Lillian Grant has a history of dating the âwrong men,â but after she breaks it off with the latest (a full-on stalker this time), she decides once and for all: no more. She has a pleasantly small and amusing life in Denver, finding herself competing for a promotion. Looking forward to what life brings next--until a simple wrong turn in a massive baseball stadium drastically alters her life.
Then comes the moment she meets Hayden McCoy. You know, the multi-year Golden Glove winning shortstop for the Houston Aztecs.
Hayden seems to attract more press written about his dating and partying life than his on-field performance. But Lillian doesnât know any of thisâlet alone who he is. After a swoonworthy first meeting, Hayden and Lillian embark on an intense long distance relationship, pushing the limits of Lillianâs protective boundaries. Slowly, enjoying the new woman Hayden brings out of her.
But Lillianâs afraid of what else might come out.
Can Lillianâs fear of dating the wrong guy end with Hayden, or will the distanceâand Haydenâs old reputationâcome back into the picture? Will they leave the past behind them and forge ahead to a higher level of commitment, or is it game over?
Lillian Grant has a history of dating the âwrong men,â but after she breaks it off with the latest (a full-on stalker this time), she decides once and for all: no more. She has a pleasantly small and amusing life in Denver, finding herself competing for a promotion. Looking forward to what life brings next--until a simple wrong turn in a massive baseball stadium drastically alters her life.
Then comes the moment she meets Hayden McCoy. You know, the multi-year Golden Glove winning shortstop for the Houston Aztecs.
Hayden seems to attract more press written about his dating and partying life than his on-field performance. But Lillian doesnât know any of thisâlet alone who he is. After a swoonworthy first meeting, Hayden and Lillian embark on an intense long distance relationship, pushing the limits of Lillianâs protective boundaries. Slowly, enjoying the new woman Hayden brings out of her.
But Lillianâs afraid of what else might come out.
Can Lillianâs fear of dating the wrong guy end with Hayden, or will the distanceâand Haydenâs old reputationâcome back into the picture? Will they leave the past behind them and forge ahead to a higher level of commitment, or is it game over?
Itâs 9:37 am on a typical Tuesday, which means Iâm at work just willing the daily email updates we send out to our clients to write themselves. This particular email is for one of our biggest clients, Bank of America, confirming the investment-grade bonds they have chosen for their pension plan are in compliance and balanced with the investment companies. I know, thrilling stuff, but I love it. Phrases like âDefined Benefit Planâ and âThird Party Administrators" are actually interesting to me, despite my current desire to be anywhere but here. It has been a very productive, yet taxing two weeks since the team commenced our annual audit of Bank of America here in Houston. Iâve worked for Ernst and Young for six years, and B of A has been our client for the past three, on a trial basis. The goal is to make them a permanent client, which means working long days in order to finish this audit.
It doesnât help that Iâm the lone Forensic Accountant on the Audit Team. Whatâs that saying? Do what you love and youâll never work a day in your life? I started working for E & Y right out of grad school, and honestly, I do love it. Numbers seem to come easy to me, and finding solutions to issues is more âexciting projectâ than âmonotonous drudgery.â Stillâitâs work. In college, my friends called me the âcool nerd,â which was a step up from high school, at least, where I was just a ânerd nerd.â My roommates Yi and Stacey always complained about my ability to work late nightâs bartending, party, and still pull a consistent 3.2 GPA. College was easy. Books are easy. People take time for me to understand.
Consequently, and deliberately, is why I tend to keep my tribe of trusted people close to me on a small scale. Being a transplant from a small town in Tennessee, moving to the enormous bustling metropolis of Denver was intimidating at first, even for someone who longed for the big city adventure growing up. It took a while to get nestled in, and soon comfortably called Denver home. With the help of my close college friends, I found my quaint, comfortable, but largely entertaining niche, living in a vibrant area with millions of people.
Coupled with my âsafe havenâ of people, it would seem that the travel required for working for a big accounting firm has vastly taken a lot of time in my life, and with great notice lately as I am in cities like Houston, Chicago, and St. Louis more than I am at my cozy comfortable apartment. Not to mention, meeting new people and trying to engage in small talk contributes to my feeling of overwhelm when traveling.
