Emery James has spent years building her dream café in a quiet coastal town, far from the chaos of big-city life-and even further from the heartbreak she left behind. But when her landlord sells the building to none other than Desmond Proctor, her former best friend and the man who once broke her heart, her peaceful life is suddenly turned upside down. Desmond, now a successful real estate investor, never expected to return to his hometown-or to face the woman he's never truly forgotten. Tasked with redeveloping the property, he offers Emery a deal: work with him to save the café, and he'll reconsider the sale. Old wounds, unspoken feelings, and undeniable tension bubble to the surface as they're forced to spend time together. But as they rediscover the connection they once had, Emery has to decide-can she trust Desmond with her heart again, or is she setting herself up for another heartbreak?
The scent of freshly brewed coffee and warm cinnamon filled the air as Emery James wiped down the counter of The Perch, her cozy little café nestled in the heart of Willow Bay. The morning rush had just tapered off, leaving her a moment of rare silence. She loved these in-between moments- the quiet hum of the espresso machine, the faint sound of waves in the distance, and the certainty that she had built something truly hers.
She leaned against the counter, stretching out the tension in her shoulders. Business had been steady, and despite the occasional hiccup, The Perch had become a beloved spot in town. It was her safe place, her dream realized. Nothing and no one could take that away from her.
The jingling of the doorbell shattered the brief peace. She glanced up, expecting to see one of her regulars, maybe Mrs. Holloway with her usual chamomile tea order or Noah from the bookstore grabbing his afternoon pick-me-up.
Instead, a ghost from her past stepped through the door.
Desmond Proctor.
The air thickened, pressing down on her like an invisible weight. He stood there, tall and effortless in his confidence, dressed in a sharp navy suit that looked completely out of place in the relaxed, seaside town. The same piercing blue eyes, the same devastatingly perfect jawline. Years had passed, but time had done nothing to dull the effect he had on a room.
Emery gripped the counter, grounding herself. "You've got to be kidding me."
A slow, knowing smile spread across his face. "Hello to you too, Emery."
Heat pricked her skin, not from embarrassment, but from the sheer audacity of him standing here like they hadn't ended things in a tangled mess of silence and unspoken words. She hadn't seen Desmond since the night he walked away, since the moment she realized their friendship had never been as unbreakable as she once believed.
"You shouldn't be here," she said, forcing her voice to remain steady.
He took a step closer, sliding his hands into his pockets. "I was hoping we could talk."
"Talk?" A dry laugh escaped her lips. "Last time we talked, you disappeared without so much as a goodbye."
His jaw tensed, but his expression remained unreadable. "That's not exactly how it happened."
"No?" She folded her arms. "Then why don't you enlighten me?"
For a moment, silence stretched between them, thick with everything they hadn't said. Desmond had always been good at holding his cards close to his chest, but Emery wasn't the same girl who used to wait around, hoping he'd let her in.
He exhaled, shifting his weight. "I didn't come here to argue, Emery. I came to talk about the café."
The café.
The words sliced through her defenses like a blade. Her fingers tightened around the cloth in her hand. "What about it?"
"I own the building now."
The room tilted slightly, and for a second, she thought she might be hearing things. "Excuse me?"
Desmond ran a hand through his perfectly styled hair, looking almost apologetic. Almost. "I bought it from Mr. Larkwood last week."
Disbelief turned to something heavier, something close to panic. "That's not possible. He would have told me-"
"He was planning to, but the sale went through faster than expected."
The floor beneath her feet felt unsteady, her carefully built world suddenly teetering on the edge. The Perch was more than just a business; it was her home, her livelihood, the one thing she had fought to create on her own. And now, in the span of a few seconds, the man who had once shattered her heart had come back to do it all over again.
She took a steadying breath. "What does this mean for me?"
Desmond's gaze softened, but she refused to let it disarm her. "I don't want to shut you down, Emery."
"That's comforting," she said flatly. "Then what do you want?"
A flicker of hesitation crossed his face before he finally spoke. "I want to renovate the building. Bring in new businesses, modernize the space. But I don't want to push you out."
Her heart pounded against her ribs. "So what? You expect me to sit here and wait for you to decide my fate?"
"I expect us to figure it out together."
A bitter laugh escaped her lips. "You don't get to say 'together,' Desmond. You lost that right a long time ago."
