For the Rush (Playing for Keeps #3) Read online

  Sawyer Ridley is lost.

  After witnessing his teammate’s murder, he’s plagued by nightmares and panic attacks. With the nickname Riddles, Sawyer was always one for a joke, but he can’t find anything to laugh about anymore. He’s devastated, and not even football offers him comfort or solace.

  On the outside, Addison and Sawyer have nothing in common. But when they meet in group counseling, their shared grief immediately bonds them. As their relationship grows, the walls they’ve built around themselves begin to come down.

  But just as old wounds begin to heal, new, more painful ones emerge.

  Can Addison and Sawyer save each other from the grief that threatens to destroy them both?

  Author’s Note and Acknowledgments

  FOR THE RUSH is a story I’ve been dying to write for awhile. My son is in the marching band and there is a girl in the band with him who is funny, outgoing and pretty. I love her bubbly personality and her confidence. And ever since I met her, I’ve wanted to write about a girl like that. In my other books where the “nerdy” girl gets the “popular” boy, the girl is shy and quiet, insecure. I wanted to do something different with this one. Mostly because I don’t think we are always what people perceive us to be. In high school I was never the popular girl, but the truth is that I did like myself. I liked the way I looked, liked my personality. Just because other people didn’t think I was something special, didn’t mean I wasn’t. In high school kids can be cruel. And oftentimes they don’t think about the effect their cruelty really has on other people.

  This book started out as a straight romance, but like all of my books, it took on a life of its own at some point. This time it happened when Preston came into the picture. And I’m happy with where it went. I hope you are too.

  As always I have a ton of people to thank:

  Lisa Richardson, my super star editor. Also the person who came up with Akron Avengers.

  Kris at C & K Creations for my fabulous cover. I love it so much. It’s perfect.

  Cambria Hebert and Susan Griscom for being awesome beta readers and catching all the crazy plot holes and mistakes.

  To Leanne Coulson’s husband who helped me understand how a football practice is run! I appreciate it!!

  To my kids for being so understanding when Chloe and Holden took over my life.

  For my husband who is always super supportive and loves me so well.

  To my extended family – there are too many to name, but I love you all!

  To all my readers, bloggers and fans, you make this all worth it! I can’t thank you enough.

  And, most of all, to God, who makes all this possible. Everything I do is for you.

  Amber

  About the Author

  Amber Garza is the author of the Delaney’s Gift Series, the Prowl Trilogy, suspense novel Engraved, and many contemporary romance titles, including Star Struck and Tripping Me Up. She has had a passion for the written word since she was a child making books out of notebook paper and staples. Her hobbies include reading and singing. Tea and wine are her drinks of choice (not necessarily in that order). She writes while blaring music, and talks about her characters like they’re real people. She currently lives in California with her amazing husband, and two hilarious children who provide her with enough material to keep her writing for years.