The Faceoff – A Look Before the Kickoff

                            Mila Hart has one goal: finish her sports psychology internship at Lakebridge University, earn a glowing recommendation, and keep her head down.

But her first assignment throws her right into the spotlight—straight to the LBU Titans hockey program and directly into the orbit of Hunter Vale: campus golden boy, future draft pick, and the one person Mila never wanted to face again after he publicly humiliated her a year ago.

Hunter looks untouchable on the ice—confident, charming, always in control. Yet Mila sees the cracks no one else notices: split-second panic, breathless pressure, and dangerous moments he fights to hide. When a close call forces the truth into the open, they strike a secret deal: Mila helps Hunter stay steady under the relentless spotlight, and Hunter keeps her out of the team’s PR chaos. Simple. Professional. Safe.

Until late-night sessions turn into something softer. Until an away trip and one too-small hotel room blur every boundary. Until one kiss changes the rules.

Then rumors explode—and a leak threatens to destroy everything: Mila’s internship, Hunter’s career, and the fragile trust they built in the dark. With the entire campus watching, they must decide what matters more—reputation, dreams… or the heartbeat they never meant to share.

The Faceoff – A Look Before the Kickoff is a thrilling college hockey romance packed with enemies-to-lovers tension, forced proximity, secret vulnerability, high-stakes pressure, and a story-driven spice level with clear consent. Perfect for readers who love emotional New Adult sports romance, campus drama, and a hero who learns to accept help—and fight for love when it truly counts.