As the Reaper's National President, Shade knows what he wants and is used to getting it. But Mandy is not going to make it easy for him. She is independent, strong-willed, resistant, untrusting, and believes she really does not want a man in her life, especially a controlling one. She has been there, done that, and moved on. So even though Shade is all kinds of hot and sexy, the fact that he is a bossy, imposing, dangerous MC club member are strikes against him.

Events happen that both bring them closer and make her angrier. There is a lot of push and pull, but eventually their hot chemistry wins out. He is stubborn, determined, and has unlimited resources. He knows he can wear her down. She's feisty, but does not have an easy life.  His attention and pleasure is not a bad distraction. They are volatile together. But their lives are messy. they both know they don't want a real relationship. But a one-night-stand sounds perfect--or maybe a two-night-stand--or three. Just until they get tired of each other.

But does his and the Reapers' presence in her life make her and her family safer or in more danger? How long can they continue their undefined multi-night stand without making a decision one way or another?

As Reaper’s national president, Shade is often moving from place to place. His reputation precedes him, and his position gives him power he wouldn’t otherwise have in the small towns he often visits. He is used to getting what he wants and then moving on to the next.

Mandy makes ends meet, living on her sister’s couch, picking up hours waitressing in a bar in order to watch her nieces while her sister works. But though their family may be tight, things with her sister’s ex are tense. She has paid heavily for bad taste in men and has decided that men just make things harder than they should and she’s fine with her family as it is now.

I couldn’t help but be surprised by the events that pushed Mandy and Shade together, as she had been adamant that nothing happen and she actively avoided him unless absolutely necessary. But events outside her control mean she is stuck with no phone and nothing to do but rely on Shade for help, even if that’s not what he thought the deal was.

Though Mandy wasn’t quick to trust men, she was up for a one-night stand with the hot MC president. But according to his rules, that one night stand spanned more than a simple night, especially as things heat up at home.

The side characters made this a fun read. The three girls, particularly the oldest (at 5), added a sweetness and a purpose for some of the dramatic quick movement that Mandy and her sister plan. Even the addition of the deputy, Heath, added another aspect of the story that was interesting to watch.

Though the tension isn’t directly from Reaper’s business, it helps that Shade has taken a liking to Mandy. She is hesitant to trust men after having been burned too many times be the men in her life. Even the local sheriff’s deputy has her questioning everything as he circles their trailer, seemingly at the most inopportune moments.

This was a quick read that brought me quickly back into the Reaper’s world. It stands alone completely, but also ties in nicely.

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review. 
  “You’re full of sh*t!” I said, waving my hand grandly. My drink sloshed and I licked the side of the cup, because this whiskey was way too good to waste even a single drop. “Wonder Woman is better than Batman. She’s got real power, not just fancy toys. Although she has those, too, which means anything Batman can do, she can do better.”
  “Nope,” Shade said, shaking his head seriously. “She’s hot, I’ll give her that, but he’d take her in a fair fight.”
I held up a hand for him to wait as I polished off my booze.
  “No way. She’s a goddess of war and she’s one of the best hand-to-hand fighters in history. She’s got an invisible jet, for God’s sake. How can you compete with that? All he has is a bunch of money and the stupid Batmobile.”
  “Hand over the cup,” Shade said, narrowing his eyes.
  “Why?” I asked, narrowing mine right back. I was good and drunk now, and I wasn’t sure I was ready to be done for the night.
  “Demonstration,” he replied. “C’mon. Or are you chicken?”
  “What are we, kindergartners?”
  “You’re the one insisting Wonder Woman can take Batman,” he replied. “Chicken.”
Then he leaned toward me, raising a single finger to poke me in the center of my chest. Not copping a feel or anything remotely sexual, either. This was pure taunt. I handed him the cup and he tossed it on the floor, nearly falling off the bed in the process. I smirked—guess I wasn’t the only drunk one. Then he started listing to the side and I lunged for him, grabbing his shirt to keep him from going over.
Shade caught my arm, using the momentum to pull me onto his body with sudden force. My hands hit his chest and I raised my head to stare at him, stunned.
  “What the hell are you doing?” I asked. Shade wrapped his arms around my waist, holding me tight to his body.
  “Demonstrating.”