

“You left Calgary? Just like that? What about your job?”

Crap. He’s getting nosy and I lighten my voice, radiating a confident smile. “Oh, that.” I wave my hand. “I quit. Things with Derek got messy, and I couldn’t stand being around him anymore.”

It’s vague and nowhere near the truth. I broke up with Derek this summer and never bothered to tell my parents or my brother because I didn’t want to get another lecture on my impulsivity and unwillingness to stick with something. It was just easier letting them believe things were fine in my life.

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >83

Advertisement Formula Chance (Race Fever #2) Read Online Sawyer Bennett http://www.books2020.com/formula-chance-race-fever-2-read-online-sawyer-bennett Mon, 10 Mar 2025 19:24:49 +0000 http://www.books2020.com/formula-chance-race-fever-2-read-online-sawyer-bennett Genre: Alpha Male, Biker, Contemporary, MC, Sports Authors: Sawyer Bennett Series: Race Fever Series by Sawyer Bennett
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Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77816 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >83

In the second book of New York Times Bestselling Author Sawyer Bennett’s Race Fever series, she turns up the heat when a familiar name looks to shake up the world of formula racing. Buckle up for this heart stopping, second chance ride in Formula Chance.

Nash Sinclair abandoned the world of formula racing after a deadly crash left him injured and on a long road to recovery, both physically and mentally. Even prior to the crash Nash was healing in another way, putting together the pieces of a broken heart. They say time heals all wounds and when Brienne Norcross, owner of the newly acquired Titans Racing team approaches him about a job, he decides it might just be time to reclaim the life he once loved.

Bexley Toliver just joined the Titans’ team as their chief race strategy engineer. As a woman working in a male-centric sport, Bex is no stranger to a man’s eyes on her. Whether it’s in silent awe, not-so-silent disgust, or somewhere in between, Bexley has earned her way. But there is one set of eyes that Bex hasn’t seen in years and when Nash Sinclair walks into the conference room for a team meeting, old memories are hard to ignore. As the heat between them becomes all-consuming, they are unable to resist the temptation to fall once again.

Bex and Nash’s history is…complicated. Young love that turned into the promise of forever crashed and burned long before the race that ended Nash’s career. Years apart dulled the pain of their failed union but some things aren’t meant to be forgotten, no matter how hard one tries. When the same issues that broke them apart re-emerge and spin them full-speed toward a barricade, Bex and Nash need to make a decision—hit the brakes and walk away or race forward to their happily ever after

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER 1

Nash

The roar of the engine still echoes in my head as I pull myself out of the race car, only to be replaced by the raucous cheers from over a quarter of a million fans. I’m soaked in sweat and gritty with grime but completely energized as I climb to the top of my car and hold up my arms in victory. I didn’t think it could get any louder but the chants of “Nash, Nash, Nash!” boom all around me.

I’ve just won the first race of the season in the Open-Wheel Championship series, on the most famous motor speedway track in the world. Indianapolis hasn’t always been good to me, which means this first-place podium is extra sweet.

The team is already celebrating behind me—pit crew, engineers, strategists—their smiles wide and waiting for me to join them. The tension that locks up my body during the race eases, but the adrenaline is still peaking. This is what I live for.

After I jump down off the car, I’m handed a bottle of ice water and I take a long gulp, trying to catch my breath. Driving an open-wheel race car at more than two hundred miles an hour on average for almost two and a half hours will get anyone’s pulse pumping. But it’s not just speed and victory that has my heart hammering. I have to acknowledge it’s still the fear that resides deep in my belly, and I don’t think that will ever go away.

Regardless, I think I’ve proven that I belong here.

A reporter approaches, microphone in hand, eager to capture the moment.

“Nash, that was an incredible race,” he says, grinning at me. “After last season’s domination in the OWC series, you’ve picked up right where you left off. What’s it like to come back and show everyone you still have it?”

I wipe my brow, my eyes scanning the crowd before coming back to him. “Feels damn good, honestly. Last season was a real breakthrough for me, and I’ve put in the work to stay at that level. But every season’s different. Every race is a new challenge. Today was a great start, but I’m not letting up. I’m focused on the long game.”

“Your performance last year in the OWC was nearly flawless,” the reporter presses. “You ended up as the series champion, and you were a consistent threat at every race. With a new season, the pressure’s on. Can you keep up that kind of dominance again this year? What’s the mindset heading into these races?”

Scratching my chin, I give a slight shrug of humility. “I mean… I’m always going to aim for the top, but I know it will be a fight. The OWC gets more competitive every year. You can see it here in Indianapolis, the crowd sizes rivaling those in Formula International. There are plenty of guys coming up behind me who want to take my place. But that’s why I race. I’m not here to coast. I’m here to prove I can keep my spot, and that’s the mentality I’ll bring to every race this season.”

The reporter nods in agreement. “Nash… you’ve built a reputation as a consistent and aggressive driver. How do you keep your focus, especially with so much attention on you?”

I pause for a second, considering. “I’ve been racing my whole life, but the last few years, especially after the crash, I had to learn how to focus differently. It’s not just about the race anymore. It’s about my mindset. It’s about being present in every moment. I know what’s at stake and that drives me. But I’m also aware that anything can happen because racing is unpredictable. You have to keep your head on straight and adapt as you go.”

