The Au Pair Affair: A Complete Study Companion

Name: The Au Pair Affair
Author: Tessa Bailey

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Quick Facts

Attribute	Info
Author	Tessa Bailey
Publication Year	2024
Genre	Contemporary Sports Romance
Setting	Boston, Massachusetts; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Costa Rica
Narrator	Third-person dual point of view (Tallulah Aydin and Burgess Abraham)
Main Characters	Tallulah Aydin, Burgess Abraham, Lissa Abraham, Sig Gauthier, Chloe, Wells Whitaker

Short Summary

Marine biology graduate student Tallulah Aydin takes a live-in au pair job for Boston Bearcats hockey star Burgess Abraham and his tween daughter, Lissa. Both carry deep wounds: Tallulah suffers from a past stalking trauma that makes trust nearly impossible, while Burgess hides a career-threatening back injury and the weight of a failed marriage. As Tallulah helps Lissa with school and hair-braiding, she and Burgess navigate an intense attraction that evolves into a carefully negotiated relationship. Their bond is tested by Lissa’s jealousy, Burgess’s injury, and Tallulah’s fear of commitment. Through a shared adventure in Costa Rica for a wedding, they confront their demons and ultimately choose each other, building a new family together.

Full Summary

Part One: Unlikely Arrangements
Tallulah Aydin arrives in Boston hoping to start fresh as an au pair, but a viral video of hockey star Burgess Abraham’s violent hit triggers her trust issues. She plans to quit on the spot. When they meet at a smoothie shop, however, Burgess’s protective yet respectful demeanor makes her hesitate. He offers to find her affordable housing through his teammate Sig, secretly covering part of the rent. Tallulah discovers the scheme and confronts him, but Burgess’s genuine concern for her safety—and her instant connection with his daughter Lissa—leads her to accept the job, with the condition of a lock on her bedroom door.

Part Two: Building Trust
Tallulah moves into Burgess’s apartment and begins graduate classes. She learns to braid Lissa’s hair, a task Burgess has always fumbled, symbolizing the nurturing presence she brings to the household. Meanwhile, Burgess struggles with his back pain and hidden dependency on painkillers, fearing retirement and the loss of his identity as a hockey player. Their physical attraction escalates after a jealous encounter at a singles mixer where Burgess publicly declares Tallulah is the only woman he wants. They agree to a bargain: she helps him resocialize and he escorts her on adventures to reclaim the boldness she lost after her trauma.

Part Three: Cracks in the Foundation
After a magical date at the New England Aquarium, they officially become boyfriend and girlfriend. But the new relationship shatters when Lissa catches them kissing and accuses Tallulah of stealing her dad. Tallulah leaves to stay with Chloe, and Burgess works to repair the fracture with his daughter. A career-threatening slipped disc on the ice sends Burgess to the hospital; in his pain and fear, he cruelly pushes Tallulah away, taunting her with the postcards (symbols of her tendency to run). Devastated, Tallulah walks out, and Burgess spirals into despair, refusing rehabilitation.

Part Four: Redemption in Costa Rica
With an intervention from teammates Sig and Wells and a heartfelt plea from Lissa, Burgess commits to rehab and determines to win Tallulah back. Five weeks later, both attend Wells and Josephine’s wedding in Costa Rica. Tallulah has been taking solo adventures—kayaking, hot-air ballooning—and releasing her unsent postcards into the sky, letting go of her old fears. Burgess confesses his love and apologizes for his cruelty. They rekindle physically, but Tallulah remains uncertain. A cliff-diving excursion and a vulnerable conversation behind a waterfall lead them to acknowledge they belong together. After Tallulah sees a magazine article featuring Burgess in rehab with her photo and a quote that she motivates him, she fully recommits. They reconcile, promising to face the future together.

Epilogue: Seventeen Months Later
Burgess waits outside Tallulah’s master’s exam. He reflects on their happy home with Lissa, who has grown confident. A reporter interviews him about his plans to retire after the season, visit Tallulah’s family in Istanbul, and learn scuba diving. When Tallulah emerges, Burgess proposes on the spot. The moment makes the front page of the newspaper under the headline “Sir Taken.”

