Taboo.During their college years, they made a silly drunken pact to get married if they were both single when they turned thirty. Then they drifted apart.Every failed relationship in her life has reminded Quinn of how special a man her best friend truly is, and how all other men fall short.Now years later, goal-oriented Carson makes a surprise visit for Thanksgiving dinner with a newly made fortune -- and one thing left to accomplish.Can both people get the lucky side of the wishbone?***** ** ****** This short story is part of the Second Helpings series, a Thanksgiving dinner-themed stand-alone series. Check out all the fun and quick holiday stories by these incredible and acclaimed authors: Sierra Hill, Frankie Love, Alexis Adaire, Tessa Blake, Olivia Hawthorne, Laney Powell, Vivian Ward, Derek Masters, Dori Lavelle, Sher Dillard and Tracy Lorraine.** Each book is a second-chance romance -- all guaranteed sweeter than sweet potato pie -- and dirtier than a sink full of dishes!*** After reading this series, you’ll never look at drumsticks or gravy in quite the same way again!***** ** *****

    He's got a military haircut, a scar through his eyebrow, and he's rocking a pastel pink dress shirt like only a real man can. But Penny is on a man-free diet so she leaves the airport without succumbing to his delicious double-entendres...or his dreamy dimples.PI Russ Macklin can't take his eyes off Penny. As she sashays out of the airport with hips swaying and curls bouncing, he suspects they may share more than just sweltering chemistry. That suitcase she's rolling along behind her? It looks a lot like his.Because it is.When he tracks her down, he holds her bag hostage in exchange for a date. Their night begins with margaritas and ends in urgent care, and Russ proves that Cosmo's theory about a very particular type of orgasm was oh-so-wrong.In Penny, Russ finds a small-town sweetheart with a very naughty side. For the first time ever, he’s thinking about picket fences. Penny finds in Russ a loving, caring man who understands the power of massaging showerheads.But Russ is only in Port Flamingo for a week. They agree it'll be a fling and nothing more. Because really, they can't fall ass-over-teakettle in love just like that...Can they?Dual POV. No cheating. Featuring a big drooly dog named Guppy.

    (Apparently, it’s a good one.) Winning ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ was nice, but this Christmas, he has more important goals in mind... like finally winning over his best friend’s little sister, the super-smart and kinda-scary Abbie Farrell.When a blizzard leaves Will and Abbie alone at Grandma Farrell’s house (if bunking with 27 pets counts as ‘alone’), it’s the perfect opportunity to pull off a Christmas miracle. Convincing clever, frosty Abbie to give Will a chance will take more than mistletoe, but hiding his lifelong crush on her is no longer an option.

    But one week in his bed could tip the scales. Since she could pick up a pencil, Belle Taylor has used lists and charts to map out her life. When she achieves a goal, she marks it off her to do list. Simple. But now, just steps away from her corner-office, name-on-the-letterhead goal, she realizes that the life she thought she wanted may come at too high a price. Exhausted, she retreats home for Christmas vacation to rethink her life, complete with all-new lists. What she hadn’t expected is Rafe Bettencourt, her brother’s best friend, the man who she thought only saw her as a pesky younger sister. But when he kisses her under the mistletoe, Belle finds herself with a whole new set of goals to balance with what she thought she always wanted. Rafe knows Belle is trying to figure out what to do with her life. He also knows he’s done loving her from afar, and he’s not beneath making it as hard as possible for her to choose to return to San Francisco. Because Rafe can make to-do lists too—and his plan is to seduce Belle back home where she belongs. At his side. And in his bed.

    A tragic accident when she was a kid changed her life and she loves dressing up and pretending to be someone else, at least for one night. Ian Lauder hates Halloween and the annoying parties that come with the holiday season. A tech genius and workaholic, he has little patience for people, especially the woman who only seem to want him for his checkbook. He knows that most of his employees see him as rude, a jerk with a stick up his butt, and he’s never cared. Then he meets Kennedy. Now there’s finally one girl that he wants to ride his broomstick. *Warning! This book alpha is over-the-top, head over heels in love with his girl. If you're looking for a steamy insta-love story then this book is for you!

