How to Date

One trip across Europe. Two arch enemies. And seven nights with only one bed in the room in a spicy new standalone romance from Lauren Blakely! The last person I want to be stuck with anywhere for one night, let alone seven, is the too-sexy-for-my-own-good Axel Huxley. I tried to work with the cocky grump once upon a time, but we're like vodka and good decisions. We don't play well together. Only now, our publishers are sending us on a joint book tour across Europe on an old-fashioned luxury train.

So I'm throwing myself a breakup party, a glittery fete where I envision I'll lift a glass and celebrate being free and single again. What I actually do: drink too much champagne and blurt out to my best guy friend that I'd really like to get back on the horse. But what I truly don't expect is Carter's answer—he volunteers as tribute.

A three-month marriage of convenience to save my business? What could go wrong? To keep my struggling chocolate shop, I have to pretend I'm engaged to the sexy single dad and tattooed bartender I work with. So what if Gage is protective, bossy and looks at me like he wants me? I can resist him. Except, there's that little matter of fake kisses to sell our romance to the town. Swoony gestures. Possessive words like mine. But since it's a bad idea to bang your business partner, I don't give in. Well, there was that one time in the supply closet, but I swear it won't happen again.

Eight years ago I fell into a secret summer fling with my best friend’s little sister before our lives went in different directions. Now, I’m the grumpy to Juliet’s sunshine on a popular dating podcast we host, and when a wealthy fan gives us a charming coastal cottage as the biggest thank you ever, we head to the town where I grew up to give it a makeover. And find the house has only one bed. Located under a mirrored ceiling.

The last thing I expected when I walked into the restaurant to interview chefs for an upcoming event was to run into him. Gabriel Mathias. The man I spent the most magical three days and three nights with in Barcelona once upon a time, in the kind of whirlwind romance they write songs and movies about. We were supposed to see each other again. But he broke it off with barely a word.