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Coleen Kwan

Fun, flirty romance from sweet to spicy

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Unlucky in love Lily Baker is ready to get back in the dating game. But her first night out ends with the guy ditching her—in the middle of a dance floor. Wonderful. Public humiliation on top of rejection. And worse, Caleb Willmett, the sexy local contractor with an unfortunate desire to remain single, witnessed the whole thing. But where Lily sees disaster, Caleb finds opportunity.

The only long-term relationship Caleb wants is a business partnership with Lily’s father, but the man won’t give him the time of day. If Lily can arrange a meeting for him, Caleb promises to help her find a guy worth dating. Perfect trade. And this should be easy—just look for someone completely opposite of himself, someone who’s willing to settle down.

But when Lily unexpectedly captures his heart, playing matchmaker for her becomes the most difficult job he’s ever done.

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I'm so excited about my new sweet romance, Dating For Keeps. It's set for release on June 11, 2018. Here's the blurb and a sneak peek at the first chapter!

Unlucky in love Lily Baker is ready to get back in the dating game. But her first night out ends with the guy ditching her—in the middle of a dance floor. Wonderful. Public humiliation on top of rejection. And worse, Caleb Willmett, the sexy local contractor with an unfortunate desire to remain single, witnessed the whole thing. But where Lily sees disaster, Caleb finds opportunity.

The only long-term relationship Caleb wants is a business partnership with Lily’s father, but the man won’t give him the time of day. If Lily can arrange a meeting for him, Caleb promises to help her find a guy worth dating. Perfect trade. And this should be easy—just look for someone completely opposite of himself, someone who’s willing to settle down.

But when Lily unexpectedly captures his heart, playing matchmaker for her becomes the most difficult job he’s ever done.

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Chapter One

Lily Baker gripped the steering wheel, sucked in a breath, and tried in vain to ignore the roiling in her stomach. It’s no big deal, she told herself. She was just meeting a guy for a couple of hours. A guy she hadn’t yet met in person. But she’d read his profile on eCherish and exchanged a few messages before arranging this date. Everyone used dating sites these days, right? Well, not Lily; she’d only signed on because Dolores, her friend and co-worker, had badgered her into it. Dolores meant well, but, happily married to her childhood sweetheart, she had no experience with how brutal dating could be.

Tucking a curl behind her ear, Lily eased her car into the crowded parking lot. A sunny Sunday had brought the crowds out to the annual Pine Falls Chili Festival. Parents with kids and baby strollers, groups of friends, and couples holding hands streamed toward the adjacent park where rows of white tents had popped up overnight. Everyone looked relaxed and ready to enjoy themselves. She was determined to have a good time, too, even if she was a tangle of nerves inside.

But first she had to find a parking spot, which was proving difficult. A little girl dashed across her path, forcing Lily to slam on the brakes. An impatient honk blared from behind her. Grimacing, she moved on and suddenly spied a gap between a fence and an oversize black pickup truck. Could she fit in there? Maybe, and besides, it would be good to get that aggressive driver off her back.

With the tip of her tongue peeking out, she began to edge her compact little Kia into the spot. Easy does it…

Without warning, the door of the black pickup truck flew open, straight into her path.

Lily shrieked and slammed on the brakes again. Her car bumped into the truck’s door and stalled. She winced and shut her eyes. Oh dear lord, just what she needed before her big date.

The door slammed shut. Then someone tapped on her window. Peeling her eyes open, she saw a guy frowning at her through the glass.

“Hey, you okay?” he asked.

She nodded and gestured to him that she was going to get out. He backed away, allowing her to open her door. As she slid out of her car, she glanced up at him and felt a jolt of recognition. That ebony hair, finely sculpted chin, and tall, broad-shouldered figure were all too familiar. Caleb Willmett.

She’d first come across him at her dad’s office a couple weeks ago. Like her dad, Caleb was a contractor. The first time she’d seen him, her jaw had literally sagged. Impossibly handsome, as darkly intense as a triple-shot espresso, and so effortlessly charismatic he didn’t even seem aware of the heads he was turning. When her dad’s receptionist—the brisk, no-nonsense grandmother suddenly all aflutter—had introduced them, Caleb had flashed a smile at Lily that made her toes curl. In response, she’d barely been able to stutter out a hello.

Since then, she’d seen him around town a few times, across the street or in the hardware store. It was hard to miss a man of such arresting attractiveness, but after such a fleeting introduction, she wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t remember her.

“Hello,” she tentatively began. “It’s Caleb, isn’t it? Caleb Willmett? We’ve met before.”

He had been bending down to inspect his truck, but now he straightened, and his limpid blue eyes zeroed in on her. “Hey, that’s right. At Baker Construction. You’re Lily, Bill Baker’s daughter.” His face relaxed. “Didn’t think I’d run into you here. Literally.”

So he did remember her. Surprised, she stared at him, taking in his deep tan and thick, slightly shaggy black hair. In distressed jeans and snug-fitting black T-shirt, he had an air of animal magnetism about him. But he carried the aura without any arrogance, his expression friendly.

“My truck’s fine,” he continued, “but I don’t know about your car. It’s hard to tell which dents are fresh.”

“Oh, dear.” Shuffling along the narrow gap between the two vehicles, she finally made it to the front of her car, where she bent over to inspect the damage. “Oh, it’s not as bad as I thought. Just a tiny new scratch, that’s all. Poor Kermit.” She patted the hood of her diminutive Kia. “He’s been with me since my senior year in college.”

“Kermit?” Caleb raised his eyebrows. “That’s the name of your car?”

“Yep.”

“Because it’s green?”

“That, and because when it rains he makes this funny little froggy sound, like ribbit-ribbit.” Lily started to make croaking noises, but then stopped when she saw Caleb giving her a strange look. She was used to that. People had been thinking she was weird for as long as she could remember.

But then he tilted back his head and chuckled softly, his teeth gleaming white against his tan. “Yeah, that makes sense.”

His laugh was soft and mellow, easing the kinks in her back that had been there ever since this morning. He was surprisingly easy to talk to. Much easier than the last time. Maybe she was getting the hang of talking to men.

“Hang on,” he said, gesturing with one hand. “You’ve got some dirt on you there.”

Glancing down, she spotted a thick streak of muck marring her jeans at the hips. She must’ve picked it up when she’d squeezed her way between the two vehicles.

