Lee, Karmen
9781335574909, 1335574905
Trade Paperback
A humorous and heartfelt Black, sapphic opposites attract romance between a city girl with commitment issues whose car breaks down in the country and the sexy, small-town mechanic who swoops in to rescue her. Sparks fly even though they know a fling would be disastrous but, in the course of their time together they learn love – and home – is what you make it.
Vini’s an auto mechanic who’s never been in love. In fact, she’s never been in a relationship at all. Jessica is a flighty commitment-phobe visiting her bestie in Peach Blossom for the next six weeks while she lets the scandal of her last ill-advised tryst die down.
When Jessica’s car needs saving, Vini swoops in to the rescue, making an extra effort to cart Jessica around town, though she spends most of the time overthinking flirting cues. Despite being warned about Jessica’s flighty nature and making pledges to not get involved, after attending a bowling match, Vini gives Jessica a ride to her hotel and they sleep together, both surprised by how intense the encounter is for someone they only recently met. They are swept into a secret, steamy entanglement hidden from Vini’s sisters but eventually known by Jessica’s best friend, Grace. Grace doesn’t like hiding things from her girlfriend––Vini’s sister, Ava––and points out that she thinks Jessica’s avoidance of commitment is problematic especially given that she is leaving the country in six weeks, but she agrees to stay quiet.
When their secrets come to light, hurting their friends and family, they realize that, while Jessica doesn’t do commitment, Vini can’t do flings, and they decide to end things.
After Jessica's car breaks down on her way back in to town, Vini asks her why she’s on her way back, and Jessica admits to not being able to leave because she likes her and wants to be with her. Vini is wary because she can’t be casual about things. Jessica replies that she doesn't want their relationship to be casual because she has strong feelings and wants to be with Vini no matter where they are. Vini doesn’t want Jessica to regret staying with her and says that they don’t have to stay in Peach Blossom, but Jessica says she likes having a place to recharge though she does have commitments that require her to travel and asks if Vini is okay with that. They agree to communicate and kiss by the car before Jessica says she’s ready to go home. Vini asks if she considers Peach Blossom home and Jessica says that Vini is her home.
