You might think it’s reckless for a single mom to enter into a marriage of convenience with her boss . . .
You would be correct.
To make matters worse, Abel King is a grumpy local brewer with a criminal past. He also happens to be my boss and a total stick-in-the-mud. Every time I come to work with a smile and wave, I’m lucky if I can get a grunt in response.
When I accidentally-on-purpose overhear that he’s having trouble securing a business loan due to his criminal record, I hatch a plan to help the both of us.
The arrangement is perfect—a business transaction and nothing more. Like having a roommate without the hassle of other people bugging you for dates.
I will definitely not be falling in love with him—no matter how many times he says “my wife” and tingles dance in all the right places.
Trouble is, as time goes on, things stop feeling like business and start feeling a whole lot like pleasure . . . and really, that’s just my luck . .
Abel King lives a quiet life and punishes himself for the mistake he made years ago, despite having done his time already. He needs to learn to forgive himself to really live again and he knows it yet can’t bring himself to do it. Until Sloane. When his pretty employee suggests they marry, he’s shocked, but quickly warms to the idea. Sloane is running from her abusive ex and struggling to protect not just herself but her children and grandfather from him, too. It hasn’t been easy since he has plenty of money at his disposal and no conscience. She suspects he’s the one who burned down their house, setting the fire that nearly killed her son.
Lee Sullivan was there to save Ben, but the arson has never been solved and Sloane is frightened. She’s also broke and needs a life event to get money from her trust fund and Abel needs money to buy his father out of the brewery. She proposes buying his father out for him to be a silent partner and he can’t say no. The Kings want nothing more than to distance themselves from their cruel, controlling father, now more than ever.
Despite his loner lifestyle, Abel easily adapts to having Sloane and the kids in his world. He enjoys having them around and he’s amazing with the kids. They’re both terrified of the father they left behind when they moved cross country and being with Abel is the first time they’ve felt safe in a very long time. Sloane and Abel are both shocked at how natural their fake marriage feels. They entered into a business deal but with each day, their fake relationship feels more real. They fall fast and hard, but Abel’s past isn’t just his biggest shame, it’s also the thing that will break them apart.
I loved Sloane and Abel so much, I couldn’t put this book down. They’ve both been through a lot, so they understand each other and connect on a level neither has ever had with anyone else. Their story has a couple of twists I definitely wasn’t expecting going into this and I loved every minute of it. I won’t say anything else about the plot because it would be far too easy to spoil it but I can say the children were great characters and added to the supporting cast we all know and love. I’m not sure who is coming next, but I hope it’s Royal and I can’t wait for his story.
