Can’t Fight It, an all-new friends to lovers college romance from Allie Winters, is now available in Kindle Unlimited!

Mousy bookworm. Psychology nerd. The kind of girl who constantly sticks her foot in her mouth.

The last thing I am is the type to attract the intimidating, motorcycle-riding guy in the apartment next door. Especially when that mouth of mine gets me in trouble and he overhears me talk smack about him…

So no one’s more surprised than me when he shows up as a participant in the psych study I’m running on campus. Or when he generously offers me some much-needed self-defense lessons. Or when we grow closer than I thought possible. It turns out some people aren’t at all what they seem at first glance. They can actually be everything you never knew you wanted in a man.

The thing is, Austin Langford is so far out of my league, it’s laughable. Muscled boxers don’t go for nobodies like me. I need to forget about this one-sided attraction.

Even when it feels like I can’t fight it.

‘Can’t Fight It’ is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #3 in the Lessons Learned series, Educated Romance World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Caroline's Review
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I thoroughly enjoyed this story.

Tessa is a girl-nerd who's all kinds of awkward. She's also skittish around big guys - for good reason. When her big scary-looking neighbour turns out to be one of her test subjects in the Stress Lab, she's somewhat mortified, following the conversation he overhead - about him! Austin is a broody boxer who works in a warehouse. He thinks Tessa is beautiful but maybe little bit intimidating. I loved that he admired her smarts but sorry that he thought so little of himself.

These two were so different yet somewhat similar - both lacked confidence in themselves in their own way. I enjoyed the slow burn between them and how they trod around each other. There was most definitely a connection not only mentally, but physically, too, as they became friends and then more. This was such a fab, heartfelt read. Love this author's books in this series.

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Excerpt

An hour and a half later, I’m ahead of schedule as my fifth participant finishes. That only leaves one more.

Austin.

And as I decided last night, it’s not a big deal at all. Just because he makes me sort of… flustered… doesn’t have to mean anything.

I head out into the lobby, my stomach jumping around a bit as the main door opens, but it’s not my guy.

Not that he’s my guy.

Half a minute later, it is him, though.

He runs a hand through his dark blond hair, natural streaks of lighter blond sprinkled throughout, and searches the lobby, looking for…

Me.

Our gazes lock, my belly dipping low for a moment at the way he seems to take me in all at once, his movements slowing, then speeding up as his heavy footfalls sound on the carpeted floor, getting closer, closer…

“Hey, Tessa.”

I bite my lip, containing the unintelligible noise that itches to escape, and hold up a hand instead, waving.

God, why can’t I be normal?

I spin around, silently berating myself as I lead us down the hall. Every time, I forget how much of the room he seems to take up, how my brain goes a little fuzzy, how my lips seem to get looser. I just need a minute to acclimate to him. To remember how to be myself.

“Lexie was telling me last night about the boxing you and Ethan do. She said you’re really good.”

There, that was totally normal. I breathe a sigh of relief, glad that my mouth is at least temporarily in working order.

He tilts his head in acknowledgment, taking off his worn leather jacket to hang on the back of his chair. He’s got a different henley on this week, this time a charcoal color that complements the gray of his eyes. “I do all right.”

“She said you’re undefeated. Twenty wins or something?”

He shrugs, taking a seat. “Yeah, I guess.”

I don’t know why, but the way he says it has me smiling as I sit behind the desk. “You’re awfully humble.” Other guys would brag if they had that kind of skill.

Rubbing at the back of his neck, he says, “I mean, it’s punching people. It’s not important or anything. Not like what you do.”

I stare at him for a moment. “You think my study’s important?” I didn’t get the impression he even thought all that much of it last week.

His mouth opens and closes, then he leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Everything that goes on in this building must be, right?”

“Yeah, you could view it like that. But you shouldn’t sell yourself short. It would be cool if I knew how to do what you can.”

What would it be like to watch him box? To see him in action?

He looks over at me, a small smile on his lips. “You want to box?”

I can’t help the laugh that escapes me. “Can you imagine me in a ring? I’d get pounded flat in about a second.”

His smile grows. “We have some girls that come to the gym and train. Even Mia comes in and punches the heavy bags.”

I shake my head. “No, I’d be ridiculous. Although, I’ve always wanted to learn some self-defense moves.” Maybe it would help me feel better prepared if something were to ever happen again. Maybe if my mom had known…

No. Best not to go down that path.

“I could teach you.”

It takes me a moment to process his words. “You’d teach me self-defense?”

He shrugs. “Yeah, sure.”

Have I completely misinterpreted all our previous interactions? I thought he was barely tolerating me.

About Allie Winters

Allie is the author of the Suncoast University series, the Bishop Brothers series, and the Lessons Learned series. She lives in sunny Florida with her husband, daughter, and two cats. A librarian by day, she spends her nights writing happily ever afters. She enjoys reading, playing video games, and all things Disney.