I've read some of the 1 & 2 ★ reviews written about this story and I just don't get it. I don't get how anyone could not emotionally connect with these two main characters. Yes I understand we are all uniquely individual with our own motivational draw...still gotta say to not even remotely connect with this Author's portrayal of these two main characters leaves me wondering if those readers didn't skip a few chapters. <shaking my head in confusion>. This author did an great job articulating detailed character descriptions.Jack McLachlan (29-30) is an Australian multimillionaire with many large, thick protective walls built around himself. He realizes he'll never have a romantic relationship since (he believes) women will only ever want him for his money and status. They never see or want HIM.Therefore, [he feels] he's forced to establish "companions". Someone to spend time with without strings. He's arrogantly open with his list of demands.. ie: no real names are given (for his protection), a time limit is set on the relationship, and both parties walk away when the allotted time is up without looking back. In the meantime, he pampers his companions lavishly...treating and gifting them to just about anything they want. And things usually go along fairly nicely for Jack with this bizarre plan....until he selects Laurelyn Prescott for his next companion.I thought Laurelyn (22-23) was simply delightful. She's genuine, very intelligent and talented. She's sassy, humorous and full of pluck. She doesn't take too much off of anyone...and she's not interested in a romantic relationship basically because she feels emotionally damaged from her previous break-up. She's in Australia with her best friend for 3 months simply to heal, vedge and clean her head about some serious decisions she needs to make when she goes back home to Nashville. But then she meets Jack McLachlan and he propositions her with his ludicrous proposal...and of course she's naturally insulted and walks away in disgust.I absolutely loved this story. I love how Jack is simply skipping happily along on his merry way, thinking he has everything worked out nicely (in his head) on how to solve his sexual needs and then this young woman throws a wrench in the spokes of his orderly, nicely laid out life. He begins to lose focus on his control over his proposed situation with Laurelyn and never figures out how or when it happens. Fabulous! She trips him up and turns the tables on him and she doesn't even try. He begins to harbor serious, strong feelings for Laurelyn and soon realizes much to his shame, that even though he wants to pamper and protect her, he's turned this wonderful woman into a dirty little secret and is no better than her previous relationship... the very man he so arrogantly criticizes for breaking her heart.This is a fabulously told story of two people searching for happiness and one of them corrupting all possibilities of finding love. It's a remarkable plot of a man building a relationship based on pretense and lies and then wonders where it all went wrong. He promised her the time of her life, but damn if she didn't turn the tables on him! Outstanding Ms. Cates!! Well told. I cannot wait to find out how this plot plays out.