"Morning, Mr. Serious," I say now, setting his usual cup on the table. I add two sugar packets because I can't help myself. He never uses them. He never even looks at them. But I like the idea of them sitting there, taunting him with sweetness. His eyes flick up to mine - stormy gray, the kind that make you feel like you're under interrogation for a crime you don't remember committing. "You should stop doing that." His voice is low, accented, like gravel dragged across velvet. Russian maybe? Or Italian. Or both. Either way, it does unholy things to my stomach. "Doing what?" I ask innocently, sliding the sugar closer to his hand. "That." His gaze drops to the packets. "I don't take sugar." I grin, all sunshine and sass. "You don't know that. Maybe one day you'll wake up and realize life's better with a little sweetness." ●・○・●・○・● Rafael Volkov doesn't do small talk. Or smiles. Or sugar in his coffee. As the mafia's underboss, he's built a reputation on silence, sharp suits, and an expression that could curdle milk. So of course, Lila Parker makes it her mission to crack him. The sunny diner waitress insists on slipping him extra sugar packets, calling him "Mr. Serious" behind the counter, and treating him like a normal guy instead of a walking red flag. He tells her to stop. She doesn't. He growls. She grins. And suddenly, his late-night coffee runs feel less like routine and more like... something he shouldn't want. The problem? In his world, affection is dangerous. Smiles get noticed. Weaknesses get used. And if Lila isn't careful, her little act of kindness might just paint a target on her back. Rafael swore he didn't have a sweet tooth. Turns out he was wrong. ●・○・●・○・● Word Count: 37,478

After an unexpected ceiling collapse sends her apartment into chaos, Madelaine Grayson ends up living with her brother - and dangerously close to his tattooed, way-too-charming roommate. He's off-limits... but resisting him might be impossible. *** When Madelaine Grayson's bathroom ceiling caves in, it's not just drywall that crumbles. It's her entire world. Forced to move in with her brother, she finds herself swept up in the chaos of his new protective attitude - especially when it comes to his tattooed roommate, Noah Laurier. Noah is the epitome of perfection: sweet, hot, and embedded into every thought Madelaine has. But he's forbidden, and the closer she gets, the harder he is to resist. Well... what her brother doesn't know can't hurt him, right? *** "Matt's sister, I presume?" He walks towards the couch and my eyes widen. He's tall. I thought I was tall but this man could tower me, and when he reaches a hand towards me, there's an intricate clock tattooed on the back of his hand and his fingers have bones tattooed over them. This man is not human. He's tall and angular and dripping with sex appeal. This man is hot. Capital H, capital O, capital T. I don't think I've ever seen a human being so attractive. All I can think about as I force myself to keep my eyes on the screen is the feel of his jaw beneath my hand, and it takes everything in me not to look back at him.

The Therapist's Wife is a domestic thriller that weaves between the present and two years prior, eventually exposing a shocking truth. From its opening moment, where readers meet Lily Russo, a young college graduate and true crime podcaster who is trapped in a basement, waiting for her abductor to finish the job he started, this book is sure to thrill. As Lily flashes back through the months leading to this moment, she can't help but wonder how she got here. Was it her crumbling marriage? Her preoccupation with the string of missing coeds from the local colleges? Or is there something she's not seeing? Perfect for fans of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and A Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter, The Therapist's Wife will leave readers guessing until the very end.

Melbourne has been Hugh's best friend, assistant and confidante for 8 years.Mel holds unrequited feelings for Hugh.Their friendship is toxic as Mel tries to escape from Hugh and the control he has over him.One night of passion leads Mel to a tipping point. Will the cruel businessman let go of his most prized possession. #1 bxbxb

To land her dream internship, aspiring sports journalist Selena agrees to work with cocky Oracle University star quarterback Jace to document his highly-anticipated return to football only to discover fighting the sparks between them may be her most difficult challenge yet. Season 1 of Winning Hearts *** Selena Roy knows her dream of becoming a journalist with the world's premiere sports network lies in their coveted internship. Her key to a standout submission? Jace Maxwell, superstar quarterback of the Oracle U Archers. Haunted by an injury that cost them a championship, Jace's dream of playing in the NFL hangs in the balance. Not only does his shoulder need rehab, but so does his image, so the two strike a mutually beneficial deal. Where Selena is persistent, Jace looks to push buttons-and he finds Selena's button especially intriguing. Through the highs and lows of the season, beneath glittering lights and long nights of practice, their undeniable chemistry leads to a red-hot attraction neither of them can resist. But as the pressure mounts and business and pleasure collide, the question arises: can they achieve their goals and be with each other? Or will ambition be their downfall, both on and off the field? *** The space between us dwindled. Despite the shockwaves that coursed through me, I refused to let Jace see the way it affected me. "Threatening me, Maxwell?" His face moved closer. "Only if you want me to, Selena."

