Gloves Off

When Georgia Greene and Alexei Volkov agree to a marriage of convenience, it’s strictly business—no feelings allowed. Georgia needs a husband to secure her inheritance and save her injury recovery program, while Alexei, the Vancouver Storm’s gruff NHL enforcer, requires citizenship to keep playing. In public, they play the part of besotted newlyweds, but behind closed doors, their constant bickering reveals years of mutual annoyance. He’s competitive, icy, and insists he’s not attracted to her; she’s fiery, independent, and refuses to be cowed by his scowls. Yet the tension between them crackles with something neither can ignore.

Living under the same roof forces them to confront the assumptions they’ve clung to for years. Alexei’s gruff exterior hides surprising tenderness—he sends Georgia flowers with secret meanings, fusses over her safety, and cuddles her pet bunnies. Georgia discovers he’s not the arrogant jerk she believed, but a fiercely loyal man wrestling with his fading hockey career. Meanwhile, Alexei realizes Georgia isn’t the spoiled socialite he assumed; she’s driven, compassionate, and challenges him in ways no one else dares. Their sharp banter and relentless teasing slowly give way to moments of unexpected vulnerability.

As their fake marriage deepens, the line between performance and reality blurs. Alexei’s protective instincts flare when Georgia’s safety is threatened, and Georgia finds herself moved by his quiet generosity. They navigate the pressures of the NHL spotlight, meddling friends, and their own stubborn hearts, all while trying to ignore the growing attraction they’ve sworn isn’t real. The hockey arena becomes a backdrop for their emotional journey, where every game night tests their resolve to keep things strictly business.

Beneath the surface of their explosive arguments lies a profound connection neither expected. Alexei’s jealousy over Georgia’s colleagues and her refusal to back down ignite a passion that transcends their arrangement. Georgia, in turn, sees past his “grumpiest enforcer” persona to the man who worries about her well-being and leaves violets on her desk every Friday. Their journey is a dance of trust and fear—two people convinced love is off-limits, yet finding themselves drawn together by forces they can’t deny.

This story celebrates the messy, beautiful process of letting walls crumble. It’s about discovering that the person you thought you hated might just be the one who understands you best. With its perfect blend of heart-pounding hockey action, laugh-out-loud banter, and slow-burn emotional intimacy, Gloves Off proves that sometimes, the fiercest love stories begin with a collision of wills.