Mike Albert hated moving, but there he was, standing in the driveway of his brand-new home, exhausted, exasperated, and-thanks to his hyperactive Jack Russell-already causing a scene.

Then he saw him.

All broad shoulders and thick, chest coated in sweat and debris, with a voice like honey over gravel and wielding an ax like it was an extension of his own body.

It was too bad their introduction involved his dog aggressively humping the man's leg--like serious, puppy making humping.

Eliot, a no-nonsense power lineman, was used to storms-both the electrical kind and the messes people make of their lives. He didn't expect the nervous, fast-talking new guy next door to turn his world upside down, but with Mike's awkward charm, penchant for disasters, and a dimple that should've been illegal, Eliot found himself intrigued.

What started as a neighborly friendship quickly turned into something more-something warm, electric, and undeniable, but Mike had a history of playing it safe, and Eliot spent years keeping people at arm's length.

Could a jittery schoolteacher and a grounded, gruff lineman find common ground?

Or would their connection short-circuit before they got a chance to light up the night?