In Climax, North Carolina, climbing the professional ladder means making the right connections. And Paxton Cates is about to form a partnership he never expected . . . While his brothers have found their true loves, Paxton remains stubbornly single, and it's not helping his career. Sure, he's a successful lawyer, but to become a judge you've got to mingle with the right crowds-and without a partner at his side, he's not getting enough invitations. He needs someone, and soon. Someone like Jolene Joyner . . . Jolene, a local high school English teacher, has a history of driving Paxton crazy. She's just too perfect-and she's never let him forget it. But now Ms. Goody Two-Shoes is in trouble for the first time in her life, and she needs a lawyer. He'll take her case-if she'll play by his rules. Six months of socializing should do the trick-if they can convince everyone they've put aside their animosity and fallen madly in love. Then they can go their separate ways. The only problem is that Jolene seems to have developed a taste for bad behavior . . . especially where Paxton is concerned. And instead of just a pretty partner in deception, he's got himself a new client who's anything but innocent . . .