The words burned against my brain, searing hot. Then another thought, more dangerous than the first. Tie her wrists, brand her, teach her. She was wearing a dress that was a size too small, and I knew immediately she didn’t have a boyfriend waiting for her at home, because no man would have let her out of the house in that. The dress was red. Short. A sweetheart neckline that was supposed to make her look innocent, but did nothing except push her full curves up and over the material. Her hair was dirty blond and long, tousled around her shoulders. She was sipping a glass of champagne and looking around nervously, her wide eyes flicking from person to person at the party, as if she were afraid she was going to get caught. What have you done, bad girl? Something you should be punished for? My palm burned as I imagined taking her over my knee, that short little dress pushed up, the place between her legs pulsing. The feeling of desire I had looking at her was like an electric shock to my soul. My instincts said to leave her alone, that this would end in nothing but tragedy. My instincts had always served me well in the past. But this time, I decided to ignore them. An innocent girl. A ruthless man. An inevitable, sordid devastation…

    Charisma. Charm. Success. To the outside world, Josh Larson has it all. With a thriving business and more than enough attention from the ladies, what more could a guy want? Depth. Colliding with Quinn Tate was never part of his plans, but when he meets the sexy as sin stripper, Josh realizes there is more to her than meets the eye. On a mission to fill the void in his life, the mystery surrounding Quinn’s secrets, leaves him craving the truth behind her guarded exterior. When he wants more than she’s willing to give, the decision lies with Josh. Give up on something special, or fight for the only woman who could be worth the wait?

    Darcy, life is never going to be simple… Tess Barker is having a rough time. She enjoys giving tours of the Northland of New Zealand, but her endometriosis makes the long days a challenge, and now she’s gone and insulted one of her best friends by mistake. She’s secretly liked Finn Brennan – the gorgeous Mr. Darcy lookalike – for years, but he’s never made a move on her, and now not only has she hurt his feelings, but they’re both interviewing for the same job – #awkward. Finn likes his position in the Education Department at Waitangi, but recent events have made him restless, and he’s ready for a change. The move to Exhibitions Director at a museum in Christchurch might be just what he’s looking for, but he’s up against the younger, dynamic, beautiful Tess. When she apologizes for upsetting him, a kiss is a natural way to prove there’s no hard feelings. They agree to work together on their presentations for the interview and to let the best man – or woman – win. Time spent together soon reveals a sizzling attraction that turns into deep passion. Things come to a head on their return to the bay, when Finn realizes he can’t escape his past troubles if he stays. But it’s only when Tess falls ill that he has to make the ultimate decision to fight or fly.

    Serving our country was something I was made to do. It was the only thing I knew. I was going to miss it so much, but the time had come for me to return home for good. The love of my life was pregnant. We were starting a family. I was going to be a father. Life was perfect. All of my years as a SEAL hadn't prepared me for the heartbreak that was coming. One second my love was right there with me, and the next I was alone, just a single dad raising his little girl. An unexpected meeting with a total stranger gave me the chance to follow my dreams and start my own company. There were only two things that mattered to me. The first being my daughter and giving her the life she deserved, and I was working hard to do just that. The second was my company and the thought of building it into something great, so I buried myself in work. Everything was fine the way it was. I kept to myself, my little girl was happy, and my company was growing. That was exactly how I liked it. The one thing I didn't need was a distraction. I didn't have time for that, and I didn't want it. Then I got a call. It was part of the job. That's all it was. I had no idea just how much that one call would change everything.

    This second edition is filled with some old faces and some new ones.Wrap up your presents neatly under the tree, because the naughty helpers are going on vacation this year.That's right, all of our stories will be taking place in resorts or on vacation. After all, you never know if you might meet in a foreign place, or if you might come in contact with the one who got away, your best friend's sibling, or maybe even your overbearing boss.Santa's Naughty Helpers: Second Edition includes stories from: Elizabeth Knox & J.H. Wolfe, E.C. Land, Heather Young-Nichols, Rae B. Lake, Jen Talty, Jewelz Baxter, Liberty Parker, Emily Sharp, Eva James, Cedar Rose, and Zara Teleg.

    It's what life calls for right now. With a violent, painful past to put behind her—and a lot of moving on to do—she has no intention of letting anyone new in.Samuel Young used to feel the same way. Now, the single father accepts his past for what it is. He's just trying to find some happiness—outside of raising his young son.When he thinks he's found it with Delilah, she's not convinced. As the two begin to push and pull, unforeseen circumstances only complicate things further.In a world where everyone has a past, what happens when they collide in the present?