To save my nana’s house, I had to accept the auction.KnoxFreshly back home from pursuing my culinary dreams, my friend auctions me off as an in-home chef for his son for an entire month.What I didn’t expect was Lucy.He’s an artist, every bit as rich and proper as his father, but what I saw behind his eyes made me want to break past his barriers.Lucy paints his soul on the canvas—his pain, his heart, and the ...

I’d never been hot for my professor, but Vincent’s lips around my trifle sent a chill down my spine.ShaunaSetting up a little pop-up table in front of The Paper Realm bookstore had been a way to get in some new customers for my baking business and celebrate today’s tiny holiday.Halfway through the day, though, Vincent stopped by my table.They were tall and academic, with a narrow waist and a long coat, looking every...

One mistake that turns into something sweet…KaylaYou’d think I would know better than buying a horror book, but it was only five dollars, and a date with myself in the park reading a new book sounded perfect.But then I met Jack, who accidentally scared me out of my wits by simply saying hello.There are two ice creams in his hands, and I can’t say no when he offers me one.Could this be the start of a new chap...

All it takes is one nightmare to break a friendship.CadeLiving with your best friend slash roommate slash love of your life can get complicated.Haines and I shared an apartment, a class schedule, and all of our groceries. But he didn’t know I was in love with him and have been for years.Today, one of my usual nightmares drove me out of bed and onto our fire escape, gasping deep breaths of cold air ...

From sharing a bed to sharing a bed…MaxAfter years of confronting and eventually accepting my asexuality, the last thing I thought would happen would be kissing my best friend.No, the LAST thing I thought would happen is that kissing them would send me into a spiral of romantic yearning that I’d never experienced before.Lou shares my food, my apartment, and even my bed when they need assurance and affection, but thi...

If I were an ice queen, Casey has come to thaw my frozen heart.RobinAria Falls is a small city known for celebrating even the smallest of holidays on a grand scale. So why did I choose today to participate?Now I’m shivering at the shore of the freezing ocean, waiting my turn to jump in.Luckily, Casey takes my hand and plunges us both into the new year with a fresh start.Maybe it can be a fresh start for a ne...

A book fairy, a daddy, and an 8 year-old walk into the school book fair…TristanWhen my son begged me to take him to his school’s book fair and meet the new librarian, Mr. Miles, I didn’t think that Miles would be the embodiment of the book fairy of my dreams.He was stunning, good with my son, and flirted with me in ways that left me a stuttering mess.He’s way out of my league, but I can’t help but shoot my shot.Will ...

In a campus apartment complex far, far away…HeckIt’s bad enough that younger students were partying all night and making all kinds of noise, but when someone pulls the fire alarm and I’m thrust into the parking lot in the middle of the night in my decade-old Star Wars pajamas, I’m not a happy camper.I’m a second away from crawling into my friend’s jacket for warmth when a honeyed voice matching a stunning woman firefighter ...

Winter is coming, and these theater friends find themselves falling into their own love stories amidst the snowfall of the winter months, starting from the frost coating the fall leaves through the wild snow storms of January.Between Friends and LoversAfter years of confronting and eventually accepting my asexuality, the last thing I thought would happen would be kissing my best friend.No, the LAST thing I thought would happen is that kissi...

A shelter dog is a man’s best friend…MattieYears after I’ve lost my family dog, Carmichael, I’m ready to try again.Ellie is an adorable and graying black lab at my local animal shelter, and I want nothing more than to take her home and be the family she needs.Bennett, the attractive shelter employee with a sweet Great Dane, isn’t convinced I know what I’m doing.Can I convince him to let me adopt Ellie? That I’m the perfect d...

Can glimpses and not-so-innocent touches at the club really become a relationship?CassWho am I kidding? I’ve been seeing Layne at the club for months, but I’ve never made a move. We’ve kissed, touched, danced under the black lights, yet we’ve never seen each other after each dance.Now, suddenly, xe agreed to come over for family game night to save me from being a fifth wheel, but we aren’t even together!But… Could w...

How the mall Grinch stole my heart…TaylorWhen I brought my son, Micah, to a meet-and-greet with the Grinch at our mall, I didn’t expect to be falling head over heels for the green guy in a suit.But how he dealt with Micah, how even strangers spoke highly of him, and how open he is in his interest for a single mom like me, it’s getting more difficult to say no.Can I resist the Grinch? Or will I let him steal my heart?Gift...