{"product_id":"the-final-score-isbn-9780399585142","title":"The Final Score","description":"\u003cb\u003eIn the new Play-by-Play novel by the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eRules of Contact\u003c\/i\u003e, a star quarterback is torn between his love of the game—and the woman who may be the love of his life.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eNathan Riley is ready to follow in the footsteps of his famous football player father. He’s been drafted as quarterback for his dad’s former team, and his future is bright. When his friend Mia Cassidy moves to the same city, their years-long friendship suddenly sparks hot, reminding him of the one night they had together in college that he can never forget.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Like Nathan, Mia is from a sports dynasty family and embarking on an incredible new career—as founder of her own sports management company. Her friendship with Nathan means everything to her, and tossing sex into the mix again could jeopardize it. But the chemistry between them has always sizzled, and it isn’t long before Mia realizes she wants more with Nathan than just late-night talks and pizza. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Passion has a funny way of changing the rules, and soon Nathan and Mia discover that to win it all, they’ll have to make an unexpected play for love.\"Jaci Burton's stories are full of heat and heart.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eMaya Banks\u003c\/b\u003e, #1 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“Jaci Burton’s books are always sexy, romantic, and charming!”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eJill Shalvis\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Jaci Burton is a stalwart in the romance genre.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A wild ride.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eLora Leigh\u003c\/b\u003e, #1 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author, on \u003ci\u003eRiding the Edge\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"One to pick up and savor.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, on\u003ci\u003e Surviving Demon Island\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Jaci Burton delivers.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eCherry Adair\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e “Captures everything I love about a small-town romance.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eFresh Fiction\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, on \u003ci\u003eHope Burns\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eJaci Burton\u003c\/b\u003e is the \u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of the Play-by-Play series, including \u003ci\u003eThe Final Score, Rules of Contact\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eUnexpected Rush\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eAll Wound Up\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eQuarterback Draw\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eStraddling the Line, Melting the Ice\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eOne Sweet Ride\u003c\/i\u003e, and the Hope series, including \u003ci\u003eLove Me Again\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eDon’t Let Go\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eMake Me Stay\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003ci\u003e Love After All, Hope Burns\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eHope Ignites \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eHope Flames\u003c\/i\u003e.one\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"So, here we are, once again living in the same city.\" Mia Cassidy      took a sip of her green tea and looked over at Nathan Riley. \"How      did that happen?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Nathan, the epitome of tall, dark, well-muscled and absolutely      hot, leaned back in his chair and grinned at her. \"Easy. You're      obsessed with me so you followed me.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She laughed. \"I don't think so. You knew I was thinking of      starting a business here so you decided you had to get drafted by      the San Francisco Sabers.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Nathan took a swallow of his iced tea and set the glass down. Mia      tracked the movement of his hands. He had really big hands. She      remembered that night several years ago in college when he'd used      his hands to touch her-all over. They'd only had that one night      together, but it sure had been memorable.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Yeah, the guy had magnificent hands.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I've been here a year already, Mia. You just got here. So like I      said, you followed me.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Her lips quirked. \"And aren't you happy to have me here?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Actually, I am. Although who would have thought this kind of      major shit would go down for both of us? You were going to get      your PhD, and instead, you've got a start-up sports management      company. I thought I'd end up in Cleveland or maybe in L.A., but      not here in San Francisco, taking over as the Sabers quarterback      now that my dad has retired.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mia clutched her glass, feeling the cloud of anxiety rain down      over her. Which was why she'd asked Nathan to have lunch. His      charm and humor had always been a distraction for her, and oh how      she needed it today. \"Big changes for both of us for sure. How is      your dad? Is he okay with the decision he made to retire?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"He seems fine with it. The Sabers won the championship last year,      and he had the knee issue that plagued him at the tail end of the      season. He's thirty-seven, so he felt like it was the right time      for him to step away.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"And you don't think he did that for you, to give you a chance to      play?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I asked him that-more than once. He said no. Knowing my dad, he'd      never walk away from football if he wasn't ready. He loves the      game too much.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mia nodded. \"Since I have three brothers who play football, I      believe that. You should believe him, too.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She knew Nathan had been worried when his dad announced his      retirement at the end of last season. She also knew it added some      pressure for Nathan, because he'd take over as starting      quarterback this season for the Sabers. He'd had all last season      to learn from him, but succeeding someone as high profile as Mick      Riley wasn't going to be easy. Plus, Mick was his dad.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Now she was doubly happy she'd made the decision to launch her      company here in San Francisco. Besides being a prime location for      her, she and Nathan had always been close in college. Despite      their one night together-which had definitely been a      mistake-they'd remained friends. It was a bonus that now they      would be in the same city.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"How's your company coming along?\" Nathan asked.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Just getting things rolling. I told you Monique Parker came on      board as my executive manager, didn't I?