On Christmas Eve, Elowen Foster tries to save her long-term relationship with a grand romantic gesture-only to walk straight into betrayal, champagne shattering on tile as her high school sweetheart is caught cheating over his desk. A week later, still raw and humiliated, she's dragged to a New Year's Eve party hosted by her best friend and her husband... who has invited the cheating ex and his shiny new replacement. Cornered, hurting, and trying not to cry into a plastic flute of prosecco, she's rescued by the one man she never expected to want her comfort- Rowan Hale Her best friend's older brother. The Viking. The one who used to tease her relentlessly. The one she secretly crushed on for years. What begins as a strategic distraction turns into one unforgettable night that changes everything.

An age-gap forbidden romance between a lawyer and her father's best friend-the one man she was never meant to love. ❄️ Snow Noelle Season was born to win-Harvard Law star, rising associate at New York's most ruthless firm, and the daughter of a legal legend. But when she walks into her first lecture, she's blindsided by the man at the podium: Henry McClean. Her father's best friend. Her lifelong mentor. Now, her professor. He's twenty years older, brilliant, untouchable-and the one man she's sworn never to want. But late nights at the firm turn boundaries into temptation. Every sharp word, every stolen glance, every impossible command blurs the line between duty and desire. Snow has a fiancé. Henry has a wife. Both have everything to lose. In the city where ambition is currency and love is liability, how far will they go before the first rule they break is each other? ⚠️ Content Warning & Disclaimer ⚠️ This story explores a forbidden romance between a married man and his best friend's daughter. It includes themes of adultery, secrecy, betrayal, and complicated power dynamics. Please note: • This is a work of fiction written for dramatic and emotional exploration. • I do not condone or romanticize infidelity or affairs in real life. • The choices these characters make are flawed, messy, and human-but not meant as an example to follow. This book is intended for mature readers (18+). Reader discretion is advised.

Quick note for my readers before you start this story. It is going to be taken off and sent off to the editor on the 13th of December 2025. Fern thought marriage meant partnership, love, and the quiet safety of family. For four years she's tried to believe that-tried to ignore the sharp edges of a mother-in-law who never wanted her, an ex who had moved too close for comfort and a husband who is always looking the other way. But when her husband's negligence leaves their little girl in a hospital bed with burns on her hand, Fern can no longer swallow the excuses. She is done being the afterthought in her own marriage. Her husband Conner insists he loves her, but love doesn't keep a child safe. Love doesn't silence a mother-in-law's whispers or stop an ex from poisoning the air of every family gathering. Love isn't enough-not when Fern's entire world has been built on the shaky ground of compromise. And as the fractures in their marriage widen into fault lines, Fern has to face the question she's been afraid to ask- What if walking away is the only way to save herself and her daughter?

Alex Anderson is not your typical professional athlete. He is all about giving back to his community and making sure that he can take care of everyone he can with, given the wealth he has. So when he decides to volunteer his time at a group home for kids, a cause so close to his heart. He meets Carrie and an unexpected friendship strikes up. He likes the fact that Carrie doesn't care who he is and what he does for living. All she cares about is that the kids are getting the experience of a life time being mentored by a person who seems to have his head screwed on right. Carrie Conners is your typical girl. Growing up with a mother who has high expectations for her daughters was not easy. While her younger sister has met all of those expectations being blonde, skinny and a highly successful influencer who just snagged a rich, handsome husband. Carrie is the complete opposite, brunette, curvy and works as a social worker for the state. She first meets Alex when he comes to volunteer at one of the group homes and is unsure of his motives for doing so. She watches as all the women gravitate towards him and watches from the sidelines as usual. However Alex sees her caring, kind way with the kids and is drawn to that immediately. Can these two people from entirely different worlds navigate a friendship that one or both want it to turn into more. Or will being from different worlds completely break them apart?

Laurel McKenzie is: Daughter to: Emily & Drew McKenzie Sister to: Brandon McKenzie Granddaughter to: Alison and Ryan Anderson On paper Laurel McKenzie seemed to have it all, but she was far from perfect. She so desperately wanted to look like her mother, Emily. The perfect woman her dad would always call her mom. Laurel was 5'6 160lbs and very self-conscious about herself. While she was far from big, she had curves and curves sometimes weren't such a good thing when you are in a sea of skinnies and the boy who has your heart doesn't give you a second glance. She had been in love with Lucas Stevens since she could remember. Star athlete, quarterback and an all American boy. Lucas Stevens was all that and more. With multiple ladies at his disposal in school things were getting less challenging. That is until he needed a tutor for Calculus and answered an add that was pinned to the library board. When he gets paired up with Laurel they of course butt heads at first. His friends make his tutoring sessions a little more interesting in betting Lucas he can't get anywhere romantically with Laurel. He takes that bet, but as time goes on and he gets to know Laurel McKenzie, he starts to develop feelings. Will he be able to call off the bet before she finds out or will she find out that Lucas is far from perfect too? Cover by: still_just_me Banners bu: still_just_me

