"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

Alessandro 'Sandro' Bellini's world is one of ruthless control, and his most loyal weapon is his Cane Corso, Cerberus. Across the city, Juniper 'June' Scott's world is a sunlit bakery, where she remains blissfully unaware of the shadows that govern her city. When Cerberus escapes, Sandro is prepared for war. He isn't prepared to find his beast being fed scones by a cheerful baker who has audaciously renamed the killer 'Muffin.' This singular act of canine betrayal forces the cold-blooded underboss into June's warm orbit. Each reluctant visit to retrieve his dog pulls him deeper under her spell, an addiction he can't fight. In a life of calculated sins, Sandro is about to discover his darkest vice isn't a choice, but a dangerous craving for the one woman he should be protecting her from: himself. ∘₊✧──────✧₊∘ Word Count: 55,331

Alexander Wolfe is the genius CEO behind the world's most advanced smart home system. His penthouse is sleek, spotless, and fully automated - and he likes it that way. No mess. No noise. No people. Enter Willow Hart, his annoyingly bright and budget-strapped executive assistant. When a system-wide AI crash leaves his luxury home unable to function without constant oversight, Alexander grudgingly agrees to let Willow stay and manage things "manually." Just for a few days. But Willow doesn't do quiet. She dances while cooking, rearranges furniture "for better vibes," and talks to his robot vacuum like it's a pet. His perfectly ordered world begins to glitch - starting with his heart. He built his empire to keep emotions out. But the one thing his tech can't calculate... is her. ━━▲━━ "Did you assign it a personality again?" he asked. "No. That would be irresponsible." I paused. "I may have named it, though." "Of course you did." "Gregory." "Gregory." "He feels like a Gregory. Stiff. In need of affection." He looked like he wanted to be annoyed. But he just... closed his eyes for a second. "Willow." "Yes?" "I am not adjusting the system to match your imaginary friendship circle of household appliances." I pouted. He rubbed his temples. "Fine. I'll take a look." "Yay!" "And stop calling me Alex." "Never." ━━▲━━ Word Count: 22,228

She nodded solemnly. "With my girl charm and my pretty dress. But now I just feel like a hot pile of creamed corn." I dragged a hand over my face. "You need water. And sleep." "I need closure." "Sunshine..." "No," she said, standing straighter and stabbing a finger into my chest. "You don't get to look like that and make me feel feelings and then just go all mysterious and noble and disappear like a sexy hitman Batman." "Sexy hitman Batman?" "I had a lot of wine." "I noticed." ●・○・●・○・● She bakes cookies. He breaks bones. Everyone in the city fears mafia boss Dominic Moretti-everyone except Tessa Bloom, the relentlessly cheerful café owner next door to his front business. She calls him "Mr. Broody," brings him muffins he never asks for, and walks into his office like it's not occupied by a man who could have someone disappeared with a phone call. Dominic doesn't have time for distractions-especially not sweet, sunshine-eyed distractions with flour on their noses. But when Tessa finds herself tangled in the underworld he's spent a lifetime controlling, protecting her becomes more than a duty. It becomes personal. And suddenly, the most dangerous man in the city starts falling for the only woman who isn't afraid of him. ●・○・●・○・● Word count: 23,178 Top Rankings: 10.14.25 - #6 in Mafia

When Valeria Venezia takes a discreet nanny job in a secluded Italian villa, she doesn't expect the child to belong to Luciano Salvatore - ruthless mafia boss, billionaire kingpin, and a man whose name alone commands fear across Europe. Cold. Untouchable. Dangerous. Luciano doesn't do relationships. He certainly doesn't do nannies. But Valeria's presence unsettles his carefully controlled world. She's not afraid of his threats. Not swayed by his money. And she's melting the ice around his heart faster than he can rebuild it. But the world Luciano lives in isn't safe - and neither is the obsession brewing between them. She came to care for a child. He plans to make her his. Whether she wants it or not. BOOK ONE OF SALVATORE SERIES.

