Layla Mayweather is a successful business owner and online personality as well as heir to a makeup empire. She is smart, hardworking, and a good girl. But she also has emotional damage, trust and intimacy issues. Her dating life has been disastrous and they seem to want just one thing...that she has not given to anyone. Her online alter ego is a bit more carefree, happy-go-lucky, and independent. She keeps her personal and professional life separate...usually. 

Nick Adams is a finance geek, tech investor, and also owns a successful business. He is tightly wound, ambitious, intelligent, mature, and a workaholic. He has high expectations of himself and others and is determined to not be distracted...until he sees her at a conference. 

It just took a glance to be interested, an invitation for a drink to pull each other farther in, and one hot night to rock their worlds. But it was just supposed to be one night. But life is full of surprises and connections. 

She is self-aware and not interested in silly boys and is attracted to mature men. He checks off her boxes and knows what he wants and how to get it, while treating her with respect and giving her all the attention she needs. But there are some complications that make a repeat a bad idea.

This is a tantalizing, flirty, dirty, witty, tension-filled, emotional, age-gap, forbidden-by-circumstances romance. I just adored these two. He is such a charismatic sexy, alpha male but is also a thoughtful, kind, patient gentleman and a good dad. And she is not afraid to initiate and ask for what she wants, but she is successful and independent enough not to NEED him for anything. And she is wary of getting too close to one anyway. But WANT is a whole other thing. And they both make each other want....so much.

I loved seeing them begin to be more vulnerable and trust each other. Despite plans to the contrary, more intimacy and feelings begin to build. And the story is peeled back in layers as secrets from the past emerge and also the secrets of the present are exposed. And these secrets and lies make it a messy situation that they will eventually have to deal with one way or another. But each option could hurt someone and have repercussions. 

Her tight-knit friend group helps her with guidance and a push when needed. His son adds to the complications. There are other interesting characters adding depth or drama along the way. 

I feel like I have been on quite a journey with these two. Their meeting becomes a catalyst for change and there are so many opportunities for growth individually, together, personally, and professionally. Layla is plucky, smart, and determined. She really starts to come into her own and begins to take control of her own life and choices. And Nick is just simply an amazingly swoony hero. He finds himself wanting to be a part of Layla's life but also has to balance out other parts of his own. There are challenges and obstacles, but I loved seeing them begin to realize what is really important in life. It is an emotional and beautiful love story with wit, heart, and plenty of steam.