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He grinned. \"Yeah. She'll make sure nothing falls through the      cracks.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I know. She's incredibly organized, even more than me.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"If that's possible. I've never known anyone as anal as you.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Hey, I'm good at everything I do.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He waggled his brows at her. \"Don't I know it.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She laughed. \"We promised we wouldn't bring up that mistaken,      drunken night ever again.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"No, you made me promise it wouldn't happen again. I thought it      was amazing.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Her body heated at his words. \"It was amazing. But we're friends,      Nathan.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"And friends can't have sex?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I don't know. Do you have sex with your friends?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He cocked his head to the side. \"You know what I mean, Mia.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I do. But we agreed after that night it wouldn't happen again.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You made me agree. I wanted to keep you in bed with me the next      day.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She laughed. \"We were drunk. It was a mistake. And I'd much rather      have you as a friend than a lover.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Oh, so now you're implying the sex wasn't good enough?\" He leaned      over and grasped her hand, the contact instantly electrifying.      \"Because if that's the case, I'm calling you out for faulty      drunken memory loss. If I recall, you came three times that      night.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e At least he whispered that last part. And if he kept talking that      way she was going to have an orgasm right there in her chair. So      much for pushing those memories aside. She snatched her hand away.      \"That is not what I meant and you know it.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Fine. We're friends.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You need me as your friend, Nathan. Who will get you past all      your training camp anxiety?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He frowned. \"Who says I have training camp anxiety?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She twirled the stirrer around in her tea glass. \"Don't you?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He leaned back in his chair again. \"Maybe. Don't you have a little      anxiety, too, miss big shot business owner?\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Yes, I have anxiety. Like you would not believe. Which is why I'm      glad we're friends. I need you, Nathan. As my friend.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He glared at her. \"Shit. Fine. You know I'm always going to be      here for you.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He had no idea how much his friendship and counsel meant to her.      \"Good. Now let's order lunch because I have to get back to work.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You're a tough woman, Mia Cassidy.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"But I'm also your best friend, Nathan Riley. And don't ever      forget it.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e These next few months were going to be critical-for both of them.      They were going to need each other more than ever.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e As friends. And nothing else.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e two\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e After having lunch with Mia, Nathan drove to the Sabers stadium.      He felt calmer after spending some time with her.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In many ways, Mia was right. Having her as his friend was one of      the best things that had ever happened to him. They both came from      sports families, so when they met in college in Texas they'd      formed an instant bond. It had been a little weird for Nathan to      have a female friend at first, but Mia was smart, funny and      absolutely beautiful. And since she hadn't seemed at all attracted      to him, she was the one he'd gone to with girlfriend issues.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She'd always been straightforward with her advice, and it had      always been helpful. When his girlfriend Sonja had broken up with      him his junior year, he'd been a wreck. It was Mia who'd been      there to help him pick up the pieces and move on. She'd kept him      focused on football while soothing his ego about the breakup,      reminding him that college romances rarely lasted anyway. After      that he'd played the field without getting emotionally attached.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Until that one night he and Mia had been at his apartment,      drinking and watching one of her brothers and his dad play a game      against each other on TV. They'd ordered pizza and drank a lot.      After the game they'd talked sports and family and careers and      what they wanted to do with their futures. It was a heavy      conversation. He didn't know how it happened, but suddenly they      were on the couch making out.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Damn it had been good. He was pretty sure it had surprised both of      them, but neither of them stopped once they'd started.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mia had been soft and pliant and the sounds she'd made had driven      him crazy. She'd been receptive to his touch, and they'd moved      things into the bedroom.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e They'd spent all night together, and it had been a damn good      night.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Until the next morning when Mia had told him it couldn't happen      again because she valued his friendship more than anything.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He could still remember the way her body had moved under his,      could still feel the softness of her lips when they kissed, could      still hear the sounds of her breathing as he moved inside of her.      And now, goddammit, he had a hard-on as he sat in his car in the      stadium parking lot.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He cranked the music up loud and focused on the playbook to get      Mia out of his head. When he finally got his shit together, he got      out of the car.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He bypassed the locker room and stepped onto the Sabers field. It      felt like the first time. Hell, he'd been there countless times      before with his dad, the famous Mick Riley. He'd watched him play      the game, learned under his tutelage, picked his brain after every      play, good and bad.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Now his dad was retired and the Sabers was his team to lead. It      wasn't his first time on the field as a Sabers player, of course,      since he'd been drafted by the team last year, but back then he'd      been nothing more than a benchwarmer. This was the first time      Nathan walked the field as the Sabers starting quarterback.