“Oh no.” Groaning, she frantically brushed at the bleached denim. “That’s all I need.”

“What’s the problem? It’s a chili festival. Chances are, you’re going to get messy anyway.”

“Maybe, but I wanted to make a good first impression. I’m meeting someone.”

“Ah.” His dark eyebrows slowly climbed. “So you’re on a first date, huh?”

“Yeah.” Lily scowled at the brown smudge on her brand new jeans. She and Dolores had spent hours choosing them. They were a lot tighter and more ripped than her usual jeans, and the white linen shirt Dolores had picked out for her wasn’t something she’d normally choose for herself. But this was the first date she’d had in quite a while, and she figured an outfit that didn’t stand out too much would ease her anxiety. Then, at the last minute, she’d added a few of her handmade accessories—a pink-and-yellow crocheted flower scarf and matching earrings—to make the outfit feel less generic and more “her.”

Now she twisted at the waist, searching for any other streaks of dirt.

“It’s cool. You’re fine everywhere else.” Caleb’s gaze flitted lazily over her, assessing her, measuring her.

What did he see? A confident, attractive woman, or someone plagued with doubts and insecurities? Someone who had let the past weigh too heavily on her? But at least she was trying again. Even if the thought of dating made her feel as if her stomach was filled with hundreds of wriggling worms. Once more she tried to tamp down her nerves. The matchmaking site she’d signed up to, eCherish, promised to make dating “easy, fun, and effective.” She had to believe it was true. This was her first date through the website, and from his profile and the messages they’d exchanged, the man she was set to meet this afternoon seemed presentable and friendly and a good match for her.

“Thanks.” Lily tugged at her flower scarf and glanced in the direction of the chili festival, wondering if she was late, wondering if she was suitably dressed, wondering if this little mishap in the parking lot was an omen for the rest of the afternoon.

Caleb cleared his throat. “If you like, I can park Kermit for you. That way you won’t have to dirty your nice jeans squeezing in again.”

“That would be wonderful.” She smiled at him, surprised and gladdened by the offer.

In a few minutes he had straightened her car and eased it perfectly into the narrow parking spot. He locked Kermit, then handed the keys to her.

“I’ll walk you to the festival,” he said. “Where are you meeting your date?”

“At the entrance.” Falling into step alongside him, she gave him a curious look. “And you? Are you meeting anyone?”

He hooked his thumbs into the front pockets of his jeans, easing his long legs to accommodate her shorter stride. “Just family,” he said easily. “No date, if that’s what you’re asking.” He gave her a quick wink.

She found herself flushing. It was strange, this effect Caleb had on her. He was surprisingly easy to talk to once she got started, even though she had been sure she’d be tongue-tied. Maybe bumping into him was a good thing. He hadn’t snapped at her or blamed her for their fender bender, as some men would have. He’d been nice to her and even parked her car for her. Yes, she’d focus on the positive side. It was a sunny afternoon, and she was going to have a great first date. She could feel it in her bones.

***

Caleb Willmett eased into a slow stroll as he glanced at the woman scurrying alongside him. Lily was anxious, that much was plain from the way she clutched her purse and huffed under her breath, her fingers flicking at her hair. All that nervous energy…over a date? It wasn’t something he could relate to. Maybe that was why he and dating hadn’t worked out in the long run. He could never make himself believe he was meeting “the one.”

As they walked across the asphalt, Lily stumbled over a pot hole, and he instinctively grabbed her by the arm. She gave him a taut little smile.

“Hey, it’s just one date, you know,” he felt compelled to say. “It’s not like you’re about to marry the guy.”

“I know.” She let out a breath, visibly trying to relax. “And besides, I’ve got my lucky barrette on.” She tilted her head, showing him a gold-and-silver hairclip half-hidden in her maple brown curls.

“Ah, well, nothing can go wrong, then, not when you’re wearing the lucky barrette.”

She bit on her lower lip. Clearly the lucky barrette wasn’t relaxing her. It looked like she’d been doing a lot of lip biting; most of her pink lipstick had worn off already. He didn’t want to point that out to her; it would probably only make her more antsy. She had a nice smile and sparkly eyes. Cute. And interesting. She had no reason to be anxious about one date.

They neared the entrance to the park. People milled about in the warm sunshine. A band was playing country music inside the festival. The spicy scent of chili rose in the air, setting off his taste buds. To the left of the gates, a man stood by himself, his gaze darting through the crowd.

Lily must have spotted him at the same time, because she suddenly halted and sucked in a breath.

“That’s him, I take it?” Caleb said. “The guy by the gates?”

“Yeah.” She swallowed. “That’s Nick.”

Caleb took a closer look. Of average height and build, the guy wore a tight pink shirt and black jeans teamed with flashy cowboy boots, black leather with stitched gold uppers. His red hair was smoothed back from a face that looked preoccupied. His roving gaze passed over Lily, then, after a second, returned for a closer look. He had obviously recognized her as his date. His mouth thinned as he inspected her, and then he shrugged and walked forward.

“You must be Lily,” the man said with a tepid smile.

“Yes, that’s me! Hi! And you’re Nick. So glad to finally meet you in the flesh!” Lily stretched out a hand, her lips curving into a wide smile.

“Yeah, same here.” The man gave her a perfunctory handshake before glancing at Caleb. “And you are?” he asked coldly.

“A friend of Lily’s,” Caleb said before he could think better of it. He knew the man all of five seconds, but already there was something about him that he didn’t like. He sensed rather than heard Lily’s soft intake of breath. “Don’t worry. I’m not here to be a buzzkill.”

Lily’s cheeks were slowly suffusing with pink. “Um, this is Caleb. He was just—just walking me here.”

“Okay, well, you’re here now. Want to head in?” Nick maneuvered his way to Lily’s side, totally ignoring Caleb.

Glancing over her shoulder, Lily gave Caleb an uncertain smile. “Thanks for…for parking my car.”

“No worries.” He raised a hand. “See you inside.”

He watched them walk into the park. Nick was studying Lily with a deep frown, his stance stiff. What was that about? Was the guy disappointed with the way she looked? Sure, she wasn’t conventionally good-looking or model thin. Her face, framed by those irrepressible brown curls, was round and open, her stature short and curvy. And the jazzy, homemade scarf and earrings were unusual—but not in a bad way. Just different. He didn’t know much about Lily, except that she was Bill Baker’s daughter—the owner of Baker Construction whom Caleb had been trying to contact for weeks—and had a tendency to blush, but five minutes in her company was enough for him to know she was nice. Nicer than Nick deserved.

