MERRY LITTLE KISSMAS, a spicy, fake-dating, single-dad, hockey holiday romance from #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Lauren Blakely, is coming October 28th!

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Wanted: A fresh shot at love for the holidays…

Wanted: A fresh shot at love for the holidays. But fake dating my brother’s grumpy best friend? He’s my new client, for Santa’s sake!

As a professional matchmaker, my biggest job this holiday season should be simple: find a date for the sexy single dad hockey player—aka my brother’s best friend—for his team’s fancy Christmas Eve gala. 

Sure Rowan’s hot as a crackling fire and spicier than a gingerbread man, but he hasn’t just sworn off romance. The Christmas hater has made a bet that I can’t find him a holidate.

What’s a matchmaker to do?

Win, of course. Even if it means fake dating the grinch myself to get him ready for the real thing.

Only…these fake dates at Christmas tree farms and hot cocoa competitions in the snowy small town of Evergreen Falls start to feel a little too real as I get to know the man behind the scowl. Somewhere between kisses under the mistletoe and a snowed-in night in his cabin curled up by the fire (where the stockings aren’t the only thing hung), I realize I’m in over my elf-loving head.

And when Rowan opens up to me at last about his painful past, I’m determined to give my brother’s best friend the holiday he deserves.

But what if the only gift I want him to unwrap this season is… me?

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EXCERPT:

“Christmas tree farms make great date spots.”

“So you were trying to get me in the mood,” he says, shooting me a flirty glance that makes my pulse kick up.

“Yes, you figured me out,” I retort.

“You and your love of trees. I had a feeling you were trying to lure me to the forest. Have your way with me.”

Images flash before my eyes. Rowan tugging me against him, a Christmas tree behind us, crisp air around us. Then, a new thought lands—him chasing me through the woods before he kisses me. Playfully, like a game, at twilight. Catching me, then having his way with me. Right here in the snow. Outside.

A gasp threatens to escape my lips.

“Or maybe I’m trying to kill you out here,” I say, but my teasing sounds too breathy to be believable.

“Nah. You’d lose the bet then,” he says with that lopsided smirk that wreaks havoc to my common sense. “You definitely wanted to date me in the trees.”

I swallow roughly. He’s playing me. Of course he is. It’s our game. But something about the way he’s teasing today feels different than at the café. Or even in my car earlier. Dirtier. And a part of me doesn’t mind. Well, lots of parts of me don’t. I feel a little glowy, a little fuzzy.

Yeah, I definitely need to send myself to time-out very, very soon.

About Lauren Blakely:

A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sexy, feel-good and witty. Her books have been featured in US Weekly and People. Lauren likes dogs, cake and show tunes and she is the vegetarian at your dinner party.

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IN MY HOCKEY ERA, an all new enemies-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine, hockey romance from New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling Author, Kendall Ryan, is available now!

She might just be falling for the one guy she swore to hate…

Lucy Quinn loves hockey. What she doesn’t love? The latest PR stunt from her favorite team—a hockey romance book club designed to lure in more female fans. Pandering to so-called “thirsty” fans? It totally cheapens the sport.

The worst part? They’ve slapped Bennett Wilder—the infuriatingly cocky, annoyingly handsome star forward—on the cover of this PR disaster like he’s some kind of book boyfriend. Gross.

So Lucy does what any passionate, totally rational fan would do—she starts a boycott.

Bennett doesn’t love being the face of a book club, but, hey, it’s harmless fun… until he finds out some feisty, foul-mouthed superfan is trashing it, he’s intrigued. And maybe just a little bit turned on.

So, naturally, he makes it his mission to shut her up—with charm, persistence, and exceptionally skilled hands. And somehow, he always manages to make her forget why she was mad.

But as their very public rivalry turns into something much deeper, Lucy realizes one terrifying truth—she might just be falling for the one guy she swore to hate.

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“…an engaging love story that proves even the fiercest rivals can become the perfect team.” ~Danielle, Red Cheeks Reads

Check out Danielle’s 4 SMOOCHES review!

About Kendall Ryan:

A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than three dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold millions of books and they have been translated into several languages in countries around the world.

Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than 100 times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine.

She lives in Texas with her husband and two sons.

Connect with Kendall:

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Visit Kendall’s website for all of her latest book news and fun extras!

FINDING THE ONE, an all-new River Rain novel from New York Times Bestselling Author, Kristen Ashley, and Blue Box Press, is available now!

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She’s searching for redemption.

He wants her just as she is.

Their parents being family friends, American/English aristocrat, Blake Sharp, and Scottish playboy Alasdair Wallace were thrust together all through their childhoods.

