Hawk Tanner is not a man of many words—especially if you’re a silly girl getting a silly tattoo in his shop. The owner of Bird’s Eye Tattoo Studio doesn’t want you to tip him with your phone number or flirty glances. He’s tired of all the wrong women wanting him for all the wrong reasons. Drew Ashby has no time—for anything. As a recently-divorced single mother, her focus is on finding a job, caring for her daughter, and rebuilding some semblance of a life after hers was wrecked. When Drew lands a job at Bird’s Eye, sparks don’t immediately fly. She can't deny the fact that her boss is a delicious specimen of a man. His tattoo-covered skin might even drive her wild, but his brooding presence and set jaw make him hard to read. That is, until he drops the bad boy persona and starts making moves on her—kind and caring gestures she doesn't expect. Things turn hot, and just when Drew thinks everything is finally going right, life does what it does best: It throws her a curveball from her past. Bird’s Eye might not be the family Drew envisioned for herself, but ideals can change in a heartbeat. There’s no doubt Hawk is the man she wants, but can he step up and be the man she needs?

Willette Archer has a secret—though some would argue how well kept it actually is. As right-hand woman and best friend to the owner of Bird’s Eye Tattoo Studio, her job has become her whole life. So, she occupies her days with shop decisions to avoid her disappointing dating life.Of course, that might also have something to do with her two-decade old infatuation with her aforementioned best friend’s older brother.Derek Tanner is at a loss—with basically everything. His apartment lease is up, most of his belongings are somewhere in storage, and the good doctor has been pulling extra shifts at the hospital due to lack of staff. So, yeah. His life is chaos. Thanks to these wonderful circumstances, dating is nowhere on his radar. When his little brother suggests he stay in Willette’s spare room for the time being, he’s both grateful and hesitant. Sure, he grew up with Will too, but they’ve never been as close—let alone in close quarters. It doesn’t take very long for Doctor Derek to start seeing Will in a new light. This makes him think perhaps he should be examined. Will, on the other hand, is this close to feigning injury just so he’ll touch her already. When boundaries are crossed and relationships are finally taken to the next level, will Willette get exactly what she’s been hoping for since childhood, or will her fantasy be forever ruined?

Blythe Davenport is a hot mess—and youngest heiress to her late business mogul father's fortune. Not that she cares. In fact, she doesn't really care about anything. Blinded by her grief, Blythe parties late, sleeps all day, and drinks herself into numbness. Her sister calls it a waste of potential. The newspapers thrive by calling it spoiled rebellion. Enter Monroe King—private security officer hired by Blythe's older sister, Helena, which is a nice way of saying glorified babysitter for a bull-headed brat. Realities cause Blythe to seek solace, of which Monroe provides. There's no denying a silent push and pull between them, a tension neither can ignore any longer. But will one night together be a safe haven or the biggest mistake of their lives?

Avery Fletcher makes a better friend than a lover—at least he thinks so. Well, him and every woman he’s ever dated. Now his encounters are brief and satisfying. There’s really no need to complicate things. Though, when he sits alone on his porch listening to the cicadas, he has a brief lapse in judgment and yearns for someone to talk to. Helena Davenport doesn’t need a man—nor does she want one. As heiress to her late father’s fortune and business, she’s here to impress. But apparently, you can’t get away from societal expectations—even in the twenty-first century, and the board of directors wants this queen to crown a king. When she finds herself being tattooed by none other than bad boy Avery at a bachelorette party, she hatches a plan. He’s perfect—tattoos, unruly beard, and a sharp wit. Oh, and incapable of falling in love with her. He makes the perfect fake boyfriend. She’ll get the company board off her back by giving them exactly what they asked for, and watch them eat their words. What could possibly go wrong? Social events put the pair to the test, forcing them to get cozy—a little too cozy. The situation soon turns red hot and a little worrisome. As the plan to stay platonic starts to fall apart, can the two keep their cool or will they succumb to the heat between them?

Hanson Serrano is a complicated man—even his therapist tries to convince him to put his trust in someone. But the youngest member of the Bird’s Eye crew isn’t too concerned. He’s got no plans to settle down anytime soon. That is, until he runs into Thea James—literally. One nasty spill on the sidewalk later, and this brooding Brazilian can’t take his eyes off her fiery red curls and curvy backside. Though, the interaction makes it clear he’ll have to work for this one. Thea James is looking for something very specific—and Hanson Serrano isn’t it. Nevermind the fact that he’s tattooed from neck to toe, but he’s also much younger than her. She’s been down the bad boy road before and all she has to show for it is her single mom status and an ex that makes her life miserable. When Thea finally agrees to one date in an effort to halt Hanson’s chase, she’s pleasantly surprised when he pulls out all the stops. In fact, it’s the best date she’s ever been on. The pair eventually get tangled up—in their feelings and between the sheets. But between Hanson’s walls, Thea’s ex, and a nagging age gap, their blooming relationship feels like a shipwreck waiting to happen. As the couple navigates this ocean of obstacles, will they give up and abandon ship or find a way to get in the lifeboat and row together?