4.5 stars

Zeb has an employment agency and, in spite of a hire interview that definitely doesn't follow the normal paths, hires Jesse to work for him. Flash forward 3 years later, and Jesse is still working for him. Zeb has always admired Jesse from afar, since the chaos that seems to surround Jesse is definitely not what Zeb wants in his life. But Zeb has agreed to be the best man in his ex's wedding, and wants a temporary boyfriend to help things be less awkward.
Jesse thinks that Zeb is a very straight (as in repressed) but very attractive arrow, and agrees to help him for a getaway weekend and then the wedding. What he doesn't realize is that being in close proximity with Zeb will bring his attraction to the surface, and that being around the ex will bring out all of Jesse's protective instincts.

I liked Jesse and Zeb, both alone and together. They brought balance to each other's lives and just fit together. I didn't like how blind Zeb was when it came to his ex, and when it came to holding himself to his strict standards, but those were minor niggles.
Jesse and Zeb for the win! ( )

Ugh. I adore Lily Morton, I do. But I just cannot with this book. I hate fake boyfriend as a plot, and this particular plot is not believable and just awful.

I can't respect Zeb as an MC or a person, or business owner if he can't set boundaries with a manipulative cheating ex and stand up for himself. And just goes along with this whole charade chock full of red flags, especially given what his business does! wtf.

Also, when Jesse first meets Patrick, he sees right through him and predicts manipulative agendas and badness, but supposedly when that happens he's shocked?! ( )

So happy to be pulled from my DNF run of books I couldn’t get into at all; I loved this and am diving into the next immediately. Jesse was a love and absolutely perfect for Zeb, and this was a wonderful use of the fake dating trope. The author does like her climactic grovels, but at least they don’t last too long to get us to the HEA which is always spelled out in the epilogue. ( )

( )

I adored this story. So many tropes: May to December, colleagues to lovers, fake boyfriends, conniving ex.
Jesse is wonderful but it is Zeb that stole my heart as he learns to trust not just Jesse's feelings but himself.
The side characters were either lovely or villainous depending on their role. The writing is excellent and there was enough angst to make my stomach flutter and enough romantic moments to make my heart soar.

I'm hoping we'll get Max and Felix next. ( )