Two childhood best friends made a deal two years ago to have a steamy and secret relationship without any commitment involved despite the fact of them hating each other but full of sexual chemistry for one another. They call it quits after time but these types of relationships never end well. He needed her more than air itself. He was her breath of fresh air as up coming up from the water. They were never meant to be and they knew it, yet they continue to search for one another in every other person that crossed their path. Don't be fooled not every romance story is a story of love. Almost always heartbreak needs to play a part. - - - "If it's the right person there is no wrong time"

Billie works 9-5 to pay the bills. It's a good job, she knows everyone and everyone knows her... except for the mysteriously handsome boss who only seems to smile for her

A struggling painter crosses paths with a mysterious art collector who offers her a chance at success in exchange for indulging his unconventional desires. Season 1 of The Erotic Artiste Series *** Evelyn Ali is a talented yet struggling painter yearning for recognition. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with the enigmatic and wealthy Japanese-American art collector, Hiro Akeno. Drawn to Eve's raw talent and untapped sensuality, Akeno offers her a tantalizing proposition: he promises to catapult her career to unimaginable heights in exchange for indulging his unconventional desires. Intrigued and enticed by the allure of success, Eve embarks on a thrilling and perilous path of sensual exploration. As Eve delves deeper into Akeno's world, she discovers hidden desires within herself that she never knew existed. But as she immerses herself in this intoxicating world, she must confront her own fears and insecurities. Will she be able to navigate the fine line between her artistic integrity and the demands of Akeno's unconventional desires? And as her heart becomes entangled with his, will she lose herself in the pursuit of both artistic success and passionate love?

When freelance programmer Arty hacks into his own matchmaking app to pair himself with his crush, he enlists the reluctant help of his best friend Ben-whose feelings for Arty might run a little bit deeper than "just friends"-forcing him to confront whether true love is closer than expected. Standalone in the Mismatched series *** Arty Mavety believes love is a formula waiting to be solved, and he's determined to prove it by hacking into the matchmaking app he's developing to pair himself with his crush Leo, a neighborhood barista who barely knows Arty exists. Arty ropes in his best friend Ben Himmel, cashing in a favor-though they both know that Ben would've helped him anyway. Ben wants to be a good friend and support Arty's misguided mission, but there's one small problem-he's got long-buried feelings for Arty, and they're starting to bubble to the surface. As Arty's idealized romance with Leo threatens to unravel his friendship with Ben, he begins to realize true love can't be engineered. And sometimes, it's way closer than expected.

When aspiring writer Marcie is hired as the personal assistant to her all-time favorite author, Rosalind Lindbergh, she expects to be learning the ins and outs of the industry - not fending off red-hot feelings that aren't exactly "workplace appropriate." Season 1 of Romancing The Writer *** Willing to do anything to prove she has it together, unemployed writer/perpetual screw-up Marcella Harper somehow manages to land her second-place dream job: personal assistant to her personal hero, best-selling author Rosalind Lindbergh. Brutally dumped less than 24 hours after her first day, Marcie discovers that there may be no better distraction than her new job ... and new boss. After all, Marcie has had a crush on über-famous, ultra-hot Roz since high school. And - although she promised Marcie their relationship was strictly professional - Roz might just be returning her awkward, bumbling advances. When lines begin to blur and career prospects end up on the line, Marcie is sure of one thing: either she gives up on her dreams, or her dream woman. "You know, they have tutorials online for this kind of thing," I tell her. "You know, I hired a personal assistant for this kind of thing," she retorts. And then, we both stand there, awkwardly close. We watch the coffee sputter, then begin to pour. Neither of us utters a word. And, when it's done pouring, neither of us reach for it. "Are you ... not gonna take your coffee?" I finally ask. It's quiet. Tentative. "Oh. Right."