Showing results by publisher "Carina Press" in Contemporary

Jonah Alcott found his true calling as the PR director of Hawkins Hardwood. He's a master of mediation, but the Black Cherry Canyon project has pushed him to his limit—beautiful but obstinate park manager Zury Castellano crossed a line when she enlisted the help of known eco-terrorists to protect "her" land. Zury will stop at nothing to ensure Hawkins Hardwood doesn't touch a single twig in it, even if that means agreeing to spend the weekend with corporate drone Jonah.

Bri Martin likes her skirts too short, her heels too high, and trouble close at hand. So when big, brooding underground boxer Luke Turner comes into the bar where she works and starts a fight before she brings his first drink, she can't help being intrigued. Luke is everything she never wanted and everything she can't resist. Soon, Luke is showing up everywhere Bri is, and she can't break free of his hold on her, nor does she want to. When her best friend turns on her, it's Luke who is there. When Luke's opponent comes after her to send Luke a message, it's he who comes to her rescue.

Ryan Brennan has worked plenty of jobs for the McCormack Security Agency, so going undercover at a couples resort to identify a pair of killers should be easy. Except his assigned partner-uh, "wife"-is Vicky Hastings. It takes all his willpower to keep their relationship professional, even when they're not sharing a secluded cabin.

After wearing a Least Likely to Succeed label all her life, Roxanne Eberly is hell-bent on making her Red Light Lingerie store successful. Although the residents of small-town Shelbyville, Texas, are a little...lingerie-resistant, she'll win them over eventually. So when a former employer sues her, putting a major wrinkle in her careful plans, she reluctantly accepts help from hot-stuff Houston attorney Jamie Wright.

Mathias Robichaud is looking for an alliance. The Defiance motorcycle club is a stronghold in the dangerous world that's become the new norm and he's driven to prove he's tough enough to be sworn in as a full member. But when he sees a beautiful, spirited girl abducted by a rival MC, rescuing her jeopardizes all he's worked for. Politician's daughter Jessa Everson knows what's expected of her - obedience, loyalty and silence - but that doesn't mean she doesn't fight when she's kidnapped by the Lords of Vengeance.

There's no place like Texas. And there's no one like a Texan! Twinkie Sue Carmichael and her mother own the Clown Motel in Mirage, Texas, known for its mysterious desert lights. She's also the mayor. Like everyone else in these parts, Twinkie's worried about the goings-on at nearby Fort Huacha, an abandoned military facility, which has been taken over by a group of men calling themselves the Brothers. When Cole Thornton comes to Mirage - with his own questions about the Brothers - Twinkie's hormones go on high alert.

After several years as a submissive, psychology lecturer Beth is eager to experience being on the other end of the whip for a change. When she meets sweet but socially awkward Ed at a party, it's obvious the aerospace engineer is interested - and obvious he's way too vanilla. When tracking down a friend lands him in a BDSM club, Ed's eyes are opened to a whole other world - and a whole other side of Beth. Then Beth's former Master shows up, and Ed agrees to play along as her sub in exchange for a real date.

Kim has been the coordinator at Naughty Nicks, home of the sexiest Santa strippers, every Christmas for three years - and for just as long, she's lusted after her boss. She enjoys their flirty banter and heated looks, but she's getting tired of Blake being nice when she's feeling naughty. This year, there's only one kind of Christmas bonus she wants. With each passing holiday season, Blake's attraction to Kim has grown. But after a bitter divorce, he's not sure he's ready to jump into a new relationship, especially with an employee.

Every December twenty-fifth, Rebeccah Rickman volunteers through her synagogue so that others can celebrate Christmas. Her usual mitzvah, or good deed, is assisting police officer Jeremy Kohler. But this year is different: This year, Becca is free to act on the attraction that has long simmered between her and the sexy cop. Jeremy couldn't have asked for a better gift than discovering the woman he's fantasized about for five long years is single. But when he learns about the violence that broke up Becca's marriage, he's hesitant to pursue her.

