Mabel Afford has built her career on control and precision, because it is easier to manage chaos than to risk dreaming again, and she never imagined Carmichael Jones would be the one she would allow to slip past it.
When Carmichael pivots his luxury development firm from a high-profile Georgia resort to the acquisition of a historic château in France, Mabel is drawn from the background into a world she was never meant to inhabit. Paris nights beneath glass ceilings. Private strategy dinners that feel nothing like business. A presence that makes her feel seen in a way she did not expect to want.
At the château, something awakens. In the warmth of quiet mornings and the stillness of old stone corridors, Mabel begins to feel her creativity again, the part of her that understands art, flow, and the beauty of building something that is not merely efficient, but alive. Being near Carmichael feels dangerous not because of who he is, but because of who she might become if she stops holding back.
This is a clean, closed-door romance that is safe, deeply emotional, and quietly powerful. Expect slow-burn chemistry, elegant European settings, found-family warmth, creative awakening, and a true happily ever after.
Perfect for readers who love Katherine Center, Mimi Matthews, and emotionally rich clean romance.
Tropes and vibes: billionaire with a heart, workplace proximity, Paris and Loire Valley escape, artistic rebirth, found family, slow burn, emotional intimacy.
Content: cozy and closed door, no on-page sexual content, only longing, trust, and the beauty of being fully seen.
