STRIKE THREE! Cole Kendrick couldn't take it anymore! The big-time baseball player had slid into the Holly House bed and breakfast to get some well-earned rest and relaxation. Instead, he got an eyeful—in the form of small-town honey Lucky Darnell. But this tantalizing woman wouldn't let him steal one kiss, much less get to third base! Lucky knew Cole was definitely not the one-woman man she'd been looking for! Why, he probably had a string of brokenhearted bimbos haunting baseball stadiiums across the country. His sexy athlete's body and smoldering sensuality took her breath away, but could she ask him to give up his life-style for the pleasures of home—rather than home plate?

FIND QUENT YERBY... Tracking down an elusive ex-cop like Quent Yerby wasn't easy, but Beck Kendrick needed his permission to adopt the little boy in her care. Unfortunately, the search led the sophisticated child psychologist to a gym filled with sweaty, muscular men, and Mr. Yerby, with his bulging biceps and lazy drawl, was her worst nightmare! Quent informed Beck that he planned to get to know his nephew - and her - better. His infuriating self-assurance and frank appraisal of her physical attributes left Beck breathless - and positive that the last thing she needed was an overbearing man complicating her life. But Quent's powerful masculine presence comforted Beck when danger surfaced. His fierce need to protect her sparked other, urgent needs...and was a risk she had to take.