Blake thought Dair was a filthy, obnoxious, little boy bully.

Dair thought Blake was a spoiled, prissy wee miss.

Then Blake grew up to be a beautiful, loving woman who took care of everyone and made amazing pistachio muffins. And Dair grew up to be a protective, fun-loving, hard-living professional rugby player.

In the meantime, they’d both been deeply betrayed by lovers.

When their paths cross again, Blake is still reeling from her fiancé’s treachery and what she learned about herself during it.

Dair thinks he’s recovered from a marriage to a woman who was not at all what she seemed, and now he’s smitten by the woman Blake has become.

So smitten, he has every intention of exploring what they can grow to be together.

But their combined family history is filled with secrets and lies. Secrets and lies that explode in their faces.

And while they deal with that, ghosts from the past rise up and threaten to haunt their future.

Is what they built together strong enough to hold true?

Or will their personal demons tear them apart?

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“…a captivating story about grace, growth and finally recognizing a love that was always meant to be.” ~Danielle, Red Cheeks Reads

Check out Danielle’s 5 SMOOCHES review!

EXCERPT:

“You need to be nicer to Wallace, dear.”

I turned at my mother’s voice.

“They’re an important family,” Mum went on when I caught her gaze. “And he’s the heir.”

This was so Mum.

Thus, of course, I rolled my eyes.

“Don’t roll your eyes at me, Blake Charlotte Sharp,” Mum snapped.

“Alasdair Wallace is a bully,” I snapped back and looked across the bar at the man in question.

He was standing with the groom-to-be (tomorrow) Rix and Rix’s best friend, Judge.

They looked like a craft beer advertisement.

A very successful one where every man who saw it would want to be them and therefore run right out and buy that beer. Whereupon they’d drink it and think the next day, even after they’d over imbibed, they’d be prepared go on a ten-mile hike that included a bracing swim in a snow-fed lake, get home and still have enough energy to mow the lawn and fuck their woman.

Blech.

Some women might think Dair Wallace was sinfully attractive.

I was not one of those women.

Okay, so he had thick, dark hair and rugged outdoorsman features hewn from centuries of his ancestors being, well…rugged outdoorsmen (along with rebels, warriors and pains in the asses of any English ruler that came along). He was tall and built like a rugby player (because he played rugby).

All my life, when we’d go to England for our visits to Mum, for a week during their summer holidays, the Wallaces would come down from their sprawling estate in Scotland to visit us in her townhome in London, or our family’s country seat in Somerset, or worst of this lot, we’d go up north and visit them.

Dair Wallace was the epitome of “oh, he’s pulling your hair and teasing you relentlessly because he likes you,” when everyone knew that wasn’t the case.

No, it was because little boys like that were assholes who weren’t taught better.

And Mum was the kind of woman who gave little boys like that as much leeway as possible, because that “was the way of her world, but also because his daddy was rich.

And because she was fucking him.

Dair’s daddy that was.

About Kristen Ashley:

Kristen Ashley is the New York Times bestselling author of over eighty romance novels. She’s a hybrid author, publishing titles both independently and traditionally, her books have been translated in fourteen languages and she’s sold millions of books.

Kristen, born in Gary and raised in Brownsburg, Indiana and was a fourth-generation graduate of Purdue University. Since, she has lived in Denver, the West Country of England, and she now resides in Phoenix. She worked as a charity executive for eighteen years prior to beginning her independent publishing career. She now writes full-time.

Although romance is her genre, the prevailing themes running through all of Kristen’s novels are friendship, family and a strong sisterhood. To this end, and as a way to thank her readers for their support, Kristen has created the Rock Chick Nation, a series of programs that are designed to give back to her readers and promote a strong female community. You can learn more about Kristen and the Rock Chick Nation on her website.

Connect with Kristen:

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Sign up for Kristen’s newsletter!

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MISTAKEN IDENTITY, an all-new mafia romance from Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling Author, Lani Lynn Vale, is out now!

From the moment Creole Williams met Audric Ingram, they were inseparable…

From the moment Creole Williams met Audric Ingram, they were inseparable.

But not the way one would think.

They shared a best friend.

What they did not do, however, was like each other.

You could say that it was a war to win the best friend title.

The only problem was, their best friend would never choose a clear winner. So they spent their teenage years fighting it out. What Audric didn’t know, though, was that Creole was desperately in love with him.

The same went for Audric. He wanted Creole more than his next breath.

But it was never the right time.

Then life happened, and it kicked them both in the teeth.

One second they’re acting, and the next the anger is real, and neither one of them can stand to be near the other.

