Playing Hard to Get(107)

“Blair was kind of bitchy—but that’s normal. And Cam was so damn quiet. He’s been quiet a lot lately, which isn’t like him. I wonder if he’s worried about something.” Knox scratches the back of his neck, and I realize he’s truly worried about his friend.

Should I tell him what I suspect? Or is that opening a can of worms I might later regret?

“Football stuff?” I ask, not knowing how else to describe it.

He smiles, reaching for me and I go into his arms willingly, a contented sigh leaving him when he holds me close. “Football stuff. You mean his future? The possibility that he could get drafted?”

I nod, trying to ignore the fear trickling inside of me at the idea of Knox getting drafted and becoming too busy for me. “Maybe that’s stressing him out.”

“Maybe.” Knox pulls away slightly so he can look at me. “Does it stress you out? The idea of me getting drafted into the NFL?”

I pluck at the front of his shirt, keeping my gaze focused on my busy fingers. “Maybe.”

He cups my chin, tilting my face up so I have to look at him. “Nothing is going to change how I feel about you, Jo Jo. I know you still have one year left after I graduate, but I’ll be waiting for you to join me on this wild ride called life when you’re ready.”

Tears spring to my eyes at his softly spoken words and the look on his face. He’s so serious, so sweet, so gone over me. I can see it. Feel it.

And I feel the same way.

“I love you so much,” I whisper.

He smiles, gently wiping the falling tears from my cheeks with his thumb. “I love you too. Why are you crying?”

“I don’t know.” I shake my head, kissing the tip of his thumb when he drags it across my lips. “I think I’m overwhelmed by you sometimes.”

His brows draw together in concern. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

I reach up to wrap my arms around his neck, my face in his when I murmur, “It’s the very best thing.”

Right before I kiss him.





Are you guys dying to know what’s going on with Cam and Blair? Your questions will be answered in Playing by The Rules, coming May 2023! Keep reading for the blurb!





PLAYING BY THE RULES





Camden Fields is the star quarterback of our college football team.

Quiet.

Smart.

Absolutely gorgeous.

He’s the man all the women on campus rave about. And while he’s had a few casual hookups over the years, it’s never anything serious. Cam doesn’t do serious.

He also doesn’t do me.

See, I’m his best friend’s little sister, and whenever we’re around each other, he’s always warning me that I’m off limits. That nothing can ever happen between us.

But I see the way he looks at me when he thinks I’m not watching. The heat in his gaze. The hunger. He can deny it, but that man wants me.

I want him too.

I’m tired of always being the good girl and doing what everybody expects. For once, I’m going to break all the rules that have restrained me my entire life.

I’m going after Camden Fields.

And no one can stop me.





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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


It is so satisfying, being back in a sports romance world! It’s been a while, and I had so much freakin’ fun writing this book. Knox Maguire is dreamy, Joanna is relatable and all of the side characters…you just know something is happening between Cam and Blair, am I right?

If you’d told me back in the summer of 2013 when I was writing Owen Maguire’s book (Four Years Later) that I’d write a story for his son someday, I would’ve laughed at you. But here I am, writing about the next generation of Maguires and loving every minute of it! Thank you, dearest readers, for loving this family (the Maguires/Callahans) and encouraging me to keep writing about them. I could’ve never done it without you.

I also want to thank everyone at Valentine PR for taking care of me - Nina, Kim, Valentine, Daisy, Kelley - you ladies are the best! Nina, as usual you helped make this story shine and I appreciate you for it!

Thank you to my editor Rebecca for all that you do. Thank you to Christine Yates for coming in at the last minute and proofreading this book - I appreciate your quick turnaround!

Huge thank you to Emily Wittig for designing this gorgeous cover and somehow making it match my Lancaster covers. Your branding and design skills are both always on point.

p.s. - If you enjoyed PLAYING HARD TO GET, it would mean the world to me if you left a review on the retailer site you bought it from, or on Goodreads. Thank you so much!