Playing for Keeps Book 2: False Start by Riley Hart & Neve Wilder

Playing for Keeps Book 2

If only my feelings were as fake as this "relationship" with my former teammate.

CULLEN: I’ve been the NFL’s “problem child” since my rookie year. If there’s trouble, I’ll find it.

But my biggest weakness has always been Houston McRae. We were secretly together in college before it blew up in our faces.

So, when I see him again years later, you’d think I’d know better than to end up in an airport bathroom stall tearing his clothes off.

To make matters worse, because of mistakes I’ve made, I find out afterward I’m being traded… to Denver.

Where Houston lives. Because of course.

I’m not taking responsibility for the two of us ending up in a fake relationship. That’s all on him, but I can’t pretend I won’t enjoy it. As long as I don’t let myself fall for him again, I’ll be fine, right?

HOUSTON: I lived, breathed, and slept football until an injury sidelined me for life. Now I’m solely focused on finding my place again… until Cullen Atwood walks back into my life and tempts me into an airport bathroom stall, where every ounce of passion for him I thought I’d buried returns with a vengeance.

Now he’s playing for the Rush…

And staying in my apartment.

And did I mention he’s also my fake boyfriend who makes it clear he still wants me every chance he gets?

I’ve got my future to think about, though, and we’re one wrong move from becoming a tabloid headline. I can’t afford to think of Cullen as anything more than a casual hook-up.

So why do I keep wishing this relationship was real?

False Start is a low angst, high-heat sports romance in the Playing for Keeps series.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/124926416-false-start

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

When Cullen and Houston first got together, they were young and in college working toward their dreams to play in the NFL. But at that time, coming out and playing professionally wasn't exactly easy or the thing to do. Instead of trying to make a go for it, they break one another hearts. Years have passed, and neither have truly gotten over the other. Not that either would admit it. And Cullen is becoming the problem child of the NFL. And his latest stunt changes everything. After running into Houston for the first time in a long time, it leads to a hook up and so many thoughts later. Head not in the game, Cullen makes a bad decision that leads to him being outed. Then traded. But perhaps it was a blessing in disguise, because he ends up in Denver. Right where Houston is. Houston is no longer playing in the NFL after an injury but he has stuck around near his team, his family, and his baby brother who is playing on his old team. When Cullen appears back in his life, he tries everything to stay away. But when the two of them are caught in a compromising position, and Cullen is getting hit with the blame, Houston blurts out they are in a relationship. Now they'll have to navigate a "fake" relationship that feels more and more real every day. This was definitely a fun fake relationship trope story! Cullen and Houston have great chemistry and banter. They were great together and you just want to shake them for being so silly and not realizing that the other was still in love with them and that they were meant to be and figure out a way to make it work. Even when their careers were leading in different directions. This has been a fun series so far and I'm hoping for more!