One Step Closer

From USA Today bestselling author Laura Pavlov comes a searingly warm and witty romance between an NFL player looking for a second chance and the innkeeper who gives him one.

With a championship loss under his belt and an ex-girlfriend's bad press on his heels, quarterback Maverick Storm just needs to lie low. He escapes to Peachtree to lick his wounds and reevaluate his life. But the owner of the local inn soon puts his heart in a twist.

Hazel Adams isn't one to make rash decisions--with her inn or her emotions. Seeing your ex-boyfriend and former best friend together does something to a person, though. And kissing a sexy stranger turns out to be Hazel's something.

That kiss inspires Hazel and Maverick to try fake dating as a temporary fix for all their problems. But when the paparazzi catches wind of the unexpected romance, they're in for a more long-term arrangement.

As they grow closer, their guards begin to come down. But with their lifestyles at odds and their hearts at stake, they'll have to decide whether to make their connection real--or keep pretending it's not.

(c) 2026 by Laura Pavlov, all rights reserved.