The one that got away. Every girl has one, right? Mine was a charming, British aristocrat who turned my world upside down one summer. From the moment I first spotted Leo in the distance through my binoculars, I’d been captivated. I certainly never expected to find a man showering outside of the property across the bay in his birthday suit.

He was gorgeous, older and guarded. I knew he was trouble from the moment we locked eyes. We met at work, on my first day as a barista. He smiled, I melted...then he tasted my coffee and threw it away. Again, the next day, and the next. He hated the coffee, yet still came back. I knew his game. He called my coffee death in a cup. I called him god’s gift to women. I wasn’t lying.

As a divorced single father, I live by three rules: Make sure every day my daughter, Paisley, knows she’s number one in my life. No matter what, keep contact with my cheating ex-wife to a minimum, and turn Maxwell Wineries into a legacy that keeps Paisley set for life. When I hire Lexi to look after my daughter, I realize I need another rule: Don’t pursue Paisley’s nanny. But even if I had that rule it wouldn’t matter. Because I'm breaking it already.

Growing up, I knew my older brother’s best friend thought of me as “Logan’s kid sister”. For me, though, our next-door neighbor Colin felt like anything but a sibling. Whenever I spied on him through my bedroom window, as he banged away, shirtless, on his drum kit, I felt sensations inside me I’d never felt for my actual brother. But when we moved away and Colin’s band took off like a rocket, I knew my tweener fantasies would never become a reality. 

Legend has it, the man you kiss at a wedding is the man you’ll marry. In my case, it’s nothing but trouble. Spencer Carrollton is a dark-haired, hazel-eyed beast. When I collided with him at my cousin’s wedding, I wasn’t looking for love. But his naughty eyes flashed, his full lips curled into a knowing smile, and I should have run. I didn’t. I kissed him instead. Then he gave me a job when I needed it the most.

Jack Cooper’s a devoted single dad, just trying to make it through the morning without burning breakfast.  His life is all about lists and rules and boundaries. (Raising three kids on his own, who can blame him?) Meanwhile, I’m a shameless free spirit looking for signs from the universe. And Jack? He's a sign. No doubt. The way his gaze skates across my face, gentle and questioning. The tired circles under his eyes and the hopeful smile quirking his lips. I can’t stop fantasizing about the guy and completely adore his kids. It's not like that should stop me from trying to help.

Trent Aldridge is the devil. Rich. Arrogant. Sinfully handsome. He holds my inheritance in his hands. Twenty-two million dollars I didn't even know about. I met him at a funeral. As one life ended, mine unraveled. Because he has one to ruin me. And Trent Aldridge never loses. 

My husband isn’t a gentle man. And God knows he isn’t the sharing type. Rico’s announcement has dropped a bomb into my marriage. I never thought I’d see Rico again. Never thought Dante would ever have to know. Seeing the way he looks at me now, as though I’m just another problem to be handled? It’s breaking my heart.

Following rules shot me to the top of my game as an all-star baseball player, and the golden rule is this - don’t hook up with your teammate’s sister. But ask her to be your fake date when you desperately need one for a family wedding? Nothing in the guy code against that. Plus, the flirty, feisty Sierra’s my friend too, so why the hell not pretend we’re madly in lust for two days in Hawaii? 

They say that all men are created equal. Well, that’s a blatant lie! I know, because I met God's gift to women in Vegas; I pretended he was my husband to get rid of another man. He took our fake marriage seriously, and it became his personal goal to consummate. He spoke to me in French, and I lied to him in German. His laughter was addictive. But I thought what happens in Vegas would stay in Vegas. Until it didn't.

My father was ruthless. Cold. Calculated. Formidable. Every decision. Every step. Every thought. Every breath he controlled. I never thought anyone could despise him as much as I did. I was wrong. So wrong. There was one person. He wanted revenge. I was the willing pawn. He was dangerous, beautiful, broken, and most of all a way to get back at my father. But there’s one thing I didn’t count on...falling in love.

Eden Murphy came into my club looking to make some extra cash. A girl like her didn't belong in a place like this. She'd get ripped to shreds. Most likely by me. There's nothing but sweetness dripping from her sexy little body, and I'm the monster who's salivating to get a taste. 

I was totally over Joshua Parkerson. Sure, I had a teenage crush on him way back when - and everyone knew it - but he never saw me as anything but his little brother's friend, the girl who got tongue-tied any time he walked into a room. I had long ago accepted the fact that his strong arms would never hold me, his lush lips would never claim mine, and his blue eyes would never see me as anything more than who I used to be.

She’s hard up. He’s just hard.... After an ill-fated one-night stand, Wyatt Landry was the last person I ever expected to see again. By design, mind you, as I spent the last two years avoiding him. He was only ever meant to be a good time - a really good time - and now, thanks to one teensy little mistake, he’s back in my life and wielding an entirely different set of tools. 

It’s official. I, Ainsley James, am crazy. Desperate and crazy. It’s the only explanation as to why I’m nauseous, standing outside Maverick Lexington’s door. I mean, it’s possible the stories about his deck of playing cards - with the letters IOU scrawled across the back - are just rumors of the ruthless quid pro quo deals he barters. But the flutters in my stomach know better. Maverick is as cold as they come. But, I need one of those cards. I need to owe Maverick Lexington a favor....