“Hiya, Caleb!” a female voice said, rousing him from his thoughts.

He turned to see his sister, Hannah, approaching with her husband, Derek, and their two-year-old daughter, Amelia. Upon seeing Caleb, his niece immediately launched herself at him, wrapping her tiny arms around his legs.

“Unca Cabah!”

He swung her up in the air, encouraging her shrieks of joy. Eventually he was able to kiss his sister and greet Derek, who also happened to be his best friend.

“Haven’t seen you in ages, dude,” Derek said as he clapped him on the shoulder.

“Yeah. Work, you know.” Caleb’s latest contracting job had kept him away from Pine Falls for months, apart from the weekends, and even those weren’t always guaranteed.

“But you’re back for good now, aren’t you?” his sister asked hopefully.

“Depends on whether I can find work here.”

Hannah pulled a face. “I wish you didn’t have to travel so much.”

“I know, sis. Especially now, with Dad…”

Caleb’s father had recently suffered a minor stroke. He’d responded well to the treatment, but he hadn’t fully recovered—perhaps he never would. Caleb had done the best he could, but most of the care for his dad had fallen on his stepmom and his sister, and that fact weighed heavily on him. He was determined to be around for his dad, but that was predicated on his finding more permanent work around Pine Falls, a tough task in the current economic climate.

They walked into the park, stopping near the rows of tents where huge vats of chili were being carefully tended by eager cooks, all with their own secret recipes. As Derek went to collect some tasting samples for them, Hannah turned back to Caleb.

“By the way, you seemed a bit distracted when we arrived,” she said, arching an eyebrow. “I was waving at you for ages before you saw us. Something on your mind?”

His thoughts instantly returned to Lily Baker. Though he hadn’t really stopped thinking about her. As they’d strolled through the park, he’d been subconsciously looking out for her. The festival wasn’t that big; he was bound to see her again at some point.

“Nah,” he answered instinctively.

“Are you sure?”

Hannah had always worried about him. She was his big sister, and after their mom had left them and his dad in the lurch, she’d taken on a lot of responsibilities. Too much, really. She’d be perplexed if she knew he was thinking about a round-faced girl with crocheted flowers dangling from her ears and a lucky barrette in her hair.

“Yep,” he assured her. “All I’m focused on is getting work around Pine Falls so I can be closer to everyone.”

###

An hour later Caleb and Hannah were alone while Derek took their daughter to the bathroom.

“They’re going to be a while,” Hannah predicted. “Why don’t we see what they’re selling over there?” She tilted her head at the vendor tents nearby. As they strolled over the grass, she said, “I’ve been thinking about you getting work in the area. There’s a rumor going around that Bill Baker’s looking for a junior partner. It might be worth a try.”

Caleb shot his sister a dry smile. “Yeah, I know all about Bill Baker.”

Bill Baker was an established contractor in the Pine Falls district. Almost every new development came his way—he was known to be dedicated, hardworking, and honest. He’d built up his reputation over twenty years; everyone spoke highly of him. Recently, Baker Construction had landed the contract for the new Red Arroyo subdivision, which would mean years of steady, well-paid work. Rumor had it that Bill, always the loner, was finally looking for a partner to take some of the workload off him. As soon as Caleb had heard that, he’d polished his boots, updated his résumé, and turned up at Bill’s office. Only trouble was, so had tons of other contractors already. Bill, never one who enjoyed idle chitchat, had shooed everyone away and refused to take their calls. Some of the applicants had continued to badger the man, but Caleb had seen that approach wouldn’t work with a straight-arrow like Bill.

“Of course you do,” Hannah said. “Well? You approached him, I presume?”

 “Uh-huh, but I wasn’t fast enough.”

“Oh, that’s too bad. So he’s already chosen a partner?”

“Not yet. I haven’t given up hope, but pestering Bill Baker won’t work. I need a different approach.”

“If there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know,” Hannah said. Her attention was diverted as they neared the first stall and she made a beeline for the rows of glowing red and orange salsa.

Caleb was about to follow her when a flash of pink and yellow caught his attention. Turning, he saw Lily Baker at an adjacent stall, standing next to her date. She was fidgeting with her scarf and earrings, a doubting expression on her face as she glanced at Nick, who was barely paying her any attention. Instead, the guy seemed far more interested in the woman serving at the stall. As Caleb watched, the man picked up one bottle of condiment after another, talking about them in a loud voice to Lily, though he was really looking at the stallholder. The woman made an irritated gesture, then turned away in a huff, which seemed to please Lily’s date.

What was all that about? That Nick guy was really getting on his nerves. Without a second thought, Caleb crossed over to the stall.

“Hey, Lily,” he called out. “Everything okay?”

Lily glanced up at him in total surprise. “Yes, I’m okay.”

Nick’s brows lowered as he recognized Caleb. “Yeah, everything’s fine here,” he muttered as he shuffled closer to Lily.

Ignoring him, Caleb kept his focus on Lily. “If you like, you can join me and my sister for a while.”

Nick’s face tightened. “Look, dude,” he hissed through clenched lips, “I don’t know what your game is, but we’re on a date here, so why don’t you get lost?”

Caleb immediately darted forward, his shoulders tensing, a ready retort on his lips. But before he could let loose, someone tapped him on the arm.

“Come on, Caleb,” Hannah said, gently tugging at his T-shirt. “Come and help me choose a salsa.”

With a final warning glare at Nick, Caleb allowed his sister to lead him away.

“Why were you so mad with that man?” Hannah asked when they were a safe distance away.

He shrugged, not wanting to elaborate about Lily. “He was getting under my skin.”

“Too much chili for you, little brother,” his sister teased. “You’re enough of a hothead without the extra heat.”

“I am what I am.”

“Yes, I’m aware of that. I wish…” She angled her head, her teasing expression receding.

He squinted at her. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“Sis, I know that look on your face. It means you want to tell me something I won’t like.”

“All right,” she said after a brief hesitation. “I do. But later. Right now, let me buy some salsa, will you?”

Caleb allowed the subject to drop. He had enough on his plate, working out how to get Bill Baker on his side without having to worry about whatever unpleasant news his sister was keeping from him.

