Blake Edwards is Dylan's business partner. He is rich, ruthless, and likes to be in control. He throws himself into work and gets a thrill out of breaking people. Deep down he is angry, resentful, guilty, and a masochist who sometimes needs physical pain to help overcome the pain he hides deep. His brother, Phil, is a source of some of the negative emotions. A year ago, he had the chance to help Phil's abused wife and kids who were in dire straights...but in true form he threw money at them to go away.

Tiffany got sucked into a hopeless and frightening life with Phil, and she's got three kids to protect. She is doing her best to take care of them. and keep them all safe from her volatile ex. She has hit rock bottom and cannot seem to escape Phil's reach. She has walls up, she's stubborn, lacks hope, and is fearful, and anxious. But underneath she is a survivor, and is strong and determined to make a better life for her kids.

When she reaches out to her old friend, Annie, she unknowingly step back into the sights of Blake. But this time, Blake is not telling her to run...he is actually chasing after her. He says he wants to help now. He is even willing to admit he was wrong about her. He is used to fixing his brother's mistakes and is willing to jump in to help and protect her and the kids.

But there is also a simmering sexual tension and attraction brewing between them. But she is untrusting and scared of getting hurt. And he is not well versed in how to actually care for people or to show any weakness. He is used to controlling every situation, so he tries to find a way to control their desire and keep feelings out of it as he would a business deal with rules, exchanges, and emotional distance. This part of the book was kind of hard to take, but it made sense in relation to how the characters saw themselves. But it also brought out a host of other issues and problems.

What happens if one of them wants more?

This is really the breaking down of Blake and finding his hidden vulnerable core. He was a man who always acted like he did not need anything, but he really did. And this is the building up of Tiffany as she begins to find a reason to want to hope and trust again. It is about them both needing to let go of fear and to allow themselves to open up and let down their defenses. Because only when everything is out in the open, will they be able to forgive themselves and each other and look towards finding happiness.

Dylan and Annie are also featured in this one, as is Blake's family. The kids were adorable and the interactions with them were heart melting. Blake was a hard guy to like at times and he made some poor personal choices. But he really was a lost soul in need of a true connection. And Tiffany was stubborn and hated to ask for help, so she was good at pushing back at him. Their past connections in some ways hurt them, but in others ways helped bond them. They just had to figure out how to deal with it all and determine if they could fit into the other one's life and if they were really wanted there. And that takes work, stepping out of comfort zones, and patience.

I was glad to get both of their points of view. I would have liked to see a bit more at the ending and maybe an epilogue. But it did make me stay up late to finish it so I was obviously invested in the story of these two damaged characters that were tying to find a way to be whole again.

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.