Stories by @rmsx3090

Christmas at Fox Ridge

Eira Davies thought a bar napkin sketch of her best friend’s handsome brother was harmless fun—until he caught her in the act. One steamy night later, Lucas McKinney was supposed to be nothing more than a fun memory. Fast forward six months, and Lucas is desperate to save his struggling ranch. Renting out the spare cabin on his property seems like the perfect solution, until his first guest turns out to be Eira, the woman he hasn’t stopped thinking about. A true believer in fate, Lucas can’t shake the feeling that the universe has delivered her to his doorstep with a big, shiny bow. As sparks fly and the Christmas lights twinkle, they’ll have to figure out if this holiday surprise is just a festive fling or the real deal worth unwrapping for good.

Axe-identally Married

I used to be a good girl. That is until I woke up in Vegas married to a former hockey player who also happens to be my best friend’s ex. Cole Hebert and I are opposites. I’m the new town doctor, a rule follower, and five-five on a good day. He’s the six-seven bad boy currently doing court-ordered community service. I’m struggling to earn the respect of the people in our hometown, and he’s doing some soul searching after an injury ended his hockey career. We’ve already drunkenly said I do, so we agree to a marriage of convenience. Forced to live together, we slowly become friends. I see a side of Cole I never knew existed. He coaches kids’ hockey, knits for the entire town, and loves snuggling while watching Jeopardy. Soon, we’re growing closer, and the way the hockey-playing lumberjack worships my plus-size body and obsessively calls me his wifey has me embracing my inner bad girl and tearing down all my carefully constructed walls. Our feelings eventually burn as bright as our passion, but the small town we both love is harboring dark secrets. After a shocking discovery, we learn there are those who want us silenced forever, and we’re forced to risk it all to protect our happily ever after.

Worth the Rush

After a devastating loss and a failed marriage at twenty-seven, Ivy has spent the last year making less than ideal decisions. If less than ideal is code for bad. When her latest stunt causes a sizable scene, her father issues her an ultimatum: prove she can run his new business venture, The Edgemont Ski Resort and Lodge or lose her coveted seat on the board at Rutherford Industries. It should have been a simple task, but when a chance encounter with a charming stranger takes her by surprise, it sets her on a slippery slope that she never saw coming. Alder Holloway leads rescue missions for a living—his newest mission however, wants nothing to do with him. Magnetic and charismatic, Alder has never shied away from the spotlight. Recovering from a traumatic loss, Alder has spent the last decade of his life running the resort his cabin is built on, as well as becoming an experienced and skilled Alpine Search and Rescue Pilot. At thirty-six, he’s content to live his life with a high risk career, low risk personal life—until fate intervenes in the way of a snowstorm. Enter Ivy Rutherford, the new and unexpected manager strutting around his resort. Ivy is as irritatingly beautiful as she is brilliant. She’s also determined to keep Alder at arms length, unaware that despite her attempt to keep things between them temporary, she’s already become a non negotiable in his life.

Under the Mistletoe Series

Cruel Winter With You by Ali Hazelwood Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey All By My Elf by Olivia Dade Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur Only Santa's in the Building by Alexis Daria

Caught Up

Kai I'm a single dad and starting pitcher for Chicago's MLB team. I'm stretched too thin, but I don't want help raising my son. Each of his previous nannies only lasted a few weeks before I let them go. Now, my coach is putting his foot down by hiring the one person I can't fire-his daughter. Miller Montgomery is the last woman I should fall for. Too wild, too young, and too unattached. Chicago is just a quick stop for her. I thought I'd be counting down the days until she left, but summer feels too short when I start thinking about forever. Miller As a high-end pastry chef who recently won the most prestigious award in my industry, I'm desperate to prove I deserve it. But with a new title comes new pressure, and I can't create a fresh and inspiring dessert to save my life. With only two months to get back on track, I should be focusing in the kitchen, but instead, I let my dad talk me into using my time off to nanny for his star player's kid. Kai Rhodes forgot how to have fun, and I'm eager to jog his memory. But when he and his son start to feel like home, I have to remind us both that my time in Chicago ends with the summer. Besides, I've always been a runner, and the last thing I want is to get caught.

Off to the Races

Keeping things professional with my employees has never been an issue. Until she waltzed onto my property. Billie is talented. She's mouthy. And she's so damn tempting. I can't stop thinking about all the ways I could take her down a peg. I can't stop thinking about her, period. We clash from the moment we meet. And in a small town, on an even smaller farm, it’s hard to keep your distance. It’s even harder to keep that friction from turning to fire. But keeping my distance? That might be the biggest struggle of all. Because Billie is the whole package, whip-smart with a body I fantasize about when I’m alone, and quite possibly the only woman who can save this business—and me. She drives me crazy. In every sense of the word. Every smart-mouthed little comment—every game we play—I end up wanting more. Wanting her closer. With me. Under me. I try not to let her get to me, but the more time we spend together the more I crave her. Her lips. Her trust. Her heart. I want it all. But at what cost? Because suddenly I don’t just want to win races, I want to win the girl.