Main Characters

Tallulah Aydin – A 26-year-old marine biology graduate student and live-in nanny who struggles with trust issues after a past stalking trauma, ultimately learning to embrace adventure and love.
Burgess Abraham – A burly, battle-scarred hockey veteran and single father who hides his back injury and fear of retirement while falling for his daughter’s nanny.
Lissa Abraham – Burgess’s introverted tween daughter who struggles with bullying and initially hopes her parents will reconcile, later accepting Tallulah.
Sig Gauthier – Burgess’s teammate and close friend who helps arrange housing and stages an intervention after Burgess’s injury.
Chloe – Sig’s girlfriend and a harpist who becomes Tallulah’s supportive friend.
Wells Whitaker – Burgess’s teammate who marries Josephine and offers relationship advice.

Themes

Trust and Vulnerability – Both protagonists must learn to open up after trauma. Tallulah’s fear of intimacy and Burgess’s protective secrecy create the central conflict.
Healing from Trauma – Tallulah’s past stalking and Burgess’s painful divorce and injury force them to confront their wounds to move forward.
Family and Co-Parenting – Blending a new romance with raising a preteen daughter requires patience, honesty, and adaptation.
Commitment and Fear – Burgess insists on emotional attachment before physical consummation, demanding Tallulah confront her fear of being tied down.
Transformation and Second Chances – Characters reinvent themselves: Tallulah reclaims adventure, Burgess retires from hockey and proposes, proving growth and redemption are possible.

Symbols

Postcards – Unsent postcards to Tallulah’s sister represent her broken promise to be adventurous; she releases them from a hot air balloon as an act of letting go.
Orgasm Donor Sweatshirt – A humorous team-themed sweatshirt that becomes a flirtatious emblem of their escalating physical tension.
French Braid – Burgess’s inability to braid Lissa’s hair symbolizes his inadequacy as a single father; Tallulah’s ability signifies the family unit she helps create.
Penguin Kirk – The penguin at the New England Aquarium that Tallulah researches; the aquarium date marks the official start of their romantic relationship.

Ending Overview

The story concludes with a full reconciliation at the Costa Rica wedding. Tallulah realizes Burgess truly loves her after seeing a magazine article about his rehabilitation featuring her photo. She finds him on the phone with Lissa and tells him she wants to come home permanently. They embrace and promise to fight together. The epilogue, set seventeen months later, shows Burgess proposing outside Tallulah’s master’s exam, with the headline “Sir Taken” marking their future.

