Jamar’s football career had ceased being solely his own the moment his best friend’s motorcycle collided with a pickup truck on a rain-slicked stretch of Highway 99 their senior year of high school. From the moment they’d put Silas in the ground, fulfilling the dream he and Silas had held since elementary school—to one day make it into the NFL—had become Jamar’s singular goal.

“When I got hurt last year, there was endless chatter over whether I’d play football again. Every blogger had an opinion, and not a single one gave me a chance. I want to prove them all wrong.”

“Which is why you should want them to see that you’re working with a trainer.”

“No.” He shook his head. “Look, if I go through months of conditioning and I’m still unable to get back into the League, then it will prove them right.”

“Don’t do that,” she said. “You’re setting yourself up for failure if you’re thinking that you may not succeed before we even get started. When it comes to physical fitness, it’s ninety percent mental.”

“I know all about mental toughness, Taylor. I’ve played through sore muscles, the flu, just about every injury that didn’t need hospitalization, and it was all because of mental toughness.”

“Okay, explain this to me,” she said. “How are we supposed to train without anyone knowing?”

“My personal home gym has the same equipment you’d find in a regular gym.”

“Your personal home gym? Really? You expect me—a woman who met you for the first time yesterday—to now work with you at your home? Alone? And I can’t let anyone know I’m there?” She snorted. “Yeah, that’s not happening.”

Well, damn. When she put it that way…

To use one of his mom’s favorite sayings, Taylor didn’t know him from Adam. Why did he think she would feel comfortable training him alone at his private gym?

Shit. He pressed his lips together, trying to come up with a solution that would work for both of them.

“How about this? I’m okay with you confiding in a couple of trusted family members or friends, but only a couple. And they have to promise not to say anything.”

“Do you want them to sign an NDA or something?” She said it as a joke, but he wouldn’t be opposed to it. “Oh, c’mon,” she said. “Is it really that serious?”

“It is to me. Look, Taylor, your friends don’t have to sign an NDA, but you have to understand how important it is that this doesn’t get out. I know it sounds over the top, but I’ve put up with a lot this past year. If this doesn’t work out…” He shook his head. “I don’t want to face any more ridicule. Honestly, I can’t.”