He has a problem, and she's the solution. Ash I have a problem. I was one of the best centers in the NHL until I started letting opponents get in my head. I can't handle guys chirping at me during the game, and my old team dropped me. I was picked up by a new NHL team, the Hartford Hydra, and given a second chance...that I'm blowing. The Hydra's owner gave me an ultimatum: work with an expert on trash talk and fix my issue or be cut loose. Easy choice. I'll work with the expert. But Dr. Gray Mackey turns out to be more than I bargained for, and she's a distraction I don't need if I want to get my career back on track. Gray I have a problem. I should be focusing on my students and getting tenure at my university, but the Hartford Hydra's owner just offered me and my department a jaw-dropping amount of money to fix his star player's trash talk issue. Unfortunately, Ash Gunnarsson is a walking wet dream, and I'm in the middle of a year-long dry spell after a tough breakup. Still, this isn't an opportunity I can turn down. Working with Ash becomes infinitely harder when we're forced to pretend we're dating to save both our careers. His touches may be for show, but they feel all too real, and soon my body (and my heart) can't separate fact from fiction. Content Advisory: This book includes mature (18+) subjects that may be upsetting to some readers. For a complete list of triggers and tropes, please see the book page on the author's website at www.karencpmcdermott.com.