The Townsends and Friends of Williamsport

When you know, you know. Or so say the men in my family. While I was never one to run from love, marriage, or commitment, I knew it’d take a strong woman to handle everything that came with being with me. Not only was my family well connected and wealthy, but as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL, I had made a success of my life on my own. In my world, women came a dime a dozen...or so I thought.

When I board the flight to Mexico, I can’t wait to leave my old corporate lifestyle behind. After a much-needed sabbatical, I plan to return home and open the coffee shop I’ve always wanted to. Getting to know the strong, handsome stranger sitting next to me on my flight is an unexpected bonus. And so is our whirlwind holiday romance that leaves me breathless. Brutus says he wants to continue things back in the real world, but I’m not sure he has room in his life for me, and I’m tired of settling for second best.

Aaron Townsend has given me a life beyond my wildest dreams. But not even a billionaire can prevent cancer. Now that I’m in remission, this Christmas I’d like a present that is priceless—spending time traveling with my five beautiful children and my husband by my side.

I was born into a world of wealth and privilege. My birthright was to be at the helm of one of the world's leading energy companies. But that wasn't my purpose in life. Sitting behind a desk of a Fortune 500 isn't what gets me going. No. It took me years to find my true purpose. Saving lives. Walking into the depths of hell to pull out survivors. It's what gets me out of my bed in the morning, and eventually, it's what led me to her.

I’m broken. I’m well aware of this singular fact of my life. Even as I stitch up patients, correcting their imperfections, I know that there is no cosmetic surgery that will fix what’s broken inside of me. Which is why I don’t let anyone get too close. I learned early on, most people can’t be trusted. The ones who were entrusted with protecting you can do the most harm. So I deal with life the only way I learned how. I fight. On the days when work gets to me, or the memories from my past become too much, I head to the Underground.