He usually prefers his employees to be less...bubbly. Energetic. A little more like him, essentially. But there was something about her the moment she introduced herself. Maybe it was the way she looked at him, or the way she smiled at everyone in her line of sight, who knows. But, whatever the reason is, he hates it. He hates that he gave into that feeling when he met her. She manages to find her way into his mind 24/7, unlike any woman ever has. She doesn't think she's ever seen someone as angry at the world as him. He can be rude and he doesn't always think about other's feelings before he speaks. A scowl somehow is always set on his face, like he was born that way. For any other person, a man like that would make you want to simply ignore him. But not her. She has her heart set on making him smile. Even just a little. Maybe even a laugh. And she is not giving up any time soon. It's not hard to tell that two people with personalities like theirs can lead to a dangerous combination.

What happens when a Mob Boss meets the woman ordered to kill him?

She's a little more serious for someone in her kind of profession. You'd expect her to at least crack a smile on a daily basis. She's sensible. He's a little too flirtatious for his own good, but he's charming and sweet. He doesn't always give in easy. He has his heart set on getting the girl who owns the bakery on the corner to give him a chance, and she has her heart set on not giving into the charming personality of the man in her store. Which one of them will succeed in their goal? __________ Logan looks very amused. "It's just a phone number, beautiful. Not the end of the world." He smiles, reminding me of the terrible thing I'm doing here. I huff and finish putting my number in his phone, quickly handing it back to him. "You're going to delete my number after this, Logan." I firmly order, pointing my finger at him. Logan grins, charming. "I can delete it, but I can't forget it." He murmurs, teasing me as he waves his phone around. "Don't memorize it." I scoff, disgusted by the mere idea of Logan memorizing my fucking phone number. "Six-zero-two, sev-" __________ Waste My Time - Crystal Casino Band <3

Running from hell isnʼt easy. Especially when someoneʼs dragging you back down into it. Belligerent, brash and always in shades of black, Freya is hardly a lady. Hidden away by her father, sheʼs lived a normal life despite being born into the dark waters of New Yorkʼs underworld. Heʼs cold, cruel and calculating, with a proclivity for destruction. Feared by even Made Men, Torren is the boss of the stateʼs most leachorous crime syndicate. Freya hates his crudity and possessiveness, but she canʼt deny the way her breath hitches at his rough touch, the deep timbre of his voice, and his dark, heated gaze. Torren hates her disobedience, her recklessness, and her chaos. To him, sheʼs only something to be tamed. And after he slips a ring on her hand, snatching away her future, she makes only one vow---to become his biggest torment.

"We could just . . . *do it*, you know," he says now, teasingly. "Clear all that sexual tension up with one quick ten minute session?" I seriously hope he's joking, but I'm not certain he is. Either way, I can't prevent the exasperated huff of laughter that escapes my lips at those words. "You must be dreaming if you think there's *any* sexual tension between us," I scoff. "Anyway, I'd rather not be another notch on your bedpost, thanks very much." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ruby Rafferty has won the ultimate prize - a luxury holiday in Crete! In theory, it couldn't be more perfect - endless sun, Greek food, an unlimited free bar . . . There's only one problem. The man she has no choice but to share the prize with. Lewis Sheridan may be ridiculously attractive, but he is also cocky, cynical, and comes complete with his own specific set of red flags. He's everything Ruby has never wanted in a guy, and she's not sure she can survive *one* day alone with him, let alone ten. It's *fine*, though . . . Their suite is massive, the cocktails are flowing, and Ruby can't help but notice how handsome and charming the hotel manager is. If only he didn't think she and Lewis were already a couple . . . Will forced proximity push our vacationers closer or further apart? Can enemies really become lovers? And what will happen if anyone realises they're technically on holiday under false pretences? I guess we're about to find out . . . Cover by @jspromcoms

Kiya's life lacks excitement. However, one day, while she is singing in her dorm bathroom, someone joins in on the other side of the wall. Initially, she is shocked but quickly recovers and duets the rest of the song with him. What could go wrong -- it's anonymous. It surely couldn't be anyone from the hockey team, now could it? ✧✧✧✧✧ Warning this book contains mature topics: ❆ sexual content ❆ vulgar language ❆ alcohol consumption Started: November 17th, 2021 Finished: December 4th, 2022 [word count: 95,000 - 100,000]

[𝐌𝐚𝐟𝐢𝐚 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞] Once lovers, now enemies, but their love was stronger. Milana Levine used to be one of the most well known assassins in New York, maybe even in all of the US. Known as Demise, even her title sent a warning. She wasn't one to be messed with. Everything changed when she fled the reckless city to escape the aftermath of her father's murder. She was born into the Russian Mafia and wanted to finally give herself the life she felt she deserved. But nothing lasts forever. Upon returning to New York, Milana finds she has more enemies than she bargained for. With a gun to her head, her only chance is to appeal to the heartless and powerful Marco Cortez, the leader of the Italian Mafia, and hope he doesn't hold a grudge... Does she really want an alliance as badly as she wants him? And most importantly, how will Milana juggle revenge and desire? Started: 03/03/23 Ended:

[2021 Wattys Shortlist] Monica Kelly returns to her hometown years after abandoning it, only to bump into and befriend Liam Belkin-who, despite his walls and issues, cannot help but draw himself closer to someone he can't have. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎✦ ✦ ✦ After being screwed over too many times, Monica Kelly ran from her hometown as soon as she graduated high school, leaving her brother and former life behind. But it isn't until four years later when she returns, and in need of money and a distraction, she gets a job at the local diner. She swears this isn't a forever thing-when the summer is done, she'll go get her masters and become somebody, far away from the people who screwed her over. But when Liam Belkin, the towns residential brooding man who hides behind a baseball cap, steps into the diner every night, she finds herself breaking down her one rule: don't get close to anyone. And although he doesn't talk, or even smile for that matter, he finds himself doing so every time Monica is around. But when two people with broken pasts come together, there's no telling if two wrongs can make a right-especially when betrayal is right around the corner.

PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS "The softest place to fall" "Who did this to you?" The question hangs in the air between us. I can't look at him. I stare at my hands instead. "Ella." His voice breaks on my name. "Please. Talk to me." "I- " The word comes out as barely a whisper. "I can't." "You can. Whatever it is, you can tell me. I'm not going anywhere."