I received an ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.
The old saying "Never judge a book by it's cover" right?!?! Well Raphael is about to learn this very important lesson. Yes, he has built his company, yes he has an ex-wife that has made him more judgmental than before and now he questions everything. That all would be understandable. No, you see Raphael is about to learn that he has a heart and that fate has cards she ain't showing yet!
Running this far, to opposite ends of the world....McKenna has done it. Escape didn't come easy and fate is about to deal her some more cards that are very difficult to handle. What she wasn't planning on is the very person who started with questioning her, making her worry about things is the very one she will be fighting together with.
A fake name. How can that be that his company would hire someone, a cleaning person on the night shift, without a better background check and security? Raphael is not about to accept this. A meeting is called, he is harsh and a bit rude, and dismissive. He has no clue. McKenna doesn't really fight back at all, she knows what is coming. She knows because as many times as she starts over, she is faced with a worse demon in her life, and the cycle begins all over. One she has gone home, Raphael does some research. He is slapped in the face with the reality of why McKenna did what she had....and he feels horrible. He has to make this right. Another meeting is called, but this time instead of the bomb going off as McKenna thinks it will, something else happens.
It starts with Raphael apologizing and beginning to tell her that her job is safe, and she will be secure. This meeting, however, is rudely interrupted by the lovely ex. The ex drops off Raphael's on, and there are questions, raised voices, shouting. In this never once does McKenna see him try to physically hurt the ex, even as mad/angry as he is. Something else stirs McKenna's heartstrings though. The little boy sits under the table. She decides to sit under the table with him. Awkward for all involved in many different ways. This is the start of a big time friendship though. As McKenna and Dom (the son) talk, there is laughter from a little one in the room. All arguing stops, there is dead silence around him, until Raphael looks and see who the sound came from. Raphael quickly tries to make right another situation as well as finish making up for the other. Fate is stepping in.
Dom asks McKenna to join him and his father for lunch....ok, more awkwardness. Things are kept light and talk is easy. McKenna doesn't know that Raphael has learned her secret. Work ensues, and one night Raphael stays. McKenna like to clean the upper floor....she dances when she cleans. Raphael has learned this, and he is there for the show. Both have been thinking about each other since the lunch, with no interactions since though. This night is about to change that. When she realizes he is there, the fire they ignite with one another is awesome. But reality hits McKenna and she darts off right after, no words, just leaves.
Twists begin. Her ex shows up just as an actual date between McKenna and Raphael start seeing each other. Rough handling happens, but Raphael is NOT going to allow this to happen....not with her, not again, not ever again. The altercation happens, and they leave. Raphael is sure he got his point across, and McKenna hoped too. Much MUCH more love happens between these two. Yummy and delicious. Feelings growing but not yet completely expressed. Then some ailment knocks McKenna out, and when it dawns on her what is happening she is reminded that she was on borrowed time from this ex of hers. He is here again. Just like before, Raphael happens to be there to save her again. Only this time will be the last. Raphael did get a very well deserved lesson in, but also was given a reminder of why he was in that battle to begin with. A test, a smile, a first step important question and more loving happens.
That test result, that answer to the first important question start their path together. They go to talk to Dom about this, the lovely ex causes some problems, but good old karma decides to help her sister fate out on that one. With the whole happily ever after beginning. The Epilogue of their story holds a few surprises too, ones that make the journey McKenna and Raphael had prior to them a distant memory, and it clearly paves their way into their awesome happily ever after.