So, when an opening for Assistant Manager for the Audit Team became available for the Denver office, I applied immediately. This opportunity will require less travel, thus no running around from branch to branch putting out fires and training new people. It would give me more time and effort to be able to dive deep into the forensics of accounting for our clients. The interview was three weeks ago, and with numerous applicants, the wait has been exhausting and anxiety ridden as I am finally sending this email at 9:40 am. Iâm seriously missing the mountain air, the hikes, and the laidback way of lifeânone of that is here in Houston.
I sigh, shaking my head to get focused, and reach out my hand for my coffee out of habit. Just as I hit send, I take a sip, startled to find that it has turned cold. I have a tendency to focus on what I am doing so intently that I forget other things are going on. Desperate for the caffeine, I gulp more of the $5 now-cold beverage as I get up out of my chair. Iâm just about to head over to the microwave in our sterile work kitchen to warm up the coffee when the phone rings. Glancing at the caller ID, I sigh. Coffee will have to wait. Itâs Parker, the manager for our Audit Team.
âHey, Lillian,â he says when I pick up, and he sounds hesitant, which means he is about to inconvenience me. Iâve worked with Parker long enough to decode his tones, and I know he hates throwing last minute requests to the team. I realize that Iâm lucky to have a manager as kind, nice, and open as Parker, so I put a little extra pep in my greeting for his sake, coffee be damned.
âHey, Parker! How are you doing?â I say, hoping to put him at ease as Iâve had previous managers make my life a complete hell by overworking the team, not putting deadlines on issues, not tasking the right people, or just being completely lazy about the project. But Parkerâs not like that. He dives into the deep end of the pool with everyone else and makes sure everyone swims safely to the shallow end. For that, I like him.
âDoing well, Lil, doing well,â he says, sounding more relaxed. âSo, the partners just arrived, and weâre going to have a staff meeting with the full Audit Team, support, and IT at 10 in conference room 14D. I know its short notice, but we need you there, sorry.â
âNo problem,â I say, figuring I have just enough time to heat up my coffee before heading to the meeting. Conference room 14D is what we call the dungeon conference roomâD for dungeon. Low lighting, no windows, short chairs, and the whiteboard still has figures on it from 2018. Iâm about to update Parker on the B of A email when a familiar ping on my cell phone goes off, distracting me. âWorldâs Best Momâ pops up on the screen and I swipe open the message: How are you sweetie! Hope you are having a great day!
âIs that your mom?â Parker asks, laughing. He knows my mom texts every other morning like clockwork. âWhat does she say this time?â
âYep, that was her,â I say, smiling as I shake my head. âJust the usual love notes. Iâll give her a call later and give you the full update.â
âLooking forward to it,â Parker jokes before hanging up.
           As I head to the kitchen to warm up my cold coffee I smile inwardly, wondering what about my single, career fixated life my mom wants to discuss this time.
âHey, Lil!â Chase calls out to me, distracting me from my thoughts. Heâs at the scanner fretting over something. âI can never remember,â he says when I stop. âWhat drive do we use for the footnotes sections? I just canât remember this morning.â
Chase turns to look at me, exhaustion clear on his face. He rubs his forehead in frustration as I know he hates that he has to ask. Chase and I started around the same time, and became sort of from-the-start work buddies. There was a brief period back in the beginning when I thought we may be something more than co-workers, but once I learned that he has numerous dating profiles, but has had zero relationships, I shut that down in my brain. No matter how cute he isâand he isâhe clearly cannot commit to anything but a fun time. Instead, Chase has become more of a brother to me. And I know this look.
âJust scan them to the G Drive and Iâll ask Ann to go through and categorize each footnote,â I tell him. âBesides, thatâll give her something to do besides scroll Instagram all morning,â I add with a grin. Ann, our administrative assistant, is famous for paying more attention to social media than her job. Instead of his usual laugh, however, Chase just gives me a tired smile.
