It’s petty, but Naval Chief Derrick Fox wishes he could exact a little revenge on his ex by showing off a rebound fling. His submarine is due to return to its Bremerton, Washington, home base soon and Derrick knows all too well there won't be anyone waiting with a big, showy welcome.
Enter one ill-advised plan…
Arthur Euler is the guy you go to in a pinch—he's excellent at out-of-the-box solutions. It's what the genius music-slash-computer nerd is known for. So when he finds out Derrick needs a favor, he’s happy to help. He can muster the sort of welcome a Naval Chief deserves, no problem at all.
Except it is a problem. A very big problem.
When Arthur’s homecoming welcome is a little too convincing, when a video of their gangplank smooch goes enormously viral, they're caught between a dock and a hard place. Neither of them ever expected a temporary fake relationship to look—or feel—so real. And Arthur certainly never considered he'd be fighting for a very much not-fake forever with a military man.
Before they know it, the two men are locked in a temporary fake relationship at a family retreat, and it doesn’t take long for them to take full advantage of their private cabin.
Right off the bat, the setup was delicious. Opposites attract, best friend’s younger brother, and a fake relationship? Yes please!
From their first “fake” kiss, these two light some fireworks! And it only gets better. 10/10 for making the most of their unplanned proximity.
It also doesn’t hurt that Arthur and Derrick have a genuine emotional connection to go along with the physical from the get-go. They make the best of their awkward situation, and they do it with mutual respect and some laughs.
It was sweet how Derrick took all of Arthur’s concerns seriously, and that Arthur felt comfortable sharing how he felt about his family’s competitiveness. Even better, how both of them naturally began looking out for each other.
In just a few days, each private moment and shared confession leads to the “fake” relationship beginning to feel more and more real. It was adorable!
Did things move a bit quickly? Sure, but this is one of those romances where it makes complete sense, and where the main characters just click from the start.
This isn’t a particularly angsty romance. The big stumbling block is Derrick’s job, which takes him away from the US for long periods of time, and makes Arthur wary of a long-term relationship.
It takes some serious thought and a bit of time for both men to decide if what they have is worth the fight. And not surprisingly - it totally is!
The HEA was perfect in every way! Arthur and Derrick more than deserved their happy ending.
This was a great start to a new series from Annabeth Albert. If you’re looking for a sweet romance, some heat, and lots of good feels, give Sailor Proof a try!
A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
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