This year, a modern-day Scrooge learns the true meaning of Christmas with the help of a suddenly sexy old friend. A down-on-his-luck baseball star finds a beautiful new beginning with a hometown girl. And a prim-and-proper teacher is determined to bring out the holiday spirit in a grumpy tree farmer. Settle in for the season with this collection of very merry short fiction.

Abandoned by a mother who chose drugs over her, Jamie Charles barely got out of her own addiction alive. Now, she pours her pain into her art while pouring drinks at a local bar. To Jamie, love is a four-letter word - until she meets Miles, a charming ad exec with piercing blue eyes who makes no secret about his desire for her. Miles Copeland has family demons of his own, but his unhappy upbringing drove him toward hard work and success.

By day, Robin Lessing has a successful career as a university archivist. By night, she blogs about her less-than-successful search for Mr. Tall, Dark, and Dominant. Living up to her handle "The Picky Submissive", she's on the verge of giving up and settling for vanilla with a side of fuzzy handcuffs when she discovers her best friend and colleague has a kinky side, too.

Logging manager Matt Shaw is wary when Kayla Edwards, the owner of Mountain Specialty Spices, hires his firm to harvest timber on her Appalachian property. It's a place he knows better than the back of his calloused hand-it's his family's old homestead, lost years ago in a painful foreclosure. He's hauled himself up from dirt-floor poor since then, and resolves to stay professional...but Kayla's vivacious beauty makes it hard to focus on his job.

Lieutenant Sully Jax saved his unit during an IED attack, but he couldn't save his marriage. He can't even remember it. Recovered from his injuries, he's come home to the family and friends he knows-and an ex-wife who's a stranger to him. Lucy Crabtree was heartbroken last Christmas when Sully announced his plan to go on one last tour of duty, and devastated when he asked for a divorce after he awoke in the hospital with no memory of her.

Adrian Blackstone built a million-dollar business with hard work and determination - and by remaining professional at all times. Denying his longtime attraction to his beautiful executive assistant hasn't been easy but it's necessary. She's indispensable, and he can't stand the thought of losing her if things didn't work out. For more than a year, Rachel Carter has been quietly dreaming of all the ways she'll never seduce her sexy, buttoned-up boss.

The only things Natalie Bouchard wants to change are the weekly specials in her Gram's diner. So when her high school sweetheart strolls back into Dearling, Texas, she allows herself to indulge in a little flirtation, but that's as far as it goes. Navy SEAL Sawyer Nolan has returned to sell his father's land and get the hell out, no matter how enticing he still finds Natalie. Until a storm rolls over the Texas hills, stranding them together at the farm...and the memories of their steamy past lead to a reunion filled with hot days and long nights.

Katrina and Owen Holland have the perfect marriage, a home in the trendiest part of Baltimore, and a scorching sex life. As another Christmas approaches, there's only one thing still on Kat's wish list: Hunter Croft. But she made peace long ago with his decision to choose the marines over their relationship. Until seeing him again arouses feelings she thought were in the past... Hunter has spent a decade outrunning his attraction to both Kat and Owen.

She's swallowed her pride and moved back to her hometown with her daughter after her divorce and the loss of her catering company. Now she's trying to navigate the strained relationships she'd left behind-including her first love, Jack Davison. Jack never forgot Bridget, or the day she left town-and him. When Bridget caters a lunch at Jack's tourist ranch, old flames reignite. They have more in common than ever-Jack's also a single parent.

What could be worse than having a long-over affair with your boss - the governor - hit the headlines? Professional and personal exile. Banished from the state capital to ride out the media storm in Shadow Valley, Montana, Megan Archer is tasked with promoting cooperation between local police and the federal agents investigating the area's drug trade. When she's rescued from a near-drowning by handsome Joe Cody, Megan thinks things might be looking up.

Twenty-four-year-old small-town girl Ana Reynold serves beer at the local bar, tries to keep her beater car running, and dreams of a better life as a painter. If she can learn to make a decent steak, she might get promoted to cook - and earn enough for her real heart's desire. Right now, that doesn't include romance. But when she meets a tall, dark, and sexy Native American man named Kane, Ana can't take her eyes off him - or stop thinking about him. But she'd better.