Years of mental and physical abuse formed Mae into an independent hermit. Perhaps that’s what drew Elsu to her—his desire to protect her and keep her from pain. Whatever it was that drew him in, she couldn’t imagine life without him now. There is, however, a downside. With dating a basketball star comes celebrity status and prying eyes at every turn. Can she elude the spotlight and keep her day job as the operator of her grandfather’s hand-me-down chop shop? Or will tragedy’s hand strike a blow that even Elsu can’t repair?

Mae-Belle Rogers is an independent, quirky young woman running a used auto parts shop in a small Ohio town. Her life takes a surprising turn when she is asked to be a stand-in for her nephew on a trip to meet the star player of the new basketball team that has come to town. The trip, which was supposed to be quick, turns into an evening of discomfort and unease as she endures a tour of Elsu Benjamin's mansion. But her quick visit affects Elsu in a way that even he has a hard time comprehending. Over the next week, Mae slowly realizes that Elsu has developed feelings for her and her for him. When she finds herself flung into a world of celebrity she never knew existed, she learns that Elsu is more than just a crush; he's also a protector and a friend.