She meets Math Grad student Reed Pendergraft at Scarlett's party and immediately shoots him down in favor of a date with the rich good looking guy she has had her eye on for awhile. This sets off the tone for her future interactions with Reed....who she cannot seem to escape. 

Reed is a Math Geek...his goal is to be a Professor. So he does not  exactly have the potential for a  high paying job in his future,  so  Caroline does not see the point of getting involved with him. But he knows just how to push her buttons and surprisingly turns her on. He is a total a** at times, bossy, contolling, over protective, angry, and puts his foot in his mouth often. And he never fails to get a rise out of sweet Caroline. 

. 

"I'm always in perfect control of my reactions. But Reed Pendergraft irritates the s**t out of me."

Their first few encounters they seem to take turns humiliating each other. Their reaction to each other is volatile. They challenge each other, clash, and are totally sexually charged. But they end up having to work together on an important project and do not have any choice but to spend time together. They are feisty, rude, confrontational, and their attraction is primal and hard to control. Eventually it explodes. They had such sexual tension and chemistry that it oozed off the page. But their communication was a disaster. They had a difficult time even having a civil conversation much less opening up, sharing their pasts, and overcoming their preconceived ideas. They completely make each other lose control which goes against their usual personalities.  And unfortunately they literally cannot stop making each other mad or hurting each other's feelings. And their future plans don't mesh at all. 

But Reed and I together are a  bad combination, the money issue aside. We're like fire and ice. Sure, that's fun now, but soon enough the newness wears off ...No, Reed Pendergraft is off limits. I need to remember that."

"I don't know what this is between us. I've never been this physically attracted to anyone, and I've never lost complete control like I did Friday night. You drive me insane, Caroline."

This is not only a story of a relationship with opposites, but also a journey of self discovery for Caroline. She has to come to terms with who she is, where she came from, and figure out what she really wants and needs in her future to be happy. And Reed and his sister Lexi have their own set of secrets and demons complicating the story. But in order to understand and move forward, the most important thing to do is to be able to trust.

Denise Grover Swank has an engaging writing style and has a gift at creating characters with such depth  that you cannot help but be drawn in and invested in their story. They have difficult pasts and present issues that add conflict and tension.  Even when Reed was being a total a**, I wanted to know more and know why. Her stories are intriguing and have unique elements. The relationships are well developed and heartfelt, not only between the couple but also with supporting characters. There is drama, angst, mystery, love and lust. She makes you laugh, get frustrated, get teary, and totally swoon. I loved seeing more of Scarlett and Tucker from After Math and meeting Reed's sassy sister Lexi. I look forward to book three in this series, Business as Usual coming Fall 2013. P.S. I am hoping that it is Lexi's story....

Thanks to Denise Grover Swank for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.