Rhett Norris has a chip on his shoulder and doesn’t intend to become part of the Savannah Heat family. He’ll do his job, but he doesn’t need to be best friends with anyone to get the job done. He hates the situation but that's not going to keep him from his other joy— volunteering with children's charities. He finds his way to Mentor Savannah, an after-school program that the Heat sponsors. He’s impressed with the psychologist who volunteers there when they become involved in a child’s life. He has always admired talent, and she has it in buckets. He also admires the way she looks and how easy it is to talk to her. Stella appreciates Rhett too, but when he indicates that he is interested in more than working with her she panics and wallows in self-doubt. There are way too many years between them for her to risk her heart. Keeping her distance proves impossible when they both live in the same building. Her son finds out that Rhett is a professional athlete and wants to learn from him, the stakes get higher. Despite all that, Stella isn’t about to enter a relationship with a much younger man. She sets her boundaries but Rhett is not a quitter and Stella is drawn to him despite their age. Will his persistence or her fear of being hurt, get the upper hand? It’s not just her own heartbreak if she makes the wrong choice, her son is at risk, too. When Rhett lets his guard down the Heat team shows him they have his back on and off the ice. The comfortable life he had in Winnipeg doesn’t seem so important as the new life he's creating in Savannah.
"I loved this book so much I read it in one day!! Stella and Rhett are now amongst my favorite couples. All the Savannah Heat players and their wives were special in their own way! Stella finally realized love doesn't know what age difference means!!! Now Jessica McBrayer I need another Heat book to read!!! I'm addicted!" KGregory
Excerpt:
Stella
It was Monday morning, and I was doing my morning swim in the underground gym in my building. I could only reliably make it on the days Jonah was with his father. I tried to get in days when he didn’t have practice in the mornings, too. I was in the zone, regulating my breathing, feeling a slight burn in my limbs and lungs when a pair of feet popped into sight at the edge of the pool right in front of me. I came to a quick stop and sputtered out water and air as my head rose above the water.
“I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to interrupt you. I was checking out the pool and got caught up in watching you. You really know how to move through the water. I’m going to look like I need a water noodle next to you.” I laughed and then looked up and up and up to a dark-haired, blue-eyed god. He had to be well over six feet and standing in his board shorts let me see every inch of his heavily muscled body, even down to that elusive V. He was way too young for me, but I still enjoyed the view.
“You’re fine. I was just startled. Usually, no one is in here at this time.”
“If I swim laps will it bother you?”
“No, not at all. The pool is plenty big enough. When I used to compete, I was used to every lane being used.”
“It shows.” I looked at him, confused. “That you’ve competed.”
“Ah. It’s been years. Not since college.”
“I better let you get back to it. I didn’t mean to interrupt you,” the blue-eyed god said. I was having a hard time focusing on what he was saying. His chest was highly distracting. Tattoos ran down his right arm and pecs in shades of grey. My eyes wandered down, tracing them without touching them. I shook myself and then pulled myself out of the water.
Stella better get her groove back.
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