Hope Lawson’s bartender has “bad decision” written all over him. From his intricate tattoos, to his heated hazel gaze, and the hand-painted “You won’t like him when he’s Irish” sign hanging above his dark head, not one inch of Devon Cleary looks like a good idea. Given that she misread her badge-wielding ex so badly that she still isn’t rid of him a year later, Hope is determined to keep her real-life interactions with Devon professional and her fantasies to herself. The problem is, Devon looks at her like he sees her, and then follows through on his assessment. The one time Hope needed him, he vaulted the bar to reach her. It makes the guy hard to ignore. Is Hope capable of opening herself up again? Even if she can, will her past allow it?
Devon Cleary doesn’t do relationships. He got an early education in the damage they cause and wants no part of it. When he isn’t wiping down his bar, he prefers trading carefully negotiated pain for temporary peace at Edge, the local BDSM club. But when one of his regular customers is involved in an altercation on his dancefloor, Devon’s inner dominant claws to the surface in unexpected ways, complicating the already uncomfortable attraction he feels for the cautious little brunette. Is Devon capable of leashing his dark side to give Hope what she needs? Can Hope handle him if he can’t?
To overcome their demons, they’ll need to confront their pasts.
With a new, fulfilling career opportunity and a loving boyfriend capable of unleashing unexplored parts of her being, Hope is in a place she didn’t think possible a few months prior. She’s satisfied, happy…until her possessive ex’s intrusion screws it up. Left with a fear of parking lots, shadows, and unexpected sounds, she struggles to regain her sense of security, while her boyfriend unravels at an alarming rate. In the midst of chaos, Hope can’t tell if he’s overwhelmed by the responsibility of their relationship, the ongoing trouble with her ex, or something deeper; and, even her professional credentials aren’t helping her put the pieces together. The one thing she does know is that Devon is suppressing core parts of himself, and that never ends well.
Devon never imagined he could have this kind of connection with another person. He was broken—a damaged foundation from the start. But now, there’s Hope, and his eyes and heart are open to a world of possibility. Devon will do anything to keep her, and more to keep her safe. With his oldest wounds reopening at the worst time, and his inner dominant getting antsy, he struggles to convince himself and everyone around him that he’s fine. Hope comes first. He’ll fall apart after the dust settles. Unfortunately, his therapist girlfriend is good at her job, and she can tell when he leaves things out. If Devon isn’t careful, she’s going to see the worst of him: the parts that no one could love.
The past is coming for both of them, and it doesn’t use safewords.