For years, they fight it out, one-upping each other to the point where neither one of them can be in the same room with each other without things going to hell.

Then one day their best friend dies, and they have to figure out a way to live without her.

There’s no fighting anymore, at least verbally. Physically, however? They let their bodies duke it out the fun way.

But in the end, neither one of them wins.

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About Lani Lynn Vale:

Lani Lynn Vale is an American author of humorous romantic suspense novels. Born in the Great State of Texas, she has lived the majority of her adult life in East Texas where most of her novels are based. She’s married to her high school sweetheart whom her readers refer to as “LLV’s Bearded Half.” She published her first novel, Boomtown, in the summer of 2013 after the birth of her third child. She’s gone on to publish over 100 novels, with most of them going on to become USA Today Bestsellers.

Connect with Lani:

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FINDING THE ONE, an all-new beautifully-crafted, tension-filled interconnected standalone romance in the River Rain Series from New York Times bestselling author Kristen Ashley and Blue Box Press, is available now!

She’s searching for redemption.

He wants her just as she is.

Their parents being family friends, American/English aristocrat, Blake Sharp, and Scottish playboy Alasdair Wallace were thrust together all through their childhoods.

Blake thought Dair was a filthy, obnoxious, little boy bully.

Dair thought Blake was a spoiled, prissy wee miss.

Then Blake grew up to be a beautiful, loving woman who took care of everyone and made amazing pistachio muffins. And Dair grew up to be a protective, fun-loving, hard-living professional rugby player.

In the meantime, they’d both been deeply betrayed by lovers.

When their paths cross again, Blake is still reeling from her fiancé’s treachery and what she learned about herself during it.

Dair thinks he’s recovered from a marriage to a woman who was not at all what she seemed, and now he’s smitten by the woman Blake has become.

So smitten, he has every intention of exploring what they can grow to be together.

But their combined family history is filled with secrets and lies. Secrets and lies that explode in their faces.

And while they deal with that, ghosts from the past rise up and threaten to haunt their future.

Is what they built together strong enough to hold true?

Or will their personal demons tear them apart?

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

Amazon US  |  Amazon Worldwide  |  Amazon Paperback  |  Apple Books  |  Google Play  |  Kobo  |  Nook  |  B&N Paperback  |  Amazon Audio  |  Audible

Add to Goodreads  |  Add to BookBub

About Kristen Ashley:

Kristen Ashley is the New York Times bestselling author of over eighty romance novels. She’s a hybrid author, publishing titles both independently and traditionally, her books have been translated in fourteen languages and she’s sold millions of books.

Kristen, born in Gary and raised in Brownsburg, Indiana and was a fourth-generation graduate of Purdue University. Since, she has lived in Denver, the West Country of England, and she now resides in Phoenix. She worked as a charity executive for eighteen years prior to beginning her independent publishing career. She now writes full-time.

Although romance is her genre, the prevailing themes running through all of Kristen’s novels are friendship, family and a strong sisterhood. To this end, and as a way to thank her readers for their support, Kristen has created the Rock Chick Nation, a series of programs that are designed to give back to her readers and promote a strong female community. You can learn more about Kristen and the Rock Chick Nation on her website.

Connect with Kristen:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  Pinterest  |  Twitter  |  Amazon  |  Bookbub  |  Goodreads

Sign up for Kristen’s newsletter!

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THE HOUSE GUEST, an all-new standalone opposites-attract, roommates-to-lovers romance from New York Times Bestselling Author, Penelope Ward, is available now!

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Life is certainly full of surprises, though, but not always in a good way…

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new, STANDALONE contemporary romance…

The last thing Dorian Vanderbilt expected was to find me painting in my crop top when he returned to the mansion he hadn’t inhabited in years.

He was understandably surprised I’d turned his living room into an art space.

Life is certainly full of surprises, though, but not always in a good way.

I learned that lesson when my aunt and the billionaire she married died unexpectedly while traveling.

I’d been living with them, and just like that, my life was turned on its axis.

Unsure of what was next, I stayed alone at the barren estate figuring out my next move.

That was when Dorian—the late billionaire’s only son—showed up.

I’d never met Dorian Vanderbilt. He’d been living on the other side of the country.

But now, he was home, left to pick up the pieces of his father’s legacy.

Not only was Dorian devastatingly handsome and mysterious, but he was the sole heir to the Vanderbilt fortune.

He didn’t seem to like me—at first. We were total opposites. But I was grateful that at least he didn’t kick me out.

We stayed out of each other’s way for the most part, save for some late-night kitchen run-ins or unexpected bonding sessions in the home theater.

