The Evaluation

His future in the ring depends on her judgment.

After a ringside incident places his professional licence under review, MMA fighter Jace Bennett agrees to a psychological evaluation for one reason: to prove he is still fit to compete.

He expects questions, paperwork and another outsider who will misunderstand what happened.

He does not expect Maya Hayes.

Maya is calm, observant and impossible to intimidate. She sees the difference between aggression and control, between silence and avoidance, and between the version of Jace contained in an official report and the man sitting across from her.

Every session brings them closer to a truth neither of them can safely acknowledge.

Jace's licence depends on Maya remaining objective. Maya's reputation depends on maintaining the boundary between them. But when their confidential assessment becomes tabloid news, the attraction they have carefully contained is no longer the only thing at risk.

The professional relationship must end before anything else can begin.

Once it does, Jace and Maya discover that understanding each other inside the assessment room was only the beginning. His return to competition will test his control, her trust and the relationship neither of them planned to build.

The Evaluation is Book One in Knockout, a high-heat, slow-burn MMA sports romance series following the same couple across four books. Jace and Maya's story continues in Book Two, Unguarded.