𝐁𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐚, a soft-spoken, loving woman from Brazil, never imagined she would find herself in the lavish world of 𝐀𝐜𝐞 𝐈𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐯-a cold, distant Russian CEO struggling to navigate life after the death of his wife. When she accepts a job as his daughter 𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚'𝐬 nanny, she steps into a world of wealth, power, and unspoken tensions. 𝐀𝐜𝐞, still grieving the loss of the woman he believed was his one true love, is reluctant to let anyone into his life. But 𝐁𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐚'𝐬 unwavering devotion to 𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚 slowly chips away at the walls he's built around his heart. As 𝐁𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐚 becomes the mother figure 𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚 desperately needs, she finds herself torn between the growing affection for the child and the impossible pull toward the man she shouldn't want. In this world of secrets, duty, and unexpected bonds, 𝐁𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐚 must navigate her role as a caretaker-and possibly much more-while questioning how far she's willing to go for the family she's coming to love. ~~~ #1 loveandfamily #1 lover #3 nannyromance #19 romantictension #2 Portuguese #21 emotionaljourney #66 Russian #21 caretaker #5 nanny #28 singleparent #678 forbiddenlove #484 lover #77 business #6 replacement #38 lovestory #9 ceo

A week before their high school graduation, Ellie's boyfriend walked her to her door and kissed her goodnight, just like any other night. But there was nothing ordinary about what followed. Austin disappeared without a trace, never to be seen again... until now. Ellie is now 28. She has a good job, a roof over her head, and her best friend, a cat named Selma. Having fully given up on ever finding out what happened to Austin, imagine her surprise when she runs into him at a work conference out of town-wearing a name tag that says William. He's even more gorgeous now than he was back then. And that the spark between them... yeah, it's still sizzling. But Austin's secretive life leaves many questions unanswered and this time Ellie is not wiling to let go without an explanation. Austin knows one thing for sure; Ellie will keep going until she finds the truth. And in order to keep her safe, he has to stay far, far away from her. But can he?

After unexpectedly finding himself a single dad, Hayes must balance fatherhood and a custody battle with his demanding role as CIO at Cartwright & Sons, as he strives to win not just his daughter's custody but also his defense lawyer's heart. Standalone in the Cartwright Brothers series *** Hayes never envisioned himself as a father or a husband. Content with his bachelor lifestyle, he's blindsided when he suddenly becomes the sole caregiver for his unexpected infant daughter. Uncertain about his ability to parent and torn about whether to keep her, he struggles to balance fatherhood with his demanding role as CIO at Cartwright & Sons. Just when he thinks he's getting the hang of it, his world is upended once again when he's hit with a custody lawsuit. Enter Deanna, an associate lawyer and former hookup of Hayes. She has crushed on him for years and despite knowing the risks of getting involved with a client, Deanna takes on his case due to their past history and her own experiences growing up in an abusive home. Initially skeptical about Hayes's parenting abilities, the more time they spend together the blurrier the lines get between what's ethical and what her heart desires. Content warning: This story contains references to sexual assault and suicide that may be upsetting for some readers. Reader discretion is advised.

A professional hockey player nearing retirement falls hard for his best friend's much younger and seemingly uninterested sister, but things change when she needs a place to stay and he offers up his home and his bed. *** After one too many drinks and a little too much chemistry, Bryce Roehm wakes up next to Maria Evans-and nothing has ever felt more wrong... or more right. Bryce, a seasoned defenseman for the New York Empires, is in his final season before retirement. Known for his bad-boy reputation and commitment to bachelorhood, he's the last person who should be hooking up with his best friend's little sister. Especially when Maria is eight years younger, working hard to finish college, and nannying for one of his teammates. They agree to keep their one-night stand a secret. No harm, no foul. But secrets never stay buried for long. Maria's finally building a life she's proud of-free from her controlling father and determined to stand on her own two feet. She's not looking for complications. And Bryce? He's as complicated as they come. So when circumstances force them to live under the same roof, one thing becomes clear: How are they supposed to keep their hands-and hearts-to themselves?

Mia Hill. College bound with an athletic scholarship. A go-getter with big dreams and a fully thought out plan to make sure they come true. But with her father's release from prison looming and the inevitable stresses of adulting, everything she was once so sure of seems to slip away. And it all begins the summer before college when she finds herself working alongside Grayson Adler, football hotshot and player extraordinaire. On his way to a bright future of his own, Grayson should be focused on two things as he heads to college. Football. And getting good grades so he can keep playing football. What he wasn't counting on is Mia. The girl who grates his nerves more than anyone else. But who's also captivated him like no other. They quickly find themselves fighting urges that they have absolutely no time for, and feelings that don't fit into their plans. But try as they might, they just can't seem to stay away from each other. Grayson has always loved a challenge but getting closer to Mia is a game he's never played before. And as her past resurfaces, all the rules begin to change for their eyes. But ready or not, it's time to start playing the game.