Over time, though, we grew closer. Turned out, our chemistry was pretty combustible.

I was falling in love with him.

Until everything I thought I knew turned upside down yet again.

And fate left me pining for the one man I’d ever loved.

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Narrated in duet by Savannah Peachwood and Teddy Hamilton

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“…a sexy, consuming read about a love that felt both destined to be and hard won.” ~Danielle, Red Cheeks Reads

Check out Danielle’s 5 SMOOCHES review!

EXCERPT:

Copyright © 2025
By Penelope Ward

Eventually, I was able to put Dorian out of my mind and continue my movie night for one. Pulp Fiction was almost finished when the theater door opened again.

I turned to find Dorian entering—alone.

“Is it over?” he asked.

My pulse raced as I paused the movie. “About ten minutes left.”

Without further comment, he took the seat next to me, sinking into the chair and stretching his long legs. He closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. His delicious cologne wafted my way, sending unwanted arousal through me. I pressed play on the movie, hoping to move out of this hyper-aware state.

“Where’s your date?” I asked after the movie finished and she still hadn’t reappeared.

“She left.”

“Is she a…girlfriend or…?”

“Definitely not,” he said, staring at the screen.

“Someone you hook up with?” I pried.

He turned to me. “You always this nosy?”

“Well, we are stepcousins,” I teased. “You can tell me anything.”

“We go way back, don’t we? So much I nearly kicked you out when I got here.”

“Details…” I shrugged.

He chuckled. “She’s someone I used to hook up with when I lived here years ago. Thought it might be interesting to reconnect with her, but I was grossly mistaken.”

“Why? What was wrong with her?”

“Nothing wrong with her. I was just bored out of my wits. It’s probably me that’s changed more than anything. That happens when you leave home, I guess.” He reached for some popcorn. “Anyway…found myself more in the mood to watch Pulp Fiction than I was to make pointless conversation with her.”

“I can start it over, if you want to watch from the beginning.”

“Nah.” He shook his head. “But I’ll watch another movie with you, if you’re down.”

Ohhhkay.

Hesitant excitement washed over me. I’d been pretty lonely lately if the idea of having someone to watch a movie with felt exhilarating. But at the same time, this was Dorian Vanderbilt—not exactly someone I could relax around yet. But I sure as hell wasn’t going to say no.

I finally nodded. “That’d be cool.”

“You choose.”

“Well…” I took a moment to think on it. “If you were in the mood to watch Pulp Fiction, maybe another Tarantino?”

He scratched his chin. “Actually, have you ever seen Snatch?”

“Guy Ritchie, right?” I nodded. “I’ve heard of it but never watched it.”

“His style reminds me of Tarantino. I think you’ll enjoy it. Would you want to watch that?”

“Yeah.” I nodded, impressed with his effort to think of a movie I would like.

Dorian went over to the laptop and pulled up the film, then returned to the seat next to me. He reclined his chair as I pressed play on the remote. He once again stretched out his long legs.

For the next couple of hours, we watched the movie intently, neither of us saying a word until it finished. That was exactly how I liked it. But he did look over to see my reaction at certain parts, which I also liked. Any nervousness I’d had dissipated as the movie went on. And I certainly couldn’t complain about sitting close to him, since he smelled like heaven. I hadn’t been out with a member of the opposite sex in what seemed like ages. Sitting this close to an attractive man made me miss dating, even if the man sitting next to me currently was out of my league.

When the credits came on the screen, he reached for the remote and lowered the volume. “What did you think?”

“It was awesome. I love movies where you don’t know what to expect, and the power dynamic can change at the drop of a hat.”

“Ah…sort of like how you suddenly had the power when I discovered you could control those dogs?”

“Maybe, yeah.” My mouth curved into a smile.

“They actually like me now. But they did not like Savannah.”

“Savannah was your date tonight?”

He nodded. “Yeah. Tess saved me, actually. She helped me get out of the rest of the date.”

“What do you mean?”

“I wanted to end the night early and had been thinking up an excuse. Then Tess rubbed her asshole on Savannah’s shoe as we were standing in the foyer. She decided right then and there she wanted to call it a night.”

I cracked up. “Saved by the asshole.”

“Exactly. It was perfect.”

“Did you drive her home?”

“I called her a car.”

“Well, I’m sorry again if I disrupted your evening.”

“Trust me, I had more fun watching the movie with you than I would’ve sitting through whatever sappy film she picked.” He sighed. “And…I’m sorry if she was rude to you. She was probably just intimidated.”

“Intimidated? Why?”

