Mane Ambition by Kay Stewart

Amber has had to work hard for everything she has accomplished in her life. With a mom who enjoyed drugs more than raising her daughter, a father she has never known, and one case of bad luck after another, she has never had another option but to persevere through life. When one of her closest friends distances himself for the sake of a relationship, Amber has no choice to do what she has always done by burying her feelings deep and moving on with her life. If only it were that easy.
Casey is not known for his long-lasting relationships when it comes to the female population. That changes when he is given the opportunity of a lifetime to play for the Milwaukee Manes. He is ready to settle down and look towards a future he never thought he wanted. All of that would be easier if he didn’t have to work so hard to convince himself that he is making the right decision.
Amber and Casey have been there for each other since the days of skinned knees and teenage angst. Even though they have always known their platonic relationship is fragile to any love interest that comes onto the scene, neither of them was prepared for how difficult it would be to prioritize their relationship over their friendship. Amber is deeply scarred by her childhood but is determined to not let her past get the best of her. Luckily for her, Casey is an ambitious man with no intention of letting Amber hide behind her demons.