Payne. In search of: Room to rent. Must ignore the patheticness of a 40-year-old roommate. Preferably dirt cheap as funds are tight (nonexistent). There’s nothing sadder than moving back to my hometown newly divorced, homeless, and lost for what my next move is. When my little brother’s best friend offers me a place to stay in exchange for menial duties, I swallow my pride and jump at the offer. I need this. I also need Beau to wear a shirt. And ditch the gray sweatpants. And not leave his door ajar when he’s in compromising positions...

As a founding member of The Vers, a queer podcast I host with my three best friends, I’m "The Loner"—quieter than the others, and except for them, I don’t let myself get too close to people. Most of them just let you down anyway, or maybe it’s just that something about me chases people away.

The job at Sunday Orchard was supposed to be temporary. A chance to gain some work experience, to have some fun. I had not expected to be welcomed into a family of gorgeous and weirdly efficient lumberjack-types, or to find purpose in the tiny Vermont town whose claim to fame seemed to be apple-based products and copious amounts of charm. And I most definitely hadn’t expected to fall for Knox Sunday, my grumpy, burly, fifteen-years-older, reluctant roommate, with his infuriating lectures, his hot-as-fire body, his superior attitude - I’ve never been one to put down roots.

I should never have approached Remington's car. I knew he was dangerous, but he needed help, and I was sure he could pay well for it. When he offers me an astronomical sum to stay with him for two weeks, I can't say no. Even then, I know when our time is up, I'll wish we had forever. Remington cares for me like no man ever has, and I can’t help falling for him. But how could a crime boss be my Prince Charming or give me the fairytale happily-ever-after I’ve always dreamed of?

Don’t play dirty. That’s the code I live by on and off the field. The other?Don’t get distracted. Not by the media, not by hookups, and definitely not by our rival team’s ridiculously charming star player, who loves to whisper dirty nothings to me every time we play ball. And sure, his offers are tempting, but he’s the love ‘em and leave ‘em type, and I want the real thing.

For years, I pretended to be something I’m not. Drowning the beast living inside of me in copious amounts of alcohol and women. Not that I complained. And then Victoria Hughes walks back into my life and took me by surprise. The woman stunning me clear out of my mind the minute my mouth touched hers. After tragedy strikes and knocks her off her feet, I expected her to come to me, yet she didn’t. She pretended we’re nothing. But I see her. I’ve watched her, and she’s fighting grief while battling an all-consuming need for vengeance.

Royce Blackstone has one rule: Never get personally involved with his clients. As the owner of Harper Security Ops, Royce is well aware of everything and everyone inside his building. When he’s about to go in after the biggest lead on latest case that’s landed on his desk, Royce didn’t expect he’d have to abort the mission early. It might have seemed like Tarryn Hendrix was simply looking to learn some new skills, but dedicating two years of her life to training her mind and body is all part of Tarryn’s plan.

Orphaned and trained on a spymaster’s remote estate, Kali is a scout who works alone in the shadows. But when a terror group threatens the Dansil throne, the king forces Kali to accept a mission at the palace or forfeit her sister’s life. Suddenly thrust into the light, Kali must infiltrate high society as the royal Lady Lianna while penetrating the servant ranks as Kal, a male guardsman trainee. It doesn’t help that Trace, the harsh and enigmatic captain of the king’s guard, is soon assigned as both Lady Lianna’s palace escort and Kal’s commanding officer.

For Logan Anderson, moving on from a traumatic past means moving back to his hometown of Castle Rock, Colorado, to start a personal-security business with his brothers. But it's not long before Logan runs into Grace Mason, his best friend from high school...and the woman who never answered his letters during his Army years. Grace was pleasantly surprised to see Logan return to Castle Rock, despite their falling-out ten years ago. Everyone always assumed they would end up together, including Grace.

I was never supposed to see him again. Him being the man wearing the perfectly tailored suit, who oozed an intoxicating mixture of wealth, rebellion, and sex appeal. One night. No strings. No names. Still riding the high from last night, I walk in to meet my new client, and he’s wearing that same dangerous smirk. Yes, I’m consulting for Callahan Sharpe. That Callahan Sharpe. Billionaire heir who abides by no rules, bucks convention, and is determined to complete one final project to honor his late father’s legacy. Luckily, and unluckily for me, I’m tasked to help.

Nathan Livingston has more in his life than he can handle - a high-powered job in DC politics, a 16-year-old daughter he's raising alone, and another daughter who ran away from him, whom he hasn't seen in two years. He doesn't have anything left to invest in a real relationship. A night of hot sex with Lynn every three months is as much as he'll allow himself, and it doesn't matter that it never feels like enough.

The only woman I want is the one I can never have. Harper. My best friend’s sister. I’ve wanted her since I was eighteen, but she’s always been off-limits. Now I’m home after years in the Marines, and nothing has changed - except everything has. Her brother is dead, and she’s on a hopeless quest for answers about his death. And I want her just as much as ever. Someone is trying to kill her now, and she won’t let me keep her safe.

I left my brothers in the marines to start a family. I left my ex-wife when that family drove her to drink and drugs. Now all I have left is my son - and he's all I care about. I can't afford to make another mistake. And the girl who moved in next door? Mistake written all over her. But I can't take my damn eyes off her. As she tries to start a new life away from her abusive ex, she has her own reasons to stay away. But we can't help it. We're drawn to each other. And when she tells me how much she wants a baby...I make every mistake in the book. Because I want a family again.

My job is to protect the innocent, but Blake van Hamilton has never been innocent. With killer curves, silky brown hair, and silvery-blue eyes, she’s been an inconvenient object of my lust since we were teens. Now I’ve been hired to guard her against a band of criminals who want her money, and maybe even her life. Still, I'm the last person she wants helping her. Blake van Hamilton hates me, but it won’t stop me from doing my job.

He’s a thief, a convicted felon. A cocky guy with tattoos and a smirk for days. He needs a bodyguard and I need a job, so here we are. And the more time I spend with Ronan Michaels, the more I realize maybe he isn’t the bad guy after all. But why do I feel like he’s hiding something or protecting someone? Or both? My angel Gabriel has a devil on his shoulder. He’s not a sinner—but certainly no saint. Gabriel’s discovered my secrets, yet the more I push him away, the closer he stands by my side.