The E.M.M.A. Effect

Harriet Smythe is a computer scientist who likes to be in charge of her work. Her AI program, The E.M.M.A., was meant to build sports legends, but when her funding runs out she has to use Gale Knight, an NHL forward and her best friend's younger brother, as its test subject. Harriet has quietly had a crush on Gale for years, and he is firmly off-limits.

The program then concludes that the key to Gale's peak performance is his perfect match, and the data points to Harriet. She insists on finding other candidates instead. Gale goes along with a string of awkward dates with pop stars and athletes, yet every session pulls the two of them closer, and his eager cooperation makes it harder for Harriet to keep her mind on the work.

With her deadline approaching and The E.M.M.A. still playing matchmaker, Harriet has to decide whether to trust pure logic or accept that control sometimes means letting go.