But in one terrifying moment, a freak tornado had taken down the Red Rock airport, leaving Scott trapped beneath the rubble. Fate had stranded him with quirky, unforgettable Christina Hastings, and in those death-defying moments, the wealthy bachelor fell in love.A snack-bar waitress with a heartbreaking past, Christina knew better than to believe in fairy tales. She'd found safety, even passion, in Scott's strong arms, but happy endings just didn't happen to a girl like her—especially with a man like Scott. Yet she was finding it harder and harder to resist the Southern gentleman's many charms….

    It's enough to make any red-blooded single girl start thinking wistful thoughts—especially about Wyatt Fortune. Still, Sarah-Jane Early doesn't bother to fantasize. There's no way that wealthy, charismatic hunk would date a plain Jane like her….They say New Year's is a time for new beginnings, and Wyatt Fortune is sorely in need of one. After some startling family news, he has vowed to sever all ties and start fresh in Red Rock. The beautiful young woman at the bar—Savannah, she tells him—is nothing more than a momentary diversion. But could this be a moment that leads to a lifetime?

    He needs a housekeeper, but he's been burned before by gold-digging employees. Still, when fiery redhead Melinda Winslow shows up, his attraction is undeniable. Mellie has big plans for her small cleaning service. A powerful client like Case Baxter is a boon to her business. But falling for him could mess everything up. Mellie knows how to handle a mess…if Case isn't too hot to handle! Enjoy a special Texas Cattleman's Club: Lies and Lullabies bonus prequel short story from Janice Maynard

    Yet the rugged Texan who suddenly appeared at Jane Gilliam's side was real enough...and so was the soul-scorching kiss they shared as the bells chimed on New Year's Eve. Only Jorge Mendoza wasn't the happily-ever-after type. Or was he?As the confirmed bachelor of the Mendoza clan, Jorge had a reputation to uphold. Until he tasted the sweet passion this far-from-plain Jane was offering. It started as an innocent dare. But was it blossoming into a love that was tempting the commitment-shy playboy to change his wandering ways forever?

    Now he's desperate to keep the gold diggers away. It shouldn't be too hard to find a pretty girl and hire her to pretend to be his one-and-only.Or Can He?Laura Baker's got mixed feelings about this--she's on the ranch to work, not to be arm candy. On the other hand, being stuck for a while in the boondocks with a gorgeous cowboy isn't half-bad.What neither Colton nor Laura expects are the intensely hard lessons they have to learn about the real cost of love...

    The offices of the Rust Creek Rambler were damaged in the Great Flood, but we are now filing our reports from a bar stool at the Ace in the Hole. And do we have scandalous news for you!We have it on good authority that during the storm, gorgeous rapscallion Collin Traub was stranded with our beloved kindergarten teacher Willa Christensen—alone. In a barn. Overnight. No one knows why, but Willa could barely stand the sight of Collin before. And now? Oh, readers—we don't like to kiss and tell. But our sources tell us that the sexy Rust Creek cowboy has set his sights on lassoing the sweet schoolmarm…for good!

    But his quiet life suddenly came under scrutiny when a young stranger came to town, claiming to be Sam's secret daughter...upsetting his very existence, not to mention his budding relationship with lovely nurse Maggie Whiteside.Maggie wasn't swayed by all the talk surrounding Sam. Because she believed that she and the rugged lawman shared something special. Maggie and her young son had always known that he was a man to count on.Now she had to show him that he could count on her....

    Only, when her injured grandfather asks for her help with his struggling Napa vineyard, her plan for Nooky Time is completely kiboshed...Then she meets the mouthwateringly hot new groundskeeper, Oliver McKean, and it's a case of instant lust. And damned if Oliver doesn't seem as hungry as she is...Before long, Candace is gettin' naughty with the hired help. But her secret is bound to come out eventually. And when it does, she'll have to choose between a promise to her dearest friend...and the man whose body she can't live without.Reader favorite Overexposed: When a bad girl hooks up with a bad boy, you know the sex is going to be wicked!

