If Brandon Taylor wanted to be married, he would be.
But the oh-so-desirable, oh-so-wealthy rancher has zero
interest in tying the knot -- until his unexpected fling with ex-girlfriend
Cassidy Ware. Now she's pregnant -- and he proposes. Cassidy, however, is not
jumping at his practical proposal. She remembers their high school romance all
too well, and she won't wed without proof that Brandon 2.0 can be the real
husband and co-parent she longs for.
Terrific enemies to lovers story. Brandon and Cassidy
have a history together. They dated for a while in high school when she was a
freshman, and he was a senior. They broke up over a misunderstanding on her
part, but Brandon was a jerk about it, so they've avoided each other ever
since. Then they ran into each other at his brother's wedding while avoiding
all of the people talking about why neither was married yet. Too much champagne
and high school reminiscing led to a quick roll in the hay, and now Cassidy is
pregnant.
Brandon and Cassidy's outlook on love couldn't be more
different. Thanks to watching his thrice-married father, Brandon doesn't
believe that love lasts. He's very careful to date only women who understand
his position. Being wealthy and good-looking, Brandon never has trouble finding
female companionship and certainly has never had to work for it.
Cassidy is an intelligent and independent woman. Raised
by a single mother, she has worked for everything she has. She owns the very
popular and successful Java and Juice coffee shop and is finally ready to expand
her business to a second location. Though she's had several unsuccessful
relationships, she hasn't given up on love and finding The One.
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Brandon
and Cassidy. Their encounter in the stable went beyond anything either expected.
Cassidy felt a little hope in her heart until Brandon talked about being
together for as long as it lasted. Disappointed and a little hurt, she turned
him down flat, surprising Brandon. Over the next couple of weeks, Brandon couldn't
get her off his mind, so he was pleased when he got a text from her to come to
see her. Pleasure turned to shock when she told him she was pregnant.
I was pleasantly surprised by Brandon's reaction. Instead
of denial or insisting it wasn't his, he stepped right up and took
responsibility. But then he went a step further with a business-like proposal
of marriage. Of course, Cassidy turned him down, letting him know she wouldn't
marry without love. Cassidy won't give in on that subject no matter how hard he
tries. They do agree to get to know each other better to be good co-parents. I
loved watching Brandon demonstrate that he has all the right instincts. There
are sweet scenes of his efforts to take care of Cassidy, from food to a coat
she'd been dreaming of. I loved their trip to the parenting class.
Cassidy fought hard against falling in love with him when
he obviously cared. The evening they babysit for a friend was tough because
Brandon was a natural with little Maeve. Her biggest problem with him, besides his
anti-love stance, was his tendency to take control. The purchase of the coat
was bad enough, but when he interfered in her request for a bank loan for her
business, she hit the roof. Her confrontation with Brandon was hard enough, but
when his dad overheard and stuck in his opinion, she'd had it. When she
attended a family dinner a few days later, I loved watching her tear into Cornelius.
Unfortunately, Brandon froze when she faced him with what she really wanted.
The ending was terrific as Brandon finally realized the
truth of his feelings. I loved seeing his emotional declaration to Cassidy and
her belief in what he said. I hope they pop up in later books so I can catch up
with their lives.
I also enjoyed the part that Winona Cobb played in their
relationship. Her "readings" and comments are always enigmatic until
her subjects look back and see what she meant. Her statements to Brandon and
Cassidy are no different.
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