Connor Moore is off-limits. There’s absolutely no way I’m giving into his charm. After all, I’d never be able to live with the rumors it would cause. But despite myself, I’m drawn to his dark eyes, to the curve of his smile, to the wistfulness and pain in his voice when he talks about his past. Connor’s slightest touch sets my skin aflame. My lips beg for his kiss. My body hungers for his. He says no one has to know. He says he can keep us a secret. I’ve worked too hard to jeopardize my reputation, but I want to believe him. Can I trust no one will find out? After all, a gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell…

// I’ve vowed to live with no regrets. I won’t let life pass me by. Because I know exactly how easily it can all be snatched away. // One mind-blowing night with a hot guy I picked up at the bar. That’s all it was supposed to be. But with our explosive chemistry in bed and easy camaraderie out of it, Mason and I both agree: There’s no harm in having a little more fun. After all, we both know what this is. Neither of us are looking for anything serious. I’m just keeping my promise to live life to the fullest. But the more time I spend with Mason, the more I begin to realize something. I haven’t been living. I’ve been running. Because I’ve known loss before. Agonizing loss. And I can’t risk opening my heart again. Especially not for a man who thinks this is all just fun and games.

𝐈𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝. Grant is the one person who ever really understood me. He supports me. Comforts me. Encourages me. He cares for me. I don't know what I'd do without his friendship. I can't imagine a world without him. The way I see it, I have three options: 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 #𝟏: Tell Grant how I feel and find out he feels the same. The best-case, most wondrous scenario. 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 #𝟐: Don't tell Grant and continue desperately pining after him in silence. Not as great a scenario. 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 #𝟑: Tell Grant I love him and risk ruining everything when he says he doesn't love me back. The worst-case scenario. My nightmare scenario. But keeping my feelings a secret is slowly killing me. Every minute I spend with him is both torture and bliss. Do I risk it? Stay silent? Take a chance? Play it safe? Can I possibly risk watching my entire world crash and burn around me?

A drunk, crying bride in a bar. That was me, after running away from my own wedding. Luckily, the handsome bartender took pity on me. He dragged me home to sleep it off. He fed me breakfast the next day. He listened to my sob story. And, when he found out what happened, he offered me a place to stay. So now I’m temporary roommates with a hot, sympathetic, hot, generous, and did I mention \hot\ bartender. I’ve never felt this way about someone before. I’ve never had such confusing, exhilarating feelings. All of a sudden, being temporary roommates isn’t enough. I know I can’t rely on his kindness forever, though. After all, I’m supposed to get married. My parents will never forgive me if I don’t. I have a life I need to get back to. But how am I supposed to let him go when he gets me so hot and bothered?