Chapter-by-Chapter Summary

Chapter	Key Events
1	Tallulah arrives in Boston, sees Burgess’s violent hockey clip, considers quitting, but feels intense attraction.
2	At a smoothie shop, Tallulah tries to quit; Burgess offers alternative housing through Sig and lies about rent.
3	Tallulah discovers the apartment scheme from Chloe, feels conflicted, leaves to confront Burgess.
4	Burgess fails to braid Lissa’s hair; Tallulah braids it and comforts Lissa; they share a smoothie and agree to dinner.
5	Tallulah cooks for Burgess and Lissa, reveals her stalking trauma on the rooftop, accepts the job with a lock on her door.
6	Burgess struggles with back pain at practice; teammates tease him; Tallulah starts grad school and agrees to go out with classmates.
7	Burgess finds Tallulah in a leather skirt; they flirt over an “Orgasm Donor” sweatshirt; he gives her pepper spray.
8	Tallulah goes clubbing with Chloe; Finn becomes persistent; she calls Burgess for a rescue.
9	Burgess rescues Tallulah; they kiss; she lists adventures she wants to reclaim; Burgess offers to be her protector.
10	They agree to a bargain of adventures for resocialization; Wells and Josephine announce Costa Rica wedding; Tallulah locks her door.
11	At the gym, Sig confronts Burgess about guilt; Burgess admits to skinny-dipping plans.
12	Lissa struggles with Romeo and Juliet; Tallulah helps; Burgess admits fear of showing weakness; they almost kiss.
13	Burgess’s back injury is just a strain; he calls Wells for advice; Tallulah takes him to a singles mixer.
14	At the mixer, Burgess declares Tallulah is the only woman he wants; they agree to a skinny-dipping date.
15	Burgess says goodbye to ex-wife Ashleigh; Tallulah performs oral sex but Burgess stops, demanding emotional attachment.
16	Tallulah confronts Finn at coffee shop; Burgess supports her; she gains empowerment.
17	On a rooftop, Tallulah shows postcards; at Jamaica Pond, skinny-dipping leads to sexual negotiation; Burgess refuses intercourse.
18	Tallulah attends the hockey opener; Lissa asks if she’s Burgess’s girlfriend; Tallulah masturbates wearing his sweatshirt.
19	Burgess and Tallulah share intimate massage and oral sex; he holds her until she sleeps.
20	Burgess wakes elated; they have passionate kitchen encounter; he agrees to talk to Lissa; realizes he’s in love.
21	Aquarium date; they become official; Lissa catches them and accuses Tallulah; Tallulah leaves.
22	Tallulah stays at Chloe’s; Burgess apologizes; they have intense sex; he begs her to come home.
23	Burgess suffers a slipped disc; Tallulah flies to Pittsburgh; he cruelly sends her away; instantly regrets it.
24	Burgess in hospital; Sig and Wells stage intervention; Lissa confesses guilt; Burgess agrees to rehab.
25	Tallulah releases postcards from hot air balloon; five weeks later at Costa Rica wedding; they face each other.
26	Burgess confesses love at welcome dinner; they have sex against a wall; he refuses to climax, saying his love is permanent.
27	Next morning, Burgess spots his sweatshirt on Tallulah’s bed; they nearly kiss; he agrees to no expectations.
28	Zip-lining; Tallulah realizes she still loves him; Burgess insists she ride his ATV.
29	Cliff diving; Tallulah’s suit slips off; they have vulnerable sex in a cave; Burgess tells her to decide.
30	Burgess sees Tallulah’s apologetic expression; she sees a magazine article about his rehab featuring her photo; she reconciles.
31	Epilogue: seventeen months later, Burgess proposes after Tallulah’s final exam; “Sir Taken” headline.
32	Announcement: Author’s promotional note for Window Shopping.
33	By Tessa Bailey: List of author’s other books.
34	About the Publisher: HarperCollins colophon.

Common Questions and Answers

Do Burgess and Tallulah end up together? Yes. After a rocky period following his injury and her retreat, they reconcile in Costa Rica and become engaged in the epilogue.
Why does Burgess refuse to have full sex with Tallulah early in the relationship? He insists on emotional attachment first, wanting her to be his girlfriend before consummating, to ensure he’s not just a casual fling.
What is the significance of the postcards? Tallulah’s unsent postcards to her sister represent her broken promise to live adventurously. She releases them from a hot air balloon as a symbol of letting go of her fear.
Does Lissa ever accept Tallulah? Yes. Lissa initially accuses Tallulah of stealing her dad, but after Burgess’s injury and an intervention, Lissa confesses guilt and the family heals together.
What happens to Burgess’s hockey career? He suffers a career-threatening slipped disc and eventually decides to retire after the season, focusing on family.
What is the “Orgasm Donor” sweatshirt? A humorous team-themed sweatshirt that becomes a flirtatious symbol between Tallulah and Burgess.
How does Tallulah overcome her trauma? Through Burgess’s patient protection, her own decision to take adventures (zip-lining, cliff diving), and releasing her postcards, she learns to trust again.
What is the wedding in Costa Rica for? It’s the wedding of Wells Whitaker and Josephine. Both Burgess (best man) and Tallulah (maid of honor) attend, and the setting becomes the backdrop for their reconciliation.