“Well, you’ve certainly made a statement today,” the reporter adds with a smile. “Is this the start of another championship-winning season?”

I smile, my confidence solid. “We’ll see. It’s one race down, but I’m not satisfied. There’s a long road ahead and I’m going to keep pushing every step of the way.”

The reporter nods, wrapping up the interview. “We’re excited to see what’s next. Best of luck for the rest of the season, Nash.”

“Thanks,” I say, giving him a nod and then I’m whisked away. I jump into my teams’ arms, give another interview, and then I’m on the podium, spraying champagne at the second- and third-place winners.

Then it’s off to the showers where I gratefully wash away the dirt, sweat and bubbly wine, slipping into comfortable jeans, a sweater and leather jacket.

My manager Greg Persons meets me outside my dressing room, a shit-eating grin on his face. “There’s someone here who wants to talk to you.”

I’m beyond exhausted, the last of the adrenaline having washed down the shower drain. “Can we not? I just want to get back to my hotel—”

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >83

Advertisement Rafferty (Pittsburgh Titans #15) Read Online Sawyer Bennett http://www.books2020.com/rafferty-pittsburgh-titans-15-read-online-sawyer-bennett Sun, 02 Feb 2025 19:15:20 +0000 http://www.books2020.com/rafferty-pittsburgh-titans-15-read-online-sawyer-bennett Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Sports Authors: Sawyer Bennett Series: Pittsburgh Titans Series by Sawyer Bennett
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Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 67991 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >73

Rafferty Abrams has been having the time of his life since joining the Pittsburgh Titans, but a poorly thought out one-night stand is about to cause unwanted drama with potentially serious repercussions.

As a member of the Pittsburgh Titans, I’m afforded a certain level of leniency in my behavior. The perks of being a celebrity, I suppose. But a run-in with my “one-night stand turned borderline stalker” has me crossing all sorts of lines with a beautiful but unsuspecting grocery store employee. When I surprise the complete stranger with a giant kiss and quiet plea to help a guy out, she not only plays along but gets my blood racing like I’ve never experienced before. Score one for Rafferty Abrams.

Temperence Martin isn’t just the stunning girl in the international foods aisle. Tempe is also a devoted daughter taking a break from college to help her mother as she heals from a serious accident. That includes making sure her younger brother stays on track with school and keeping everything running at home. To say she’s burning the candle at both ends is an understatement, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t see the spark in her eyes after our spontaneous make out session. That’s exactly what has me coming back for more, even if I use that pesky stalker as my excuse.

As we get to know one another, I realize a fake relationship just isn’t going to work. I want something other than a ruse, something real, and lucky for me, so does Tempe. But when my mistake of a hookup starts telling lies in retaliation for my alleged betrayal, things get messy. For me and for Tempe, who has found herself embroiled in a love triangle that doesn’t even exist. I can only hope Tempe isn’t scared away by the baggage I unintentionally brought to our relationship because the truth is, I saw my happily ever after with her the first time our lips met.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER 1

Rafferty

I’m yanking off my sweat-soaked jersey, reveling in the shakiness in my legs that tells me I worked my ass off. Practice today was a beast, and Coach wasn’t pulling any punches, especially after our too-close-for-comfort win over the Nashville Badgers. My muscles ache and I’m starving, again more signs of giving a hundred and ten percent to my team.

The locker room is alive with chatter, as it usually is. This group has developed such a camaraderie over the last two years since the original team was lost to a plane crash. Even though this is my first season with the Titans, I’ve become so immersed in the brotherhood of these men who share the ice with me, I can’t really imagine playing anywhere else ever again.

The low rumble of voices mixes with bursts of laughter—guys unwinding after being put through the wringer and happy like me to have had another successful practice. Everything is coming together for us this season and this team is the talk of the hockey world. I imagine the odds in Vegas are heavily in our favor of winning the championship at our current trajectory, but none of us look at stuff like that. Every day we put forth every bit of blood, sweat and tears to make ourselves the best hockey team we can be.

I lean back against my locker, towel draped over my head, trying to catch my breath. Atlas Karolak, our second-line left-winger, is recounting a moment from last night’s game.

“Seriously, man, you should’ve seen your face!” Atlas cackles, punching North lightly on the shoulder. North Paquette is his line mate and right-winger. “Thought you were about to take that puck to your grill.”

North rolls his eyes, grinning. “Yeah, right, as if I’d let that happen. My mom always said I had a face for cameras, not stitches.”

I chuckle, sliding the towel off my head and joining in the banter. “Better keep that pretty smile intact. We can’t all rock the rugged look like I do.”

Foster chimes in, nodding toward me. “Raff here doesn’t need any more scars. Aren’t a couple of them from your junior league fights?”

“Guilty as charged,” I admit, running a hand over a faint scar above my eyebrow—a memento from a fight that earned me more than just a few stitches but a story worth telling.

The laughter grows as we continue to rib each other, the camaraderie a stark contrast to the intensity on the ice. It’s moments like these that I remind myself why I love this sport, why I push through every punishing practice and game. It’s not just about the thrill of competition; it’s about these guys, this brotherhood.

After an ice bath for a sore knee and a shower, I pack up my gear slowly, not particularly eager to head out just yet. I love the atmosphere of this place and would just as soon be here than at my condo.

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