His expression darkened, but he didn't argue. Tension stretched between them, the weight of old wounds pressing against the fragile present. Emery wanted to hate him, wanted to tell him to get the hell out and never come back. But this wasn't just about the past anymore-this was about her future, and she wasn't about to let Desmond Proctor take that away from her.
She squared her shoulders. "If you think I'm going to roll over and let you decide what happens to my café, you don't know me at all."
"I never said that." His voice was calm, infuriatingly so. "I want to find a solution that works for both of us."
She scoffed. "And if I don't want anything to do with your plans?"
A shadow crossed his face, but he didn't back down. "Then we have a problem."
Emery stared at him, heart hammering against her chest. Desmond might have been the one holding the deed, but this café was hers. No matter what it took, she wasn't going to let him take it from her.
Her chin lifted. "Then I guess we do."
Desmond watched her with the same quiet intensity he always had, like he was waiting for her to crack first. But Emery wasn't that girl anymore- the one who let him hold all the power in their relationship, the one who always gave more than she got.
She turned away from him, busying herself by rearranging a stack of sugar packets that didn't actually need adjusting. "So, let me get this straight," she said, keeping her voice steady. "You want to change everything about this place, but somehow, I'm just supposed to trust that you won't destroy the one thing I've built for myself?"
Desmond took a slow step closer. "I never said I wanted to change everything."
"Modernizing is a fancy word for gutting something and making it unrecognizable." She finally turned back to face him. "And you know what? That makes sense. You never were good at staying in one place, were you? Always looking for the next big thing, the next opportunity, the next-"
His jaw clenched. "You think I'm here to rip your life apart?"
Her throat tightened. "Aren't you?"
The way he looked at her made her stomach twist. He had no right to come back and throw her world off balance like this. No right to stand in her café like he still belonged in it.
"I don't want to fight with you, Emery," he said, softer this time. "I came here to figure out a way forward."
A bitter laugh bubbled up. "A way forward?" She gestured around them. "This place is my way forward, Desmond. And you-" she exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "You are the past."
Something flickered in his eyes. Guilt? Regret? She didn't know, and she refused to care.
The door opened again, and Emery tore her gaze away from him as her best friend, Sadie Whitmore, strolled in, all sunshine and confidence.
"Hey, Em, do you have any of those lemon scones left-" Sadie's voice trailed off as she spotted Desmond. Her smile instantly vanished. "Oh. What the hell is he doing here?"
Desmond smirked. "Nice to see you too, Sadie."
Sadie crossed her arms. "Can't say the feeling's mutual."
Emery almost laughed at how quickly her friend had gone into protective mode. Sadie had never liked Desmond much to begin with, and after everything that happened, her loyalty had only solidified.
Desmond sighed, rubbing a hand along the back of his neck. "I don't suppose I should expect a warm welcome from anyone in this town."
"You could try not dropping in unannounced like some villain in a soap opera," Sadie shot back. "Might help your case."
Emery bit the inside of her cheek, forcing herself to stay composed. "Sadie, he owns the building."
Sadie's eyes widened. "What?"
Desmond gave a tight nod. "Just finalized the deal."
A long pause stretched between them before Sadie turned back to Emery. "Please tell me you're planning to poison his coffee."
Emery let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Tempting, but I'd rather keep my business license."
Sadie narrowed her eyes at Desmond. "So, what's the plan? You gonna run her out of here so you can put in some soulless chain restaurant?"
Desmond exhaled. "I don't want to run her out."
"Well, you have a funny way of showing it."
Emery held up a hand, stopping the back-and-forth before it escalated. "Enough." She turned to Desmond, her voice unwavering. "If you really want to talk about this, fine. But I'm not making any decisions right now."
Desmond studied her, then gave a small nod. "Fair enough."
"Good," she said firmly. "Now, if you don't mind, I have a business to run."
Something unreadable passed over his face before he took a step back. "I'll be in touch."
He turned and walked out, the door swinging shut behind him.
Sadie let out a dramatic sigh. "So. Are we getting drunk tonight, or are we getting drunk tonight?"
Emery huffed out a laugh despite herself. "It's not even noon, Sadie."
"Yeah, well, emergencies call for day drinking. And this? This is a five-mimosa situation."
Emery shook her head but didn't argue. Because the truth was, she had no idea how to handle the storm Desmond had just brought back into her life. And something told her this was only the beginning.
