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When a sheltered debutante moves next door to a grumpy ex-Marine with secrets darker than midnight, sparks fly in the most delicious way—and neither of them sees it coming. Callan Brand is all brooding intensity and protective walls, but Meridian Daly's sharp wit and refusal to be intimidated crack through his defenses like nothing else can. As their relationship deepens from witty banter to genuine connection, the real test isn't the chemistry between them—it's whether Callan can finally be honest about the scars (both visible and hidden) that have shaped who he is. With laugh-out-loud humor, heart-racing chemistry, and a story that doesn't shy away from the messy reality of trauma and healing, this is a romance that celebrates two people doing the real work to build something lasting.
Reading soundtrack
Brooding indie-rock tension meets sultry R&B slow-burns. Think smoldering chemistry, vulnerable confessions, and the ache of walls coming down. Moody vocals, electric guitar, sensual beats—contemporary romance that builds from witty sparring to breathless intensity.
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