On His Watch: A Fake Dating College Hockey Romance

by Kate Olivia

Don’t fall in love before the draft.
I enforce that rule.
I live by that rule.

I’ve spent the past two months watching my best friends drop like dominoes.
Captain, gone.
My linemate, gone.

And I’m standing there smug as hell because I’m Stanley Ermington.

First-round prospect.
Golden boy.
The guy who never met a feeling he couldn’t outskate.

Then Aspen Linwood grabbed my arm at a party and called me babe.

Now I’ve got a fake girlfriend who looks at me like I’m a problem she can’t solve.

The worst part?

I think she actually hates me.

The cold, deliberate kind of hate.
The kind that takes effort.

She won’t laugh at my jokes.
Won’t fall for the grin.
Won’t give me an inch.

So, naturally, I made her my entire problem.

The plan was simple.

One weekend.
Sell it to her ex.
Walk away clean when it was over.

Easy.

Funny thing is, her ex stopped being the biggest problem.

Then Aspen Linwood laughed at one of my jokes.
I didn’t stand a chance after that.

Rule One was a good rule.

So was Rule Four.

Anyway. Asking for a how serious are we about these rules? Really?


For fans of Elle Kennedy, On His Watch is a fake-dating, enemies-to-lovers college hockey romance with a golden-boy hero who falls first and falls hard. This is book three in The Boys of Hawthorne House series. It can be read as a standalone, but reading in order is recommended.

Genres: Sports Romance, Hockey

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 16, 2026

About the author

Kate Olivia writes steamy sports romance featuring irresistible bad boys and charming cinnamon rolls who score their way to love.

With sizzling spice and guaranteed happily ever afters, her stories range from humorous to deliciously dark.

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Reviews

[Cookiie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stanley and Aspen’s story really resonated with me. Underneath all those jokes and death glares was something only they could understand about each other and I loved every second of their journey.

[Booked_By_KaylaBeth 💜 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so freaking good. I laughed so hard because Stanly is the sweetest idiot! The way he makes everything a joke and how he makes everyone feel so happy all the time, little do you know it's mostly a defense mechanism. This man is going a pro in the NHL and he's not going to let anything stop him. He ends up in a situation with Aspen, who he thinks actually hates him. Their families have been friends for years. Aspen has wanted one thing her entire life, her father's approval and for him to be proud of her. She only gets that in response to their families finding out that Stanly and her are in a relationship, little do they know it's fake. Aspen, at a party, grabs Stanly's arm in an impromptu attempt to get away from an ex who caused her heartbreak and trauma. It absolutely becomes bigger than either of them anticipated. The banter is, bantering. The tension, tensioning. The way Stanly is immediately jealous and ready to thrash her ex for what he did to her. The way you can feel them slowly falling for another is top tier. I laughed so much. I cried multiple times and the heartbreak and sadness I felt sitting on my chest! On His Mind got released today and I promise you I am about to DEVOUR it! 10/10 HIGHLY recommmend!

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cup

What a bittersweet love. A girl so far in the shadows, wanting daddy's approval. A golden boy who craves the same, differently. Raised by NHL besties, they are both starving for recognition.

Aspen's dad is all hockey. Retired from the NHL, coaching his own team, still puts the game before family. It's all he knows. While she takes any dregs he gives her. She has known Stanley her whole life and hates him. He's golden and her father freely gives him accolades.

Stanley is an NHL prodigy. He's even named after the Stanley Cup. He uses humor and over the top antics to deflect. He doesn't focus on anything but his hockey legacy.

One party. One desperate need to escape an ex is all it takes to send these life long enemies into fake dating. Their fathers are thrilled.

However, nothing prepares them when it stops being fake.

Once again, Kate Olivia has knocked it out of the park and given us a,winner.

[Deana Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the funny man stays funny

I love when the "clown" keeps his voice. In multiple series I've read, when the joker charter comes up, his internal voice often sounds just like the grumpy guy. From the first page, Stanley was Stanley.
Even as he changed and grew, the swagger and attitude and fun remained in his actions and inner voice.

I've enjoyed this book the best of the series so far.

Both are very rich kids with daddy issues, but they feel relatable. Their issue hit cords with me.
The timeline is a little fuzzy. Did the whole book take place in under 30 days?

[Elicia Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. Stanley is one of my favorite characters in this series. This book kept me laughing and kicking my feet.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I spent two books giggling at Stanley's antics and exclaiming how much I love him, and can't wait for his book! He is, by far, my favorite Hawthorne House guy. 🩵🩵

[TAMRON · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok

It just didn't feel like there were any sparks or real romantic feelings between the main characters. I reluctantly finished though

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

damn i gave it solid 4. the book is so wholesome. i need more of them. seriously 🥹 stanley is such a sunshine and matched well with aspen. theyre too wise for a college kids but ugh

[Jennifer Calp Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg! I read the whole book at one time! Kept me engaged from start to finish ❤️ I will be moving right to the next one for sure. Thank you

[Sitara Coyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 books in 1 review ‼️ I liked the first book a lot - reminded me of a more golden retriever version of The Deal by Elle Kennedy! The second book felt like there was a lot of history we didn’t get a ton of detail on from either perspective so it fell short for me.
The third book was so much fun because of Stanley and I love the relationship dynamic between the two main characters!