HOA President Esme Ross is the picture of feminine crisp pants suits, luxury heels, and a chokehold on every aspect of her life. After her marriage with Jennifer imploded, she busied herself with routine and the illusion of suburban perfection—all the while trying to ignore the woman across the street. Rory Hayes. Quiet, sweet, and seemingly straight, Rory has a secret. Fresh out of her own heart-wrenching divorce to Spencer, she wants nothing more than to finally be her true self, create the art he constantly belittled, and ignore the whispers of suburban judgment swirling around her. Being her true self, however, means subjecting herself to a whole new kind of speculation… What was once a casual friendship, forged over years of soft smiles at block parties and neighborly waves while grabbing the mail, slowly begins to shift. One flirty comment leads to another, and soon, Rory’s willing submission draws out the side of Esme she’s had to bury away for so long—the experienced, domineering woman eager to take control in the bedroom. As feelings deepen and boundaries blur, Esme and Rory must decide whether they’re brave enough to obliterate the rules of friendship…or risk losing the most intoxicating thing they’ve ever had. But Willow Creek Lane has eyes everywhere, and not everyone is ready to see the Type-A HOA queen and the neighborhood’s newfound artsy goth tangled in a romance that’s as hot as it is scandalous. Sometimes, love lives right across the street.