Showing results by publisher "Piper Rayne" in Romance

Dating is hard. Dating in your 30s is even harder. Dating in Chicago is harder still. I haven't given up on finding my happily-ever-after, but in the age of swiping right and Netflix and chill, I'm wondering if everything is as temporary as my marriage turned out to be. Truth is, there is one guy I can't get my mind off of. Roarke Baldwin has salt and pepper hair I've dreamed of running my hands through, and I'm pretty sure that if I checked, he really does have a six-pack of abs underneath his suit.

Imagine lying in a hospital bed and the doctor who pulls the curtain back to treat you is the one who got away. Even if you never really had her in the first place. She’s not only your high school crush, she’s the ex-girlfriend of your ex-best friend. The one girl you’ve always wanted. Here’s a step-by-step list to finally win her over.... Just remember, you sat back and let her slip away once, you won’t do it a second time. Failure is not an option.

Cristian Bianco has two things against him - he's a police officer and he's a police officer in the 18th District…meaning my dad is his boss. Growing up as the Commander's daughter and having his magnifying glass focused on everything I did was more than I could handle.

I swore off anyone remotely like my ex. On the top of that list? Attorneys. Everyone knows they can't be trusted. Now that I've moved back into my childhood home in Chicago, my focus is my daughter, my mom, and me. Then I see Reed Warner again. I push him away, but somehow he weasels his way into every part of my life, not willing to take "No" for an answer. In spite of my better judgment, I can't stop thinking about the way his designer suits fit his muscular frame. The problem? Not only is he a lawyer...he was the best man at my wedding.

Who’s the mystery woman who's just walked into my brewery? I’m not the only one from my Alaskan small town asking themselves that question. But I’m positive that I’m the only one in Sunrise Bay undressing the pretty blonde in my head. Everything about her, from her make-up to her high heels, says she’s a fish out of water. Whispers and speculations run rampant until the secret of who she is gets uncovered. Then the rumor mill goes into overdrive when she announces she’s staying to open a bookstore in the building next to mine.

What happens when you attend a first responder's bachelor auction with your best friends? Well, if your name is Madison Kelly like mine is, your friends end up bidding on a date for you with your high school crush. One date. That's all I'm committed to. A few hours and I can tuck him back into that tattered old shoebox in my closet. As always, the universe has other plans. I never would've predicted that in a matter of days, he'd turn from my dream guy into my business partner - and that's when things got interesting.

It’s not a new story. Wife finds out husband’s been cheating on her, and she packs up her four kids and heads back to her hometown of Sunrise Bay, Alaska. Yeah, not a fresh start, but thousands of miles away from my ex will do just fine. I’m prepared for the cold weather, the early snowfalls, and dark days and nights. What I’m not prepared for is coming face-to-face with my ex’s cousin, and for the same feelings from 20 years ago to ignite like the flame never went out.

In the middle of a crowded bar in our small Alaskan town, my estranged wife snuggles up to me as if we’re still a happy couple. Don’t get me wrong, we were a happy couple - before she walked out on me a year ago. We were the high school sweethearts everyone thought were destined to be together forever. We thought so, too, which is why we married shortly after graduation. We had a good marriage. Until she left me without any real explanation. Now, she’s back - and this is the real kicker - she has amnesia and thinks I’m still her husband.

When we were nine, we were best friends. But then a feud between our dads ripped their successful business apart - and my best friend was ripped away, too. Our paths were bound to cross again. When both our families vie for the same spot on a Food Channel’s reality show, the producers decide to change the format, aligning us as allies. In order to get our parents to agree to work together, Evan asks me to pretend to be her boyfriend, but I dare her to up the ante - be my fiancée.

He’s an Army Ranger. She’s a baker. He’s organized and ridged. She’s messy and carefree. He doesn’t do relationships. She’s following her heart. His family chat blows up his phone. She just buried her last living relative. The holiday season doesn’t seem so jolly, as they venture from one mode of transportation to the next.

Luca Bianco is a jerk. There I said it. Men like Luca are good for one thing only - a one-night stand - not commitment. I don’t care if my friend did pay good money at a charity bachelor auction for me to go on a date with him, I refuse to do it. That is until Luca offers me a deal I can’t refuse, and I agree to be his pretend fiancé. The heat that’s simmered between us for a decade ignites and I’m not sure even Luca will be able to kickstart my heart after I call code blue.

I'm on a mission to find myself a nice, solid, respectable man. The only problem is nice, solid, and respectable comes in a meh package and is B-O-R-I-N-G as hell. It's been established. I have one type. Bad Boy. I tried the other flavors, I really did. But there's nothing like the allure of a man who takes what he wants without apology. As if my love life isn't dramatic enough, Dean Bennett walks into my life again thinking he's going to win me back with his charm and charisma. He might come in a different package, but under that expensive suit he's still the same cocky, arrogant, pompous prick who only cares about numero uno. I'm not that naïve young girl anymore so I have to ignore the fact that the way he looks at me practically sets my panties on fire.

Usually, I don’t have much self-control. So, the fact that Frankie Grant is a hot, talented tattoo artist means it’s a damn miracle she hasn’t already been in my bed. But nothing can happen between us because Frankie comes with Jolie, her young daughter, and a crapload of baggage from her ex. And those are two things I never entertain. But I also know what it’s like not to have parents, so things get complicated when Jolie asks me to be her daddy. I might as well just slash my own tires now.