New to the Pittsburgh Titans but no stranger to relentless ambition, North Paquette knows exactly how to put in the work to ensure the win. But this time, the stakes are personal because the game isn’t just on the ice.

Life as a member of the Pittsburgh Titans is pretty freaking fantastic. I live in one of the best cities around, get paid to play the game I love and enjoy all the perks of being a professional hockey player. While many of those perks are because of who I am, one in particular is because of who I know.

Farren Abrams wasn’t on my radar until she came to town to visit her brother Rafferty. She’s smart, sarcastic, sexy as hell and can talk hockey like a pro. So when a night out with the team became a drunken hookup with Farren, there were zero complaints from yours truly. We had our fun and then she went back home—no harm, no foul. Now she’s moved to Pittsburgh permanently and while she’s still looking for some fun, I’m starting to look for more.

The more time I spend with Farren the more I like her, but to say she’s relationship averse is an understatement. Something in her past has caused her to head for the hills whenever someone gets too close, but she shuts down whenever I push for details. When she rejects my attempts to take this thing to the next level, I’m forced to seek help from none other than Rafferty, who has no idea I’m banging his little sister. With his assistance, I set out to do the one thing none of those chumps in Farren’s past have taken the time to do—help her face her demons and give her something worth staying for.