Delaney Michaels and Sam Kirk have been best friends since childhood. They became business partners and even moved into the same building, with apartments on separate floors. When Delaney goes on holiday and returns acting differently Sam isn’t sure what’s going on.  

Sam had missed her presence but when his mind and body begins to have inappropriate thoughts, he really gets worried. Sam’s world tumbles down when Delaney asks him to buy her share of the business. Confused and devastated, he thinks up schemes and reasons to stop her leaving him. When he learns his buddy wants the whole deal or nothing. Meaning a home with a white picket fence and a family. Sam tries to find her the perfect husband. When he sees her dating jealousy is a reaction he’d never expected.

After an unexpected night of mind-blowing sex, Delaney is left wanting more of Sam but thinks Sam doesn’t feel the same way. This makes her even more determined to move out of his space and start a new life. Trouble is it will break her heart not seeing him every day. It should have felt wrong, having sex with her buddy, but it felt so right. In desperation she sells her apartment and share of the business and buys a house in the suburbs, but it’s lonely out there. 

Ms Mayberry has written a tale of mixed emotions as the characters begin to realize what they are missing. The more Sam and Delaney try to pull their lives apart the more conflict there is. Humor and sadness are a potent mix in this tale as it twists and turns while they begin a journey of self-discovery. Both hero and heroine are believable characters, well drawn and easy to get to know. They had realistic flaws making them vulnerable, very human and extremely likeable. The sex scenes are well written and believable, with actions that were easy to follow and identify with. 

The characters may have been confused about their feelings, but for the reader it’s a satisfying story to read. The tone and style were consistent throughout, with brilliant dialogue that kept the story flowing forward. The hero’s conflict was interesting as his deeper fears are slowly uncovered. Energy flowed in each chapter, and the pace was really well done. Characters always had a good reason for what they did and the theme was consistent, making it easy to follow. Their choices were sometimes flawed, adding to the tension, and kept this reviewer turning the pages. As the ending approached the urgency could be felt, in the characters actions. This was a refreshingly different take on the childhood friends theme, with an ending that was truly satisfying. The reader will be able to picture this hero and heroines future, with such a clear-cut ending. 

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