Table for Two

GCLS Goldie Awards
Table for Two — Winner, Contemporary Romance: Mid-Length Novels.

FROM THE AUTHOR

"Before moving to Ohio, I lived in the Indianapolis area for about seven years. My office building was downtown and across the street from the Indiana Convention Center. People would flood the streets multiple times a year when large conventions came to town. One I fondly remember was Gen Con, the largest table-top gaming convention in North America. Seeing people in cosplay on my walk to and from work always added a bit of fun. But it also caused a bit of a headache during my lunch breaks when trying to find a restaurant that didn’t have a long wait. So, when Reagan and Jill in Table for Two first meet, they end up sharing a table at a busy restaurant. Of course, I then needed a reason as to why two strangers would be forced to share a table, and using Gen Con as the backdrop seemed like the perfect solution."

—Kate Gavin

Chapter One

Soft lips trailed down Reagan Murphy’s neck, and she tilted her head to give the other woman better access. Teeth scraped along her collarbone and the woman’s hair fell forward and covered her face. She moved down Reagan’s body, inch by agonizing inch. Reagan squirmed, desperate for her to pick up the pace and reach her obvious destination.

Her nails scratched underneath the waistband of Reagan’s boxers, teasing her for a moment before sliding the boxers off and tossing them to the floor. Goose bumps erupted on Reagan’s exposed skin. The woman’s warm breath met the wetness of Reagan’s center as she pushed her legs apart.

“Oh, f—”

A crash jerked her awake. Clutching her hand to her chest, she looked around for the sound that had pulled her from her dream. Her gaze landed on her father as he pushed the button on the remote to raise his bed, reaching out to clean up the glass of water he’d knocked over.

Reagan stood and rushed over to help. “Let me get that, Pops.” She grabbed a hand towel from the hall bathroom and wiped up the water.

“Fuck. Give it to me,” he said as held out his hand. “I’ll do it.”

“It’s okay. I’ve got it.”

“Reagan.”

“All done. Nothing to worry about.”

His drugs for pain management often made him clumsy, and accidents like these became more frequent with each passing day. Every incident reminded her that good days with him were numbered.

“Shit, I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have to do that.” His cheeks reddened and he avoided her gaze.

“It’s fine. No worries.” While he had wanted to live his last days at home, he’d struggled with accepting help from his only child. He had practically thrown a fit when she’d handed over most of her responsibilities at work to Gwen, her best friend and business partner, in order to move home and help her mom with his care.

Once she wiped up the last of the water, she tossed the towel on the bathroom counter, refilled his glass, and sat on the side of the bed, holding his hand. “How’d you sleep?”

“Meh. Better than the night before.”

“That’s good.”

He raised one eyebrow and asked, “What about you? I’ve been up for a few minutes and it looked like you were having a nightmare. You were squirming around and making little noises.”

Heat rushed to her cheeks. “Oh, um, it was nothing. Just a dream.”

He chuckled. “By the look on your face, I’m guessing those little noises were from something a little more pleasurable than a nightmare.”

“Dad, please stop talking.” She covered her face with her hands.

“Never gonna happen.” He squeezed her knee and she looked up. “So, tell me. When is the last time you went on a date?” he asked as he narrowed his eyes at her.

“Recently.”

“How recent?”

“Um.”

“Please don’t tell me it was with that horrible Diane.”

“I plead the fifth.”

“Come on, sweetie. You two broke up, what, nine months ago?”

“Something like that,” she mumbled, knowing it’d been over a year.

His face softened, and he looked into her eyes for a beat. “I’m worried about you, Reagan. I just want to see you happy. You need to live your life and not get bogged down with…” He lifted his arms, gesturing to all the medical equipment surrounding them in the spare bedroom, “…this.”

The diagnosis of pancreatic cancer six months prior had come as a shock to the family, and while Reagan and her mom had fallen into worry, her dad had reacted the same as he had to any unexpected news in his life: with calm acceptance. He was her hero, and she wanted to spend as much time with him as she could—what little he had left anyway.

“I know. I will when—” She stopped and stared at him with wide eyes and the prick of tears forming.

“When I’m gone?”

“I’m so sorry, Dad. That’s not…I mean…”

He reached for her hand and squeezed. “You shouldn’t wait til I’m gone, kiddo. You gotta live your life every day. Look at me. I’m proof that we don’t always get as much time as we want.”

