Tess Daley Publishing
She survived it by keeping her world small.
Tuesday nights at Rosemary’s are part of that—whiskey neat, a familiar bar, and enough distance to breathe. She isn’t looking for connection. She isn’t inviting attention. And she definitely isn’t prepared for the man who’s been quietly noticing her for months.
Daniel Rourke understands boundaries.
As a private security contractor, respecting lines isn’t optional—it’s instinct. He notices when people flinch. He notices when they don’t. And when Sloane breaks her routine one quiet Tuesday night, he knows something has shifted.
What starts as conversation turns into chemistry neither of them planned for. A single night changes the balance. And just as Sloane allows herself to want again, Daniel disappears on a job he can’t explain—and can’t communicate through.
When he returns, the damage is already done.
Whiskey & Water is a contemporary romance about tension, timing, and the risk of choosing connection when walking away would be easier. It delivers heat that stays on the page, intimacy built on trust, and an ending that feels right—even when the future is still unfolding.
Tess Daley Publishing creates character-driven stories and creative projects rooted in emotional realism, resilience, and the freedom to evolve.