He glared. “Really? You’re gonna make me say it?”

“Sure.” I smirked.

“Because you’re attractive…” His eyes fell to my abs. “And you seem to have no other wardrobe besides crop tops.”

About Penelope Ward:

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With over two million books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over thirty novels. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.

Find Penelope here:

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THE SURRENDER, a searingly sexy and intense romance full of twists and turns from #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Jodi Ellen Malpas, is out now!

Amelia must decide what she’s willing to sacrifice to stay with the man she loves…

He’s a tantalizing man of mystery. To solve him she could risk everything in a scorching romance by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the This Man series and The Invitation.

A pawn in a man’s callous game, Amelia Lazenby is trying to heal after being betrayed by the wealthy and scorchingly sexy Jude Harrison. Now he’s saying all the right things, whispering apologies as sincere as his kisses, and refusing to let her walk away. It’s hard for Amelia to resist a force as strong as Jude. Before long, he’s making her pulse pound, her head spin, and giving her the rapture she craves.

But once she surrenders, Amelia can’t help but fear she’s risking her heart all over again. This time, maybe even more. Jude is every bit as mysterious and possessive as she remembers. His ex-lover is back to wreak havoc on their lives. And Amelia’s own ex has returned from the past, knowing more about Jude than Amelia can imagine. As the secrets and shocking revelations keep coming, Amelia must decide what she’s willing to sacrifice to stay with the man she loves and above all else…can’t resist.

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“…a thrilling plot full of twists and turns and even more passion, pain and raw vulnerability…” ~Danielle, Red Cheeks Reads

Check out Danielle’s 5 SMOOCHES review!

About Jodi Ellen Malpas:

Jodi Ellen Malpas was born and raised in England, where she lives with her husband, boys and Theo the Doberman. She is a self-professed daydreamer, and has a terrible weak spot for alpha males. Writing powerful love stories with addictive characters has become her passion—a passion she now shares with her devoted readers. She’s a proud #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, a Sunday Times Bestseller, and her work is published in over twenty-five languages across the world. You can learn more about Jodi & her words at www.jodiellenmalpas.co.uk

Connect with Jodi:

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PRETTY DESPERATE, a new friends-to-lovers, fake relationship, surprise baby romance from USA Today Bestselling Author, Lacey Black, is available now!

Scroll down for an excerpt!

They say when one door closes another one opens, right?

Jillian

They say when one door closes another one opens, right? When the door closed on my marriage, I was fortunate to follow a new dream. One that led me to opening my own bakery in downtown Pine Village. It hasn’t been easy, especially in the offseason, but I make it work. I’m content. Happy.

Then Kameron Markley showed up on my doorstep, begging me to be his fake girlfriend.

It seems like such a simple plan, especially when we’re both getting something out of it. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long before lines are blurred and crossed, and suddenly, the relationship doesn’t feel so fake after all.

Kameron

For the last decade, I’ve poured my heart and soul into my restaurant, turning a small-town space into a top steak house. The building beside mine has been sitting for as long as I can remember, and the owner is finally ready to sell. The only problem is, she thinks it needs to go to a family man. Suddenly, I’m desperate.

That’s when I come up with the wild idea to find a fake girlfriend.

Jillian Kirby fits the bill to a T, and with a little negotiation, we’re able to work out a deal where we both come out ahead. What I wasn’t expecting was it being so easy to be around her. Suddenly, the lie we’re telling does feel like it’s so right. I want it to be real.

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“…sweet and scorching, filled with tender moments and passionate encounters…” ~Danielle, Red Cheeks Reads

Check out Danielle’s 5 SMOOCHES review!

EXCERPT:

Prologue

Kameron

24 Hours Earlier…

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Krokus. Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me today,” I say to the polite older woman on the sidewalk in front of her building.

She offers me a firm handshake, one that surprises me by how frail she appears. The woman is ninety years old and using a walker with tennis balls covering the back legs, but she shakes hands like a linebacker. “I’m intrigued, Kameron.” She glances up at the building adjacent to my restaurant, Prime Steak House, and smiles. She’s owned it for more than two decades longer than I’ve been on this earth. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen her. Let’s go inside.”

I take the keys from her hand and make sure she has no trouble crossing the cracked concrete in front of the glass double doors. Slipping the key into the lock, I give it a turn, releasing the mechanism. My heart is hammering in my chest, the anticipation almost too much to bear.