“Dad, I…I…” She looked down at her hands in his as words vanished and tears ran down her cheeks. She’d miss his perfect combination of strength and softness when he held her. She could still remember how it felt when he scooped her up into his arms when she had fallen off her skateboard at six years old. He had brought her inside to her mom so she could look at the scrapes covering her hands and knees. He stood next to her, cradling her head against his chest as she sat on the counter while her mom cleaned the wounds. His whispers of reassurance kept her calm and made her feel safe.

“It’s okay. I know.” He bumped her chin with his fingers and raised her head. “Hey. Why do you think I wanted to be here with my two favorite women instead of some damn hospital? You and your mom are the best things that ever happened to me. Even when she nags me about leaving socks everywhere.”

“I heard that!” her mom yelled as she walked down the hallway.

They chuckled and rolled their eyes.

“God. The ears on that woman,” he whispered. “Honey, I want the same for you. I want you to enjoy your life, love your work, and find a woman you look forward to waking up next to each morning. Okay?”

“Okay,” she replied as she wiped the remaining tears from her cheeks.

“Knock, knock.”

She turned to see one of her father’s nurses, Angela, standing in the doorway. Aside from the help Reagan and her mom provided, he also accepted a little help from two home nurses. Angela and Betty checked in a couple days a week, giving Reagan and her mom much-needed breaks.

“Time to get you moving a bit and then get you cleaned up, Conor,” Angela said cheerily.

“Oh, yay. Drill sergeant number two is here,” he said under his breath as he sat up a little straighter in bed.

Angela came into the room and dropped her bag of supplies on Reagan’s chair. “Excuse me. Why am I number two? What does Betty have that I don’t?”

“For one thing, age,” he said. “She’s probably thirty years older than you. And with age comes intimidation factor. She can look at me with those narrowed eyes and I’ll do whatever she says. No offense. This whole ‘hands on your hips and head cocked to the side’ routine needs a little work.”

Reagan swatted at his arm. “You’re such a dork, Dad.” She scooted off the bed and kissed his cheek. “Love you. I’ll see you later.”

“Love you too, kiddo.”

As Reagan passed Angela, she squeezed her arm and whispered, “Good luck.” Angela snorted in reply.

After a quick shower, Reagan found her mother packing up food to freeze. With the unpredictability of their current situation, her mom had taken to freezing meals they could easily pop in the oven. Reagan suspected it gave her mom a sense of control to have several months’ worth of homemade dinners ready to go.

“Morning, Mom.”

“Morning,” her mom said with a smile. “Fell asleep in there again, didn’t you?”

Reagan shrugged. “Guess so.”

“You don’t have to do that. He’ll be fine on his own. We each have a monitor to listen at night. You should sleep in your own bed.”

“Sure, Mom. You know you’d be in there if I wasn’t. You can’t say any different.”

“Well.”

“Uh-huh. Pot, kettle,” she said, pointing to herself then her mom.

Her mom chuckled. “Okay. You got me there. Do you have any plans for the day?”

“Probably check in at the office for a few minutes. What about you?”

“After I finish cleaning up, I’m going to take a walk and then come back for a nice long bath and a nap.”

“I can clean up. You shouldn’t have to do that.”

“It’s okay. I’m almost done.” Her mom took a deep breath before setting down the towel in her hand and leaning on her elbows on the counter as she looked at Reagan. “I heard what your father told you. He’s right, honey. Your life shouldn’t stop because of everything that’s going on.”

“But what if something happens when I’m not here? I need to be here for him. The doctor said he didn’t know the timetable. I couldn’t live with myself if I wasn’t here when, well, when it happens.”

“You are, and he knows that. Something could happen at any moment, and we can’t sit around holding our breath until it does. It’ll just wear us down, and we won’t be any good to him if that happens. Angela will be here until four. Take your time today. Go grab a bite to eat or take a walk. You deserve it.”

Reagan slid off the stool and gave her mom a hug. “I might just do that.”

Reagan unlocked the door to her apartment. She scrunched her nose at the staleness in the air. Sunlight streamed through a gap in the curtains, highlighting floating flecks of dust. Since she had moved back with her parents, she’d intended to stop by her apartment once a week, but after doing the math in her head, she realized she hadn’t been here for almost a month. She missed this place dearly, and everything that used to come with it—independence, freedom from the now constant fear of losing her dad. But when she thought about it like that, she felt selfish, a mixture of emotions she tried to never let herself fully feel because if she did, she knew they had the power to overwhelm her.

