Manchester Athletic

Clean-living, wholesome, and with a constant smile plastered on her pretty face, Dee Jones is my antithesis. She's also what I'm told I need to polish my somewhat tarnished image—apparently being papped getting friendly with a fellow holiday maker on a sun lounger after your ex does a kiss-and-tell with the media isn't exactly what Manchester Athletic deems great publicity for their bad boy midfielder. A repair job is needed, and the club is hoping that the super shiny star player for the women's team can transfer some of her good-girl sunshine stardust on to me.

As Manchester Athletic's record signing, I should be basking in the adoration of fans and enjoying the perks that come with the job. Only that's never been my style. I keep a low profile and stay focused on doing my job. A chance one-night stand on my way back from the States is about as anonymous as I can make it. She had no idea who I was, and I was pretty sure she gave me a fake name too. No numbers were exchanged, and we headed back to our so-called ordinary lives. The chance of a repeat should've been zero. Until we meet again in Manchester.

Single dad. Goalkeeper. Widower. Nate Morris is Manchester Athletic's starting keeper and resident good guy. He trains, works out and looks after his daughters. My job isn't to stare unless it's in a professional capacity, and I've sworn off footballers. As one of the team's physios, my hands on job, is very hands off. Until the flirting starts.

As a footballer, my first touch of the ball was key. Control, timing, dexterity and skill were all needed to ensure I scored. I figured it wouldn't be dissimilar in a relationship, only even though I was one of Manchester Athletic's star players, I didn't actually know for sure. I'd never had a girlfriend. I'd never, you know—scored. I trained, I joked with my teammates, I helped my mum out with my cousins who she was bringing up. I was studying for a degree, even though it was going to take me years to get it. I hung around at Kitty's café. The coffee was good, but coffee wasn't my thing.

As the captain of Manchester Athletic, I know exactly what persona the media and fans need to see. Everything else is behind tightly closed bedroom doors. I didn't have a pretty childhood. I'm all kinds of broken. The only relationships I have contain boundaries, non-disclosure agreements, and safe words. My best friend and teammate is one of the few people who knows about what I do in private. My problem? The one woman I think I can fall in love with—his sister.