At 18, I was a young man winning the game of life. I had a college football scholarship and a cute girlfriend on my arm for my hometown’s annual Halloween party. Forget spiking the punch. The eccentric old scientist who lives in the woods brewed something more potent…and permanently life-altering.

I need to quit. I've been telling myself that every day for the last six months. I knew as soon as I started working for Hudson as his virtual assistant that this wasn't going to work out. He's rude, bossy, and a total grouch. I've only managed to last this long because whenever he starts being a jerk, I sass him right back. Enough is enough though. It's time for me to find a new job. Except when I finally meet him in person to tell him that I quit, he refuses to accept my resignation. Suddenly, instead of the grumpy jerk that I'm used to, Hudson seems to be trying to be almost . . . nice.

Dakota moves to town to open a gourmet pet treat business, but I know there is more to the story. Fate has given me something else—her, my mate. Now, I'll do anything to keep her safe and make her mine, even accept the monster I've become.

Did I break into an animal shelter? Yes. Should it be a crime? Absolutely not. After all, I’m just trying to save these darling kittens from being sent to a lab for experiments. They deserve a loving home, and I intend to give them one. Well, that was the plan, but then I ran into some complications. Several of them. And they all have badges, guns, and handcuffs. So, off to jail I go, but I make my one phone call to the only man who can help me. Benton. I just hope he doesn’t tell my father what I’ve been up to.

Liam Baxter is my new boss, and he's not so bad. I mean, he does require that I knock before I walk into his office. And he doesn't want me to bring my cat to work. Then he tells me if I don't follow his rules, there will be discipline. On top of that, others say he's cold and calculating. Hmm, maybe my boss is a little bit bad? But the more I work for him, the more things change. He shows me his true self in delicious glimpses. Perhaps underneath the stern, handsome boss, there's a man who needs love even more than he needs an assistant.