    She loves them. She’s full of festive cheer. He’s brimming with Bah, Humbugs. Besides unreasonably seasonable names, the only thing Jonathan Frost and Gabriella Di Natale have in common is a healthy dose of mutual contempt. Well, that and the same place of employment at the city’s most beloved independent bookstore, Bailey’s Bookshop. But when the store’s owners confess its dire financial state, Jonathan and Gabby discover another unfortunate commonality: the imminent threat of unemployment.With the Baileys’ requests to minimize expenses, win new customers, and make record sales dancing in their heads, Jonathan and Gabby conclude—barring a financial Christmas miracle—one of them will soon be cut from the payroll. Neither are willing to step down from their position, so they strike a bargain: whoever has more sales in December gets to stay on in the new year; the loser will resign. With a lifetime's worth of festive tricks up her sleeve, Gabby should easily outsell her nemesis, except the unreadable Mr. Frost’s every move seems purely designed to throw her off her game.As if that wasn’t bad enough, Gabby's deceptive ex won't quit pursuing her, and her anonymous online friend suggests they take a break. Worst of all, as the pressure mounts to save the bookshop and her job, Gabby meets a new, tender side of Jonathan. Is this the same man she's called her cold-hearted enemy?Maybe he’s got a motive she just can’t figure out—or maybe Jonathan Frost isn’t as chilly as she once thought. Maybe Jonathan and Gabby already know—and love—each other in ways they never thought possible.This is an #OwnVoices story for its portrayal of autism by an autistic author.

    At first, he’s skeptical. How could a gritty dive bar possibly solve his problems? But then he runs into Nora McHale.Nora isn’t at the bar looking for love. She’s there to unwind after yet another exhausting day at her bakery. And even if she were hoping to meet someone, it sure wouldn’t be Cooper—her best friend’s ex-husband.According to the unwritten rules of romance, Cooper and Nora are completely off limits to each other. But after a fun, flirty night at the bar, they can’t ignore the wild attraction between them.Is this the beginning of something real, or will their passionate night together be their one and only?

     Jack In my world as a cop, things were either black or white. Right or wrong. Then Bailey arrived, challenging all my principles. She had a mouth on her, the level of sass matching the exaggerated swing of her hips. I couldn't get her out of my head, even knowing she wasn't right for me. I tried to stay away, I really did. But once I had a taste, I kept coming back for more. Something didn't add up though, and I would figure it out even if it ultimately meant we couldn't be together. Bailey The only thing sexier than his dimple was the set of handcuffs the hottie detective threatened to use on me. If only he'd give me a chance to show him I was more than the tough-girl exterior I'd carefully crafted over the years. Oh yeah, and if I wasn't engaged in criminal activity that would land me in handcuffs... and not in a sexy way. More like an orange jumpsuit way, and I can tell you now, no way in hell would I be caught dead in an ugly jumpsuit. No matter which way this thing ends, I'll be in handcuffs. The question is, will Jack join me in the grey area? Or will I have to do the impossible and admit I was wrong?

    Did I mention the filthy-talking alpha used to be my boss?And then he left. Chased after an inheritance that landed him thousands of miles away from me, the hospital we work at, and my bed.It would be a lie if I said I hardly ever thought about the wicked things his Scottish burr did to me or that my body has forgotten the toe-curling ache he left deep inside me.Truth is, I resigned myself in never seeing the scoundrel again.When I catch the attention of a stalker, I’m forced to accept help from Malcolm—the arrogant man who might be just as dangerous to me in other ways.I’ll have to find a way to survive Christmas in Scotland with the Duke and all I’ll have to do is manage to keep my fantasies unwraps.But who am I kidding? His whispers of wanting holly kisses unravels my defenses. I’m powerless against the feel of his strong hands caressing every curve, the brush of his warm lips against my skin. By Christmas I’ll have no choice but to give in and prove he’s right when he says I belong to him—the Duke of Lachlan.…I’m in so much trouble.Author’s naughty note: Over-the-top everything drizzled with sexiness at Christmas time and a hero with a Scottish burr. You know you want this! As always with a Penelope Wylde book, you'll get the filthy, naughty bits you crave with the perfect happily ever after you love.

    It's their first Christmas together, and Maddie wants it to be perfect. But between her zany family and wacky friends, Maddie's having a hard time finding alone time with her man. But come Christmas morning, this is one holiday she'll be sure to remember - naughty or nice!

