Payne by name, pain by nature…

Milo Payne is the grumpiest goalie in the NHL. Hes also annoyingly attractive with his broad shoulders, stubbled jaw, and piercing green eyes.

Not that I care.

He may be used to women falling at his feet, but I refuse to be one of them. Im a shelf-diagnosed, snarky booktrovert whos only a sap for romance on the page, not in real life. Ive been treated like dirt by guys before—I wont let it happen again.

But suddenly, Milo is everywhere I turn. On my early morning walks. Hanging out with my friends. Moving in next door.

Its irritating…and okay, maybe a little fun to have someone to exchange barbs with.

Because under his gruff exterior, hes surprisingly quick-witted, smart, and kind. A dream guy…if I were looking for that sort of thing, which I definitely am not.

Then I discover why hes moved to Comfort Bay, and slowly, the stone walls Ive built around my heart start tumbling down.

Milo and I started off as enemies, but will we end up as something else?

He's a guarded pro hockey player. My brother's best friend. My high school crush. And now…my fake date to my ex's wedding. What could possibly go wrong?

After my breakup on live TV goes viral—yep, I'm Breakup Sneeze Girl, hi!—I cannot go to my ex's wedding alone.

So my totally non-meddling—cough, yeah right—brother ropes in his best friend as my date.

The only problem is, Fraser and I share a history. He was my high school crush…until he left without even saying goodbye.

But that was seven years ago, and I am completely, one thousand percent, over it.

One fake date with Fraser? No problem. I can handle that.

Until one date turns into me being his fake girlfriend.

The more time we spend together, the more I catch glimpses of the Fraser I knew back in high school. Under his gruff exterior, he's kind. Protective. Encouraging. He's also got the most intense blue eyes and cutest smile I've ever seen.

And yep, okay, my crush is back with a vengeance.

Only this time, it doesn't feel so one-sided. Fraser buys me my favorite flowers. He flies across the country just to check in on me. And when he gazes into my eyes, there's something simmering between us I can't deny.

But will Fraser leave again, or can our fake relationship turn into something real?

After seven years of raising my younger brother and sister, my friends convince me to do something for myself and have a hot girl summer.

Being a list girl, I compile a spreadsheet of things Id like to do and places Id like to see.

Not on my list?

A marriage of convenience with one of the greatest defensemen in the NHL, my best friend, and the guy Im secretly in love with—Culver Palladino.

Culver needs a wife to get his inheritance. I need someone to make sure I go through with my hot girl summer plans.

So we help each other out. Simple, right?

Wrong.

As we tick off items from my list, things begin to change. Feelings Ive kept hidden for years bubble to the surface.

Except this time…its not just a one-way thing. Culver feels it, too.

As the summer comes to an end, so will our fake marriage arrangement—and along with it, our nightly foot rubs, home-cooked meals, deep conversations, and the growing sense that something more is developing between us.

Theres no denying that Culver and I love each other as friends, but after all this time, can we go from best friends to lovers?