Between Love and War (Magnolia Heights, #3)

Kate Cruz is the epitome of the perfect girl next door. As a preschool teacher in a small town, she’s spent her life being patient, predictable, and painfully accommodating. She’s never had a boyfriend, never taken a real risk, and she’s perfectly fine with that. Until Michael Lee—the nation’s basketball golden boy who needs a clean slate.

After a public scandal threatens Michael’s career, his PR team’s solution is simple: disappear from the spotlight, lay low, and rack up some goodwill points by coaching the Little League at his niece’s preschool. All he has to do is behave, stay quiet, and impress Kate Cruz, the teacher in charge of his hours.

The problem? They can’t stand each other. Kate thinks he’s an arrogant, self-absorbed athlete. Michael thinks she’s a tightly wound goody-two-shoes who talks to him like he’s five.

But somewhere between disastrous arts-and-crafts sessions, an unexpected family trip, and one memorable dance during a blackout, their carefully drawn battle lines start to blur and they must decide if it’s worth the risk.

She bends to keep everyone happy.
He builds walls to keep everyone out.
What happens when their defenses finally crack?