This billionaire doesn’t play well with others…
Until he meets her!
Cooper Hayes won’t share his hotel empire, especially not with his business partner’s secret daughter -- even if Terri Ferguson is the most beautiful woman in Vegas. He’s obsessed with sinful fantasies -- and buying her out. But Terri refuses his offer…while she shares his bed. With enemies working against them, how far will Cooper go for a love that money can’t buy?
Good book with interesting characters and a sort of Cinderella storyline. Cooper got the shock of his life when he found out that he wouldn't inherit his business partner's half of their hotel empire. Instead, Jacob left it to the daughter he gave up for adoption. Cooper was furious and not about to let "some interloper crash the party." He was determined to find a way to convince her to let him buy her out. My initial impression of him was that he was a bit on the selfish side, focused on his own desires.
Terri was the adopted daughter of two schoolteachers and stunned when she learned of her inheritance. She had a normal life with her parents, went to college, and now works as a bank teller. She was nervous about the inheritance but also excited to see what the chance would bring her. I liked the way that she had some experience in the service industry and understood what was important.
The sparks of attraction flew between Cooper and Terri from the moment they met, though both tried to resist. Cooper looked at Terri as the enemy, someone who stood between him and his goals. He was a committed bachelor thanks to a previous relationship gone wrong, and her effect on him disturbed him. Terri wasn't quite sure what to make of Cooper. Just being near him caused her to lose her train of thought. Terri was determined to learn the ropes quickly and was frustrated by the way Cooper ignored her. After two days her frustration reached its peak, just as Cooper finally showed up to talk to her. I loved her bluntness as she made her displeasure known. Their conversation in the rooftop garden was enlightening for both of them, and great fun to read. I loved that Terri had no trouble telling Cooper exactly what she thought of his attitude toward whether she belonged there. Cooper started to see that there was more to Terri than he had thought. Things were just getting interesting between them when Cooper's ex-girlfriend showed up.
I loved how Celeste's arrival gave Terri a little extra motivation in jumping into the StarFire pool. Terri had spent some time just observing what went on around her, and talking to various employees. She had an entirely different way of looking at things than Cooper did. I loved her first foray into being a part of the company and seeing her stand up to those who looked down on her. It was especially satisfying to see Cooper's reaction. But Cooper still hasn't let go of his goal, and I was a bit disgusted by his attitude. To make matters worse, there are others who have their own agendas who are also working against Terri. I had high hopes as Cooper and Terri spent more time together, and the attraction between them burst into flames. Cooper was freaked out by the strength of his feelings for her and rationalized them away. But those who want Terri gone were impatient and tricked Terri into taking an action that Cooper didn't want. This played directly into Cooper's distrust, and he said some pretty vicious things, breaking Terri's heart. I was quite impressed with her fortitude though, and absolutely loved when she called in the "cavalry."
I was so mad at Cooper for the things he said and did, and couldn't wait for him to realize what an idiot he had been. In the meantime, the blows kept falling for Terri. I loved that she had Jan there for support and to talk her off the ledge. I cheered for Terri's renewed resolve. Cooper's "aha" moment came with help from an unexpected source. His big moment at the end was good, though I thought he should have spent a bit more time groveling. However, he did finish it off quite nicely.
I loved seeing Terri really get into what she was doing at the hotel. She had excellent instincts, even though her self-confidence was a bit shaky at first. I adored the part with the honeymooners, and the board meeting about the London hotel was outstanding. It was oh-so-satisfying to see Cooper's surprise at all the things that she had made her own. I also loved her friend Jan and how she was there at the beginning to give Terri the kick she needed, as well as at the end to provide Terri some backup. I'll bet those two are going to be a kick-ass team. The one who surprised me the most was Celeste. I didn't like her at first, as her reasons for showing up were obvious. But I saw another side of her during the shopping trip that gave me hope. Though she backslid a bit at the end, she also made up for it. I'd like to see both Celeste and Jan get their own stories.
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