Layla Monroe can wrangle youth soccer drama and runaway ferrets with ease. But Fall Fest with zero ticket sales? Crisis! Enter her Hail Mary: Hayes Fielder, a grumpy NFL linebacker who owes her friend a favor.

The good news? Hayes shows up.

The bad news? He brings his nine-year-old daughter, who has a to-do list: hike, swim, and find Dad a girlfriend. Layla’s somehow top of the audition list.

Hayes came to Star Lake for pumpkins, not feelings. But Layla’s smile could crack his defensive line, and his daughter’s already calling dibs. When a festival weekend turns into a week in Arizona—complete with pool kisses, kitchen disasters, and a kid who won’t stop scheming—Hayes realizes he’s in deep.

Was this just a favor between friends? Or the start of something worth scouting out for keeps?

Perfect for fans of single dad romance • Grumpy/sunshine • Matchmaking kids • Small town meets big city • Slow burn that combusts

Sara Ney is the USA Today bestselling author of sexy sports and contemporary romance novels. Her books have been translated for many foreign markets, including Germany, Italy, France, and Poland, to name just a few.

When she’s not writing banter-filled love stories, Sara enjoys scouring thrift stores, decorating for the holidays, and planning her next travel adventure—because honestly, that’s the only time she has the bathroom to herself.

A self-proclaimed “cool mom,” Sara shares her home in the Midwest with four young adults and a fiancé who insists on behaving like a romance hero in real life. The man does dishes, plans cute date nights, and gazes at her as if she weren’t occasionally unbearable. Sara loves a sexy slow burn, a witty comeback, and a good plot twist. For more information about the author and her books, please visit https://authorsaraney.com.