Lost and Lassoed

Teddy Andersen doesn't have a plan. She's never needed one. She's more of a go-with-the-flow type of girl, but for some reason, the flow doesn't seem to be going her way this time. Gus Ryder has a lot on his plate. He's always been the dependable one, but when his workload starts to overwhelm him, he has to admit that he can't manage everything on his own. He needs help. His little sister's best friend, the woman he can't stand, is not who he had in mind. But when no one else can step in, Teddy's the only option he's got. Tempers flare, tension builds, and for the first time ever, Gus and Teddy start to see each other in a different light. As new feelings start to simmer below the surface, they must decide whether they should act on them. Can they keep things cool? Or will both of them get burned?

Given Our History

Assistant professor Clara Fernsby is nothing if not driven. She's wanted to teach history since she was fourteen, and she hasn't let anything stand in her way-not even the love of her life. When Theodore Harrison is brought into her department as a visiting scholar, it's an unexpected blast from Clara's past. She hasn't spoken to Teddy since rejecting him over a phone call ten years ago. Now that he's here, she's reminded of everything her teenager self loved about him. Clara knows there's every chance Theo's not interested. But history's all down to interpretation, and this time around, she's got no intentions of repeating it.

This Will Be Fun

TEN YEARS AGO, THEY SAVED THE REALM. IT RUINED THEIR LIVES. Everyone in Mythria knows the story of how best friends Beatrice and Elowen, handsome ex-bandit Clare, and valiant leader Galwell the Great defended the realm from darkness. It’s a tale beloved by all—except the heroes. They haven’t spoken in a decade, devastated by what their quest cost them. But when they all receive an invitation to the queen of Mythria’s wedding, it’s a summons they can’t refuse . . . and a reunion for the ages—with Clare secretly not over his long-ago fling with Beatrice, Beatrice fighting the guilt she feels over how everything ended, Elowen unprepared for the return of her ex-love (the cunning Vandra), and all of them lost without Galwell. And if reuniting with former friends and lovers wasn’t perilous enough, dark forces from their past have also returned. Dusting off old weapons and old instincts, Beatrice, Clare, and Elowen will face undead nemeses, crystal caves, enchanted swords, coffee shops, games of magical Truth or Dare, and, hardest of all, their past—rife with wounds never healed and romances never forgotten. This time around, will their story end in happily ever after?

Crescent City Series 🌙

Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life-working hard all day and partying all night-until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She'll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths. Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose-to assassinate his boss's enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he's offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach. As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City's underbelly, they're plunged into the fight of a lifetime, making them question everything they thought they knew. With a sizzling romance at its heart and surprises at every turn, the #1 bestselling Crescent City series has captivated readers everywhere with its exploration of loss, power, and love.

Consider Me

Carter Beckett is the NHL’s best player – both on and off the ice. His career is at its peak, his team is performing better than ever, and there’s no shortage of women to spend the night with. What more could he want? Olivia Parker isn’t new to professional hockey players, thanks to her best friend’s boyfriend, but she has no interest in dating one herself – no matter how hot he is. And anyway, she loves working as a teacher and hanging out with her best friend, drama-free. Why would she want to spend her time stroking the ego of an arrogant athlete? But once Carter meets Olivia, he can’t think of anyone else. Too bad for him, Olivia is hell-bent on keeping him at arm’s length, with no intention of giving into his charms. Perhaps it’s time for Carter to up his game … after all, nobody ever said he had to play fair. Sparks will fly as Carter does whatever it takes for Olivia to consider him.

Wild Eyes

As a chart-topping country singer with a recent streak of bad press, it's hard for Skylar Stone to find any peace. But she finds it in Rose Hill. With a little boy and a little girl who steal her heart just as thoroughly as their dad. Weston Belmont. The man is a shameless flirt. He oozes confidence and masculinity in a way that's downright distracting. And in bed? He's addictive. Everything with him is wild and impulsive, and Skylar is desperate to regain some control. But no one has supported her like West does. And no one has ever made her feel as loved as he does either. So, while Skylar's brain says settling down with a small-town horse trainer is impossible...her heart says she's right where she belongs. Still, her life as a celebrity haunts her. It has the power to pull she and West apart. She can see in his eyes that he wants her to stay. And she wants that too. But she knows better than anyone that you don't always get what you want.

Next to You

Lane is in the middle of an identity crisis. Her friends are all partnered up, her career is leading nowhere, and she's just not happy. So, after a night out celebrating her birthday, she makes one hell of an impulse purchase: a giant yellow forty-eight passenger school bus that she intends to make a home. With little-to-no renovation experience, but a large sum of inheritance money, Lane enlists the help of her friend Matt – mechanic by trade, handyman by practice, and hottie by nature. While their mutual attraction is undeniable, Matt's a total family guy with 'settle down with me' tattooed across his forehead, whereas Lane is entirely commitment averse. Matt and Lane have silently agreed that friendship is the only thing that can ever exist between them. So when Matt offers to help her with the bus, and in the bedroom, Lane's sure it can never work… can it?