I’ve wanted this building for years. Ever since I purchased the one next door and transformed it into a thriving steak house in downtown Pine Village, I’ve had my eye on it. My plan has always been to expand. My current location is quaint. The dining area is always full during the busy tourist seasons, and my kitchen is small. I built it to fit what I had. My dream has always been encompassing the vacant building to the south, since the north business is the clothing boutique, and I don’t see them going anywhere. Purchasing another building somewhere else isn’t an option, since there aren’t any available in the downtown area, and starting with a new build at another location isn’t financially feasible.

This really is my only hope at growing.

The doors are glass with an old wooden frame. I push open the first one and am assaulted by a musty scent, like I’m walking into a basement. I hold the door wide so Mrs. Krokus can get inside and let the heavy door fall closed behind us. For over ten years I’ve lusted after this building. I’ve made offers, I’ve called in favors trying to sway her, I’ve even dropped by to talk about it in person, but Mrs. Krokus hadn’t been interested.

Until today.

Getting a wild hair up my ass, I picked up the phone and called her. Much to my utter shock, she agreed to meet with me, but it had to be between her afternoon nap and her dinner date at the diner with members of her church’s Ladies Guild. I let her pick the time and prayed she’d show.

She did.

The old woman exhales as she glances around the empty space. “It’s just how I remember it.”

It’s a beautiful building. With high ceilings very similar in style to my own and the original hardwood floors, it’s full of light and love. And a lot of cobwebs and dust bunnies. “It’s a great space. There’s so much potential here, and I really think—”

“All business, I see,” she interrupts with a chuckle. “We can get to that soon. First, I want to take a stroll around and see how she’s fared over the years.”

She extends her wrinkled hand my way, which I politely take. Mrs. Krokus leaves her walker behind and leaning a bit of her weight against my arm, starts to walk toward the back wall. “My Louis purchased this building for me in nineteen sixty,” she informs me, a far-off look on her aged face. “Back then, it wasn’t standard for the women to work the way the men did. Women were mostly home, raising children and keeping the house. Well, I had dreams, and my Louis wanted to help me achieve them.”

We stop in the middle of the room.

Lifting her frail hand, she points to one of the closed doors. “Back there was the storage room. There’s a utility closet in there with a water heater that’s older than you,” she says with a chuckle. “I had two dressing rooms on that wall,” she adds, turning slightly to the left and indicating where the rooms were located. You can still see the different colored wood on the floor where they once sat. “Families shopped for their Sunday attire, men found work clothes, and ladies would pick out pretty dresses. I even stocked some beautiful linens and tapestries for the home. It wasn’t a big store, but it was mine and I loved it.”

A smile spreads across my lips as she tells me about the store she once owned. She gives me a brief overview of the layout for Krokus Clothing before turning her attention to me. “Department stores were a thing in the sixties, but we didn’t really feel it until the eighties when shopping malls started popping up. One was built in Hudson, and all of a sudden, families were willing to travel a little farther for a bigger selection at a fair price. Not to mention, food courts with all sorts of options. The teenagers flocked to them as a place to shop and hang out. They were all the rage back then, and unfortunately, our little store felt it.

“I raised my family here, while running a successful business. All three of my children worked here through their teenage years, because family was so important to me.” She turns and meets my gaze. “Still is, Mr. Markley.”

“I, uh,” I start, clearing my throat, “I don’t have any family left in town. It’s just me.”

She gives me a knowing little grin. “I remember your family. Your parents were around the same ages as my own children.”

I nod, swallowing over the lump I get in my throat when I think of my parents.

“They’ve been gone for several years now.”

“They have. They passed when I was living in Chicago.”

Patting my hand in a very grandmotherly way, she says, “Terrible accident that was.”

Again, I nod, unable to speak. I’ll never forget that phone call. In one moment, both of my parents were taken away in the blink of an eye. That’s when I knew I needed a change. The city life wasn’t for me anymore. I wanted to go home.

“I’m sure they’d be very proud of you.”

“I’d like to hope. They were huge supporters of my desire to go to culinary school and eventually own a restaurant.”

She glances around the empty building. “They’d love your restaurant. I admit, I’m not a regular patron, but I’ve been a few times for special occasions when my kids come to town. You have a great atmosphere and menu. I can understand your desire to expand.”

Here we go…

My heart taps a little harder in my chest as excitement sweeps in. “Yes, ma’am. I love my current space, but it’s a little tight. I’d love to tear out the wall here,” I inform, sweeping my hand toward the bricks separating our two buildings, “and add a dozen more tables. I’d even be able to open up the kitchen area and double that space. I have drawings too, based off the old city engineer’s drawings from back in the day. I understand it might not be completely accurate, but the square footage is the same, and that’s really what I was looking for.”

“I won’t sell to you.”

