Showing results by author "Lili Valente" in All Categories

I’m a nerdy virgin—glasses, spreadsheets, collection of test tubes, you get the idea—and proud of it. I don’t mess around with unpredictable things like lust, let alone love. Or so I think…until a gorgeous, brilliant blast from the past kisses me at my sister’s wedding. Suddenly, I’m staying up all night with Dr. Connor Sinclair, making out, making plans, and kicking his adorable butt in chess.

THE MESS They say Jake “The Dragon” Falcone earned his nickname by setting fire to the ice his first season in the NHL. But just between us ladies, I’m pretty sure he earned it for the dragon in his pants. From my first hug as his fake girlfriend, it’s clear he’s packing. After a few fake dates I realize he’s packing…everywhere. Heart, brains, a killer sense of humor—Jake is everything I’ve ever wanted in a man. He’s also my client and OFF LIMITS. Oh, and he has a dangerously unhinged ex who's out for my blood.

Rule Number One: Never lose your virginity to the man who ruined your family. It’s a rule I never meant to break, but the night our paths collide, I have no idea who Weaver is. He’s just a drop-dead gorgeous man with no qualms about sleeping with a virgin. By the time I realize he’s also the man who destroyed my father, I’ve spent the hottest night of my life on his yacht. I’m ashamed of what I’ve done. I’m even more ashamed that I want to do it again.

So let me get this straight... For the next few days I’ve got myself a grumpy fake husband who’s also kind of my...bodyguard? I guess that’s a better way to spend the weekend than binge-watching reality television, especially since it’s kind of my fault we’re on the run from the mob and I need a protector.

Truth or Dare: Tell the One-Who-Got-Away that you're still madly in love with him OR spend the night trapped with him in a hunting lodge that's about to be swept downstream? Ha! Trick Question. I get to do BOTH! Because when it rains, it pours. First, I call Theo McGuire to tell him that I've always loved him and I always will--at least for the next few hours until Pippa Jane the Pig and I are swallowed by the floodwaters. Then, I open the second story window when Theo comes knocking in his kayak, in a likely doomed attempt to save us.

Gabe Alexander is the devil. Or an angel. He's the worst kind of bad news, but every time he touches me, and whispers filthy, beautiful things in my ear, all I want is more. More of his kiss, his touch, and the dangerous, seductive things he makes me feel. I don't want to break the rules, let alone the law, but the man makes it feel so damned good. Caitlin is everything I never knew I needed. But I'm not just bad for her - I'm toxic. If I stay, I'll destroy her, but I can't keep my hands to myself.

I need a guy who understands that this is all pretend, and who better than a man who can't stand me—and vice versa? Besides, Derrick is the kind of cocky, confident, successful dude-bro my gram will adore. We'll convince my ailing grandmother I’m not going to die alone, Derrick will honor that favor he owes me, and we'll part ways as enemies with no benefits. It’s a rock-solid plan...until it isn’t.

Note to self - do not bang your best guy friend in the limo on the way to the swanky Vegas hotel. I give myself very good advice. Too bad I suck at taking it. If only Colin and I hadn't drunk so much whiskey, if only I'd kept that red bikini in my suitcase, if only his evil ex-girlfriend hadn't come sniffing around making me feel territorial and protective. Not that my bad boy rock star best friend is any help. Walking around looking ridiculously sexy, telling me I'm perfect in that panty-melting voice of his when we both swore we’d never do anything to put our friendship at risk.

When the family dog trots in with my diaphragm in its mouth - in front of my date, his parents, and his adorable little girl - you would think I'd hit rock bottom. Wrong. Let's back this up a sec. Brendan Daniels is the sexiest man alive. The captain of the Badger's NHL team is also clever, kind, funny, and was my good friend...until we cruised out of the friend zone one weekend with a red-hot fling.

I’m the station’s youngest fire chief, a grown man, and fully in my right mind - which means I’m not going to fall for the one who got away. That’s not the kind of person I am. Second chances are like skipping leg day - I don’t do that. Ever. But I wasn’t counting on Naomi buying me at the firefighter charity auction. Now I’m forced into a month of dates with the one woman who cuts through my defenses like no one else, and I’m starting to think maybe she’s right...maybe we are different people than the teenagers who failed at love.