    There she discovers country superstar Zane Williams still hunkering down after the devastating loss of his wife. These two wounded souls find their easy friendship healing. So Jess's sudden attraction to Zane comes as a complete shock. Even more shocking, Zane's acting like a jealous boyfriend, running interference with men who show interest. Is he just being overprotective? The answer becomes clear when Jess ends up in his bed…

    He's smart enough to stay far away from love -- he's learned it only brings heartache. But then he meets events planner Amy Burke-Sinclair, who has beauty and the brains to match -- and is just as cautious as he is. Despite that, she seduces him into a night of passion that leaves him stunned, and ready to admit that perhaps he doesn't have all the answers.When they have to work together on a function honoring patriarch Ryan Fortune, Steven finds himself falling even harder. He soon changes his mind about the benefits of love and commitment...but will Amy change hers?

    But when a medical emergency calls him home and a legal matter affects his business, suddenly his family isn't the only thing in need of a re-build. Unfortunately his new project involves building a house for a woman who not only awakens his desires, but also his fears. But if he wants to claim her as his own, he'll have to tear down the walls he's built around his heart.Single mom Ashley Anderson knows all about juggling. Between an assortment of part-time jobs and raising her sixteen-year old daughter, she doesn't need a hunky construction worker with an attitude as a distraction. Even one who steps in to help her when she needs it most. But life has taught Ashley that when the going gets tough, she's on her own. It's going to take a man with a Texas-sized heart to show her that this cowboy isn't going anywhere.

    This could be his son, whose loss has haunted him for two years. But Cooper has a formidable adversary in Jessa Wells. She's the adoptive mother and she'll do anything to hold on to Liam.It's cruel justice that the man who shares Liam's rare blood type has an unsolved murder in his own family. And the danger's far from over. Fighting her desire for Cooper, Jessa has no choice but to join forces with the maverick cowboy. Jessa knows working together is their best shot at keeping the child safe. But it's the possibility of a future alone that breaks Jessa's heart.

    When she's pushed into attending the formal Valentine Ball with Marietta's Most Eligible Bachelor, Troy Sheenan, Taylor can't imagine a worse pairing. What in the world would she have in common with a wealthy playboy like Troy? Technology tycoon Troy is forced by business concerns to return to his hometown and take the town librarian to the Valentine Ball... what he doesn't expect is that Taylor is even less excited about the prospect than he is! Intrigued by the only woman in town who wouldn't be thrilled to take his arm at the big event, he's determined that she will not just agree to be his date… bur she's going to like it. Can Taylor turn a cold shoulder to Troy's heart-melting charms, or is this about to be Marietta's hottest Valentine's Ball yet?

    But once she's caught up in danger and saved—twice—by take-charge detective Ethan James, she considers whether falling for a true-blue hero is worth the risk. Even now, after the rescue, he seems bent on continuing to protect her and her daughter. Why?There's more to Ethan's determination to stay close than he's telling her. But when she confronts him, he proves she's more than a means to solve a case. That tempts Abby to take a second chance on trust—and love. Which might be the best choice she's ever made.

    But when danger lurks, he’s the man she needs.Any rookie on the force could verify if Charmed! is a legit etiquette school for businessmen, or…something else. But coming off a wrenching drug bust, Detective Kane McDermott’s captain gave him a choice. Take the fluff case, or take enforced time off.The moment Kane meets Kayla Luck, he's in trouble. She’s fierce, keen-eyed intelligence in a body built for sin. And when they touch, the jolt of desire reminds him it’s never wise to mix police work with pleasure.Kayla is used to handling men who are more focused on her curves than her mind. But when her newest client arrives for lessons in foreign language and business etiquette, she’s the one who can’t tear her eyes off all those muscles wrapped in a sexy, double-breasted suit.Dinner out leads to a hot night in bed, and Kayla falls hard and fast. Until she learns the business suit hides a badge, and she calls it quits. But Kane’s already lost his heart—and discovered she’s in danger. And if he can’t convince her she’s safe with him, he’ll lose the woman he loves.