***

Could this date get any worse? Lily stirred her plastic spoon in the cup of half-melted ice cream. Even the novelty of chili and lime ice cream couldn’t lift her spirits. Across the table, her date sat with his own barely touched cup of ice cream, his gaze shifting restlessly over the people surrounding them.

Lily sat up straighter. She couldn’t let her defeatist attitude win. She had to at least make an effort, even if Nick wasn’t.

“So, Nick,” she said, forcing an upbeat tone. “What do you think of my earrings?” She touched the pink-and-orange crocheted flowers dangling from her ears. “I made them myself.”

Nick cast a distracted glance at her. “My grandma used to make that kind of stuff. We threw it all out when she died.”

Lily bit her lip. Had she stirred up bad memories? Maybe she shouldn’t have mentioned the earrings. Silence fell between them again. Lily racked her brain for something to say. She’d never been great at small talk. Around them, everyone else was chattering away, enjoying the warm summer evening, the tasty food and drink, and the live country-and-western music coming from the nearby stage.

“Uh, this band’s good, don’t you think?” she tried again.
“Sure.”

Lily drew patterns in her ice cream with her spoon. “You play the guitar, right?”

The look he gave her this time was baffled. “What made you think that?”

“Your profile on eCherish. It listed all your interests, your likes and dislikes.” She paused, an uneasy feeling pushing through her awkwardness. “You didn’t make that up, did you?”

He shrugged. “Everyone likes to make themselves look good, don’t they?”

The answer disturbed her. Yes, she’d wanted to make a good first impression on eCherish, but not to the extent of lying. And what had Nick not told her?

He didn’t seem at all aware of her discomfort. He was scanning the crowd again, paying scant attention to her. All at once, his head stiffened and he sat up. “You want to dance?”

Flummoxed by his abrupt question, she gaped at him. He didn’t wait, grabbing her hand and pulling her to her feet. Too surprised to protest, Lily allowed him to lead her to the small space in front of the stage where a few couples were dancing. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he proceeded to shuffle her across the floor.

Well, this was unexpected. She’d thought Nick had lost interest in her ever since he’d tried to talk to that vendor, but maybe he was just nervous, like her, and didn’t know how to express himself. He seemed on edge, his attention fixed on something or someone in the surrounding crowd. As they twirled around, she caught a glimpse of Caleb Willmett sitting at a nearby table with a couple and a toddler. He was looking at her, she realized with a start, and as their eyes met he raised his cup of beer to her and flashed her a quick, reassuring grin.

Returning the smile, she stumbled over Nick’s feet and almost sent them both tumbling. He muttered something under his breath.

“Sorry,” Lily apologized. “I’m out of practice.”

“She can’t do this to me,” Nick sputtered. “After everything I did for her. She just can’t.”

“Excuse me?” Lily pulled back a little to look at her date. “Are you talking about me?”

“I should’ve known this wouldn’t work. Not with you.” His glassy eyes focused on her for a brief moment. “You just can’t cut it, I’m afraid. Especially not with those wacky earrings and scarf.”

“What do you mean?”

“I wanted to make her jealous. But it’s not working out.”

Lily’s stomach fell. “Make who jealous? The—the woman at the condiment stall?”
They had stopped dancing. Around them, couples swayed and twirled to the music. Nick’s fingers were digging painfully into her waist. Sweat glazed his face.

“I’ll get her back. I’ll show her she made a big mistake.”

Lily clenched her jaw. “I think I’ve just made a big mistake.”

He blinked at her, clearly not seeing her at all. And then, without another word, he jerked away from her, turned, and scurried off as if he’d just found out she was contagious.

