Fame and fortune are a dream come true Yet it still feels as if something is missing. My career has skyrocketed while playing Silver Shield, everyone's favorite superhero, but a a part of me longs for something more. Then Lexi Robinson walks into my life. An older woman isn’t who I pictured as my leading lady, but the moment I lay eyes on her, I can’t get her off my mind. The fates have given me a few days to fulfill her fantasies, and I was born for this role. Being a single mother isn't for the faint of heart. So a writing retreat in the heart of the Smoky Mountains is a dream come true. My sister challenged me to find a fun summer fling, but sitting by the fireplace with my pen and paper is the only thing on my agenda. Until Chandler Thomas invades my space. He's ten years younger, but age is just a number when our eyes meet. He has one rule- he covers every expense. I don't trust easily, so I have two requirements of my own- complete transparency, and no contact when the trip is over. A short affair. Three rules. It should be simple. What if that’s not enough? What if I want my happily ever after?

It's easier to be cruel than kind to humans- My life has revolved around the shelter for as long as I can remember. It’s easier that way, animals don’t cause pain. Women are a fleeting thought, one doesn’t warm my bed for long before I move on to the next. Until Berkeley Robinson. My newest volunteer burst into the kennels and my life with her gorgeous laugh and baggage, rocking my world. I’ve tried to maintain my distance, but her aura is impossible to resist. I'm tired of destroying everything I touch- It’s like I’m cursed. I fail at everything. Motherhood, sobriety, life. Moving away after rehab is my chance to fix things, especially my relationship with my daughters. As a condition of my parole, I’m stuck spending my Saturdays volunteering at the local shelter. At least the animals are sweet, unlike the hot and cold veterinarian, Damon Allen. Something about him drives me wild. I’m inexplicably attracted to this mad man. We were like magnets- Fighting against the irresistible force pulling us together. But our pasts are as explosive as our connection...and when you play with fire, you're bound to get burned.

Lily has always lived in the background as an assistant to celebrities while also dating a movie star. When her girlfriend breaks her heart, she acts out and steals the show. Jade Knight, international best-selling thriller author and Lily's friend, comes to the rescue and saves her from the paparazzi. . Something has always sparked between the two of them, but out of respect for Lily's relationship, Jade never acted on the chemistry. Until now. A short story previously published in the Evil Queen Anthology Vol II