Never in a million years did I think I would cross paths with him again. Michael Woods. The boy who broke my heart. The boy who picked hockey over me. The boy who left me behind. After giving three years of my life to him, it was all over after his college graduation. He went his way and I went mine. But I never imagined landing a job at his agency when I moved to Boston four years later, let alone as his assistant. A job that's meant for me to service him, do as he asks, and give him all smiles. So, I play the part. I play the nice, kind, sweet assistant in public and ignore him like my life depends on it in private. The thought of getting close to him again terrifies me because I know. I know that once I let him again, I'll never be able to let him out. And if I do, it'll be at the cost of my heart, and this time he'll leave it broken beyond repair. I used to think he was forever mine. But hockey changed everything. What would he do now if he had to make that choice? Me? Or hockey? Or both? . . . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED TRIGGER WARNING: Mention of death by accident and depression

||My turn came again too quickly. I spun the bottle, my hands trembling, and watched in horror as it slowed, its neck pointing directly at Bryan. "Well, Ballerina," he said. "¿Qué pasó? Are you going to sit there looking terrified all night, or are you actually going to follow through?" "I'm not terrified." "Sure, you're not," he replied, his smirk deepening. "But we're all waiting. Unless, of course, you're going to back out. That wouldn't surprise me." "I'm not backing out. You're so full of yourself," I muttered, leaning forward just enough to match his posture. "And you're stalling," he countered, his voice dropping to a murmur. "I can wait all night, princesa, but can you?" Bryan's gaze didn't waver, his confidence infuriatingly steady. He tilted his head slightly, his lips curling into a smirk that sent my irritation skyrocketing. "Dímelo," he said softly. "What's stopping you, Amber? Or are you scared I'll be better at this too?"|| Amber's second year at Baymount University was supposed to be the year she had it all together: keep her head down, focus on grades, and avoid drama at all costs. But life at BayU is anything but simple, especially when Bryan Munzo-star baseball player, campus heartbreaker, and certified ego-is standing in her way. Bryan's the type of guy who leaves a trail of broken hearts, glares that could cut glass, and rumors as heavy as his batting average. The plan was to avoid guys like him altogether. But from the moment Amber nearly trips over him in the dorm hallway, it seems fate (or bad luck) has other ideas. Yet despite Bryan's maddening attitude-and his reputation for leaving behind nothing but heartbreak, Amber can't seem to ignore the magnetic pull between them. And while Bryan's a mystery she'd rather not solve, he keeps crossing her path, challenging her in ways she didn't expect. Will Amber make it through the semester with her goals intact, or will her year become one big lesson in breaking her own rules

You never forget the man who saves you from your worst nightmares- Especially when he's the one you swore you'd never let in. Aurora Sinclair would rather be alone than let anyone see her scars. But when her family hires a bodyguard after a string of terrifying threats, she's forced to share her luxury apartment with Marco Mikhaylov; a tattooed ex-con with cold eyes, filthy secrets, and no patience for spoiled rich girls. They hate each other on sight. He's too controlling, too close, too good at reading her weaknesses. She's stubborn, reckless, and makes his job hell. Every day is a battle: arguments that crackle with electricity, close quarters that leave nowhere to hide, and late nights where hatred starts to blur into something much more dangerous. But as the stalker gets bolder, and the line between protection and obsession shatters, Aurora and Marco's forced partnership turns into the fight of their lives. Every touch burns, every secret hurts, and every night together strips them down to the truth: sometimes, your worst enemy is the only one who makes you feel alive. Bloodline Ties is a dark romance for anyone who loves the taste of forbidden and the thrill of enemies who can't keep their hands off each other. Content Warning: This book contains themes of trauma, abuse, stalking, violence, and explicit scenes. Reader discretion is strongly advised.

**completed** HIGHEST RANKINGS: #1 IN FICTION #1 IN SLOWBURN #1 IN COLLEGE Penn State University. Home to the craziest sorority girls, most obnoxious football players, and a girl that's trying to dig her way out of her parent's mess. Naomi Black wants nothing more than to focus on her studies this semester- nothing else. She doesn't have room to mess up, she doesn't have time to party- she wants a life she couldn't have before. Matti Williams is your average college guy. Booze, boobs, and blondes. What makes him not so average is the fact that he is suspected to be the number one pick in the NFL Draft. Being the Quarterback at Penn State has its perks, but what happens when the Quarterback title doesn't work on the one girl he wants the most? Read to find out. BOOK NUMBER ONE IN THE PSU SERIES.