Begging my brother’s best friend - a.k.a NHL superstar Ian Fox - to help me ditch my V-card wasn’t part of my “make it big in NYC” plans. But after years of being “cute little Evie”, I’m tired of waiting for Mr. Right. I’m ready for Mr. Right Now, and Ian is everything I’ve ever wanted in a first time. He’s kind, funny, confident, and has a legendary stick.... And yes, my brother will murder us if he finds out, but we’re both grown-ups. We can keep a secret. We have to, since I just landed an art-therapy job working with his troubled team.

My name is Caroline "Candy" Cane, I own a country inn, date a man who runs a Christmas tree farm, and my mom's peppermint fudge wins first place at the Reindeer Corners' festival every year. Basically, I'm living every romance-loving girlie's small town dream. Until a last minute trip to New York City leads to catching my boyfriend banging a Rockette (in full elf costume). So, when I'm offered a chance to star in a hospitality-themed reality show, I jump at the chance to serve hot cocoa in roller skates on national television.

Sometimes the only decent thing to do is block your own c*ck... Former Marine Colton Brody is trouble with a capital T. One night with him and good girls go bad. Real bad. But he's not going to let sweet, quirky Olivia Page end up another name on his hit it and quit it list. His little sister's best friend is off limits, even if her killer curves inspire an endless supply of wicked fantasy fodder.

It was only supposed to be one time. But that red-hot one-night stand from the party? The sexy man in the suit who gave me more Os in a few hours than I've had in a year? Turns out my charming British stranger is keeping a little secret. He's as much of a whiz in the kitchen as he is in the bedroom, and soon, we'll be going head-to-head in NYC's biggest bake off. My one-time lover is now my enemy. I vow to loathe him for all eternity, though that would be easier if I wasn't dying to get naked with him again.

In the market for a hot tip? Here’s one: Don’t bang your best friend’s little sister. Especially when she’s an investigative journalist and your investment company is the target of her latest scoop. Unfortunately, I have a thing for high-risk bets, and Ellie's suggestion that we mix business with pleasure is too sweet a deal to pass up. Friends with benefits is the kind of low-stress romantic situation a busy New Yorker actually has time for.

CAITLIN: I'm the only person who cared enough to stick around and raise my little brothers and niece, the only one fighting to keep us together. Never once did I imagine anyone coming to our rescue, let alone a guy like Gabe. He's dangerous. Not just with this risky Robin Hood mission of his, but with the way he somehow gets past all my defenses....

She claims to hate me more than karaoke and liverwurst combined, and that's before she finds out I'm her new boss...Yes, Princess Alexandra and I have both been keeping big secrets. The spoiled royal bit is just our cover, a smokescreen we hide behind to keep our counterintelligence work from the people we love. Being spies, we can't let anyone too close. But close is exactly what we'll be pretending to be on our first mission posing as lovers. I honestly can't decide which will be harder - taking down a notorious drug lord or keeping my growing attraction to Alexandra under wraps.

My fiancée is a dreary little mouse, and I have no doubt we’ll make each other miserable if we go through with our arranged marriage. But I can’t dishonor my grandfather’s dying wish. Which leaves me one choice — make my sweet fiancée so miserable during our engagement festivities that she calls it quits. Operation Prince Charmless will get her out of my hair. And then I'm back to Sexy Single Ruler business as usual. Or that’s the plan…. But my fiancée is feistier than I remembered. Sexier, too. Looks like the Royal Package and I are in for more than we bargained for….

Wild girl Mia Sherman has a secret - she isn't as fearless as she pretends. Descended from Lonesome Point, Texas's founding family, Mia grew up hearing tales of an old Irish curse that had followed the Shermans to America. At age 24, Mia is still terrified of the stories, because they aren't stories. They are a warning about what will happen if Mia allows love and romance into her life. The curse struck Mia's grandmother and her great-great-whatever grandmother, and Mia knows she could be next.

Last night I made out with a gorgeous, funny, quirky older woman. Today I learned she’s the new executive chef at my restaurant. AKA my new boss. Yep, that’s the hot mess I’m in at the moment. But the chemistry between Natalie and me is even hotter. The problem? She’s a single mom focused on helping her little girl adjust to life in the big city. Dating right now—especially a co-worker—is asking for trouble. So, what’s my next move? Seduce the hell out of the woman, of course.