Ever After (Stone)

When Ellie's father is taken by a group of thugs planning to take his life in exchange for his debts, it's no surprise she goes running straight into the beast's lair. After all, Ellie Stevens has been her father's keeper for as long as she can remember. However, Ashland Titon isn't a man of mercy. If you owe, you pay. End of story. His unrelenting control has built his empire, and he's not going to give over that power now. But when Ellie charges into his life with her demands and possibilities of sweet surrender, her offer proves too tempting to pass up.

I took Azalea from her tower. She didn't come willingly, but she's not going anywhere. She's staying right where I have her - no matter her demands for freedom. Azalea thinks the world outside is full of wonder and beauty. She has no clue about the danger that lurks within every shadow - and hell if I don't want to keep her from finding out.

Collect the girl. Speak some vows. Inherit the fortune. Nowhere in the requirements did it say anything about falling in love. Melinda thinks she’s just coming to grandma’s for dinner, but she’s wrong. She’s wrong about a lot of things. None of which is my business. The only business I have is to settle the open accounts on my uncle’s books, so I can collect my inheritance and move on with my life. Collecting Melinda in order to cross off her grandfather’s debt wasn’t hard, but she’s not exactly marching gracefully up to the auction block for me.