New York Times bestselling author Von Bentley's backlist was nothing to smirk at even before he knew something was wrong. He'd devoted his life's work to bringing characters alive in passionate contemporary romance novels that made women swoon. Well into the first chapters of his latest draft, the plot twist came when Von received a terminal diagnosis. For the first time in his adult life, he was forced to put down the pen and step away from the characters.

A year later and determined to make his swan song novel his best work, his only option is to hire an assistant to help him put words to the page. But Meri Ruhl is hardly the ordinary single mom looking to pick up a side hustle. In fact, it's soon clear that not only does his new assistant have some talent of her own, but she's more familiar with his work than she'd first let on.

Unsure of whether to allow Meri deeper into his world or to save his perfect, surprise ending for himself, Von finds himself wondering not only what his characters might do but referring to his own work for answers. Is it ever too late for love? What happens when a happy ending just isn't possible?