Layla Monroe can wrangle youth soccer drama and runaway ferrets with ease. But Fall Fest with zero ticket sales? Crisis! Enter her Hail Mary: Hayes Fielder, a grumpy NFL player who owes her friend a favor.

The good news? Hayes shows up.

The bad news? He brings his nine-year-old daughter, who has a to-do list: hike, swim, and find Dad a girlfriend. Layla’s somehow top of the audition list.

Hayes came to Star Lake for pumpkins, not feelings. But Layla’s smile could crack his defensive line, and his daughter’s already calling dibs. When a festival weekend turns into a week in Arizona―complete with pool kisses, kitchen disasters, and a kid who won’t stop scheming―Hayes realizes he’s in deep.

Was this just a favor between friends? Or the start of something worth scouting out for keeps?

Perfect for fans of single dad romance • Grumpy/sunshine • Matchmaking kids • Small town meets big city • Slow burn that combusts