I'm the collateral. It wasn't supposed to be like this. My life was simple. Carefree. Mundane. I thought I knew everything about my past...and about my father. That was before he stormed in. Beautiful and strong, I knew immediately he was trouble. But I didn't think he was deadly. I was wrong. A man like him gets what he wants...and he wants me. Not just for one month, but for forever.

    He's also a notorious, no-good player—the wrong kind of man for a woman with big responsibilities. But at a mutual friend's lavish wedding, passion and curiosity get the best of maid of honor Vanessa, and Ralph reveals himself to be the best man in more ways than one.Ralph has had more than his share of women, but none has captivated him like Vanessa. To convince her that his player days are behind him, he'll have to show her what kind of man he truly is. He'll have to fight every inch of the way to break through her defenses and claim the blazing ecstasy they both want . . . and show her why she can't—and shouldn't—say no.