The singer lifted his voice as the song hit the chorus. Lights dazed her eyes. She wanted to move, to run away, but it seemed like she was surrounded by cheerful, dancing couples, trapped in her own private hell.

~~~ 

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Woo-hoo! It's release day for SECRET AFFAIR WITH THE MILLIONAIRE.

In this contest there can only be one winner...

Holly Rochester is turning over a new leaf. To show she can pull her weight in the family business, she’s determined to win the bid for the Halifax Hotel. If only she could forget the hot and mysterious stranger and the sizzling one-night stand they shared a couple of weeks ago...

Dane Schofield is back in town to make peace with his dying father. For that he needs to secure the Halifax Hotel that his father wants so much. Too bad the other bidders include the woman he spent one blistering hot night with. Even worse, she’s part of the Rochester family, bitter rivals of the Schofields.

As the sexual tension between Holly and Dane reaches flashpoint, Holly must make a decision. Is Dane a man she can trust, or would he do anything to keep a promise, including sabotage?

FOR A LIMITED TIME:
Only 99 cents 
(At most retailers. Pricing not guaranteed.)
Includes bonus novella WHEN THE CEO CALLS, the prequel to UNDERCOVER IN THE CEO'S BED, book 1 in the Rochesters series.

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In this contest there can only be one winner...

Holly Rochester is turning over a new leaf. To show she can pull her weight in the family business, she’s determined to win the bid for the Halifax Hotel. If only she could forget the hot and mysterious stranger and the sizzling one-night stand they shared a couple of weeks ago...

Dane Schofield is back in town to make peace with his dying father. For that he needs to secure the Halifax Hotel that his father wants so much. Too bad the other bidders include the woman he spent one blistering hot night with. Even worse, she’s part of the Rochester family, bitter rivals of the Schofields.

As the sexual tension between Holly and Dane reaches flashpoint, Holly must make a decision. Is Dane a man she can trust, or would he do anything to keep a promise, including sabotage?

CHAPTER ONE


“This traffic’s a nightmare. We’re going to be late.”

“Dad, don’t worry. There’s plenty of time,” Holly Rochester said to her father.

Ralph took no notice of her as he urged his driver to take a different route through San Francisco’s Pacific Heights suburb. 

Holly pulled at her skirt, attempting in vain to feel more at ease. Usually she wore pantsuits or cute dresses for work, but today she’d put on a stiff and stuffy gray suit specifically bought for the upcoming meeting. Together with her silk scarf, pearl earrings, and designer purse, she looked conservative, reserved, in control….and totally not her. But that was the whole point. This was the start of the new her. Goodbye to being the black sheep of the family, to fighting the pressure of the Rochester name. Starting today, she was embracing her heritage.

Her grandfather had built the Rochester empire. A ruthless businessman, he’d passed his fortune to his two sons, but Ralph had bowed out of the day-to-day running. Today, the hotel and property management company was run by Kirk—Holly’s brother—and Lex, her cousin. In her younger days, Holly had rebelled against the Rochester fortune, joining protests against their projects, causing her cousin once to suspect her of industrial espionage. Then, a couple of years ago, her older brother had persuaded her to join the company, but she’d never been wholehearted about her role. Until recently.

Ralph turned back to Holly. “Did you study the briefing notes on the Gilberts that I sent you?”

“Yes, Dad. I went over them last night.”

“You only read the report last night?” Her dad raised an eyebrow. “You should’ve done it days ago.”

Holly curled her fingers around her purse, determined not to react to her dad’s criticism. “Sorry, yes, I should have, but I had other things on my mind.” 

Like wondering if she’d ever meet a certain man again. A man with black hair, magic hands, and the most incredible, sizzling green eyes. She pushed the image away. Why did he still monopolize her thoughts? More than two weeks had passed. It was just a one night stand, something that never should’ve happened. Why couldn’t she forget him?

“Other things?” Ralph leaned forward, his expression intense. “Holly, nothing’s as important as buying the Halifax Hotel from the Gilberts. Nothing.”

Holly eyed her father. It wasn’t like Ralph to involve himself in the hotel business. After Holly’s mother had died fifteen years ago, he’d devoted himself to the Rochester Foundation and his ever-expanding art collection. So much so that he barely paid any attention to anything else, including his children. But a month ago, he’d learned the eccentric Gilbert family was finally going to sell the Halifax Hotel that had been shut for more than a dozen years, and Ralph had suddenly declared that the Rochesters had to have it, whatever the cost.

“Why is it so important?” Holly asked.

“In its heyday the Halifax was a landmark hotel. It’s an architectural masterpiece, an art deco jewel, and I’ve heard”—Ralph’s eyes gleamed—“all its features are still intact.”

Art. Was that all the Halifax meant to her father? No surprise there. Art was his passion. Art was what he’d turned to when her mother unexpectedly died. It hadn’t left him with much time for her, a bewildered, motherless twelve-year-old. The old hurt prickled deep within, but she brushed it aside, like she always did. Ralph might not have been the most supportive father, but that was in the past, and she was glad to see him so enthused. 

“Now, getting back to the Gilberts.” Ralph wagged a finger at her. “Lizzie and Humbert Gilbert aren’t your usual family. They don’t give up anything lightly, including their property. That’s why the Halifax has stood empty for so long. Plenty of people have made them offers, myself included, but they’ve turned everyone down. Putting in the highest bid isn’t going to be enough.”

“Is that why we’ve been invited to their house today?” Holly asked. “They want to vet all the bidders before making their choice?”

“That’s my guess.” Ralph nodded before casting his critical gaze over Holly. “You look good.” She opened her mouth to express surprised thanks but he continued, “But your hair. I don’t know about that blanched white color. Couldn’t you have made it natural brown or something that doesn’t stand out so much?”

Holly touched the feathery strands of her platinum bob that was her signature look. “But, Dad—”

“It’s too late now. But this is a very important meeting. You do realize that, don’t you?”

She swallowed down another retort. “Yes, Dad.”

“It’s a good thing Kirk is coming with us. Just stay in the background and don’t say anything inappropriate.” He held up a hand as she started to protest. “Holly, I know how you can mouth off sometimes. I just don’t want anything going wrong today, okay?”

Luckily, the car had slid to a halt outside Kirk’s house where they were due to pick up her brother before heading to the Gilberts. Holly grabbed at the door handle. “I just want to say hi to Cassie. Won’t be long,” she said over her shoulder even as her dad started complaining about being late.

As she jumped out of the car, she almost collided with a jogger. For a split second his thick black hair and broad shoulders made her breath catch—Arlen, here in San Francisco?—but then she realized his arms were clean of tattoos, and her heart dipped. Damn, was she that caught up about a man that she was looking out for him on every street? They hadn’t talked about where they came from or what they did for a living. They were just two strangers in neighboring hotel rooms in Lake Tahoe who’d hooked up for one night. One earth-shattering night, but she’d have to stop dwelling on him.

Or, she could track him down. The Lake Tahoe hotel did belong to the Rochesters. She could call the manager and ask for the details of a guest. But doing that for her own personal use was totally against company policy, and she was trying to turn over a new leaf.

Shaking her head, she hurried up to her brother’s house.

“Hey, sis.” Kirk greeted her with a kiss before raising his eyebrows at her outfit. “What’s this you’re wearing? Are you going to a charity lunch or a political fundraiser?”

Holly aimed a punch at his shoulder. “Knock it off. This is the new, conformist me, ready to wow those Gilberts with my business babble. Even if Dad doesn’t have much faith in me.”

Kirk gave her a sympathetic smile. “You don’t have to put yourself through this, you know. This schmoozing stuff can be a drag, but I’m used to it. You can skip the Gilbert meeting if you like.”

“Thanks, but I’ve told you I’m finally embracing my Rochester name instead of fighting it. I have to start somewhere, and this Halifax Hotel sounds interesting, especially since it’s got Dad all fired up.”

“You’re sure?” Kirk still looked doubtful. At six years her senior, he’d always been the protective older brother, and, like her father, he had a hard time seeing her as an equal. “You could always stay here and keep Cassie company.”

“I’d love to have Holly’s company,” a tall, heavily pregnant woman said as she shuffled into the foyer, “but she’s going with you, Kirk.”

“Sweetheart, I thought you were resting upstairs.” Kirk hurried to his wife and cupped her elbow. “You want to put your feet up in the den?”

“No, I thought I’d do a few miles on the treadmill.” Cassie paused a couple of seconds before patting his anxious face. “Oh, honey, I was just kidding. Shouldn’t you and Holly get going before your dad has an aneurism?”

“Yeah, sure.” With obvious reluctance, Kirk shrugged on his suit jacket before giving his wife a long, lingering kiss, his hand splayed over her impressive bump.

