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Summary

When a guarded divorcée and a love-weary mogul cross paths on a singles cruise, a pact to keep things platonic sets sail toward a second chance neither of them is ready for. 
  
Aquila Richards-Oliver has the life many envy: a high-profile husband, two beautiful sons, and a seemingly perfect role as wife, mother, and big sister. But perfection comes at a steep price. When her marriage to a world-renowned chef unravels under the weight of betrayal and long-buried truths, Aquila chooses herself—for the first time in years—and begins the hard work of rebuilding her life on her own terms. 
  
Roman Patterson has built everything but a family. At thirty-five, the successful entrepreneur has more wealth than time and more regrets than romance. Convinced love has passed him by, he reluctantly agrees to a singles cruise, expecting nothing more than cocktails and casual distractions. 
  
What neither Roman nor Aquila expects is to find each other—on a boat in the middle of paradise. 
  
They make a pact to enjoy the cruise as friends, but their connection is instant, and the chemistry is undeniable. As sparks fly and emotions deepen, they’re forced to face the realities waiting back on land: exes, children, broken trust, and wounds that still sting. 
  
Can Aquila let down her guard and believe in love again? Can Roman prove he’s more than a fleeting escape? Or will the past sink the promise of something real?

Publishing date: 2026-01-27; Unabridged; Copyright Year: 2026. Copyright Statment: —

• Contemporary Fiction