Next of Kin

When she discovers her biological mother has had a new baby, Chloe doesn't hesitate to provide a home for her. Failing to meet social services' financial evaluation, she's forced into a new initiative: joining households with another prospective guardian. Surly garage mechanic Warren, who is trying to gain custody of his deaf teenage brother, does not make a great first impression. But as their lives intertwine, Chloe and Warren discover they have more in common than they thought. So much so that the chemistry between them threatens everything they've fought for...

Out on a Limb

Independent, confident, and not held back by her disability, Winnifred McNulty has been determined to prove to herself and others that she can do anything without needing anyone. That all changes when Win meets Bo at a Halloween party, a charming boy in a pirate costume who has more in common with her than she realises. Bonding over the fact that they both have a visible disability, Win and Bo develop an electrifying connection with each other that they just can't ignore. After a one-night stand leaves Win with the biggest decision of her life, Bo is more than happy to join her in sharing this new experience - on the condition that they remain strictly friends. Win and Bo embark on a journey together, discovering more about themselves than they thought they knew. But the chemistry between them is unavoidable, and the plan they put in place soon gets thrown into question as feelings begin to surface.

Corrupt

I was told that dreams were our heart's desires. My nightmares, however, became my obsession. His name is Michael Crist. My boyfriend's older brother is like that scary movie that you peek through your hand to watch. He's handsome, strong, and completely terrifying. The star of his college's basketball team and now gone pro, he's more concerned with the dirt on his shoe than me. But I noticed him. I saw him. I heard him. The things that he did, and the deeds that he hid...For years, I bit my nails, unable to look away. Now, I've graduated high school and moved on to college, but I haven't stopped watching Michael. He's bad, and the dirt I've seen isn't content to stay in my head anymore. Because he's finally noticed me. Michael Her name is Erika Fane, but everyone calls her Rika. My brother's girlfriend grew up hanging around my house and is always at our dinner table. She looks down when I enter a room and stills when I am close. I can always feel the fear rolling off of her, and while I haven't had her body, I know that I have her mind. That's all I really want anyway. Until my brother leaves for the military, and I find Rika alone at college. In my city. Unprotected. The opportunity is too good to be true, as well as the timing. Because you see, three years ago she put a few of my high school friends in prison, and now they're out. We've waited. We've been patient. And now every last one of her nightmares will come true.

In The Weeds

Evelyn St. James isn’t the kind of woman you forget. Beckett Porter certainly hasn’t. One incredible weekend in Maine and he’s officially a man distracted. So when she suddenly appears on his farm as part of a social media contest, he’s . . . confused. He had no idea that the sweet and sexy woman he met at a bar is actually a social media influencer and global phenomenon. Feeling disconnected from her work and increasingly unhappy, Evelyn is trying to find her way back to something real. She returns to the last place she was happy – Lovelight Farms and the tiny town of Inglewild. It has absolutely nothing to do with the hot farmer she spent two incredible nights with. Nothing at all . . .

Wild Love

Forbes may have labeled Ford Grant the World's Hottest Billionaire, but all he cares about is escaping the press and opening a recording studio in gorgeous small town Rose Hill. Something that comes to a screeching halt when he ends up face-to-face with a young girl who claims he's her biological father. Now, he spends his days balancing business with parenting a sullen twelve-year-old, all while trying desperately to keep his hands the hell off his best friend's sister, Rosie Belmont. After living in the city, Rosie came blasting back into town like a storm. Beautiful, messy, and chaotic. And one wide-eyed, desperate plea for a job is all it takes for Ford to hire her. He vows to keep her at arm's length. Tries to stick to scowls and grumpy one-liners. But with her, verbal sparring is a type of foreplay―friction that soon turns to blistering heat. Ford knows damn well he shouldn't cross this line. But shouldn't and can't are two very different things. And the only thing he truly can't do is resist her.

Hopeless

He's thirty-five and all man, I'm twenty-two and all . . . virgin. He's also my fiancé. Correction: my fake fiancé. We start out as a bet. He doesn't believe that anyone holds my last name against me. So he offers me his to prove a point. It's a win-win. He gets a break from his concerned family's prying, and I get a chance to shed my family's reputation while I save up to ditch this small town. He says all I have to do is wear his ring, follow his lead, and pretend I can't keep my hands off of him in public. But it's what happens between us in private that blurs all those carefully drawn lines . . . It's what transpires behind closed doors that doesn't feel like pretending at all . . . This engagement was supposed to be for show. This agreement? It has an end date. He once told me he'd never fall in love. And yet here I am, head over heels for my fake fiancé.

Reckless

I'm almost free of my toxic marriage and have sworn off men entirely. So all I see when I look at Theo is temptation served up with a heaping side of heartbreak. The man is hard to trust-and even harder to resist. Make that impossible. Because Theo is persistent. And no matter how hard I try to freeze him out, he melts my icy exterior and pulls apart all my defences. Then I spend the singular hottest night of my life with him. It was supposed to be a one-time thing. A secret. But that little plus sign is going to make this secret impossible to keep.