This may be my favorite of this series. Bea and Dylan were introduced in Love Surfaced in a brief meeting, but that moment was intriguing and this story picks up just before the epilogue of Love Surfaced and runs parallel to Love Rekindled. Going back in time took a little getting used to -- Brad is moping around Dylan’s apartment and Deacon Advertising -- but once I was settled into Dylan and Bea’s story it didn’t matter what else was going on in this world. They were my entire focus.

Bea Zanders has worked for Deacon Advertising for the two years since she finished college. Despite feeling like the executives overlook her abilities because she is a woman, she wants to work hard and she wants to make her successes on her own.

Dylan McCain’s arrival at Deacon Advertising comes as a surprise to Bea. They hooked up after what should have been Brad’s wedding, but haven’t spoken since then. It was just a hookup after all. But hookups aren’t Dylan’s usual style and he hasn’t been able to get Bea off his mind. He is just as surprised as she is, as he didn’t realize they would be working together, or that the promises the company has made mean there is a good chance he will be promoted to an executive position before Bea.

Bea is a firecracker in the best sense. She has a fire to her personality and lets almost nothing get her down. I would have said nothing gets her down before I read this book, but she has more going on in the background than she lets anyone around her see. Bea was an interesting nut to crack. She is strong, but her upbringing forced her to be so. As she learns how to lean on Dylan, it takes her a long time to find comfort in turning to someone else for help.

I have always loved Dylan. Always in his brother’s shadow, he never let the lack of fame on his own part cloud his feelings for Tanner. Even in this book, when discussing their childhood he has nothing but good things to say about the older brother he is so proud of. But where he seemed to be a nice guy before, he proved himself to be a great man in this story. He is a knight looking to protect those he loves, and in this case, his sights are set on Bea before he even realizes it.

They each hold baggage from their past, though one could argue Bea’s baggage is a lot heavier than Dylan’s. I love that neither ever turned it into a competition though. Their methods for unloading baggage was a little unconventional, but worked for as closed off as Bea was and as fearful of being hurt as Dylan was.

The pull between these two is something neither was ready for. Dylan had just ended an unhealthy relationship prior to meeting Bea, and Bea has never had a healthy relationship at all. One was looking for stability, the other for a good time. 

While swimming had less to do with this story, the presence of water in the story is important to Bea. I love the way she grounded herself and spoke of her connection to the water. Though it meant something different to her than it did to Tanner, Piper, or Brad, swimming was one of her coping mechanisms and helped center her thoughts. This was a nice way to round out these three stories. 

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.
My coworkers’ hands slow down until the clapping eventually dies.
“So, I’m excited to announce that Deacon Advertising has landed a top-notch graduate of NYU. After a fighting war, we won out.”
I inch up on my tiptoes to see the mystery million-dollar man, but to no avail. Big Vic from the mailroom is blocking any view I might have of the man standing next to Tim.
“Oh my dreams, he’s come to life,” Kevin says next to me.
I crane my neck desperate to catch a glimpse.
“He’s good-looking?” I whisper, still dodging my head in each direction to catch a glimpse. I’ve never been patient when I’m the one in the dark.
“That’s an understatement. This man could not shower for a week and have spinach stuck in each one of his teeth, and I’d still melt at the sight of those dimples.”
With the one word dimples, my stomach flips as I think about Dylan. He thought he was skating the issue the next morning when he said he had to go. Asking me to climb down the trellis of his parents’ house was new for me, but I understood. If my mom had been on the other side of the bedroom door, I’d have pushed him out the window. At least he met me down the street and drove me back to the bar to retrieve my car. He was sweet and kind to think my feelings would be hurt once I realized I was a booty call. Hell, he was my booty call.
“Deaconators, please put those hands together and welcome Dylan McCain.”
“Even the name.” Kevin shakes his head, probably already naming their kids.
“What?” I screech.
A few heads turn toward me.
I inch back to Kevin’s side, taking refuge in a friend. “It can’t be.”
Then, as if I asked for it, he switches spots with Tim, and he’s standing there with those mouth-watering dimples on high alert. Through a sliver of space between Big Vic from the mailroom and Ben from design, he’s clearly visible. And I can’t take my eyes off him.
A high-end tailored suit contours his broad shoulders, buttoned down past his taut waist. No tie but a nice, crisp gray shirt lies under his jacket with the top button undone. His hair is freshly cut, and the small waves are now gelled into a style that doesn’t suit him as well as the messy morning look.
As if he can spot me in the crowd of one hundred, our eyes catch, and my throat dries. For the first time in my life, I’m speechless. My body warms, and I don’t know if it’s because of the intimate things I shared with him that night or the fact that, besides Piper, he’s the first one in so long who seems to care for me.
“Hello, Deaconators.” He laughs. “Surely, we can find a better name than that, Tim.” He clasps Tim on the shoulder and winks.
The room uproars into laughter, and I can’t stop the smile sneaking across my lips.
“I’m happy to be here. I’m originally from the Detroit area. I grew up forty minutes outside of the city. I did my internship at AdSec in New York, but I wanted to come back home to my roots. So, here I am.”
He does a bow just like Tim, and I know he’s already mimicking his new boss. Dylan has a dry sense of humor, much like my own. He adds on a little wave of his hand in front of him, and suddenly, I wish we were back in the eighteen hundreds, and he was asking for my hand at a dance.
No, you don’t. Stop that line of thinking, I scold myself.
The room claps again, and Dylan stands there, absorbing the attention. He’s the glory boy, huh?
“You okay?” Kevin asks as everyone funnels out of the room.
“Yes, why?” I toss my own coffee in the trash can in the corner, not needing anything to further warm my veins.
“You look a little flushed, that’s all.” He laughs and brushes by Big Vic to make his exit. “See you at lunch,” he singsongs, leaving me behind. Thinking twice, he turns, his feet continuing to move with the line of traffic. He raises his cup in the air. “Thanks for the coffee, Bea Zanders. Tomorrow’s on me.”
He smiles, and I glance over to Dylan. He’s shaking hands with a line of women currently attempting to dig up his credentials. Married, engaged, or single?
Those green hues sparkle to me like emeralds in a jewelry store, and I hold his gaze. I’m surprised he doesn’t seem as shocked as I am, but instead more curious. Then, a slow smirk crosses his lips, and he turns to the woman touching his bicep. He shakes her hand, and before the next desperate woman can slide into her spot, he breaks free. Zigzagging between the throng of people, he lightly acknowledges the pats on his back, congratulations, and good-to-meet-you’s, but his eyes are focused solely on mine.
My body buzzes with alarm, feasting on his eyes bearing happiness. Once he finally breaks free, his fingers slide down my arm, capturing my hand, and he veers us away from the stampede.


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Rachel's 4 star review
 

USA Today Bestselling author, Michelle Lynn moved around the Midwest most of her life, transferring from school to school before settling down in the outskirts of Chicago ten years ago, where she now resides with her husband and two kids.  She developed a love of reading at a young age, which helped lay the foundation for her passion to write.   With the encouragement of her family, she finally sat down and wrote one of the many stories that have been floating around in her head. When she isn’t reading or writing, she can be found playing with her kids, talking to her mom on the phone, or hanging out with her family and friends.  But after chasing around twin preschoolers all day, she always cherishes her relaxation time after putting the kids to bed.