Her gaze traveled around the large, open floor plan. The tall windows, exposed brick walls, and gleaming hardwood floors were a comfort and a source of pride. Her loft apartment took up the top floors of the building she bought a year after she and Gwen opened up their first restaurant together. They had formed a restaurant group eight years ago, fulfilling the dream they’d had since high school. After major renovations and finding an artist to lease the first floor as a gallery, they had established their office on the second floor. While Gwen handled everything food related, Reagan controlled the money and logistics. Their partnership had worked so well they’d opened three restaurants, and counting.

She tossed a stack of mail on her kitchen counter and opened the curtains covering the floor-to-ceiling windows. The August sun warmed her face, and she took in a deep breath, only to remember how stuffy it felt. She propped open the door to her small balcony, stepping outside to stare down at the busy streets of downtown Indianapolis. She used to spend a lot of her evenings on this balcony with her feet up on the railing and a beer in her hand while listening to the sounds of the city. She closed her eyes at the memory she felt so far removed from now. Letting out a sigh, she went inside and upstairs to her loft bedroom and opened the windows. With any luck, the breeze would provide some freshness to the neglected space.

After about twenty minutes of organizing and cleaning, the mustiness disappeared, so she closed all the windows and locked the door behind her. She made her way down a flight of stairs and into the office through the back door. Past the conference room was a small open area with three chairs and a desk where her assistant answered a call.

“Taylor Murphy Group. This is Beth. How can I help you?”

She watched as Beth listened to the caller and made notes on a pad of paper, doodling along the edges as the call continued. “Okay, Rob. I have you down to meet with Gwen next Tuesday at three. Have a good day,” Beth said as she hung up the phone.

“What did our wonderful real estate agent want? How many times did he bring up his cats?”

Beth grabbed her chest as she let out a gasp. “Jesus, Reagan. Maybe announce yourself next time.”

She leaned against Beth’s desk. “Why should I do that? You totally wanted to scream, didn’t you?”

Beth slapped her thigh. “No. Well, okay, maybe. What are you doing here? No offense. I miss seeing you but I didn’t expect you in today. I would’ve made a fresh pot of coffee.”

“No worries. The nurse stopped by and my mom pushed me out of the house so I could have some time to myself.”

The joy in Beth’s eyes dimmed. “How’s he holding up?”

She shrugged. “Good days and bad. You know.”

“I do,” Beth whispered. Her mom had died when she was fifteen.

She provided a tremendous amount of support to Reagan, in addition to being an amazing employee. She often went above and beyond by dropping off cookies or movies she thought Reagan’s dad might like.

Reagan nodded toward the phone. “What did Rob want?”

“He has a new building to show Gwen. Just off Mass Ave. He said it’s a prime spot and won’t be on the market for long.”

She bit the corner of her lip and nodded. Once she had stepped away from work almost two months ago, she had promised Gwen her focus would be on her family and not the company. But when big decisions like space for a new restaurant came into play, it was hard to sit on the sidelines. She pulled out her phone and looked at her calendar. “You said Tuesday at three?” Beth nodded. “Shit. I’m looking after my dad that day. Mom has her monthly get together with her friends. I can’t ask her to skip it. I’ll, um, talk to Gwen about it later.” She clenched her phone and sighed before straightening up and putting it in her back pocket.

Beth squeezed her hand. “It’s okay. She understands. I’ll be going with her. We can handle it.”

“Oh, I know you can. I wasn’t implying that.” Reagan trusted her opinion, but she struggled with needing it. She wanted to be there to look at new properties, help Gwen with menus, or even check emails daily. It was tough not to have enough time or energy to help with her dad and contribute at work. Reagan sighed. “It’s just hard.”

“I get it.”

She smiled. “I’ll be in my office for a little while and then I’ll just head out the back. Might go to Gale’s for a bite to eat.”

“Sounds like a good idea.” Beth stood, giving her a hug. “Tell your folks hi. And let your dad know I’ll have another batch of oatmeal raisin for him soon.”

“Thanks. See ya.”

She returned to her office, sat at her desk, and looked at some invoices Beth had left in her tray. After checking their accounts online, she shut down her computer and headed for the door. Treating herself to a nice meal might be the thing she needed. Good food, a tall beer, and time just for her.