Holly nibbled on her bottom lip. Honestly, these two were as sappy as a couple of high-school sweethearts, but she had to admit she envied them.

“About time,” Ralph barked when they climbed into the car. After a brief enquiry about Cassie, he launched straight into the Gilberts, aiming all his statements at Kirk.

Holly leaned back in her seat and kept her mouth shut. She knew she hadn’t earned the respect of her family, knew that it would take time. But she was determined to gain that regard eventually. No more acting out, or mouthing off. No more crazy stuff.

Like checking into one of the Rochesters’ hotels in Lake Tahoe under a fake name, flirting with the hot guy in the room next door, and then spending the night with him having crazy sex.

She sighed silently. Yeah, no more nights like that. She’d come to her senses, hadn’t she? That’s why she’d crept out of his room before dawn and checked out of the hotel. No one there knew who she really was.

She could imagine how her brother and father would react if they found out. Just Holly acting out again, like she always does. Doesn’t she know that sleeping with a hotel guest is not only tacky but against our company policy? Let’s face it; she doesn’t have it in her to contribute to the business. She’d lose what little credibility she had, and just when she’d decided to get serious about her role in the family business.

She’d done the right thing. But that didn’t make it any easier forgetting the guy.

Who was he? Where did he live? What did he do? Questions they’d agreed were trivial that night. But now she was left wondering. All she had was a name—Arlen—and an indelible memory of his sea-green eyes, his wide, sensual mouth, and the phoenix tattoo that writhed over his ripped abs.

He could be a motorcycle gang-member or a cage fighter or a CIA operative. He could be anybody from anywhere. Odds were she’d never bump into him again. And that was a good thing because she had to concentrate on being a proper Rochester.

***

Dane Schofield studied the man sitting opposite him in the striped wingback armchair. Apart from the slight jaundice, he didn’t look like a man with advanced stage pancreatic cancer. The hair was grayer, the facial lines deeper, but his stance was still upright, the eyes and jaw as aggressive as always.

Despite himself, a chill settled in the base of Dane’s spine as memories of those pitiless eyes invaded him. He gripped the armrests of his chair. He wasn’t a kid anymore. He wasn’t a victim, an outsider. His father had no power over him now.

So why was he here in his father’s penthouse? Why had he listened when his father had called him out of the blue after a dozen years of complete silence? After everything he’d endured, did he still want to be a part of this family? Yes, he did. For his dead mother’s sake. That was the only reason why he’d met with Martin Schofield and agreed to his bizarre succession plan for the Schofield business empire.

Martin drummed his fingers on the armrest. “Eric will be here soon.”

Oh yeah, Eric, the firstborn, the apple of Martin’s eye. Growing up, Eric was everything Dane wasn’t. Athletic, confident, arrogant. A chip off the old block. He must be spewing that Martin wasn’t handing him complete control of the company like so many people—Dane included—had expected. Still, Eric stood a good chance of gaining that control if Dane failed his father’s test, which, given his lack of experience in the hotel business, was almost inevitable.

A tap on the door of Martin’s study had Dane turning in his chair. But instead of Eric, a teenage girl sauntered in, dressed in ripped jeans and midriff top, earphone cords dangling around her slim neck.

Martin frowned. “Saffron? What do you want?”

The girl pushed away the long blonde hair hanging over her face and glanced at Dane. “Oh. Hi.”

“Hi, Saffron.”

His half-sister had been just three when Dane had stormed out of the Schofield mansion following the final confrontation with his father. In the twelve years he’d been away, she’d barely registered in his consciousness, but since he’d been back he’d met her once. On the surface Saffron seemed like the typical, monosyllabic adolescent, more interested in her phone than adults, but Dane wondered how she was faring in this less than idyllic atmosphere, especially since her parents had divorced.

“What is it, Saffron?” his father asked, a rough edge to his voice. “We’re expecting Eric soon.”

The teenager pursed her lips. “I maxed out my credit cards. Can I have a hundred bucks?”

Before Martin could reply, the phone on his desk started ringing. He waved impatiently at his daughter. “Don’t bother me now.”

Biting her lip, Saffron whirled around and stomped out on bare feet. Martin was already talking on the phone. Dane rose to his feet and followed his sister out of the study.

“Hey, wait up,” he called out to her in the hallway.

She paused and turned to look at him, her mouth turned down, her fingers clamped around her earphone cord.

“What do you need a hundred bucks for?” he asked.

Saffron shrugged. “What’s the point in going shopping if I don’t buy something?” She said it in a tone that suggested he was an idiot.

“It’s Friday. Shouldn’t you be at school?”

She looked startled. “Well, yeah, but he doesn’t care.” She jerked her chin in the direction of the study.

“Huh. Sounds a bit like what I went through at your age. The not caring bit.”

Her eyes widened, and her shoulders relaxed. “Yeah, I’ve heard a few stories about you clashing with Dad. You were a total badass.” There was noticeable admiration in her tone.

“Yeah, well, I don’t recommend you follow the same path.” He folded his arms. “Do you still see your mom?”

“Not hardly. She’s somewhere in India aligning her chakras.”

Poor kid. Abandoned by one parent, neglected by the other.

“I know I’m just a boring adult to you, but we could hang out together sometime, if you like” Dane said.

Her face brightened for a moment before she seemed to remember herself. “Yeah, sure, whatevs.” She rested a hand on her hip. “So what were you and Dad talking about?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Dane decided to be open with his half-sister.

“It’s like this. You know Martin cut me out of his life years ago, but I guess with his cancer he’s had a change of heart. He’d like me to be part of the family business, but first I have to prove myself. Martin wants me to win the bid to buy this rundown hotel. I don’t know anything about hotels or winning bids. I don’t even know if I want to be part of Schofields.”

“So why do it then?”

He ran a hand over his hair. Why do it? Because before his mom had died she’d extracted a promise from him never to turn down a chance to make peace with Martin. She must’ve guessed he’d quit home as soon as he could. Even when he couldn’t get far enough away from him he’d tried to keep that promise. A few times each year he’d sent a postcard, never getting a reply, never expecting one either. In the meantime, he’d built his own business, amassed a fortune through sheer hard work. He was a genuine, self-made millionaire now. And then, a month ago, out of the blue, his father had contacted him, asked him gruffly to come to San Francisco. Dane’s first reaction had been to tell him to get stuffed. But he had a promise to keep.

“Because my mom would like it,” he said, deciding his sister didn’t need to know the bitter details. “This hotel bid, it’s Martin’s way of offering reconciliation without coming off as weak. I think we both know I don’t have a hope in hell of getting it, but I’ll go through the motions to keep him happy.”

With the help of the Schofields’ finance department, Dane had come up with a reasonable bid proposal, but he still had to sell it, and that’s where his inexperience in the hotel business was likely to let him down.

Saffron shook her head. “Don’t know why you’re bothering. You’re rich and free. You could do whatever you want, go wherever you choose.”

“I know.”

Instead of pandering to his dad, he could be out there searching for his mystery woman. Olivia. She was out there somewhere; she could even be strolling outside his dad’s building right this minute. The night they’d spent together was branded in his mind forever. One sizzling night of sex and laughter and connection. The next morning he’d woken to an empty bed. The plummeting of his stomach still lingered.

The hotel where they’d stayed naturally refused to hand out information on their guests. He had a PI working on the case. So far, no luck. As soon as Dane was finished with this hotel bid, he’d get back to tracking his woman down. Sure, there was always the chance that meeting her again would be a letdown, but she was worth the risk. And besides, he’d never be able to rest until he’d found her.

“I hope you win,” Saffron said, breaking into his thoughts. “It’d be cool if Eric wasn’t in charge of everything.” She grimaced as she fiddled with her earphones. “Dad says when he goes, Eric will be my guardian. Ugh. Can’t think of anything worse.”

Dark memories clawed at Dane. Memories of Eric crowing over him, shoving him, punching him. Loser. Jackass. Mommy’s boy. His gut clenched. He could understand why Saffron didn’t want Eric controlling her life.

The front door to the penthouse opened. His brother Eric strolled in and smirked at them.

“Hey, it’s Dumb and Dumber.”

Dane cocked his head. “Hey, it’s The Biggest Loser.”

Saffron smothered a giggle. Eric threw her a poisonous glare before returning his attention to Dane. “Watch your tongue, shrimp.”

When Dane was a boy, he’d never stood a chance against his larger, stronger brother. But in the twelve years since he’d left home, he’d gained several inches and a whole lot of muscle. He was heavier and taller than Eric now. Plus, he’d been in enough bar brawls to know how to take care of himself.

