The shy girl wanted to prove she could be useful to the CEO's plan-seducing a dangerous man. Trembling, she carefully straddled Diana's lap, heart pounding, desperate to show she wasn't as helpless as she seemed. Diana's cold voice challenged her: "Is that all you can do? You think this is helping? Sitting on me, trembling like that?" But inside, watching Anna like this, she felt something she refused to admit-losing control. Anna ran away to start over. At nineteen, she left behind a strict father, a forced engagement, and a life that never felt like hers. Now she's tucked away in a quiet corner of Thailand, working at a small café and trying to find pieces of herself again. Then Diana (33) walked in. Cold, composed, and impossibly intimidating, Diana is the kind of woman who commands a room without saying a word. A powerful CEO with a mysterious edge and eyes that never miss a thing. She claims she's just there for coffee... but she lingers. Watches. Smiles, when no one's looking. When a spilled drink and an innocent apology turn into a moment neither of them expected, Anna finds herself pulled into a game she doesn't understand, one filled with secrets, tension, and a closeness that feels too dangerous to want. But Diana isn't just a customer. And Anna isn't just a girl working behind the counter. One is hiding a mission. The other is trying not to lose herself. And neither of them is ready for what's coming next.

Lilith Hawthorne is a 20 year old psychology student with a complicated heart and more issues than she likes to admit. She feels too much, thinks too hard, and often drowns in the weight of her own empathy. She's curious, emotionally intense, and carries unresolved wounds especially the kind only a mother can leave behind. Valentina Salvatore is a 30 year old CEO. She works hard to build her career and keep things running smoothly. At the same time, she loves deeply but carefully, making sure her feelings go to the right person. She has learned to protect her heart and waits for someone who matches the way she feels. Where Lilith is full of feelings and unpredictability, Valentina has her life sorted out. They come from different worlds and have different ways of living, but what if that's exactly why they fit?

Valentina, a student at Heartfelt University, is assigned to the notoriously rude and cold Professor Montgomery. While the professor's harsh demeanor clashes with Val's quiet and positive nature, their academic sparring soon turns into something deeper. As Val's intelligence and persistence break through Professor Montgomery's icy exterior, a surprising and tender connection begins to bloom. [wlw] [slow burn]

Sequel to NEW GIRL If you haven't read New Girl, go read it before you read this. Thank you :) Katie and Billie's love for each other is never ending, but what happens when problems keep heading their way?