"Love—the greatest plot twist life has to offer."
I had to jump right into this one after Tease because I was already half in love with Millie. And I needed to know she would find a hero who was good enough for her.
Zach was everything she needed.
"Everything that came to mind was unspeakable. Sit on my face. Put your hand in my pants. Let me rub the tip of my cock on that little dimple that appears in your cheek when you smile."
Millie is a wedding planner, and she’s really good at her job. She’s also really good at "fixing" her boyfriends so they can go on and marry someone else. Always the wedding planner, never the bride. And it may not look that way, but she does mind it.
Bear in mind that Millie is unapologetically curvy, and I love that. As a curvy girl myself, I love to see this—especially when it’s not self-deprecating.
"Because it’s been a long time since a woman took my breath away."
On a dare from her sister, she goes down to the bar of the hotel where she’s stranded for the night. Unsurprisingly, she’s hit on—by a total douche. Until Zach comes to the rescue. She doesn’t need him to, mind you, but he does it anyway.
Because he’s been watching her from across the bar, and he’s not willing to let her go that easily.
"If I go up to your room, does that mean you’re going to keep your hands to yourself?"
"No. My hands will be all over your body. My hands, my mouth, and my cock."
I mean, what’s one night? One night of indulging with a stranger they’ll probably never see again. OK, he’s older than she is, but does it matter when the attraction is this strong? Let me answer that—nope! And what a night they have!
When the morning comes, though, she needs to leave. And you know that they want more.
"I know it’s wrong, but I can’t leave without kissing you."
Fast forward to a rehearsal dinner a week later, with Millie in full-on wedding planning mode. For the wedding of her ex-boyfriend, no less, who introduces her to his long-lost dad. Yep, it’s Zach.
And it may be all sorts of wrong for them to be together, but then why does it feel so damn right?
"Every night we spent together only brought us closer. Every kiss made it harder to part. Every goodbye was an inevitable reminder that we had no future."
They’re unable to let go. Of course it’s physical, because the want between them is scorching, but there’s something else there. The need to belong to someone. The need to know you’re wanted and cared for. The need to be home.
So they lie.
"I’m not sure I’d have deserved you in any life, but I sure as hell would have tried."
They make up the time to be together—unofficially, of course—all the while pretending this is all about sex. Except when they start missing each other. And then it’s suddenly so much more.
I loved the push and pull. I loved that there was no added drama—it’s just two people who are perfect for each other but who have a lot of baggage to unpack.
"You’re my north, south, east, and west, Millie Rose. You ground me, you guide me, you inspire me. And I’m madly in love with you."
It’s not just Zach’s son. It’s what they plan to do with their lives. It’s not knowing if their plans would fit, but that they most likely won’t. She wants a family. He doesn’t. They both think it’s bad to be sneaking around, but they need to realize why it’s bad.
It’s because they want to show how much they love each other.
"Home to me now is wherever you are, and no matter where I go, I will always make my way back to you."
In the meantime, there’s his job. There’s also the new job she found and the new career she’s embracing. There’s her sisters and their advice, and also Zach’s boss’ advice (loved him, by the way).
The one thing everyone agrees on? When it’s right, you go for it.
"When he held me, I was home."
I loved how unique their happily ever after was. Like all the puzzle pieces falling into place. And that bonus epilogue? Man, I feel so single.
Love really is the biggest plot twist. And sometimes you have to sit back and enjoy the ride.