She's just his assistant, which is exactly how this Southern belle wants it. No spotlight. Not anymore. But as she struggles to learn her new role in his office-especially because Lance is the surliest boss imaginable-Jessie might just have to open her heart to show him everyone has a past they're running from. Jessie:Lance Byers is by far the meanest man in Carolina. Both of them. All of the South. Heck, the whole country. He makes demands I don't know how to fulfill, like, "Bring me those closing docs," or "Set up that open house." I'm trying to learn as fast as I can, but the real estate market in Charleston is like a jet plane flying at three hundred miles per hour. It moves, and it moves fast. Lance is smart, handsome if I can admit that out loud, and entrenched in this realtor lingo I don't understand. He even brings in someone to train me, but I'm pretty sure I'm failing him on a daily basis. Failure? That, I understand. I'm determined to figure this out, though. I have to, because my only other option is to run back to Momma and Daddy in that big house I hate. I won't. I can't do it. Which means I have to figure out how to deal with Lance's attitude, learn what an escrow payment is, and hide my secrets all while smiling and entertaining clients. When a ball somewhere gets dropped and I'm about to take the blame, I decide to try one more thing...bare my soul to the meanest man on the planet. Surprisingly, I learn that Lance is human after all, and hurting just as much as I am. I suddenly want to take him under my broken wing and show him that there could be a second chance for both of us...if he doesn't fire me first.