Chapter 1
Sebastian
I’m seated at the table, enjoying dinner with my best friend and his family, when the mistake happens.
“You could do your project on me,” I say, instantly regretting the words, but also knowing there is no way back from here.
Why the hell did I do that?
Lily turns toward me with a breathtaking smile that makes my breath catch.
Christ.
I’m in so much trouble here.
And I just added to that trouble, big time.
“Really, Sebastian? That would be amazing,” she says, not detecting the inner turmoil I’m currently dealing with.
No wonder she doesn’t catch on. Hiding my feelings from this girl has become my specialty.
Her brother, my dear best friend, Luke, seems to appreciate the idea as well.
“Yeah, that would be great, Sebastian. And then I wouldn’t have to worry about some jock going after my sister,” he chuckles.
Hell.
I’m actually going to hell.
He would probably not be as pleased if he knew just how much I would do for his sister. I’m probably not much better than those jocks he talks about, but at least I would never disrespect his sister or our friendship.
That’s why Lily Hastings is off limits, and she will continue to be so.
She’s the sister of my best friend, and that line can never be crossed.
That’s why I’m sitting here, contemplating the stroke I must have suffered when I proposed that she could do her sports psychology project on me.
There is no other reason I would volunteer for this.
This is a disaster waiting to happen.
As part of her final assignment in college, Lily is supposed to follow an athlete and gather information through interviews for her paper.
She will follow an athlete and conduct her own research into their psychology and performance. Lily was supposed to cover a female tennis athlete, but she just pulled out on her.
This leaves Lily without an athlete just two days before she was supposed to start her project.
As a pro athlete, I blurted out the suggestion before I could stop myself.
And now I must suffer the consequences of my actions.
I play professional football in Europe, more specifically in London.
Even though my fellow Americans like to call me a traitor, I am living my biggest dream over the pond.
And now I invited Lily Hastings to spend the next six weeks together with me, in London, alone.
Christ.