Emily Anderson is the baby of the Anderson Family. Having a famous dad and brother who are both NHL royalty and her middle brother on his way to the show is never easy. Emily and her brother Sam both got into Harvard. She is there on a academic scholarship and Sam is there on a sports scholarship. They are living together in their own apartment off campus. Emily is about to start her 2nd year there and her brother his 3rd. She is studying to become a Pediatric Doctor and will let nothing take her off that path. She has always steered clear of any kind of hockey player. Growing up in a hockey family, she knows what most of them are all about and wants nothing to do with that life. That is until the day her brother comes home and practically begs her to tutor his best friend and captain of the Harvard hockey team Drew McKenzie. He is failing his Econ class and as luck would have it Emily has taken that one as an elective and is the best student in the class. Drew McKenzie is Harvard's star hockey player and he knows it. He has women falling all over him from Harvard and other schools every time he goes out. The last thing he wants is to be benched over a stupid Econ Class grade. So when his best friend Sam Anderson tells him that his sister would be willing to tutor him, Drew agrees. Little did they both know that this unlikely pairing would lead to so much more that just Drew potentially passing the class. Can these tow put aside their differences and hesitations and find some common ground? Once they do who knows they may find out they are more a like than they thought. This is the third book in the Anderson Series. Please read the first two to understand some of the references in this book. **Warning** Mature scenes Foul Language Cover by: still_just_me Banner by: still_just_me

Jay Anderson is the 20 year old son of legendary Boston Bruin, Ryan Anderson and Boston's top doctor Alley Anderson. Growing up with a dad as famous as Ryan Anderson is not always easy. Jay always wanted to follow in the foot steps of his dad. Hockey was always present growing up and when he started to play at 5 he was a natural. Jay didn't go right to "the show" after high school. He did get drafted, but opted to stay in college till he was a little older. Getting the call at just 20 to enter into the big leagues was a huge thrill for him. Can he navigate the interesting world called the NHL and still stay ground? Sarah is the daughter of NHL coach Greg Davidson, coach of the Chicago Blackhawks. She has always made it a point to stay as far away as possible from any hockey player as they are nothing, but trouble. There is something different about Jay Anderson though. She feels this instant connection to him as soon as they meet. Being the coach's daughter though means she is off limits. Find out if this relationship will crash and burn or burn bright like it was meant too. This book contains: Mild foul language Mature Scenes This is the sequel to 10 Seconds Left in Overtime. Please read that one first to understand some of the background information in this story. Cover by: still_just_me Banners by: still_just_me

Alley is 24, she is a world class surgeon. She has worked her butt off to get to where she is. One day her assistant lets her know that she has a very famous client who requires her services. She is intrigued as her assistant is all, but giddy to tell her. She asks her who and her assistant informs her that it's none other than notorious, bad boy, player Ryan Anderson of the Boston Bruins. Ally freezes for a minute knowing that name all too well, not just as the infamous Bruin who makes headlines all the time, but as the boy who broke her heart 6 years ago. See Alley and Ryan grew up together, thick as thieves, but once he got drafted he changed or so she thought he did. Ryan Anderson is the notorious bad boy of the Bruins. Always the first into trouble along the boards, but knows when to score when the time is right. On night though in a playoff game he injures his shoulder badly and his team goes to the best to help. When he meets with his surgeon for the first time he recognizes her instantly as the girl who was always there for him, but one night after he got drafted she up and left the party and never spoke to him again. He never knew why and so to fill the void she left he tried to fill it with meaningless women, booze and anger. Can these two work past their misunderstanding and grab the future they both deserved? Or are the issues of the past too much to get past? **WARNING** Mild foul language Intimate scenes lol Cover by still_just_me Banners by: still_just_me

Logan Donaldson is at the top of her field in PR management. She is successful and whitty, but deep down inside she is still mending her broken heart from 4 years ago. Thomas Hanover is the starting first baseman for the Toronto Blue Jays. He has it all the fame and the fortune, but it all came at a price. That price breaking Logan Donaldson's heart. Four years ago he made a choice, a stupid one to break it off with Logan because she didn't fit what his agent called "his image". Breaking up with Logan was the hardest thing he ever had to do, but at the time he thought it was for the best. She still haunts him to this day and that may be why he drinks too much and parties too hard. This leads him down the wrong road and he is becoming a liability to the Jays. Management calls in a PR management firm to clean up his image and the person assigned to him is the just the one who is the root of his ways. Can Logan get passed the heart break and help out the one person who hurt her and can Thomas face the woman he hurt and admit he was wrong to let her go. Cover by: still_just_me Banner by: still_just_me

Noah Rollins, your typical all American good looking man and my long time best friend. He had it all the hockey career, the perfect girlfriend and all the female attention one man can handle. I, however was the wallflower, the girl that just blended into the background. The one who never took the risks, in fear of failing. The best friend to someone I so desperatly had loved since I was 13, but didn't say anything. So here I am in a jewelry store helping said best friend pick out a ring for his forever person. My heart told me not to go as I know it would break the moment he found that ring, but my best friend needed me on this important day. Sometimes thought it just takes one little incident to let that wallflower shine bright in that other person's eyes. This is the story of how that happened for Noah and I. Noah Rollins, 26 and the starting centreman for the Detroit Red Wings. He has the life he haf always dreamed of. NHL superstar, smoking hot girlfriend and a best friend he knew would always be there for him. When Noah makes the decision to propose to Anslee, his best friend Tiffany is there to help him pick out the perfect ring. Too bad the proposal doesn't go as planned. Tiffany, 26 and a rising Corporate star in the Red Wings organization. She has always loved Noah, but never said anything to him. Always self concious about her looks and comparing herself to the model like women Noah is always dating. She guards her heart alot while around Noah, but after he comes to her when his proposal doesn't go as planned, maybe there is hope for them yet. Thank you once again to @still_just_me for the amazing cover and banner designs