âThanks, Lil,â he says. âI just canât think today. Weâve been on this project for longer than I can count, and it doesnât help that I canât remember how many drinks I had last night.â He looks a little bashful as he says this, even though he knows I donât judge. There have been plenty of nights where Iâve been right beside him, drinking my Moscow Muleâs while he has his Captain Morgan and Dr. Pepper. He has been working intensely lately, and honestly, we all have.
âOh, come on,â I say, gearing up for a pep talk. âYou werenât that bad when I left you last night at the bar. And besides, youâve had a long stretch, give yourself a break. We couldnât have gotten through this audit without you!â
At this, Chase does chuckle a little. âI know...youâre right. Thanks, Lil, I do appreciate it. I donât know what I would do without you.â I smile and nod my head as he continues. âOh heyâabout that girl I brought last nightâwhat did you think? I kind of liked her.â
Chase has started running his dates by me for approval, which I have to say is at least kind of entertaining. âVictoria, right? She was funâI liked her,â I say, actually meaning it. âWhere did you guys meet at, or do I want to know?â
âOh, just on some app,â he says. âSheâs a travel agent, lives in Houston, and I donât know, I just like talking to her. She seems really cool, and sophisticated, too. We left things pretty well this morning,â he says as he nudges my side with his elbow and winks.
âChase,â I groan, âI really donât need to hear about your conquests at 9:45 am, while Iâm heading to get my coffee warmed up!â I laugh shaking my half-drunk, still cold Starbucks at him, trying not to think about my own nonexistent dating life.
âWhat about Bruce from IT?â Chase asks, raising an eyebrow. The guy somehow always knows what Iâm thinking, apparently.
âNo. Just no, Chase,â I sigh, rubbing my temples with my free hand. âHeading for fresh coffee, do you need any?â Iâm suddenly desperate to escape this conversation.
âLove some, thanks,â he says, with a smarmy grin as he resumes scanning.
In the breakroom, I chuck my Starbucks with a grimace. As I pour out two cups of coffee, an impatient line forms behind meâeveryone, seemingly, has the same idea. Coffees in hand, I head out of the break room and set Chaseâs coffee down on his desk amongst the jumble of his laptop, hotel key fob, loose change, and his infamous overnight bag with his toothbrush and toothpaste hanging out of it. The picture-perfect bachelor life, but he seems happy with the game for now. And as much as he says he needs me, I need him, too. Heâs grown into one of my closest friends, and donât know how I would have come this far without his support. At first meeting, he comes across as an arrogant, ex-college football playerâwhich, donât get me wrong, he isâbut heâs a good friend, too.
I check my phone for the time and realize I need to get to Dungeon 14D. I enter in a rush, mouthing an apology to Parker, pull out my pen, legal pad, and try to bring myself back into the present just as Vicki starts speaking, thanking us for all of the effort put into this particular audit. Our Audit Director, Vicki Swanson, has kept this team going for the past three years with her purposeful leadership style, and hands-off approach.
Thereâs applause from everyone, and especially from the Senior Partners who have a lot more at stake in keeping B of A as a permanent client than us underlings.
âSeriously,â Vicki continues, âwe have done tremendous work, and with the collaboration from the Denver office, weâre set to complete this project ahead of schedule. There are a few minor tasks left, but we are about wrapped up!â
I find myself joining in with the tremendous applause this time, relief washing over me. No more living out of a suitcase, or trying to make small talk with new people. Iâm officially heading back home to Denver and all that is familiar on Friday.
Edgar, one of the senior partners, rises and goes to stand by Vicki. âThank you, Vicki, and thank you to each and every one of you!â he says. âWe are impressed with the precision and accuracy of this audit. This one really did take a team!â Another round of obligatory cheering, and I look around to see if I can catch Chaseâs eye. He winks and takes the empty seat next to me as Edgar starts up again. âNow that the work is finishing up, itâs time to celebrate!â
At that, Ann, the executive assistant, enters holding a box of lanyards as Edgarâs smile widens even further.
