The Denial Game by Amy Alves

The only woman he’s wanted in years is on a man-hiatus. Now he’s being friend-zoned and she won’t tell him why.

TAYLOR:
Ten years ago, the consequences of youthful indiscretions and crushed NFL dreams had Taylor returning to his hometown of Landry on the path to redemption.
Taylor becomes one of Landry’s favorite sons. Everyone loves him. Everyone, except for Landry High’s gorgeous, sassy new English teacher. Lauren is quick to inform him that he can be her friend, co-worker, and stealer of her classroom supplies, but he can’t be her boyfriend.
Are his feelings truly unrequited or is something else holding her back?

LAUREN:
After one last attempt at mending the relationship with her family epically fails, Lauren packs up and leaves home. A self-imposed dating ban kickstarts her new life in small-town Landry.
She’s left cursing her circumstances after meeting her charming behemoth of a co-worker, who also happens to be Landry High’s ruggedly handsome football coach. But her dating ban is in place for a reason.
What if taking a chance with Taylor means bringing him into the destructive path of her manipulative family?