She's his greatest rival…and his greatest weakness. Handsome, talented, and beloved by (almost) everyone, Sebastian Laurent is used to being on top. The heir to a culinary empire, his sharp instincts and effortless charm have made him a legend. What people don't see are the demons lurking beneath his golden-boy facade. There's only one person who's come close to knowing the real him―Maya Singh, his childhood rival and secret obsession. She's also the only one who's ever successfully challenged him. He can't stand her, but if that's true…why can't he stop thinking about her? *** Smart, witty, and competitive to a fault, top marketing executive Maya Singh is used to winning―unless her opponent is Sebastian. It's something that's infuriated and motivated her her entire life. So when a series of unfortunate events forces her to work with her sworn enemy, she's determined to one-up him and show the world who's the best once and for all. What she didn't count on? Not hating their time together. To her horror, she might even…like it. There may be a thin line between love and hate, but that's one line she'll never cross. Not with him. Not ever.

He has to play by the rules...but for her, he'd break them all. As the captain of Blackcastle Football Club and one of the highest-paid athletes in the game, Vincent DuBois should be on top of the world. But when his fame brings danger to his doorstep, he finds himself in his worst nightmare scenario—secretly sharing a flat with his coach’s daughter, knowing full well she’s far too big a temptation for him to resist. When his new living arrangements escalate into a bet that throws them even closer together, he realizes he’s in deeper trouble than he thought. He’s always played to win—but for her, he might just risk it all. *** As a sports nutritionist and the daughter of a legendary coach, Brooklyn Armstrong is used to dealing with hotshot athletes. However, no player gets under her skin like Vincent, her best friend’s infuriatingly cocky (and gorgeous) brother. She left California hoping for a fresh start, and he’s the kind of distraction she doesn’t need. Now, he’s sleeping in the room next to hers while her career is up in the air and her defenses are crumbling. But no matter how many sparks fly between them, a relationship between the captain and the coach’s daughter could never work…could it? THE DEFENDER is a steamy soccer (aka European football) sports romance featuring forced proximity. It's book two of the Gods of the Game series but can be read as a standalone.