Raising my cousin’s three kids wasn’t in my five-year plan. Actually, it wasn’t in any plan.
One minute I’m a single labor and delivery nurse living a quiet life and the next, I’m navigating guardianship hearings, meltdowns, and homework I’m pretty sure requires a math degree.
Enter Hayes Carlisle. My best friend’s older brother. Chicago Colts newest catcher. And the man I once kissed and immediately pretended I didn’t.
So, when the custody battle I’ve been dreading becomes a reality, I shouldn’t be surprised that Hayes swoops in with a wild idea—a fake relationship. According to him, pretending we’re together will polish his image and prove to the court I’m not taking on an instant family alone. But pretending to be Hayes’ girlfriend is a terrible idea.
Because he remembers how to make me laugh. Because he looks at me like our kiss wasn’t a one-time mistake. Because the kids start asking him to read bedtime stories. Because my heart starts wanting things my life doesn’t have room for.
I can manage the chaos. I can fight for these kids. But pretending not to fall for Hayes Carlisle? That might be the one thing I can’t do.
(ARC Review)
Leighton and Hayes completely stole my heart. They are just so adorably cute together, and I can’t say no to a best friend’s brother, fake dating romance. Ever.
“If I learned anything last year, it’s that sometimes you don’t know you need someone until they’re standing next to you.”
This book is the definition of a slow burn done right. The banter, the teasing, the years of unspoken feelings, the tension simmering just beneath the surface, it all felt so natural and perfectly paced. From page one, I was rooting for them, cheering them on, and mentally begging them to just figure it out already.
Leighton is the kind of heroine you instantly respect. A labor and delivery nurse who suddenly becomes guardian to three grieving kids, she steps up without hesitation. No drama. No martyr energy. Just determination, love, and exhaustion. She’s responsible to her core, fiercely independent, and deeply tender-hearted, but emotionally guarded after growing up with broken promises and a messy divorce. She’s strong enough to do everything alone, but learning that she doesn’t have to is her biggest journey.
“There’s a part of me that wants to fix everything for her—to take away the pain in her eyes, the lines of her face, and the rigidity of her shoulders. But she’s not the type of woman who would ever let me step in and fix things for her.”
And Hayes Carlisle? Absolute perfection.
On the surface, he’s the gorgeous pro baseball catcher with a former party-boy reputation. In reality, he’s loyal, emotionally intuitive, and quietly devoted to the girl he’s loved for years. Hayes has been gone for Leighton since that kiss they both pretend didn’t matter (it very much mattered). And instead of pushing her, he waits. He shows up. He adjusts. He supports. Bedtime stories. Homework help. Court appearances. Quiet reassurance. No ego. No control. Just steady, unwavering “I’ve got you” energy. Elite book boyfriend behavior.
The banter makes their relationship addictive.
These two are constantly teasing each other, trading playful jabs, and pretending they’re “just friends,” while fully aware that every interaction is laced with tension. Their conversations are flirty and funny, always charged with that “we both know what this is” energy. You can feel the pull between them in every shared look, every sarcastic comment, every moment where they linger just a little too long. That kiss from a year ago is always there in the background, simmering beneath the surface, making every joke and every smile feel dangerous in the best way.
“Just say the word, and I’ll fill the vacancy in your bed.”
It’s playful. It’s intimate. And it makes the slow burn absolutely worth it.
Their relationship so powerful because of how balanced it feels. Leighton is used to carrying everything on her own. Hayes never tries to take over. He just stands beside her and says, “You don’t have to do this alone anymore,” and then proves it every single day. He never pressures her to heal faster. He never makes her feel like she’s too much. He simply stays.
“I’m not here to fucking help you, Leighton.” The raw honesty in his words cut through me. “I’m here to stand by your side.”
I loved the way the fake dating trope was executed. It feels believable, practical, and natural. Every “pretend” moment is loaded with history and longing, especially with that kiss hanging over their heads. Watching their fake relationship slowly turn into something real, while the kids are watching, hoping, trusting, was incredibly powerful.
“I have no idea how to explain it, other than that I found myself with you. Who I am and the man I can be…it’s all because of you.”
This story feels emotionally safe. The conflict is rooted in real fears: loss, abandonment, responsibility, and the fear of wanting something that might disappear. Leighton is terrified of trusting happiness. Hayes is learning that he’s more than his past and more than baseball. Together, they grow in ways that feel earned, tender, and honest.
And when they finally hit that “forget it, I’m all in” moment? It was worth every second of the wait.
“Have I not made it clear how uninterested I am in anyone but you?”
Piper Rayne has done it again. This book is funny, heartfelt, swoony, and deeply satisfying. Leighton and Hayes aren’t just great together—they’re beautiful individually. She learns she deserves softness. He proves that love is rooted in consistency. And together, they build something real.
Release Date: February 17th, 2026
Thank you to Piper Rayne and Valentine PR & Literary Management for the ARC read!