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Christ, how had all this happened? It had been a goddamned      whirlwind starting with his dad announcing his retirement. These      past several months had been some kind of otherworldly dream, like      he'd been asleep all this time and it wasn't real.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But as his feet crunched into the turf, it all felt solid. Real.      As if he belonged here, like he'd always belonged here.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He could still remember the first time he'd walked out onto the      field, after seeing his dad play. His mom and dad had just gotten      together. Nathan had been fifteen at the time, and being around      professional football had been new to him. This stadium seemed      enormous, out of reach to a scrawny kid who had only dreamed of      someday walking in shoes as big as Mick Riley's.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e And then his mom had fallen in love with and married Mick, and      Mick had adopted him. He'd been one lucky sonofabitch to end up      with a father who loved him as much as his dad did. He'd taught      Nathan everything he knew about football. How to love and respect      the game, and how to respect himself in the process.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Nathan couldn't have asked for a better role model. And he was      going to do everything he could to make his father proud of him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He sucked in a deep breath and walked from one end of the field to      the other, cognizant of the weight that now lay on his shoulders.      When the Sabers had drafted him, he'd been excited to learn the      game under Mick Riley. But he didn't think he would play right      away.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In college, he had worked hard, played hard, and he'd been a damn      good quarterback.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Now he was going to have to be better.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Hey, Riley.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He turned to see the coach walking onto the field. He cracked a      smile and reached out to shake Tom Butterfield's hand. Tom had      been hired on as head coach three years ago, and had been doing a      kickass job. Nathan couldn't wait to work with him as the starting      quarterback.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Hey, Coach.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Getting a feel for your turf?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e His turf. The crush of expectation already weighed on him. \"Yeah.      Feels good.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"We expect great things from you this season.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Nathan felt that squeeze of pressure in his chest. He shook it      off. This was what he'd waited his whole life for. \"I'll give you      everything I've got.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Coach slapped him on the back. \"You sound just like your dad.      We're going to miss him around here.\" Dad had retired. He      understood the reasons for it. The Sabers had won the championship      last season. His dad was thirty-seven and he wanted to go out on      top, plus he had the knee issue that had cropped up. He'd fought      through it all season, and the docs said he needed surgery.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Sure, he could have rehabbed and come back. Mom and Dad had      discussed it. Dad had even talked to Nathan about it, but in the      end, it was his father's decision to make. Man, Nathan was going      to miss watching him play.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e And now to step into his shoes, for this team, on this field?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Yeah, that was the reason for the tight knot in his chest.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e One of many.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Let's go talk over the new season,\" coach said.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Nathan pushed all those pressures aside and tried to remember to      breathe. He plastered on his signature grin, the one that said      \"I've got this,\" even when he didn't.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Yeah, Coach. Let's do that.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e three\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mia lived for her planner and her checklists. At this moment she      needed them more than anything, because she had a million things      to do. The movers were supposed to be here an hour ago and they      were late, she had a separate furniture delivery that was supposed      to be here this morning and it was almost noon and so far no one      had showed up. She had a client coming in at three. If stuff      didn't show up soon, she and her client were going to be sitting      on the damn floor.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Not good. Not good at all. Her heart beat like a jackhammer in her      chest.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She stopped and remembered her breathing. Falling to pieces wasn't      going to do anyone any good.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She pivoted and headed down the hall of her very spacious and very      empty offices.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Monique, are you in here?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Monique, her best friend from college and her absolute lifesaver,      was on the phone, so she held up a finger to silence Mia.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You need to be here yesterday,\" Monique said, obvious impatience      in her voice. \"We had a guaranteed eight a.m. delivery time and      it's now eleven thirty and no one is here. So get it done and if      you can't, then transfer me to the manager.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Monique listened for a few seconds, then smiled, shooting Mia that      look, the one that said she had it all under control. And when she      nodded at Mia, Mia exhaled.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e This was why she'd begged and cajoled and pushed Monique into      moving from Texas to San Francisco to be her executive manager. No      one had better organizational skills or the take-no-shit demeanor      that Monique did. When Mia had decided to start up her company,      she knew she wouldn't be able to do this without having Monique on      board.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Monique finally hung up. \"The movers are on the way. They got hung      up in traffic, then thought they could stop for lunch. I made sure      to let them know their movers could have lunch after they      delivered our furniture.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mia exhaled. \"That's why you're the best.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Now I'm about to crawl up the ass of the supply delivery people.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Monique Parker, will you marry me?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Monique laughed. \"You are pretty and all, but I like dick. Thanks      for the offer, though.\"","brand":"Berkley","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46301689676005,"sku":"NP9780399585142","price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780399585142.jpg?v=1767739335","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-final-score-isbn-9780399585142","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}