My bubble pops, completely deflating me.

If she didn’t want to sell, why the hell are we here?

“I’m sorry?” I ask, hoping I misunderstood her.

The smile she’s been carrying since stepping foot inside this building slips, and a serious look full of concern takes its place. “Please forgive me, Kameron. You seem like such a nice young man, but I don’t feel like this is the right partnership.”

I want to drop her hand and start pacing, but her walker is over by the door, and the last thing I’d want is for her to fall. “I don’t understand,” I say, running my hand across the back of my neck in frustration.

She gives me one of those grandmotherly smiles, one that’s all warm and full of affection, but I don’t feel the glow over my own confusion and devastation. “Let me try to explain it a little better,” she says, pushing off my arm and taking a step toward the very center of the room. I wonder if I should go get her walker, but she appears to be okay, so I let her be until she tells me otherwise.

“This place, it holds a beautiful magic within the walls. It was built on love, cultivated on it. Families blossomed right here where I stand. That’s the real legacy of Krokus Clothing.” She spins around and pins me with a look. “Don’t you see? The next owner of this building must hold the same values my late, dear husband, Louis, once held when he risked it all to purchase this building. He wanted it to be a place families would come together, but it was more than that. He wanted to watch families grow within too. Our family.”

All I can do is stare at her, because she’s making absolutely no sense. How can her family continue to grow if her children and grandchildren are gone? Why keep this building if it’s going to just sit and fall apart? You might as well tear it down and build a parking lot if she’s waiting on her family to come back and make something of this place. I can’t imagine seeing this building dilapidated and a tax and utilities burden to her in this stage of life was anything Louis wanted for his widow after he was gone.

Clearing my throat, I collect my thoughts, trying to be polite and not let my frustration show. “Mrs. Krokus,” I start, but she cuts me off.

“Dorothy, please,” she says with a smile.

“Dorothy,” I state, lifting my chin. “My restaurant expansion would be all about families. These walls would be bustling again, filled with families of all ages who are here to dine. It would be the centerpiece of this place,” I assure her.

She grins. “I do understand that, but…this place won’t be built on love, Kameron. Don’t you see?”

No. No I clearly need fucking glasses, because I do not see.

Trying to tamp down my frustration, I insist, “No, I suppose I don’t.” I need her to explain it a little better than this.

“I promised my Louis that when I was ready to let this piece of our past go, I would sell it to a family, one with a vision as beautiful and forever as ours was.”

A family?

“These walls are ready to hear laughter again. The kind of laughter that comes from love.” She spins around and pins me with a look. “You’re single, Kameron.”

My mouth drops open.

“There is another offer on the table for this building. A husband and wife with two adorable little ones. They want to bring a home goods and décor shop to town, featuring some local artisan wares. I think it’s a wonderful idea,” she says.

“Home goods and décor?” I whisper, mostly to myself as I gaze around the empty space.

My dreams seem to be going up in flames with each passing second. Mrs. Krokus isn’t going to sell to me because I don’t have a family? A wife? A girlfriend?

Unless…

“I’ve been seeing someone,” I blurt out, catching even myself off guard.

She turns and pins me with a look. “You have?”

I nod insistently. “Yes, I’ve been dating someone for a few months now.”

“Well, that’s wonderful news!” she proclaims, shuffling toward me. She places her hand on top of mine. “Is it getting serious?”

I nod again. “It is.”

Reaching up, she places her hand against my cheek. “This makes me so happy for you. I hadn’t heard you were seeing anyone.”

“We’ve been keeping it pretty quiet. Low-key. You know how this town gets,” I say, my head spinning as I fabricate a story on the fly.

“Yes, I do. I can understand and appreciate wanting to keep it to yourselves until the time is right.” She turns hopeful eyes my way. “And is that now? Is the time right for you to step out together? Show the world your love?”

My throat is completely dry, my brain is ready to explode. I know what I’m doing is wrong, but I can’t seem to stop. I’ve wanted this building for more than a decade, and now she’s finally willing to sell. Only, she doesn’t want to sell to someone without the prospect of a family on the horizon. It’s completely ridiculous and absurd, but what can I do?

Besides, it’s one little white lie.

No big deal.

“It is.” Just saying those two words is like raking my vocal cords over sandpaper.

“Oh, how wonderful!” she proclaims with a little clap of her hands. “I want to meet her.”

What?

“What?”

“I would love to meet the woman who finally stole your heart, Kameron. If you’re finally ready to step forward with your relationship, then it’s only fair that we meet. You want to purchase this building, correct?”

I nod, unable to find words.

