Carmella answered her door to find Duke standing on her porch with a six-​pack

and some chips.

He held them aloft. “I was thinking we could hang out and have a beer and some snacks.”

She smiled, even as she looked down at herself. “Uh. I’m sort of messy. I was cleaning the kitchen.”

He walked in without saying anything else, but once he got to her kitchen, he turned back. “You look fantastic.”

Ginger had already abandoned her nap at the sound of Duke’s voice and deposited herself at his feet.

“So easy,” she murmured to the dog as she joined them in the kitchen.

“Glasses or the bottle okay?” He indicated the beer with a tip of his chin.

“Bottle is fine. There’s an opener in that drawer there.” She pointed. “If you’re hungrier than just chips and dip, there’s leftover baked ziti. I was just thinking about some dinner.”

“Leftover ziti? How is that even possible? Was everyone sick? I promise if you made me baked ziti, I’d eat every last bit.” He cocked his head and looked extra hot.

She put a hand on her hip. He was so totally full of it. “Actually, I made a smaller one for myself and took two to a big family dinner. It’s my uncle’s favorite. But I brought home coconut cake and some other stuff.”

Carmella bent to look in her fridge because he was standing so very close and she was getting giddy. Giddy was bad. Giddy ended up being the last time she slept with her ex. Though to be fair, it had been fantastic.

This man was a giddy nuclear reactor and it made her girl parts want to be so stupid.

And then he bent to peer into the fridge at her side. “Jesus Christ. Carmella. Baby, this is the most organized refrigerator I’ve seen in my entire life. I’m in awe.”

She was so surprised and weirdly flattered, Carmella turned to look at him and ended up whacking her forehead to his so hard she saw stars against her closed eyes.

Firm hands took her by the upper arms and helped her stand though she wobbled a little. “Honey, are you all right?”

“Ouch,” Carmella managed. “Sorry. I got you pretty hard.”

Duke laughed as he moved the hand she’d had over her forehead and replaced it with a bag of frozen berries. “My go‑to is corn usually, but you don’t have any. That should help. I’m okay. I have a very hard head. That’s totally true so stop it with that look of yours.”

“You have a go‑to remedy for head bumping?” Carmella sat at one of the stools at the island. “And what look do you mean?”

“Works for busted knuckles, black eyes, the usual sort of lifestyle-related injuries.”

Carmella winced when she raised her brow at him. “Lifestyle-​related?”

Duke shrugged. “What can I say? Ass kicking and fisticuffs seem to be a regular part of my life. And the look I meant is the one you’re wearing right now. The one you give that makes everyone feel like a wayward boy who craves your approval.”

“I have that look? Really?” How awesome! She clearly needed to use it more.

“You do. Why do you think we’re all so obedient to your paperwork rules?”

“Because it’s efficient and makes money move back into the shop more quickly?”

He laughed again and then moved the bag of fruit to kiss the sore spot.

They both went very still.

His muscles tightened, the tension radiating from him made her dizzy. And probably crazy, but needing to soothe. So she slid her hands up the wall of his chest, not to restrain or hold back, no matter how much she told herself that lie.

Once she touched him, she knew it to her toes that everything had changed.

“Damn it,” he snarled and then kissed her. Only, no. He took her mouth, owned it, and had his wicked way with it.

Carmella Rossi takes care of those around her without asking for much, if anything, in return. Doling out medication and cooking for her mother fills her free time, as does looking for a job now that her uncle’s garage is closed. She and her dog both enjoy watching for her sexy bad-boy neighbor as he comes and goes from his house, but when he offers her a job she knows fighting her attraction will be even harder when she has to see him all the time.

Duke Bradshaw co-owns Twisted Steel with his best friend Asa. Watching Asa and PJ in love has made him see that life with the right partner can be a great addition to balance his workload and he knows just who he wants by his side. Offering Carmella the available office manager job at Twisted Steel just makes sense -- she’s a perfect fit for the job, and now he’ll have more chances to get under her skin.

From the very beginning it is clear these two are great for each other. Getting them to admit it? Not as easy. Carmella is quick to shut people out, as a product of both her upbringing and her failed marriage, and since neither has been in a relationship in some time there is a learning curve to navigate.

A lot of the drama between these two comes as a result of things outside their control. As result, their relationship is relatively smooth, with few road bumps along the way. But outside their little world are expectations and responsibilities that get in the way of their happiness.

Carmella and PJ become fast friends once Carmella is at Twisted Steel. I loved watching these two build their friendship, as their personalities are so different. PJ’s curiosity and outgoing nature means she doesn’t let Carmella stew over a problem for long before she is butting her head in and not taking no for an answer.

Duke, Asa, and Mick’s friendship also plays a big role in this story. From the business to after hours racing, fighting, and taking each others’ back, these three are closer than brothers and would do whatever necessary to pick each other up. Mitch has secrets haunting him that are hinted and poked but definitely tease the setup of Coming Back, the next book in the series.

This was such a refreshing read. Sexy. Fun. Flirty. Sweet. I found myself grinning often at the banter between Duke and Carmella. Their chemistry was perfect. Their struggles real and honest.

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