Micky

I'm new to this city, but things are looking up. My bestie's husband hooked me up with a great apartment above the hockey bar where I currently work, and I've got a great side gig bringing in plenty of cash to help fund my dream of opening my own cocktail lounge, Sugar & Ice. Life is sweet. My new neighbor, on the other hand, is not.

When he reveals his true self, I hate what I discover. Until some of his secrets unravel, proving we have more in common than I realized, and I don't mean hobbies like rock climbing or outdoor concerts. No, we have the good stuff—shared trauma. I promised myself I'd never let that negativity back into my life again, but my heart tells me Rhys is worth it.

Rhys

Hockey comes first. Always has, always will. I've got a one-year contract, 365 days to prove to them I'm worth the investment—which is why I need to stay far away from the woman across the hall. She thinks we're strangers, but we know each other quite well. I need to keep it that way.

The problem is she's everywhere. Across the hall, on my laptop, bartending where my team hangs out. Micky is like a loose thread that I can't stop tugging. Then one night, she steps in to do me a favor, and all my defenses get shot to hell. Now I'm showing her the real me, but it might not be enough for her.