Overhearing her boyfriend, Jonathan, with another woman, eighteen year old Nicola decides to make him see her in a different light. So she set out to get him to notice her by changing her hair, clothes and make-up. Only instead of getting Jonathan to notice her she grabbed the attention of Matthew Hunt. Matthew saw the little girl behind the mask and sought to save her from herself. Only he inadvertently hurts her when he lets her believe that they had a one night stand together. Nicola was devastated by her actions and the repercussions she suffered from fellow co-workers the next day that she instead ran back to the country and sought refuge behind a staid, calm existence - living with her parents. Eight years later Matthew Hunt walks back into her life when he takes over the company that she has been working for. Nicola is scared that he will remember her and continues to hide from her feelings for him.
This was a wonderful book. Matthew was a hero worthy of the name hero. He didn't take advantage of a young innocent eighteen year old girl when he could have, but instead he thought to shock her by what could have happened. Only he was unable to clear the air before she fled the next morning. We actually got to see a bit into Matthew's personality and POV. He really didn't mean for things to turn out the way they had and he apologized for his part in it. Never really laying the blame on Nicola, but owning up to what he did in the name of setting her straight, unlike the hero in The Hard Man - Penny Jordan. I of course would have liked Matthew to punch Jonathan out, but then Matthew doesn't approve of violence and perhaps the set down he gave him at the time is enough. Nicola was so sickened by her behavior that night long ago that she shunned any further attention of any man that might be interested in her. But she soon finds that she can't quite squelch the feelings that Matt seems to ignite in her and this worries her more. Matthew and Nicola were a greatly matched h/H neither one more dominant than the other. If you decide to read The Hard Man then I suggest you QUICKLY follow it up with Past Passion!!