“Or what?” Dane spread his feet apart and folded his arms. “You’re gonna give me one of your special noogies again?” 

Eric puffed out his chest. Go on, Dane silently dared him. Take a swing at me. Just one. 

“Don’t need to,” Eric snapped. “I’m going to enjoy watching you fall flat on your face all by yourself today. You don’t stand a chance of winning the bid.”

Something about the arrogant shithead loosened Dane’s tongue. “Oh yeah? Care to put a bet on that, bro?”

“Betting? Is that how you scrape by these days?”

“I scrape by okay. Is fifty grand too rich for you?” Jesus, what was wrong with him? He never bet on anything, but Eric always knew how to get under his skin.

Eric gave a scoffing laugh. “You’re on.”

“Good. When I win, I’ll give your fifty grand to Saffron. She can buy a Merc with your dough.”

Saffron chuckled. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

“Shut the fuck up.” Eric took a menacing step toward his sister, but she scampered away, still grinning. “That little bitch—”

Dane interrupted him. “Jesus, Eric, she’s your sister!”

“Half-sister, and she’s still a bitch.” Eric wiped his mouth. “When Dad goes I’m going to enjoy making her life miserable.”

Dane stared at his brother. Shit. Eric had everything—money, power, position, and the lion’s share of their father’s approval. But it wasn’t enough. He’d bullied Dane, and now he’d turned his attention to Saffron, and she had no one to protect her. Except for Dane. He could talk to his dad, try to get him to show an interest in Saffron. But first he had to impress Martin by clearing that hurdle he’d set him.

Suddenly, there was a lot more riding on this Gilbert bid than Dane had anticipated, and he wasn’t sure he was up to it.

***

As they approached the Gilberts’ mansion, Dane tugged at his cuffs and cricked his neck. He wasn’t used to suit and tie. When he was running his motorcycle retail business back in Texas, he’d show up to work in jeans, leather jacket, and boots. But now, as a representative of the Schofield empire, he wore a hand-tailored, charcoal gray suit with a white dress shirt and silk tie.

“You should have had a shave,” Martin said, sitting opposite him in the chauffeured limo.

Dane fingered the stubble on his jaw. He kept his two-day-growth carefully trimmed, but of course to his dad it just looked like he was too lazy to bother. Maybe the Gilberts, who were in their seventies, would think the same thing. Damn.

Seated next to his dad, Eric gave him another smirk.

“At least your goddamn tattoos are covered up,” Martin continued to grumble. “Don’t want the Gilberts thinking my son is some gangster.”

“Tattoos are pretty mainstream these days,” Dane said.

His father shook his head. “The Gilberts don’t live in the real world. They do things their own theatrical way. That’s why they’ve invited all the bidders to their house, and in secret, too. We won’t know who we’re up against until we get there.”

“We?” Eric turned to his father. “What’s this ‘we’ business? Dane has to get the Halifax Hotel all by himself. That’s the challenge you set. You can’t help him.”

Martin waved off his son’s objections. “Yes, yes. Dane’s on his own. But I’m curious to see who the competition is.”

“Plenty of people want to get their hands on that hotel.” Eric smiled at Dane. “I’d say your chances of winning are less than one percent.”

Dane smiled back at him. “Get your checkbook ready, bro. I’m not losing today.”

But as they walked up to the Gilberts’ mansion, he wondered what he’d let himself in for. A butler greeted them at the front door and showed them through to a huge reception room hung with enormous chandeliers and gloomy portraits of long dead ancestors. It felt like he’d walked into Downton Abbey, Dane thought as a server offered them crystal flutes of sparkling champagne. About thirty people mingled in the reception room, all of them in formal suits, the women included. 

The Gilberts came up to welcome them. The septuagenarian brother and sister were small and spry, Lizzie wearing a long floral dress, white gloves, and ropes of pearl necklaces, while Humbert sported a cream suit, cream loafers, and white Panama hat.

“Oh, my.” Lizzie peered at Dane’s stubble after they’d shaken hands. “That’s an interesting look, young man.”

“Lizzie, he might be one of those hippy fellows,” Humbert said.

“Really! How interesting.”

As soon as the Gilberts moved on, Eric said to Dane, “I don’t think they’d be happy selling their precious hotel to a ‘hippy fellow.’”

Dane was about to answer back when his father nudged Eric. “Look over there. It’s the Rochesters. Why do they have to turn up? Damn Rochesters.”

Following the direction of his father’s scowl, Dane saw two men standing on the opposite side of the room. They were both tall and immaculately dressed, exuding success and confidence. 

“So those are the Rochesters,” Dane said. “Our mortal enemies, right?”

Eric turned on him. “Don’t joke. The Rochesters are a bunch of hyenas always stealing from under our noses.”

Since Dane had returned to San Francisco, he’d heard plenty of grousing from his father about the Rochesters. Their rivals ran a very successful business, which was why he’d checked into one of the Rochesters’ hotels in Lake Tahoe under a false name two weeks ago. To see what the opposition was doing so right. Only problem was, the sultry woman in the room next door had completely distracted him from his mission.

“Huh, Ralph Rochester.” Martin shook his head. “Didn’t realize he was getting involved again. And that’s his son, Kirk.” He turned to Dane, rubbing his hands. “Well, this puts more fuel in the rocket. If the Rochesters are in this race, then you definitely have to win it for us.”

“You don’t stand a chance,” Eric scoffed.

“Be quiet, Eric. I’m talking to Dane.”

What was happening? His father favoring him at Eric’s expense? Surprised, Dane focused his attention on his father. “Why don’t you like the Rochesters? Is it personal?”

“No time to go into that now.” Clapping a hand on Dane’s shoulder, Martin lowered his voice. “Just remember you’ll be doing me a huge favor if you get one over them, son.”

Dane’s chest tightened. His father was practically hugging him and calling him ‘son’. When last had that happened? Never. Things were changing, and all because of this challenge.

If he beat the Rochesters and won the bid, then he’d gain Martin’s approval. He’d be able to honor his mom’s dying wish. He’d also be in a better position to help Saffron. And he might even be able to build that bridge between himself and his father. He’d always thought he didn’t need any relationship with his father. But the weight of his father’s hand on his shoulder showed him he was wrong. No matter how far he’d come, no matter how independent and rich he was, he was still that son who wanted to please his dad.

“I’ll try my best.”

The two Rochesters were staring at them across the room. The older one—Ralph—muttered something to his son while he glared at them, his face mottled, his teeth bared. Jeez, did people hate the Schofields that much? Dumb question. He knew firsthand how ruthless his father and brother could be. Turning back to Martin, he saw the same antipathy scoring his cancer-hollowed face.

All this conflict. Did he really want to be part of it? Old instincts kicked in; the only way he knew how to survive. He stepped away from his family.

“I’ll be right back,” he said, and, before they could protest, he spun around and walked away.

He was pushing past a knot of people, when a flash of platinum blonde hair caught his attention. He halted, all his attention locked onto the petite woman walking away from him, her short, silky hair gleaming like frosted silver. He sucked in a breath. That hair, that figure, that swing of her hips. It had to be…

“Olivia.” 

She kept on walking. He strode forward, his head buzzing, his footfalls heavy. Seeming to sense his presence, she glanced over her shoulder, then stumbled to a halt. Blue eyes widened as pure shock washed over her face.

“Arlen?”

His ribs ached as he sucked in a breath. He couldn’t believe it. Here, of all places…

People were glancing curiously at them, but he had eyes only for her. Fine, delicate features emphasized by the feathery, pixie haircut. A slim figure, supple as a dancer. Gray suit, gray pumps, and pearl earrings. Somehow the clothes didn’t look right on her, not the woman he knew from that one, unforgettable night.

Her gaze swept over him. “Wow, you look, um, different.” She wore the same dazed expression he must have. “What are you doing here?”

“I was going to ask you the same thing.” But the answer was already dawning on both of them. “Are you…”

Before he could complete the question, two men appeared behind her.

“Holly?” one of them asked her. “We’ve been looking for you.”

Holly? Was that her real name? What the hell was going on?

A soft flush rose in her cheeks. “Sorry, Dad. I, er, got distracted.”

Dane tore his gaze away from her to glance at the men.

Oh, fuck no. This could not be happening. Ralph and Kirk Rochester stood on either side of her. The woman he knew as Olivia. The woman he’d been searching for, the woman he couldn’t forget.

“Holly,” he said, eyes locked onto hers. “Is that your real name? Holly Rochester?”

Her throat moved as she swallowed. “Yes.”

“And you are?” Ralph asked abruptly. His lowering brow told Dane that he’d already spotted him with Martin and Eric.

His stomach clenched, but he lifted his chin. “Dane Schofield, sir. I’m here with my father and brother, Martin and Eric Schofield.”

Ralph made a guttural noise in his throat before he put his hand on Holly’s arm. “Come on. Let’s get some clean air somewhere else.”

Holly threw a puzzled glance at Dane but didn’t protest as her father and brother led her away.

 

