Real Deal

What happens when you attend a first responder's bachelor auction with your best friends? Well, if your name is Madison Kelly like mine is, your friends end up bidding on a date for you with your high school crush. One date. That's all I'm committed to. A few hours and I can tuck him back into that tattered old shoebox in my closet. As always, the universe has other plans. I never would've predicted that in a matter of days, he'd turn from my dream guy into my business partner - and that's when things got interesting.

Who knew sleeping with the enemy could be this fun? Was the one night stand a good idea? Well, no. Probably not in retrospect. In my defense, I had just moved back into my grandparents' house, I'd lost my dream job, and a guy on Tinder had stood me up. It was like life had suddenly stamped 'loser' on my forehead. I fully admit to feeling sorry for myself and acting impulsively, but by the time I'd figured out who the bartender was, I was already falling for him.

It all started with a mysterious blue note sewn into a wedding dress. Something blue. I’d gone to sell my own unworn bridal gown at a vintage clothing store. That’s when I found another bride’s “something old.” Stitched into the lining of a fabulously feathered design was the loveliest message I’d ever read: Thank you for making all of my dreams come true. The name embossed on the blue stationery: Reed Eastwood, obviously the most romantic man who ever lived. I also discovered he’s the most gorgeous. If only my true-love fantasies had stopped there.

I swore off anyone remotely like my ex. On the top of that list? Attorneys. Everyone knows they can't be trusted. Now that I've moved back into my childhood home in Chicago, my focus is my daughter, my mom, and me. Then I see Reed Warner again. I push him away, but somehow he weasels his way into every part of my life, not willing to take "No" for an answer. In spite of my better judgment, I can't stop thinking about the way his designer suits fit his muscular frame. The problem? Not only is he a lawyer...he was the best man at my wedding.

One look at Jericho Forge, and I knew the rumors were true. He was a predator, and he had set his sights on me. I knew better than to bet more than I could afford to lose that night. I knew better than to bet myself. But desperation leads to bad decisions, and I thought there was no way I could lose. I was wrong. Now I have no choice but to make a deal with the devil....

I’m an all-or-nothing man - 100 percent focused on whatever has my attention. First it was serving my country in the Special Forces. Then it was building my business. Right now it’s the hot blonde at the bar who’s about to become another notch on my bedpost.

Wer hätte gedacht, dass es so viel Spaß machen würde, mit dem Feind zu schlafen? War der One-Night-Stand eine gute Idee? Rückblickend wohl eher nicht. Zu meiner Verteidigung kann ich nur sagen, ich hatte gerade meinen Traumjob verloren, war zurück ins Haus meiner Großeltern nach San Francisco gezogen und ein Typ von Tinder hatte mich versetzt. Es war, als hätte mir das Leben den "Loser"-Stempel aufgedrückt. Und als der Kerl hinter der Bar mich dann mit diesem Blick ansah, mit seinem perfekten Dreitagebart, dem Bizeps, der sich unter seinem Shirt wölbte, und mit diesem Grinsen... Ich gebe zu, dass ich impulsiv gehandelt habe.

Schlagfertig. Witzig. Berührend. Payton Hill ist selbstbewusst, erfolgreich in ihrem Beruf und hat einen großartigen Freundeskreis. Wäre da nur nicht die immer wiederkehrende Frage nach ihrem Beziehungsstatus. Als hätte sie mit ihrem neuen Chef - den sie besser kennt, als ihr lieb ist - noch nicht genug zu tun, lässt sie sich zusätzlich von ihrer besten Freundin überreden, eine Dating-App auszuprobieren. Allerdings spielt das Schicksal Roulette, denn zur gleichen Zeit trifft sie einen Mann, der ihren hohen Ansprüchen genügen könnte... und trotz alledem stellt sie sich immer öfter die Frage: Wer ist Hunter?

Bennett Fox walked into my life on one hell of a crappy Monday morning. I was late for the first day at my new job - a job I’d now have to compete for, even though I’d already worked eight years to earn it, because of an unexpected merger. While I lugged my belongings up to my new office, a meter maid wrote me a parking summons. She’d ticketed a long line of cars - except for the Audi parked in front of me, which happened to be the same make and model as mine. Annoyed, I decided to regift my ticket to the car that had evaded a fine.

Gavin Kingsley burst into my life in a sharp and unexpected twist of fate. You know his type - arrogant, dangerously handsome and impossible to ignore. Something dark within him calls to the shadows inside me. I long for the kind of heart-wrenching passion I've only read about, and his tragic past reads like one of my favorite literary classics. Raw. Visceral. Captivating. Together, we're a perfect mess. The deeper I fall into his world, the more I crave him like a drug - he pushes every boundary I have and challenges everything I thought I wanted.

The first time I met Caine West was in a bar. He noticed me looking his way and mistakenly read my scowling as checking him out. When he attempted to talk to me, I set him straight -- telling him what I thought of his lying, cheating, egomaniacal ass. You see, the gorgeous jerk had wined and dined my best friend-smooth talking her into his bed, all along failing to mention that he was married. He deserved every bit of my tongue-lashing and more for what he'd done.

Der perfekte Mann ist ein charmanter sexy Anwalt, der genau weiß, wie er eine Frau verführt? - Pff. Ich war da. Hatte einen. Habe hinterher sein T-Shirt verbrannt. Nach meiner Scheidung habe ich nicht allen Männern abgeschworen, nur denen, die wie mein Ex sind. Ganz oben auf der Liste? Anwälte! Ich bin mit meiner Tochter zurück nach Chicago gezogen, um mich um meine kranke Mutter zu kümmern. Ich habe mein persönliches Happy End nicht aufgegeben, nur die Suche danach auf unbestimmte Zeit verschoben. Als ich Reed Warner wiedersah, erinnerte er mich an alle meine Fehler.

Jackson "The Beast" Boudreaux is rich, gorgeous, and unbelievably rude to the staff at Chef Bianca Hardwick's New Orleans restaurant. Bianca would sooner douse herself in hot sauce than cook for Jackson again, but when he asks her to cater his fundraiser, Bianca can't refuse, knowing the cash will help pay her mother's medical bills. Then Jackson makes another outrageous request: Marry me. The unconventional offer includes an enormous sum - money Bianca desperately needs, even if it does come with a contract - and a stunning ring.

Growing up, the three of us were friends. He was the nerd. I was the playboy. She was the beauty. Deep down, I only ever wanted her. I kept it inside because Rory and I made a pact that our friend, Amber, was off-limits. He lied. I went off to college, and he got the girl. Amber never knew how I felt. They were together for years - before he broke her heart. Through it all and across the miles, she and I casually stayed in touch. When my job sent me to Boston for a three-month contract position, Amber let me stay in her spare room.

As a chief stewardess on luxury superyachts, I massage egos, pamper the spoiled, and cater to the most outlandish desires of the rich and famous. I've never had a guest want something I can't give them. Until British businessman Hayden Wolf comes aboard - all sexy swagger and mysterious requests. But guests are strictly off limits and I've never broken a rule. Not even bent one. My family are depending on me and I can't lose my job. Only problem is Hayden Wolf is looking at me like I just changed his life. And he's touching me like he's about to change mine.