CHASE MITCHELL He's hockey's golden boy with a reputation both on and off the ice. When a brutal knee injury threatens his shot at the Cup, his comeback depends on one person: his rival's little sister-the last woman he should want. EMMA ANDERSON She walked away from skating after a career-ending injury crushed her Olympic dreams. Now she's back as the Bears' physical therapist, ready to face her cheating ex-but not ready for Chase Mitchell. Especially when he makes her an offer: fake date him to keep his obsessive ex away, and in return, he'll help her get revenge on hers. Their on-camera chemistry was supposed to be pretend. But when the cameras stop rolling, the heat between them is anything but. Someone's bound to get hurt. And in this game, love isn't just risky-it's a full-contact sport. ⋆˙⟡♡🏒 11/05/2025 #1 - Hockey

Completed • First Draft - not edited. || "You gonna sit there all night?" Luka glances at me, smirking. I glare back. "I was enjoying the last few seconds of peace before having to spend an evening pretending to like you." "That's funny," he says, unbuckling his seatbelt. "Why?" I snap. "Because I was thinking the same thing." || The rules? Easy enough. 1. Pretend to be the perfect couple. 2. Keep it professional. 3. And whatever you do, don't. catch. feelings. Simple, right? Sofia Calloway never planned on going viral for throwing a drink in Luka Mikhaylov's face. But one video, one pissed-off hockey star, and one furious university later... she's suddenly stuck in a fake relationship with the guy she can't stand. He needs to clean up his image before the NHL draft. She needs the free tuition that comes with the deal. All they have to do is smile for the cameras, hold hands at the games, and act like they don't want to strangle each other. Then come the late-night arguments that last too long. The stolen glances that feel too dangerous. The moment where "pretend" starts looking way too real. Because when you break the rules, someone's bound to lose. And this time, it might be both of them.

[2023 Wattys Shortlist] When a feud between siblings goes too far, Solana finds herself falling into the hands of his enemy. Two university state teams have been fighting for generations, and unfortunately for Solana, her brother happens to be the quarterback for the Hawks, while his ex-best friend and current enemy leads the Tigers. She's normally supportive, but after an argument goes too far with her brother the night of a party, she finds herself welcoming a certain player into her bedroom. Christian Kane knows all about loyalty, and that it was his loyalty to others that got him screwed over. While he hides his anger behind his smooth words and flirty smile, the one person who can't fall for his charm is the little firecracker he's known for ten years. But with his loyalty to his team, he knows that surrounding himself around Solana will only lead to issues he doesn't need. But as the unlikely pair come to a mutual fake dating agreement to stir some problems, it's only time until things shatter into pieces. t r o p e s: faking dating, brothers enemy, one bed, banter, sleepover, college fiction, football romance, past history

When Evelyn and her long-term enemy, star hockey captain Atlas, are forced to work together on a university media project, sparks fly as resisting their attraction becomes a far bigger challenge than their opposing opinions. Standalone in the Wellsfield University Series ***** Evelyn Hayes has hated Atlas Griffin, the golden boy of their university hockey team, since their very first conversation three years ago. To Evelyn, he's the womanizing, arrogant epitome of rich privilege and everything she despises. So when a university-funded media project for the hockey team throws her into Atlas' orbit, she fully expects them to be at each other's throats. What she doesn't expect is for the snarky comments and daring glares to turn into sparks of undeniable attraction. With Atlas' sights set on the NHL and Evelyn desperate to keep the media lead position she's worked so hard for, neither is interested in anything complicated. Soon, a heated one-night stand leads to an enemies-with-benefits hookup pact. But is either ready to face the consequences when the lines blur and strings start to get attached?

Julia has always prided herself on her independence, steering clear of serious relationships to avoid losing her sense of self. But when she's asked to help plan her best friend Penny's Christmas Eve wedding, Julia is forced to work with the last person she wants to be around: Kyle. He's arrogant, insufferable, and worst of all, she's convinced he's planning to ruin the wedding out of spite. Kyle may have left Penny at the altar, but it's her rejection afterward that still stings. What's worse is how quickly she moved on with his brother, Chase. Feeling betrayed, Kyle's only reason for getting involved in their wedding plans is to prove he doesn't care-and maybe to settle a score with Julia, who he blames for pushing Penny into Chase's arms. But as sparks fly and tensions rise, Kyle realises his anger might not be the only thing drawing him toward her. NOTE - An enemies-to-lovers romance, that follows on from Penny and Chase's romance in the novella, 'Chasing You'. Although 'Hate to Love you' can also be read as a standalone story.

[2024 WATTY WINNER][18+] Two best friends. Six weeks. One final shot at love. Since college, Maisie and August have been best friends-frustratingly, perfectly platonic best friends. For nine long years, Maisie has secretly harbored the hope that their relationship could be something more. In that time, Maisie Rhodes has skyrocketed to stardom as a pop sensation, earning the title of Pop Princess from her devoted Rhodie fans. When she hints on The Tonight Show that her love songs are inspired by someone close to her, speculation runs wild. To throw everyone off the scent-and protect her true feelings for August-Maisie's manager hatches a plan: fake a relationship with her best friend. Miraculously, August agrees. Now Maisie faces six weeks of pretending to date the one person she's always loved, all while tiptoeing around the unspoken truth that's lingered between them for years. What could possibly go wrong?