The Never List
by DL White
The slowest burn..."Late Bloomer" Esme Whitaker has held out on an important rite for the right person at the right time. She's had a recent glow-up full of accomplishments to be proud of, but there's still a list of adventures to cross off before her 40th birthday.Take a flight. Swim in the ocean. Eat exotic food. Have sex.On the cusp of her 40th birthday, the time is now. All she needs the right man. When a date with a potential love interest goes very, very wrong, she's rescued by a tall, bearded, stylish gentleman. What could have been wonderful fizzles instantly; the vibe between them crackles with animosity.Sometimes, though, you get a second chance to make a first impression.Trey Pettigrew is a man with a dream, and one job: keep his father, CEO of Pettigrew Construction, happy during recovery from a heart attack. What should have been a simple acquisition turns sideways when Trey is forced to leave the negotiation table to...