Released
Ice and Instinct, Book 3
Short Side
Carter Knox is twenty-three, undrafted, and running out of charm to burn. The Portland Wolves gave him a roster spot nobody expected him to keep, and he's been performing ever since, because if he stops, someone might notice there's nothing underneath. Wren Gallagher photographs the Wolves with the precision of someone who learned the hard way what happens when you let people get too close to the lens. When a PR situation forces them into a fake dating arrangement, the rules are simple: public appearances, strategic chemistry, a clean exit. But Carter keeps being genuine when he's supposed to be performing, and Wren keeps seeing something real through the viewfinder when she's supposed to be composing a shot.
Fake DatingAge GapGolden Retriever HeroShe Falls FirstSlow Burn
🔥 Heat Level: Medium (Slow Burn)
Emotionally grounded intimacy with emphasis on vulnerability and trust. On-page scenes that deepen emotional connection.
Further reading
If this book lives in your taste, these blog posts go deeper.
Trope Deep Dive
The Psychology of Grumpy/Sunshine
Why the golden retriever hero hides someone with a hidden floor, and why Carter Knox fits.
Trope Explainer
The Emotional Walls Trope
What it costs to perform charm. The Wren Gallagher lens on Carter.
Listicle
He Falls First Romance Books
Carter falls first. So do these heroes. The reading list for the dynamic that wrecks readers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Short Side steamy?
Short Side has emotionally grounded intimacy with emphasis on vulnerability and trust. On-page scenes deepen the emotional connection between Carter and Wren. The heat level is moderate, with the slow burn building to intimate scenes that feel earned.
What tropes are in Short Side?
Short Side features fake dating, age gap (Carter is 23, Wren is 27), golden retriever hero, she falls first, and slow burn. The fake dating arrangement forces two people who are performing for the public to discover something genuine.
What is Short Side about?
Short Side follows Carter Knox, an undrafted rookie center who performs charm as a survival strategy, and Wren Gallagher, the team photographer who controls the frame because someone once took it from her. A PR situation forces them into a fake dating arrangement that becomes real.
Do I need to read the earlier books first?
Short Side works as a standalone. Carter appeared as a supporting character in Between the Glass, so reading Book 2 first adds depth, but all essential context is provided within Short Side itself.