It was supposed to be one fake date… When sexy-as-sin Harper Henderson launches profanities into the night sky from the balcony below mine, I’m forced to intervene. I may be a professional hockey player with a playboy reputation, but I’m also a good guy. Charming and affable with unrivaled cheekbones and a lack of serious commitments (save for hockey), I make an impressive plus-one. Volunteering to be Harper’s date to her dreaded ten-year high school reunion is easy. Pretending not to fall for her when our innocent kisses turn passionate is a little more challenging. But when Harper returns the fake date favor and accompanies me to my parents’ anniversary party, everything changes. She garners my dad’s respect and effortlessly mingles with my childhood friends. She eases the familial pressure I drown under and makes me crave things I used to laugh off. Tangling up with Harper was supposed to be a fun way to pass the summer. So, why does it feel like she’s the real prize? The elusive, fleeting kind of real I’ve avoided for years? And how can I prove that this playboy wants a different kind of reward? One that sounds a lot like commitment…

Knoxville Coyotes football heartthrob Cohen Miller is my brother’s best friend. Now, he’s the man posing as my fake boyfriend. Simple, right? Wrong. I thought my luck couldn’t get worse than when my long-term boyfriend publicly dumped me. Wrong again. Now, my ex is dating my cousin, and our friend group is embarking on an annual ski trip. Desperate to save face, I beg Cohen to pretend to like me. To bluff wanting me. To lay it on thick to convince my friends that I’m not heartbroken or hurt. I’m not damaged goods. That I have, in fact, moved on. But during the trip, things change. Cohen’s longing glances make my heart race. His casual, familiar touches stir up new feelings. And his kiss? His kiss makes me yearn for things I’ve never experienced before. Toss in one bed, an epic snowstorm, and a gossip circle a mile wide, and I’m praying we don’t fumble our fake relationship. Obviously, I’m always wrong.

Knoxville Coyotes kicker, Talon Miller, is off-limits. For starters, my dad is the Coyotes Head Coach, and I don’t date his players. More than that, I’m reeling from a breakup. The man I thought I was going to marry hurt me in ways I’m still processing, and I know better than to dive into a new romantic entanglement. Especially one with a charming, larger-than-life football player. When my dad assigns Talon as my chaperone for a weekend getaway with friends, I’m humiliated. But that weekend proves to be more than either of us bargains for. I see the real Talon — the man behind the charismatic, playboy reputation. He’s thoughtful and perceptive, understanding and sincere. He’s also adamant about protecting me. Talon makes me feel safe and cared for. As a result, I confide in him. Trust him. Want him. A spark ignites between us, and it changes everything. Because I’m trapped in a situation I shouldn’t be in, and Talon is determined to tackle my demons. Even the ones that threaten to destroy me.

Lioness. That’s the first word that comes to mind when I see the brilliant redhead selling cupcakes at the hockey arena. With the soul of an artist and the spirit of a nomad, Bea Turner is gorgeous, quirky, and refreshing. She’s also my teammate’s little sister. As the Tennessee Thunderbolts' Rookie, I should steer clear. I’m here to play hockey and provide much-needed financial security for my family. To do that, I need to avoid distractions. Bea doesn’t just distract me; she flips my world upside down. One bad joke has me pursuing her. One date and I crave more. Calling her mine? Well, now I’m dreaming of a future. The life of a hockey player — trades, travel, uncertainty — isn’t for the heart of a creative. Bea desires adventure and possibility, not early morning skates and strict exercise regimens. When I’m thrust into a situation at odds with Bea’s dream career, I know I can’t hold her back. If we’re meant to be, we’ll make it work. But what if we’re not? ​​​​​​​ What if my greatest regret is letting my lioness go?

There’s only one woman I truly care about: my daughter. Until Maisy Stratford flounces into the front office of the Tennessee Thunderbolts with a heartfelt smile and a tray of baked goods. As the Bolts’ newest hire, Maisy is optimistic, enthusiastic, and a goddess at manifestation. Everything I’m not. Known as Brawler, I’m a gruff, quiet, rough-around-the-edges, NHL defenseman. I haven’t dated in decades. I’ve never been married and my daughter’s a twenty-one-year-old mischief maker. I don’t know how to talk about feelings or place my trust in the hands of a woman. Even one with a heart of gold. With my daughter Lola egging me on, I finally ask Maisy out. But I don’t want to be her rebound; I want to be her forever. Even if I don’t know how to tell her that. Even if she’s not ready for me. If I’m being honest, I’m not ready for her either.

Boston Hawks owner Scott Reland is my father’s biggest rival and the last man who should catch my eye. But when he does, I don’t look away. We’ve circled each other for years, two outliers in a small club of NHL owners. We know the rules, manage similar pressures, and understand that this lifestyle — hockey over everything — isn’t for everyone. Which is why I want out. To prove to my father that I have a future beyond the New York Sharks, I score one for me and open a bakery in Boston, the city that reveres Scott. It isn’t long until the dynamic and perceptive Hawk pursues me. And I’m entirely unprepared to be swept off my feet, cared for and supported after so many years on my own. Scott easily draws me back into the hockey life I thought I didn’t want. But can our relationship survive the demands of this industry? Or will I always be keeping score, second to the game that dictates everything?

Nine years ago, Celine Hernandez broke my heart. Eight years ago, she stomped on it for good measure. When Celine moved to LA after high school, I enlisted in the Marines. After an honorable discharge, I’m home, in Tennessee, living out my dream as a professional hockey player. Now, she’s back in our hometown, filming a movie, and reminding me of a past I’ve tried to forget. She’s got her name up in lights. She’s shining so bright; she’s acting like she never left. Celine’s everywhere I go — visiting my Gran, having coffee dates with my sister — and forcing me to remember a time when life wasn’t so harsh. When I was whole and thriving. Happy. But I can’t trust those feelings anymore. I’m not the same man Celine remembers. I’ve lost too much, grieved too hard, and am too broken down for do-overs. Is my ex-everything a risk my heart can handle? Or is our second chance more sacrifice than salvation?