Les Rêveur
I have never read anything from Kate Gavin before, but she has shot up my must-watch list. I loved this book and all the fantastic tropes that the author packed in. I loved the storyline and how the author built the relationship between the main characters Jill and Regan. I adored every minute and every page of this book. I wouldn’t change a thing, and I really hope that Kate Gavin uses her wonderful secondary characters in future novels. She has jumped on my must-watch list. Can’t wait to see what comes next.

goodreads
Pin's Reviews - Table for Two has almost everything a good romantic story must have. Believable and complex protagonists with good chemistry, a few good supporting characters, well written emotions, a plausible conflict, and an interesting plot. A combination of an ice queen from a dysfunctional family and her complete opposite worked quite successfully and with Gavin's technically good writing made this novel very well worth reading. If you are a romance fan, I very much recommend it. I had a hard time putting it down, and will read it again.

NetGalley
Sarah H. - Jillian and Reagan meet in a chance encounter over lunch. They DO NOT hit it off initially. Jillian can’t seem to accept genuine kindness and turns up her nose at Reagan. Reagan is just trying to make it through her days the best she can. They soon meet again and are forced to work together when Jillian’s mother hires Reagan’s company to cater a party. Initially, Jillian continues to treat Raegan in a brusque, better than thou manner, but overtime they get to know each other, and Jillian slowly lets her guard down. As they encounter family heartache, work struggles and uncomfortable situations they learn to prioritize each other and navigate a lasting relationship based on trust and patience.

I really enjoyed this book! This is how adult relationships are supposed to work. Neither Jillian nor Reagan are perfect, but they form a bond through trust, communication, mutual admiration and understanding. It’s a breath of fresh air to just watch something come together so seamlessly. Cheers to Kate Gavin. Well done.

NetGalley
Kaye C. - Jillian Jacobs is a tough as nails advertising executive. She is a workaholic wanting the next promotion without much time for a personal life. One day she shares a table in a crowded restaurant with another woman being her crusty self. Reagan Murphy owns and runs three restaurants. A family situation is taking an emotional toll on her. When Jill hires Reagan to cater an elaborate dinner she remembers their shared lunch with embarrassment.

One of my favorite things about lesbian romances is that women talk to each other. This book is full of wonderful conversations, fights and apologies. Reagan brings out a softer side of Jillian that people never see. Jillian brings happiness and contentment to Reagan until other things interfere. I could not put this book down and slowed down my reading to enjoy it longer. It is steamy, moving and thoughtful.

NetGalley
Emma A. - Table for Two is just fantastic! Kate Gavin delivers a beautiful story full of real life situations a lot of us can relate to. Reagan and Jillian meet under very trying circumstances. Reagan is going through a personal hell and somehow this pierces Jillian's cold exterior. Kate Gavin shows that two characters can come from different worlds, but that all roads lead to love. I truly love this book and highly recommend it to readers. It offers a pure of heart journey and leads us to hope.

LezReview Books
I have to say, Reagan charmed me immediately but I have a soft spot for misunderstood characters who learn to show vulnerability. My heart broke for Jill more than once and when the dreaded breakup occurred, I could understand Reagan’s reaction but I was crushed on Jill’s behalf anyhow. Gavin pushed the angst to the max (for a mercifully short time) and I loved every second of it.

Besides Jill and Reagan, I loved Reagan’s parents, hated Jill’s family, and I wish everyone had friends (I include Ash, Jill’s non-binary assistant) like both have to support and love them.

If you couldn’t tell already, I enjoyed this book very much. I’m pretty sure the next time I come across Kate Gavin’s name, I won’t need to check my reviews to confirm that yes, I want to read her books.

NetGalley
Mikahila N. - I absolutely loved this book. If you’re looking for a cute casual read with not too much angst or drama then I highly recommend.We meet Jillian, a not so nice business woman and Reagan, maybe too nice of a business woman. Reagan brings out the good in Jillian and we see a whole 180 turn in her social behavior. They make the perfect couple and though I would’ve hope for more fiery tension filled encounters between them I still loved the pairing. Five stars!

NetGalley
Stephanie D. - Reagan Murphy is going through the most stressful time of her life and all she wants is a little time for herself and a nice lunch and beer. However, after finding the last available table in the restaurant, she decides to share it with a very rude, but very hot woman. Jillian Jacobs is rude, a workaholic and was taught to keep her feeling deep deep inside. Climbing to the top is hard and that is her mission. After getting a new project and a tight deadline all she wants is a quiet lunch, but instead she is forced to accept the invitation to share a table with a stranger. Jill is thankful when she leaves the restaurant and glad she would never have to see that good-looking stranger again. That is, until Jill hires Reagan to cater her step-father's birthday party.

