Close friends of your ex-husband, for instance. Or firefighters who work in the same building as you. Yet despite her best judgment, librarian Lauren Foster can't help noticing fire captain Jake Davis whenever he jogs by…shirtless. They've always been friends, but all it takes is one not-so-chance meeting at a local bar and one not-quite-innocent walk home to ignite a fierce, uncontrollable desire between them.Widower Jake Davis has tried to ignore the spark he feels whenever Lauren's around, but once he sees her curves in a little black dress, there's no turning back. No matter how often she says she's all wrong for him, the sexy, outspoken divorcée is driving him wild in the best possible way. Maybe she's just blowing off steam. Or maybe he can convince her to fan these flames into something deeper, hotter and truer than they ever expected….

     Enter former military man turned executive protection officer Ziggy Thayer. Having spent years guarding billionaires, royalty, and rock n roll greats, he’s seen it all. From lavish parties through to every kind of excess. There’s no reason some Instagram stylista should throw him off his game. Even if she does have the most dangerous curves he’s ever seen... **Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

     Two alpha men can take care of a baby without anything crazy happening, right? Of course they can. Baby fever isn't real, is it? Definitely not. Two Wingmen and a Baby is a romantic comedy short story (<15000 words) and is best read after reading the Wingmen novels Ready to Fall and Confessions of a Reformed Tom Cat.

    Former competitive golfer Niall Cromarty pulled the short straw for the job of being Julie's golf coach, though he has no patience for people plagued by blind ambition. As if that weren't trouble enough, Niall's neighbor-turned-nemesis, Declan MacPherson, has finally found an old Last Will and Testament that could wreck Niall's plans to expand his golf course. Julie thought she wanted to wear that black judicial robe, but when Niall and Declan ask her to resolve their land dispute, she realizes she'd really rather wear Niall's ring. Will she steal Niall's dream, or will he fulfill hers? My Heartthrob's in the Highlands Florist Megan Leonard travels to Scotland to design the flowers for her sister's wedding, through its crunch time for Megan's business back home, and the loan that will allow her to expand her business has finally been approved. Best man Declan MacPherson is a Scottish farmer who strikes Megan as married to the land his family has been worked for generations, though he can be tempted to frolic with Megan in the greenhouse. As Megan and Declan fall for each other, they realized one of them will have to give up everything they've worked for if they're to be together. Can true love put down roots in Scotland, or will it wither in the face of practical realities?

    But all that changed when he met “Greta,” a beautiful stranger ready to explore her hidden desires. From a blue collar family, Gia Angelotti wore a badge, fought for right—and opened herself utterly to love him. Blindsided and falling hard, Jason does the first impulsive thing of his life and hustles her to the altar.Until a second chance proved that forever could be theirs.Then tragedy ripped Jason’s new bride from his arms and out of his life. When he finds Gia again, he gives her a choice: spend the three weeks before their first anniversary with him or forfeit the money she receives from their marriage. Reluctantly, she agrees to once again put herself at his mercy and return to his bed. But having her right where he wants her is dangerous for Jason’s peace of mind. No matter how hard he tries, he finds himself falling for her again. Will he learn to trust that their love is real before Gia leaves again for good?

    One gorgeous groomsman definitely disagrees. But are they both carrying too much baggage to begin a new romance?Hawaiian Reunion by Marie FerrarellaThe Best Man Devlin Marshall won't let anything spoil his buddy's big day—not even his own rocky marriage. Secrets and mistrust have divided him from his Amy, but the love  in the air seems to be catching…. Hawaiian Retreat by Leanne BanksThe Sister Family comes first. Deep down, Gabi Foster knows it, but this holiday is hurting her career. Can a sweet, sexy surfing instructor convince her that love is worth more than a business deal?

    These men are waaay too tempting. One wicked, sexy grin and, well -- who can resist! Certainly not these three women....A spy should know better, but this spy gets stuck on a blind-date assignment with the ex-partner who broke her heart. A lot of making up can get done between scaling rooftops and dodging bullets. "Dance with the Devil" by Cherry AdairA hostess discovers what it's like to really crash and burn on her first date with the undercover cop who's been casing her restaurant.... "Hal and Damnation" by Muriel JensenAnd if that isn't hot enough, what about a date from hell... literally. Satan at his seductive best! It's getting hot in here .... "Blind Date from Hell" by Anne Stuart