Chloe Evans is a small-town girl with big dreams-dreams of launching her own fashion line and escaping the limitations of her humble beginnings. When she gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase her designs at an exclusive gala, Chloe is determined to make her mark. But there's one problem: the event is hosted by none other than the notorious billionaire entrepreneur, Dani Potter. Dani is a man who's built an empire from nothing, a ruthless businessman with no time for anything but his career. He's never been interested in love, preferring instead to remain emotionally detached from everyone around him. But when he meets Chloe, he's intrigued by her ambition and the spark in her eyes. For the first time in years, he finds himself wanting something more than just success. Chloe and Dani's worlds collide, and the attraction between them becomes undeniable. But the more Chloe gets to know the man behind the corporate titan, the more she realizes that Dani is hiding a painful past-one that could jeopardize everything they're building together. Chloe must decide if she can trust him with her heart, or if she's simply chasing a billionaire's dream that will only end in heartbreak.
Leila Stone's world shattered when she was rejected by her mate, **Alpha Carley Nightpaw**, the night their pack was attacked. Fleeing with a broken heart and a shattered soul, she vowed to never return to the pack that had once been her home-until a blood moon rises, and fate forces her back. Carley, now the Alpha of the Nightpaw pack, is burdened with guilt and regret. The night he rejected Leila, he was driven by fear and duty, unwilling to show weakness in front of his pack. But time has taught him the painful consequences of that decision. When a new threat emerges, one that endangers their entire world, Carley realizes that Leila is the only one capable of helping him defeat it. But winning her trust back may be his greatest challenge yet.
Three years ago, Tiana thought divorcing Sebastian Wolfe would free her from the pain of his lies and the shadows that haunted their marriage. But when tragedy strikes her family and she returns to her hometown, she's forced to confront the man who once shattered her heart-and who still lingers in her soul. Sebastian isn't the same cold, unreadable billionaire she left. He's darker, more haunted-and about to discover a secret that will change everything: the existence of their daughter.
Adele Williams has spent her life hiding among humans, unaware of the destiny woven into her blood. But when the ruthless and enigmatic Lycan King, Frank Robinson, discovers her existence, her carefully crafted life is torn apart. Frank, haunted by a prophecy that speaks of a mate who will either save or destroy him, is drawn to Adele with an irresistible force. Yet she wants nothing to do with the dominant and dangerous king who claims she belongs to him. Forced into his world, Adele must navigate the deadly politics of the Lycan court, where enemies lurk in the shadows and betrayal is a breath away.
Celeste Bennett has spent years in the shadow of New York's elite, working as a private chef for the city's wealthiest families. When she's hired for an exclusive event at the lavish estate of billionaire Jayden McGregor, she expects nothing more than a routine job. But from the moment their eyes meet, the cold, untouchable billionaire makes it clear-he wants her. Jayden is a man used to getting everything he desires. Powerful, enigmatic, and haunted by his past, he has sworn off love. But something about Celeste draws him in-a fire he can't resist, a temptation that threatens to unravel his carefully controlled world. She knows better than to fall for a man like him. He's out of her league, and their worlds are too different. But when fate keeps pulling them together, resisting becomes impossible. As secrets come to light and passion ignites, Celeste and Jayden must decide: will they risk everything for a love that was never meant to be?
In the kingdom of Eldoria, Lady Evelina is bound by duty to marry a prince she does not love, her heart already belonging to a forbidden figure - Sir Alden, a mysterious knight whose loyalty to the crown is unwavering. When a powerful curse threatens to destroy the kingdom, Evelina finds herself drawn into a perilous quest with Sir Alden, seeking the ancient relic that could save them all. As they journey through treacherous lands, their bond grows deeper, but so do the dangers that threaten to tear them apart. With the weight of the kingdom's fate on their shoulders, they must navigate the perils of both magic and their own hearts. Can a knight and a lady destined for separate paths find a way to unite - or will duty and destiny keep them apart forever?
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. “It's time to reveal your true identity, darling.”
Iris grew from an orphaned child to the adopted daughter of the Stewart family at age ten, finding warmth in her nominal uncle Vincent's kindness. Seven years later, she became his secret lover. When Vincent's engagement was announced, gossip spread about the notorious playboy CEO finally settling down. But only Iris knew the extent of his cold, two-faced nature. Iris fell for Vincent and, through tears, begged, "Marry me," only to be met with his frosty refusal. Defeated, she accepted a lawyer's proposal, sparking public excitement. Then, on her wedding day, Vincent pleaded desperately, "Don't marry him…"
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.