This book was sweet and sexy. The author did a great job with both main characters. They were both complex and very well developed. You can't help but to love them both and their relationship. It was a very good story and I really enjoyed reading it. Moreover, the supporting characters were also great and interesting.

I will be recommending this book and can't wait to read what this author will have for us next.

NetGalley
Noni M. - Did I already say that I loved this book? Because I did. Jillian and Regan were perfect for each other. I thought the book was engaging. I read it in one day because I didn’t want to put it down. I love ice Queens and just how bitc@y they are but I love even more finding out what makes that woman tick or be so closed off. Jillian was the perfect character, she was so rude in the beginning that sometimes I would cringe or giggle, depending on the situation. But I read more about her and my heart just broke for her. Regan’s spirit, capacity to love, and her positive energy was everything that Jillian needed. They were perfect for each other, the writing was brilliant, and I have found a new author to follow.

NetGalley
Michele R. - This was a complex, multi-layered story with the relationship that developed between Reagan and Jill. It had several layers due to the reasons behind Jill's behavior that Reagan ultimately discovers, the terminal illness of Reagan's father, and the deep-seated hurt that threatens to tear apart Reagan and Jill's relationship. The writing was excellent, the characters were believable, and some of their actions were justified. 4.5 stars

NetGalley
Betty H. - Table for Two by Kate Gavin is an absolutely lovely romance novel with everything I could ask for in a love story. The tale revolves around two women (Reagan Murphy and Jillian Jacobs) who meet accidentally when they have to share the last table in a café for lunch. That first meeting doesn’t go well. Things become even more awkward after the two are thrown together again when Reagan’s restaurant is hired to cater a party for Jill’s mother. If only the two could stop thinking about each other.

This book hits just about all of my “must haves” for a great romance. We have Jill, the prickly ice queen that you can’t help but fall in love with, especially after you get to know the person inside that sharp exterior. And there is Reagan who is going through a stressful family situation. Both characters are well-developed, and it’s easy to see the chemistry between the two grow as they interact with each other. The story has just the right amount of angst. The hurdles they face to become a couple will keep you reading until the very end.

I really can’t find anything bad to say about this book. This is the first novel I’ve read by Ms. Gavin, but it won’t be the last.

NetGalley
Bonnie A. - This is the first book I've read by Kate Gavin and I must say I enjoyed it very much. Here Kate weaves a beautiful love story between Jillian an Ice Queen who seems to have been neglected as a child and received zero acknowledgement from her mother and stepdad for her accomplishments. Reagan a restaurant owner who is loved and supported by both her parents in everything she does.

The book was very engaging. Well developed and written. The main characters were strong, compassionate, communicated well and bonded beautifully. I would definitely recommend this book. Well done! 5 stars.

NetGalley
Patricia H. - Firstly, I adore the trope of melting the Ice Queen and Jillian is Antarctica. She is a stone-cold bitch on wheels whose only enjoyment comes from marking the next thing off her To-Do list. When she meets and is forced to work with the personable Reagan, they annoy the heck out of each other. Reagan finds joy in her work, her friends, and her family. Even in the middle of an immense family tragedy, she maintains her humanity.

These are two well-rounded characters and I liked them both. Apart from my wanting to see a little more interaction and dating before their tentative coupling, the plotting was well-paced. The rest of the story is rounded out by a wonderful array from the QUILTBAG+ spectrum. I have a particular fondness for Jillian’s assistant Ash and I hope to read their story someday.

I highly recommend this excellent story of complex personalities, trying circumstances, and finding that piece of yourself that you didn’t even know you needed.

NetGalley
Skip S. - I’m not sure why I was surprised that I enjoyed this so much, but this is definitely falling into the category of one of my favourite books of the year so far.

Reagan owns a number of restaurants with her best friend. She’s dealing with the terminal illness of her father and is convinced to take a break for a few hours. Whilst getting lunch she finds herself sharing a table with Jillian.

Jillian, or Jill, is an ice queen workaholic, who automatically makes presumptions about Reagan. They both “enjoy the view” over lunch, but don’t leave each other on good terms. They’re thrown back together when Jill ends up planning her stepfathers birthday party and Reagan’s company is hired to do the catering.