“Then we shall all get together, say for dinner soon?”

“I’d, uh, well, I’d have to ask her if that works for her schedule,” I say, running my hand down the back of my neck nervously.

“Of course. What does she do?”

“She owns a business. Here. In Pine Village.”

For fuck’s sake. Really, Kameron? That’s the best you can come up with?

At least pick some fictitious woman from a neighboring town like Hudson. Now, I have to find a girlfriend in my hometown of two thousand, knowing the single dating pool is getting drier and drier by the day.

“Which one?” she asks eagerly, ready to put the pieces of my lying puzzle together.

My mind spins. I’m at a crossroads. I should end this now, confess that I lied and walk away from the building. It’ll be sold to another family and a home goods and gift shop—or whatever in the hell they were going to put here—will open instead of my restaurant. It would serve me right for outright lying to this sweet old lady in an attempt to purchase her building. I’m the worst kind of asshole, but I can’t seem to get past the tip of my own growing nose right now to right this wrong.

Or I could cultivate this little white lie and grab hold of my dream. It’s the first time it’s been even an option for me. Right this very second, it’s dangling before me, like a carrot to a horse, and all I have to do is take a bite. So I need a girlfriend. I can do that. It’s not forever, right? Just a short period of time to help me get this building. Someone I trust with the truth and will understand and appreciate my drive for success. Someone who does own a business in town and is just as determined and driven as I am. Someone with acting skills who can sell this lie until it’s time to walk away.

Someone like my friend, Jillian.

Not that Jillian’s really a friend. We have mutual friends, really. Sure, we’re on friendly terms, but it’s not like we hang out or anything.

But Jillian fits the bill.

She owns a business here in town, and as far as I know, she’s not dating anyone.

Plus, she’s fucking gorgeous and fake dating her wouldn’t be a hardship.

I know what I have to do.

I just have to convince Jillian to lie with me.

“She owns the bakery,” I blurt out, feeling heat creep up my neck.

“Jillian Kirby? Oh, what a lovely young woman. Her cinnamon rolls and scones are simply divine,” Dorothy says, looking quite pleased. “I’m so happy to hear you two are dating.”

“Thank you,” I somehow spit out over my Sahara-dry throat.

“I’d love to meet with you both. Soon. Maybe next Sunday? The bakery is closed, so it would be easier for her. I know your restaurant is open, but surely you can slip away for an hour or so to appease an old woman.”

“I can.”

“It’s set then. Let’s say five o’clock? We can dine in your restaurant so it’s more convenient for you. You can show me your plans for this space, and we can work out any details needed. After that, if we can agree upon a price and terms, I’ll be in contact with my lawyer.”

If it’s possible, my heart sinks and soars at the exact same time. I’m ecstatic for the opportunity, yet completely shocked at how I’m getting it.

And maybe a little worried at the extent at which I’m willing to go…

“That sounds wonderful, Mrs. Krokus. I’m sure next Sunday at five will work beautifully,” I say, my entire body hot, despite the fact the room is not.

“Great. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get to the diner.”

I escort the older woman to the door, where she retrieves her walker. Together, we exit the building, and I secure the door behind us. “Thank you, Mrs. Krokus.”

“No, thank you, Kameron. I look forward to sharing a meal with you next weekend,” she says with a smile.

“Me too. And I’m sure Jillian will be ecstatic.”

My gut churns.

“Enjoy your holiday weekend,” the old woman says before starting to shuffle toward the diner down the street.

“You too,” I holler, throwing her a wave as she goes.

My head tells me I need to stop this. A lie of this magnitude won’t have the outcome I expect, that’s for sure. I’m deceiving a sweet old woman to get her building. A building I’ve wanted, lusted after for more than a decade, but still. It’s not right.

But…what if it is right? What if this is exactly what I’m supposed to do? Not the lie itself, but the determination and hard work to achieve my dream. I’ve never been afraid of going after what I want, and I’m not one to back down from a challenge.

That’s what this is.

An obstacle put in front of me. One I need to consider and figure out. Like a puzzle. Dorothy has terms for selling the building, and I can find the solution to achieve what I’m after. It’s actually quite simple.

I need to go secure a girlfriend.

About Lacey Black:

USA Today Bestselling Author Lacey Black is a Midwestern girl with a passion for reading, writing, and shopping. She carries her e-reader with her everywhere she goes so she never misses an opportunity to read a few pages. Always looking for a happily ever after, Lacey is passionate about contemporary romance novels and enjoys it further when you mix in a little suspense. She resides in a small town in Illinois with her husband, two children, and three rowdy chickens.

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