He’s showing me far more than he should.
The one time I choose to be unpredictable, I find myself practically naked on a ranch, face-to-face with a breathtakingly gorgeous—and completely naked—man.
Yet despite his chiseled body and wicked smile—one that makes following my rules feel optional—nothing will happen.
Why?
Because I, Audrey Van, don’t know how to have fun.
I have a doctorate, zero parking tickets, and even fewer hangovers. I’m the epitome of boring … and I’m over it. Luckily, I found someone to help me tackle my whimsy list.
There’s just one problem.
It’s Brooks Dempsey.
The ridiculously hot mixed martial artist is a walking bad decision, gift wrapped in broad shoulders and the promise of a good time. Red flags wave everywhere. He’s exactly what girls like me are trained to avoid.
But who better to teach me how to flirt, defend myself, and explore other things than the man who does it best? Afternoons in the ring turn into nights beneath the stars. Before I know it, my heart is on the ropes—and it’s about to get pummeled. Falling for the sinful charmer wasn’t a part of my plan. I just hope the old me doesn’t get the last laugh.
Audrey and Brooks were everything. From the first pages, they were everything I wanted: funny, sincere, adventurous and more vulnerable than they wanted to let on. They were strangers who quickly became friends because Audrey is the good girl who wants to learn to be bad sometimes and Brooks is the drop-dead gorgeous near-stranger who volunteers as tribute. She’s always been the dependable one, the people pleaser, the perfect daughter but after years of following the rules, Audrey is finally realizing that she hasn’t lived yet, her life has been all rules.
She’s a full-blown adult with a PhD yet isn’t really sure who she is as a person, what she wants outside of her career, or how she plans to live her life. In the throes of an existential crisis, she departs Nashville for Astrid and Gray’s place in Sugar Creek, with a plan to relax, recharge, reflect and knock some items off of her whimsy list. She never intended to find a delicious, naked man in the cottage and she certainly never meant for him to see her list but since he was there and he’s read it, there’s no reason not to accept his help. After all, he’s Gray’s oldest friend so she knows he’s safe and he’s no more interested in a relationship than she, so this is a perfect fling.Their chemistry is off the charts from the first time they meet and just got hotter.
There’s a slow burn element here (or at least it seemed like it but maybe I’m just a tad impatient) and lots of tension but it’s balanced with some darker tension in other areas, like some blackmail and threats. I loved everything about Brooks and Audrey’s story, including the two of them. I’d like to thank the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
