Overview

Torn between duty and desire, Lea Bouchard faces the greatest challenge of her life.

At 37, she’s at the height of her career as the director of a prestigious brain research institute, a family legacy her father instilled in her to protect at all costs.

She must remain focused, avoiding distractions like Asia O'Flaherty, a 23-year-old bursting with color and energy, who seems made to unsettle her. Lea is supposed to be her supervisor, her professional guide.

The urge to leave her lips swollen with kisses? Completely out of line. Entirely out of line.

Will Lea manage to protect the Bouchard family's legacy as she navigates her own hidden desires?

For Asia, learning under Dr. Bouchard’s guidance is a dream come true.

Since she was 15, she’s been preparing to join the INC. That’s when she first saw Dr. Bouchard and admired her so much, it became her life’s mission to be part of the institution.

Eight years later, Asia still admires Dr. Bouchard. But now, she also finds herself staring a little too long—and whenever she has to say her name (Lea, Lea), she feels like she might choke on the words.

Maybe Asia's feelings for Dr. Bouchard aren’t purely admiration. Not that it matters, because Dr. Bouchard can be cold, treating Asia like an idealistic girl with little grasp of the real world.

A story for readers who love moral dilemmas, opposites-attract dynamics, and age gap romances.