Once upon a time, a smart-mouthed virgin met a sexy football star. It wasn’t a fairytale romance. The sequel is gonna be rough too.

Kate

There was a time I’d have done anything for my brother’s friend Cole.
He was right out of my dreams: hot, charismatic, and talented beyond belief.
Maybe I was naïve to think I could, but I had to make him mine.
I thought that I was making progress until his talent took him away.
Not all dreams come true.

Now Cole is back, and I want him just as much as ever.
I’ve grown up enough to be embarrassed by the way I acted back then.
Time has taught me some hard lessons.
I don’t throw myself after the unattainable dreams—not anymore.
This time, I won’t be the pathetic, starry-eyed girl who gets her heart crushed.

If only I could convince my heart to agree.

Cole

It all started with a prank gone wrong, but the joke was on me the moment I laid eyes on her.
What were the chances my friend Ward would have a little sister like Kate? I didn’t even know he had a sister.
Kate was everything I could ever want, and against all odds, she even wanted me back.
Too bad her brother would murder me if he knew.
I spent my college years trying my best to avoid the one girl I wanted.
I left, letting her believe I never wanted her.

Now I’ve chosen to retire early from the NFL after four concussions in two years.
I needed to quit while I still had two brain cells to rub together, but I may be in for heartbreak instead.
I’ve come home to find that the girl I’ve never been able to forget has forgotten me.
I guess I should have told her the truth.
Kate’s convinced it’ll never work, and she’s just as convinced I never wanted her.
She’s still stubborn as hell and I don’t deserve her, but I’ve always loved a challenge.

This time, I’m not playing games.