RELEASE DATE – NOVEMBER 10, 2026

He’s my brother’s best friend. The most popular hockey player in the world. And the reason for my lifelong trust issues.

Ash Carlson was everything to me growing up—my honorary big brother, my most trusted confidant… my secret crush. He swore he’d always be there, then ghosted me the second he hit it big. Poof. The guy I lived for my entire childhood was gone, leaving me to pick up the pieces of my shattered heart.

Whatever. It’s been almost nine years. I’m over it. I promised I’d never say his name again—and I haven’t. I’d pretty much erased him from my memory until I found myself in a tricky situation in a city where I don’t know anyone.

Correction.

In a city where I don’t know anyone except…

HIM.

I’d do anything to avoid talking to him again. Well… almost anything. Did I mention the tricky situation involves the police? Apparently, punching your boss—EVEN IF HE GRABS YOUR BUTT FIRST—is technically assault. So my choice is simple: spend the night in jail or call the man I swore never to speak to again.

Fine. I’ll ask for his help. But once he bails me out, I’m going straight back to pretending he doesn’t exist. I am not giving Ash Carlson another chance to break my heart.

Or at least… that was the plan.

Until he shows up with a condition of his own.

He’ll bail me out.

If I agree to live with him until the charges are dropped.

And the look in his eyes? One I’ve never seen before—a mix of regret, desperation, and something that looks suspiciously like attraction—tells me that now that he has me back…

He might never let me go again.