âWeâre treating you and a few folks from B of A to the luxury suites at the Aztecs game tonight! Drinks and hors dâoeuvres will be served at 5:30, and the game starts at 7:00. Ann, please hand everyone their suite passes.â
As Ann scurries around handing out the passes, Chase leans in and whispers, âYou up for this?â
I shrug. âItâs at least different than heading back to the hotel like we usually do. So, yeah, Iâm totally up for something new!â
He nods in agreement and turns back into his chair just as Camilla Gleeson dashes over, giving us a cheesy thumbs up. I give her a wary smile and weak thumbs up in response. Camilla has been with E & Y longer than I have and is experienced and knowledgeable. But her father is one of the Senior Partners, and so sheâs also very entitled and opinionated. She applied for the Assistant Manager position, too, and has told the office (multiple times) that she has âa good feelingâ about it. I try to stay out of her wayâand her opinionsâas much as I can.
Leaving the meeting with Parker and Chase, I realize something. âSo, youâre going to think that this is dumb, but I donât have any Aztecs gear,â I say, feeling silly. âDo you guys mind if we head to the stadium early so I have time to grab some merch to wear?â
âYou are such a dork, Lil!â Chase says, breaking into a big grin. âYeah, thatâs fine!â
Dressing up for the game might be corny, but I am all in for corny (cool nerd, remember?). All I know about the Aztecs is that their colors are red and white, and that it seems like everyone I meet in Houston is obsessed with them.
Back at my desk, I call my mom, who answers on the first ring and sounds excited that I am venturing out tonight.
 âI guess I better let you go and grab your lunch, and I need to get back to work!â I say, realizing my stomach is growling as well. My door creeps open and I look up to see Chase, a concerned look on his face. I flash a smile and wave him in as he sits down in the chair opposite my desk as I hang up with mom.
âYou good?â I ask, turning to Chase who seems uncharacteristically on edge.
âYeah, itâs just,â he falters, âIâm an idiot. I just kept going on and on about Victoria this morning at the copier, and I didnât evenââ Chase stops short, uncertainty in his big brown eyes. Immediately, I know where this conversation is going and I try to mentally get ready for it. âI just realized that itâs been almost a year and a half since the whole Drew thing. Youâre so different now that itâs hard to remember.â
âChase, I get it, and you are definitely not an idiot,â I say, giving him a half smile. Iâm really not in the mood for this conversation. He flashes a quick smile back, and suddenly I have an urgent need to get out of the office, and fast. âYou could make it up to me by taking me to lunch. Deal?â
âDeal,â he says, audibly breathing out. âIâll go file these real quick, and meet you in the lobby in three minutes.â
I force a smile and grab my purse. Why did he need to bring up Drew?
"College was easy. Books are easy. People take time for me to understand. Carrie. untitled (Kindle Locations 17-18)."
I was reeled in by the easy flow of the writing and the friendly yet informative narration style and POV that continued throughout the book.
I love a good meet-cute, and this book delivered one of the best meet-cutes! I can't get enough of the characters' instant attraction for one another. The experience felt intense and electrifying for both the characters living it and myself reading about it. I missed the intense rush of flutters and excitement of first dates after reading this scene. I was emotionally checked in, and not just because of how the author took her time writing the meet-cute scene, but because I already felt like I knew the main character, Lillian.
I was absolutely thrilled that Lillian has a career in STEM - a good old-fashioned numbers nerd! I love, also, that she's good at what she does. I'm always on board when someone is passionate about their career and what they do day-to-day like Lillian but even more so when the character is knowledgeable and important in their job. I also thought it was neat that her superiors and coworkers were a mix of both men and women and that she was not 'passed on' for a promotion because of her gender. In fact, it was refreshing that her gender didn't come into play in regard to her career (though it could have and still be realistic).
It was clever to show how related Haydenâs and Lillian's careers are to each other through statistics and numbers, and it was neat to see them both passionate about each other's careers and jobs. Their romance showed good development over time, even though they did have some instant-attraction from the beginning. I thought their whole dynamic was very relatable, especially being a long-distance relationship.
Though the ending is predictable, and you can see what is going to happen from a mile away, it was still very satisfying. The climax made sense and felt realistic while still being highly dramatic and emotionally charged.
If you love a sweet, satisfying romance you will enjoy this book. If you like baseball or are familiar with auditing, you might get an extra kick out of reading this book. If you love drinking wine, you will relate even more to Lillian!