    Her blossoming career on Broadway tanked, forcing her to crawl back to home to Wellington. The icing on her failure cake? Her former on-again, off-again fling is in town, and the sexy Marine is taking up way too much space.Warren Davis always knew Erin was special, which is exactly why he can't have her. A girl like her deserves something permanent--something neither of them wants. But now that they're both back in town and she's right there in front of him, a challenge in her eyes he's never been able to resist, he's questioning everything.That challenge quickly escalates into an epic game of Truth or Dare. Erin's sure she's got him on lock, but as the night progresses, Warren's dares intensify, drowning her in lust. But with the past still breathing down their necks, there's no way either of them can win…

    The entire family was arriving, except for one key person. Her husband. Chris was away on a mission, and even though his brothers were also SEALs and probably knew where he was, they couldn't share that information. Instead, they teased, complained, and did everything they could to keep her from worrying too much.Chris had completed his mission and now had two goals. Goal one: Get home to his wife. Easier said than done. Goal two: Deliver his and Jamie's baby. If he is only able to get there in time. *This story was originally released as a part of Seal of My Dreams Anthology

    Reichert.The McCready Family Funeral Home and Bait Shop has crickets running rampant in the store and hot sauce in the Snack Shack’s ketchup bottles. But as the county coroner, Frankie has enough on her plate without worrying about the increasingly mean pranks being played at her family’s business. And the arrival of Sheriff Eric Linden, both devastatingly attractive and painfully taciturn, is enough to push her over the edge. Linden, who didn’t seem to get the memo about men in uniform and Southern charm, is condescending and cold, revealing absolutely nothing about his past as an Atlanta police officer, while also making Frankie’s job as coroner as difficult as possible. And with the town’s Fourth of July celebration coming up, it’s essential for McCready’s to be cricket-free and in good working order. Strangling the sheriff will make her job even harder. Can Frankie hold off the threats to preserve her own sanity? With her trademark “clever humor, snark, silliness, and endearing protagonists” (Booklist), Molly Harper invites fans to return to the family they first met in Sweet Tea and Sympathy. Y’all sit down and stay a while, won’t you?

    Kat McMarrin likes her space.After spending her entire life as an Army brat, she's done moving all over the map.So when crashing at her brother's lake house comes with an unexpected plus-one,she's less than thrilled.Even if his best friend Jesse is calm, cool, and gorgeous.But fixing up the falling-down cabin quickly turns from sawdust to sizzle,and pretty soon, Jesse and Kat find themselves wondering...Can a fixer-upper really become forever?

    Having Charlie meant putting some of her own dreams on hold, but Sabrina is content to surround herself with family and friends, safe from the realities of the outside world. She had enough of that when the man she loved broke her heart. Jake Killen’s career in professional hockey has brought him many rewards on and off the ice, but returning to New York brings back a flood of memories. When he sees Sabrina again, he discovers that he didn’t just walk away from her ten years ago, but also from their unborn child. Struggling with anger, guilt, and chemistry that’s off the chart, Sabrina and Jake wonder if they can find love again and, this Christmas, make all their wishes come true. Christmas in New York Book 1: This Christmas by Jeannie Moon Book 2: All I Want for Christmas by Jennifer Gracen Book 3: A Light in the Window by Jolyse Barnett Book 4: Goodness and Light by Patty Blount

    She’s small town royalty. Their love was doomed from the start.Finn spent his childhood living so far on the wrong side of the tracks, he couldn’t even see them through his trailer window. When he moves back to his small, southern hometown to open the first bar in a formerly dry county, he’s no longer the boy who left—he’s a man with something to prove. As long as he doesn’t allow himself to get sidetracked by the only girl he’s ever loved.Willow learned a long time ago to protect her heart at all costs, so her walls are firmly in place when her ex comes strolling back into town, all cockiness and charm. When they're thrown together on the job, she knows better than to give in to the tug of attraction that still simmers between them. She might be drawn to him, but she certainly doesn't trust him. It's time for her to prove she's not the brokenhearted girl he left behind.There’s no room for second chances in Havenbrook. And Willow’s daddy—the mayor—will do anything to keep it that way.

    When he returns to town unexpectedly for their friends' New Year's Eve wedding, the sparks between them ignite, but can her wanderer ever settle down? Ford has never forgotten Ruby, or the kiss that changed everything between them, despite the many women he has tried to erase her with. His return to England for the wedding means a second chance with Ruby--but will one passion-filled evening with her be enough, or has he finally found his home?

    Or for him. Or anything that had to do with Cal Donovan from Boston. Meeting him had been a complete and utter surprise, taking me one hundred percent off guard. I met new people every single day in my line of work and none of them affected me. Wasn’t that the way of things though? You could meet a thousand people and they’d all mean nothing to you. But then you’d meet that one and they suddenly meant everything.