Synopsis

After a painful breakup and career setback in New York, twenty-eight-year-old Maya returns to her small hometown to regroup and figure out her next move. What she doesn't expect is to run into Ethan, her older brother's best friend who she's harbored a secret crush on since high school. Now a successful contractor with his own business, Ethan has grown into everything Maya fantasized about and more. When Maya takes a temporary job helping Ethan renovate a historic property, their professional relationship quickly becomes personal as years of suppressed attraction finally surface. Call it What You Want follows their passionate and complicated relationship as they navigate the forbidden territory of their connection while dealing with Maya's protective brother, small-town gossip, and their own emotional baggage. Maya is still healing from her ex's betrayal and struggling with self-doubt, while Ethan carries scars from his own past relationships and family trauma. Their chemistry is undeniable, but both must confront their fears about commitment and vulnerability. As their physical relationship intensifies, they're forced to decide whether what they have is just explosive sexual chemistry or something deeper worth risking their friendship and family relationships. The novel explores themes of second chances, healing, and finding the courage to pursue what you really want.