The Gist: When it comes to business Barrett's a bit too cut and dry and, maybe, a little bit of a shark when it comes to closing a deal. What he needs is a woman to help soften his edges when he's working those deals. So he asks the family gardener's daughter--who he's been secretly in love with for 24 years to play the part of his fake fiance. Just for a little while. Since she's a struggling college student she's all over that!Barrett and Emily were wonderful. They're just adorably sweet. They've known each other since the day she was born and he was 8 years old and he's been smitten with her every second since then. Barrett's a bit awkward with romance and personal relationships. And rather buttoned up and "stuffy". She's a bit more free spirited and easy going. Both level headed and hiding their real feelings for the other because the other couldn't possibly love them too. lol
Their romance was fun since they were faking it for his work but not really faking it. They had lovely chemistry and some funny moments as they resisted each other and crossing any lines. But, goodness, when they do finally...yowza!
"Maybe make it a cold shower," she suggested, pushing at his chest.I enjoyed their time together as they both opened up and found what they'd been wanting for so many years. And I enjoyed his work, too, as he tried to close a deal with her by his side and learned that business maybe isn't the be all and end all.
"You're killing me, woman," he said, backing away from her with a long sigh. She heard the shower turn on, so it surprised her when he peeked out of the bathroom door, bare chested. “Sure you won’t join me?”
She couldn’t lift her eyes from his chest. It’s like they were somehow glued to the tan, toned contours of the hard body that he hid under his elegant dress shirts and Armani suits.
“Oh,” she whimpered.
It was his turn to offer her the deep rumble of his laughter. “Breathe, Emmy.”
“Okay,” she murmured, taking a deep breath, but still staring, transfixed.
And man they hit all my character buttons. Things went south for a bit but she...didn't flip out. She laid things out for him and waited for a response instead of flying off the handle and acting irrational. I love that. And man when he has a grovel it'll have a girl tearing up. I do so love a magnificent grovel.
All in all, Breaking Up with Barrett was a sweet read. These two left me smiling and happy for them. Such a good feeling.
Barrett English, aka "the Shark," is the fair-haired, first-born of the English brothers, and the CEO of the oldest, most prestigious investment banking firm in Philadelphia. He rules the boardroom with an iron fist, refusing to take no for an answer and always getting his way.
Emily Edwards, a first-year doctoral student at the University of Pennsylvania, grew up in the gatehouse on the outskirts of Barrett's childhood estate. The daughter of his family's gardener and housekeeper, she was always looking through the window of privilege, but forced to remember her place at the very periphery of the kingdom.
When business partners suggest that a fiancee might soften Barrett's image over business dinners, he approaches Emily for the "job" of fiancee. And while love wasn't necessarily on Barrett's radar, he begins to realize that Emily always has been. But will his take-no-prisoners boardroom tactics work on the heart of the woman he loves.
Amazon | Goodreads | Regnery on HCBS
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