"Complete forest fire, no extinguisher needed" describes the first sexual encounter of the main characters of this story, Cory and Victoria. Cory Santangelo is admittedly a workaholic with no anticipated change in that status in the foreseeable future, fully engaged as CEO of Value Hardware chain and impending launch of the new lifestyle magazine, "Simply Home". As his parents plan to retire and move away they issue an ultimatum designed to protect Cory from his own self-sacrificing, overworking lifestyle. If Cory does not date and establish a social life, find a partner, they will replace him as CEO. Cory has little hope of finding love; finding a partner who can cope with his work schedule. As he tried to sneak away from the charity event, he noticed a woman talking on the telephone by the gazebo. As he came closer he identified the voice of his 'scarily efficient' colleague, interior designer Victoria Townsend. They had known each other since high school and were close in an entirely oil and water sort of way. Victoria was crying and when she noticed him, to try to lighten the mood he brought up a high school memory to annoy her and hopefully distract her from whatever was making her sad. Despite the fact that he and Victoria could argue about anything and nothing, when he saw her this night, somehow on this night he was instantly aroused. Victoria, not known for mincing her words called him on his appearance and pushed him to his limit and he responded by calling her bluff with some scorching body on body action. Her response was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Cory didn't know that Victoria had wanted him since high school and now in their 30's the pot had boiled over. The timing couldn't be more perfect. His parents wanted to see him in a relationship and Victoria wanted him. It was, as Cory thought, "nothing but pure sweet relief that it was so damn good between them. Victoria agreed to 'faking a relationship until his parents left, to protect his Cory's job. At the same time, the became closer and more intimate yet neither ready to admit or accept that the relationship was real. Victoria wanted everything and was not willing to accept anything less and that couldn't happen with Cory fully committed only to work.
The push and pull of their attempts to meet each other's needs was beautiful. Cory was entirely alpha at work and in the bedroom. One of the hottest and most intimate scenes I've ever read occurred on the dining room table with candles, wax, ice, music and ...........
Passion, deception, anticipation, family secrets and hold-your-breath romance make this story a must read.