Gavin provided the perfect mix of sadness, disappointment, hope, joy and love for me. Whilst Jill and Reagan’s family issues are very different, they have a shared knowing and understanding that makes them great partners for each other.

I loved that Gavin didn’t automatically make Jill less of an ice queen just because Reagan walked into her life one day and I especially enjoyed her character arc because of this. Her enlightening moments are really well done and the internal conflict and understanding she comes to feels very genuine.

Reagan has to take a leap of faith, and I enjoyed the aspects of the storyline where she is attempting to connect with Jill. I also liked that Reagan calls Jill out regularly and that it becomes a great part of their relationship.

The parts of the narrative that take place when the MCs are apart from each other really add to the storyline. Reagan’s friends are well written and I love the protective gestures and holding Jill to account that take place. The scenes with Reagan’s mom are really well done, with a kindness and gentleness to them that act in stark contrast to Jill’s family. The way they are articulated ensures that you can understand where Jill has come from and why she is the way she is.

I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but anyone who has read lots of my reviews knows I’m a sucker for the inclusion of a pet in a book, so the added addition of a number of dogs in the narrative was definitely a positive factor for me, even without the impact they have on the storyline and allowing us to see some things.

I think any sapphic romance fan will enjoy this, especially ice queen fans and would happily recommend this.

NetGalley
Diane W. - My first time reading something by Kate Gavin and I don't think it will be the only time because everything about this particular story has this feel of both realism and believability—plus no reader can pass on a well written story. Table for Two will literally grab you from the beginning to the last sentence—unleashing a roller-coaster of emotions because of its pragmatic storytelling. More than anything, Table for Two is also a heartwarming read—where Ms. Gavin helps readers to get a glimpse of this natural ability to put words and sentences together to mean something while in another breath she makes them privy to the perspectives of every other important character interacting with both leads (Reagan & Jillian) which was very thoughtful by Ms. Gavin.

Overall, this story is also about identity, has a bit about second chances and the courage to starting life afresh. A highly recommended book!

NetGalley
Cathy W. - This is my first time reading a Kate Gavin book, and I can guarantee this wont be my last. What a fantastically written book and story, I absolutely loved everything about it. You have great characters, Jillian the Ice Queen and Reagan the friendly girl with a heart. Total opposites in all ways of life and family.....but as the saying goes 'Opposites Attract'. Once I started I just couldn't put down, I loved the Jillian and Reagan story.

NetGalley
Melina B. - A really enjoyable read. The writing was engaging, the two main characters had sizzling chemistry and were both very likeable despite their insecurities and flaws. Jill was irritating at first but I warmed to her quickly and understood where her hard edges were coming from. The romantic relationship developed very naturally and it was great to see the two leads were communicating with one another and talking about their issues and overcoming them, and the author avoided the temptation to add in drama for drama's sake. Definitely worth a read.

NetGalley
Emma S. - This book leaves you feeling warm. I've not come across a book that's been able to do that in a while. I think this is the first book I've actually read by Kate Gavin... that's going to change.

Your two main characters, Reagan Murphy, sweet caring, and kind, among other characteristics, and then you have Jillian Jacobs, highly opinionated, ice queen and rude. She has reasons for her not being able to get too close to people. The chemistry between the pair is definitely there and builds up from when they both meet.

All in all, this is a really good romance book. I've given it a 4.5 and I highly recommend it.

NetGalley
Jasmine G. - Jill is serious about her work and spends every minute of her day working, each minute bringing her closer to a promotion. In the middle of a busy day, she's just trying to catch a quick bite but the restaurant is full and the only space available is sharing the table with a stranger. She and Reagan have a lunch filled with banter and bickering and neither expect for their personal and professional lives to collide when Jill's mom hires Reagan's catering company for a party. The more time they spend together the more they find it harder to avoid their attraction, but does Jill have time in her busy life for a relationship?

I adored this book. I really felt that Kate Gavin matured and grew as an author from their debut and seriously knocked it out of the park with this book. The chemistry between Reagan and Jill in this book was delicious, it was cute and fun with the most perfect tension. Jill was a very complex character and the author did an amazing job making her balanced and nuanced. She's likeable and relatable even when she's a little prickly and her strength is amazing. I couldn't recommend this book more and I look forward to what comes next from this author!