Christy Baldwin BBU

Lulu Sonnet is the bane of my existence. She’s caused me more physical pain than any man should ever endure. From an accidental throat punch to a near death by shovel—Don’t even get me started on that vicious pool ball accident where she almost robbed me of my family jewels. She’s a hot little heathen, and what’s worse? She’s staying in my brother’s rental house while I’m temporarily living in the guest house. And now she needs a favor. A fake boyfriend.

Henley Holloway is my boss’s daughter, and I’ve been assigned to mentor her. The problem is, I’m not looking to babysit anyone. But I’m determined to make partner at the firm, and this is the final obstacle in my way. So, I agree to take the little princess under my wing. I’ll work her so hard, she’ll beg me to leave her alone. But from the first day she walks into the office and spills scalding hot coffee on my chest—I’m intrigued.

Rhys Garrett—recent high school graduate, ex-captain of the basketball team, and my brother's rival both on and off the court. Oh, and he's also the guy I just hit with my truck. Awesome. To be fair, he had it coming. Why else was he dressed in all black, in the middle of the night, if not to hide out amongst the darkness?

Welcome to Honey Creek, Illinois, where life was as sweet as the town's name suggested. That was until Mr. Fine Dining himself, Alex Ramírez, rolled into town with a permanent scowl. Even worse, he decided to park his snooty five-star restaurant across from my cozy dog daycare. He was tall, dark, and about as warm as a frozen entrée. After one too many unpleasant interactions, I was determined to stay out of his way and to keep him out of mine. But fate had a quirky sense of humor.

Ever since they met as teenagers volunteering at a conference center in Costa Rica 20 years ago, Fern Espinoza and Lily Graden have shared a close friendship, even though they live in different states. They can hardly believe it when their teen dream of traveling to Africa together becomes a reality. It's the trip of a lifetime--but life sure isn't what they thought it would be back when they were young.

Sometimes relationships come along that define you. Someone who brings out sides of you that no one else sees. The reason that you try to be the best version of yourself. Savannah Abbott was my North Star growing up. She was my best friend, my neighbor, and the person who knew me best. But without warning, she was gone in the blink of an eye.

From the moment my son came into the world—my life changed in the best way. I’d found my purpose. My reason. My heart beats for this kid every damn day. My company is thriving, and life is good. But then Emerson Chadwick happened. It must be the universe’s way of messing with me when I least expect it. Our town’s new pediatrician is gorgeous and brilliant and—complicated. I’m not looking for complications. To make matters worse, my little boy is crazy about her, and now she’s moved in next door. She’s everywhere I turn.

Saylor Woodson is the one girl I can’t have, and the only girl I want. She’s my best friend’s little sister, and completely off limits. We have a history, a connection—one that no one else knows about. One that I’ve tried hard to forget. I've kept my distance for years, which was easy because she’d been away at school. But now she’s home, and she’s everywhere I turn. And the way that I want her is unexplainable.

The commission from working with him is a key to my new life -- it's worth putting up with the cocky athlete. The problem is that my past is dark, and when Kyle sees the bruises, he thinks he can save me. Fake-dating each other was supposed to be for my safety. But I can't help thinking my heart is more at risk now than ever before.

My mother only wanted me to learn one lesson growing up Men are trash. Her father left her, and then my father left us. Being raised by her and my grandmother, I was surrounded by the reminder to be independent and guard my heart. After my one and only experience with a boy in college fell flatter than a pancake, I realized they were right and I was content to live the life of a twenty-six-year-old cat lady.