"She's out of bounds . . .
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.
Target Man is steamy, slow burn with a bang, older brother's best friend, soccer sports romance, with a dirty talking hero who knows exactly how to take control."
"Jude Whittingham didn't expect his football season would be spent in the stands recovering from injury. With rest and rehab his primary focus, Jude finds his mind is becoming as messed up as his Achilles tendon. It doesn't help that Neva, one of his many ex-girlfriends, and the team's nutritionist, has now been assigned to his case.
Neva has more to worry about than dealing with Jude. After a series of disastrous dates and time-wasting relationships, her hope of having a baby is fading. Neva's problem—no one has passed the audition phase or come close to being father material. Well, since Jude.
When a family seems to be out of reach for Neva, not only does Jude find out about her baby dream, but he also offers to help her out. Neva can't think of a practical reason to say no, apart from the fact that their past should probably be left exactly there.
Jude might be able to give her a baby, but just because he can, does it mean she should?"
"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.
Kitty was.
And I think she could be the one."
"It's him who needs saving . . .
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.
And then Nate isn't saving goals—he's scoring them. In my net.
We weren't meant to be serious. This wasn't meant to be anything more than a few steamy nights. Only one of those goals leads to a title for me in nine months' time.
Nate Morris isn't your typical footballer. He doesn't just want his heart to be saved—he wants to keep mine."
"He plays to win; only she changed the rules . . .
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. Different names this time, but the same chemistry.
Two people escaping their realities in anonymous hotels.
It's the perfect relationship until the media reveals our true identities to the world—and each other."
"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.
But Dee hates me and I'm the last thing she wants to deal with right now, because Miss Dee has problems of her own. Problems that could score her an own goal.
She's meant to be my penalty, but will she let me be her kiss instead?"
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