~~~ END OF CHAPTER ONE ~~~
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I'm happy to announce that book 3 in The Rochesters series will be out in August 2017. This book took a while to see the light of day, but I really wanted to complete the series with Holly Rochester's story. After many plot changes and rewrites, I'm finally happy with this book.

SECRET AFFAIR WITH THE MILLIONAIRE will be releasing soon! I'll be including a bonus story for a limited time only.

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All my Entangled Bliss books are just 99 cents for this week only.
Buy them here.
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Download dozens of romance books for free from April 13 to 18, 2017. Click here to see the full listing!


I've re-released my spicy contemporary romance, COURTING THE COP. Until the end of April you can download a free copy from Instafreebie. Click here to claim your free copy. This offer is only available through Instafreebie.

Love can hook you before you know it...

Abigail has bigger problems than adjusting to her role as owner of a yarn store she inherited from her aunt. Petty crime is hurting her business, plus that of all the other shops in the area.

When she spots a man stealing an orange from a neighboring store, she doesn’t hesitate to give chase—only to discover the man she’s just tackled to the ground is a cop.

Detective Brody Donovan is about to slap some cuffs on the woman decked out in a yarn costume, when his better sense prevails. Her apartment is the perfect place to set up a stakeout to catch the criminal who wounded his partner. Specifically, her bedroom.

The heat between them unexpectedly fries his concentration, though he can’t figure out why. She’s into ’50s nostalgia. He’s all about his job. She yearns for a man who will court her. He goes through women like tissues.

But when the criminal finally surfaces, Brody realizes too late that he’s dangerously close to losing the one woman he never thought he wanted.

Warning: Contains a commitment-phobic cop, stolen oranges and flirty aprons, and some heartfelt Shim Sham shimmying.

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