Successful investment banker and playboy Drew Evans's world is turned upside down when he falls in love for the first time. Drew Evans is your typical mid-twenties/early thirties playboy. Every Saturday brings about a new bar hopping journey, a new girl, and a new one night stand. When the story begins, however, he's without any of those things: instead, Drew is scruffy, withdrawn, and lounging around his lush apartment with what he thinks is a clear case of the flu. After a cross examination from his sister, though, it's clear Drew is sick- lovesick, that is. Drew shares his story with the reader, and we are led to a flashback from four months ago.
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Four months ago, Drew was going through his Saturday night ritual and spies the perfect girl across the bar. One look makes Drew breathless, and a quick introduction leads him to meet this woman. Despite his best efforts, the woman refuses to go home with Drew, stating she's engaged. Drew is slightly disappointed, but the possibility of a three-way with a pair of redheaded twins quickly cheers him up.
The following Monday, Drew heads to his job at one of New York's leading investment banks where he is a partner. His co-workers and friends Matthew and Steven swap stories and Drew learns that a new associate is joining the firm. He's shocked to learn that this new partner is, in fact, the very same woman who took his breath away on Saturday. Her name is Katherine Brooks, and immediately Drew begins an internal debate with his conscience as to whether he should pursue her or not. His instant attraction makes this and any legitimately intelligent responses to Kate's comments and discussion of her previous experience difficult. At the end of the day, Drew decides to seduce Kate.
When Drew's father (and boss) decides to award an exclusive account to Kate instead of his own son, Drew's competitive nature and business sense flare up with the realization that Kate is more than just a pretty face- she's a skilled rival. After making his objections known, Drew is somewhat mollified to learn his father proposes a challenge: whoever can come up with a better proposal package for the client will get the account. Drew immediately pushes his desire to the side and, after a heated conversation with Kate, accepts the challenge and is determined to crush his competition, no matter how pretty she is.
Kate and Drew proceed to resort to tactics of all natures to outwit each other, including showing up at the office earlier and earlier each night, checking out all of the available financial books from the public library before the other one can, basic physical sabotage of each other's offices and computer systems, and finally physical combat (ie Kate kicks Drew under the table at a joint meeting with Drew's father). By now it is obvious to Drew's co-workers that Drew's attraction to Kate is more than just lust for a new one-night stand; rather, it's deeper. Drew refuses to believe this.
After Drew and Kate each present their sample proposals, Drew's father announces that they will both work on the new account- together. The night before the meeting with the new client, Drew and Kate are at the office, finishing up their work. An argument over the final details leads to a passionate kiss, which Kate breaks away from. She feels any further actions will betray her fiancé, Billy, and flees in tears. Drew feels guilty.
At the meeting with the client, Saul Anderson, Drew quickly realizes that Anderson is interested in Kate for one thing only. When Anderson leaves the table for a moment, Drew attempts to warn Kate, but is furiously rebuffed. When Kate excuses herself, Anderson states his intentions toward her, enraging Drew and resulting in a ferocious decline of his firm working with Anderson. Kate quickly learns the truth and is humiliated. Drew takes her to a bar, and they drink away their embarrassment. Kate tells Drew about her engagement (she has been with Billy for ten years) and takes part in the bar's karaoke night, with her serenade only increasing Drew's attraction to her. Billy arrives at the bar and admonishes Kate without a care for her feelings or needs, and once they leave, Drew decides to relieve his frustration and sexual attraction by picking up a girl from the bar. Unlike previous one night stands, Drew finds the girl to be 'a lousy lay' because he cannot get Kate out of his mind.
As time passes, Drew and Kate become friends at the office, working well with each other. Drew meets Kate's best friend (and Billy's cousin), Dee-Dee Warren. Kate becomes friends with Matthew and Steven, and a heated encounter at the firm's Thanksgiving gathering leads Drew and Kate into another passionate encounter, leading Drew to realize that he does not want Kate to play him (much like he has always played previous conquests, interestingly enough).
The Monday after Thanksgiving, Drew is alarmed to see Kate arrive at work in a state of disarray. He shakes (literally) the truth out of a Billy during a chance encounter at lunch break: over the weekend, Billy dumped Kate. Drew immediately flies to Kate's side- not to take advantage of her, but to be there for her however she needs him. Four days later, a late night at the office leads Drew to treat Kate to a midnight supper and drink, which results in them dancing and kissing at a club. Instead of pulling away, however, Kate asks Drew for another kiss. They immediately head to Drew's apartment and have sex several times over and spend the weekend together, telling each other more about their lives, watching movies, playing chess and video games, and overall relaxing in each other's company, indirectly enjoying the chemistry. Drew is enthralled with Kate's sexual abilities and sweet nature, but does not admit to himself his feelings for her. Kate nearly leaves in a fury when one of Drew's former conquests leaves a heated message on his answering machine, but Drew admits that he has not resorted to his old ways in quite some time, leading her to fall into his arms. Drew takes Kate into his home office -she is the first woman admitted into the sanctum- and they work together on an account of Kate's, successfully completing the necessary tasks. That night, Kate and Drew have sex without a condom, and Drew realizes he is in love with Kate.
Monday, Kate and Drew head to work together, only to encounter a remorseful Billy in the lobby of the office building. He serenades Kate and has daisies, her favorite flower, everywhere. Drew assumes that Kate will reconcile with Billy and pretends to agree to a hook-up with a former flame within Kate's earshot, dismissing their weekend together as 'a little project.'
The flashback ends, and we are now caught up with Drew in his hazard state. He realizes (thanks to an intervention from his sister and Matthew) that he must tell Kate of his feelings. The first attempt results in him telling the truth about the fake phone call, but Kate does not instantly forgive him like he thought she would. This results in Drew's repeated attempts to win her back, which includes an all-day serenade from a traveling band, watching romance DVDs (as 'homework'), the delivery of seven dozen flowers to her office, a priceless diamond necklace from Tiffany and Co., an intervention from a former teacher of his, and a sky-writing message, to name a few. Drew convinces Kate to go out with him on Saturday- not a date, but for dinner.
Saturday arrives, and so does Kate at Drew's apartment, where he has prepared a meal for her. His final gesture to win her back leads them to his home office, which he has completely redecorated to please her. Drew confesses that he wants her to work there with him and admits his love. Kate agrees to a second chance, which leads to several rounds of make-up sex. The story ends with Drew admitting his life is now emotionally confusing and jumbled, but completely worth it due to his lady love.
Best part of story, including ending:
I loved that it was the standard romance but from the guy's POV.
Best scene in story:
My favorite scene was the montage of Drew's initial attempts to win Kate back. The introduction of the travelling band was hysterical and got funnier with each new cover song they played.
Opinion about the main character:
Drew is your average jerk, but he's written in such an honest, lovable fashion that you can't help but root for him. His comments had me laughing out loud and nodding in agreement a few times!