    Next thing he knows, his life is flashing in front of him—a depressingly short flash—as he skids right into the side of the local bar.Things start looking up when the vision he wakes to is not the Angel of Death, but a doctor. Well, actually a vet. Make that a vet tech, wearing red mittens. Who invites him home, where every inch is covered in holiday sparkles, cookies to be decorated, and an odd assortment of stray dogs, cats and puppies…There’s nothing merrier than a white Christmas in Kentucky!

    He owns everything. Except her. Adeline Bishop runs Bishop Bakery, one of the last non-Grayson businesses in town. She's sent the mysterious Mr. Grayson one of her signature Christmas cakes--while also refusing all his offers to buy her bakery--for the past 5 years. This year's cake delivery brings their feud to a head. Ezra decides to confront Adeline, but he doesn't expect the curvy baker to be quite so sweet. When naughty meets nice, who will get their just desserts?Christmas CandyOlive had a major crush on Hank in high school. She was the too-smart, slightly chubby girl who gawked as Hank ran track and made all the cheerleaders swoon. After high school, the two went their separate ways. Olive opened a yoga studio and swore off sweets while Hank traveled the world. No problem, right? At least there wasn't a problem until Hank moved back to town and opened a candy shop across the street from Olive's studio. Now, Olive will do everything she can to shut her old crush down. But Hank has other plans, and all of them end with an Olive sundae.A Cowboy for ChristmasI don't need a woman in my business--especially not one with a smart mouth and a curvy body. Molly Gale has been nothing but trouble ever since she showed up at the ranch next door. And now, right before a huge snowstorm hits on Christmas Eve, I have to go to her homestead. Have to see her, have to get another whiff of her strawberry scent. It's enough to drive a man mad. But I'll keep things professional, keep my hands to myself, and do what needs to be done. It's the perfect plan ...Until my horse throws me and I need help from none other than the woman with the fiery tongue and the deliciously thick hips.Yippee ki yay and Merry Christmas to me.A Stepbrother for ChristmasAnnalise dreads seeing her stepbrother at her family's Christmas get-together. Niles had always been so nasty, tormenting her in high school after their parents' had gotten married. British and snobby, Niles did everything he could to hurt Annalise when they were younger. Now, Annalise hasn't seen Niles in three years; he's been away at school in England and Annalise has started her pre-med program in Dallas. When they reconnect, dark memories threaten, sparks fly, and they give true meaning to the "hard and dirty holidays."

    Not a fan. So why am I wearing a Santa suit and letting frisky moms paw me at a reindeer ranch?It might have something to do with the family crisis that drew me home between tours as a career Marine. Or maybe it’s my urge to cozy up with the prickly reindeer rancher whose curves give me visions of something way hotter than sugarplums.Jade King isn’t thrilled I’m here, and she’d be less thrilled to know her sister hired me to keep an eye on things. Someone’s set on sabotaging the ranch, so I’ve got a built-in excuse to get close to Jade.I could swear the attraction’s mutual, but something’s holding her back. Some secret in her past that has her pushing me away like a bad batch of eggnog. It’s almost as baffling as all these accidents at the King sisters’ place. Seriously, who’d screw with a reindeer ranch?Between sexy Santa suit malfunctions and risqué Christmas cookies, Jade and I keep ending up under the mistletoe together. Is there any chance we can mesh our Christmas wish lists, or will it all crash down like a fat man in an iron sleigh?

    Pretty straight-forward, until he comes across one beloved -- not to mention kind, funny, sassy and beautiful -- citizen who keeps dodging the camera. He'll do everything in his power to get her attention, even if it means digging himself a hole in the snow he can't get out of.Snow plow driver Ruby doesn't like having her picture taken. The sooner that flirty LA photographer gets that through his head, the better. With a big snowstorm on the way, she's got way more urgent things on her mind than flirting or posing for silly photos. He can keep trying to get her attention and to change her mind, but unless he's buried up to his neck in snow without a shovel, he'll be trying for a long, long time.

    When romance novelist Kate Smith suddenly gets writer's block as she's beginning the final installment of her international bestselling erotic Bed 'n Breakfast series, she'll do pretty much anything to get her groove back. Like sneak into a Tire Depot waiting room because her words flow there just like complimentary coffee-smooth, sweet, and scorchingly hot. She manages to fly under the radar until the rugged and charming mechanic, Miles Hudson, notices the quirky redhead slinking in and out of the employees only entrance. But she's way too intriguing to blow the whistle on. Doing a test-drive of her new book idea sounds like a much better option.