Kimberly Reese’s Caliber is an emotional, slow-burn, contemporary friends-to-lovers romance written in K. Bromberg’s Everyday Heroes Worlds project. Stay quiet. Stay safe. Stay strong. Raising my son in picture-perfect Sunnyville is the fresh start I always prayed for but never thought we’d get. Each day that passes makes it a little easier to breathe, but I’m worried about falling into old patterns when I meet the newest police officer in town. Southern charmer Smith Layne’s ready smile and good looks remind me all too well of my late husband, so I try to keep him at arm’s length. The last thing I need is another lapse in judgment, but little by little, he chips away at my reservations and rekindles my desire. I’ve never felt more seen, and it terrifies me in a way I’m not sure I’m ready for. Be patient. Be present. Be a better man. Single mother Willow Ashford is everything I typically avoid. She’s unassuming, isn't the love-’em-and-leave-’em type, and comes as a package deal. Even so, her sad eyes and hidden fire draw me in and make me rethink my stance on relationships. I left Starwood to pursue a new career, but every moment with her offers a glimpse of something I never thought I’d want. She’s been hurt before and is rightfully wary, so I’ll show my caliber through words and actions. I want to promise her forever, I just need to prove myself first.