Bay Ridge

The summer before my senior year of high school I had only one goal: to make Alden Warner see me as more than his best friend's annoying little sister. Finally, my wish came true, and he noticed me-in a big way. Too bad the next morning he had no memory of our night together, leaving me heartbroken and, as I later discovered, pregnant. For the last four years, I've been rocking the single mom thing, making sure my daughter comes first. In fact, everything was going fine, until Alden storms back into my life...as my new boss. His reappearance wasn't something I planned for. Add in my nosy, meddlesome three-year-old and an overprotective brother, and I'm obviously in way over my head. My only hope now is that I can sway Alden to see things my way. But you know what they say about the best laid plans...

Nate Reynolds is everything I shouldn’t want. Aside from being my best friend’s older brother, he’s a cocky, smooth-talking, panty-dropping playboy of a cop. And yet, I’m helplessly drawn to him. His charm and good looks reduce me to a fumbling, mumbling teenaged version of myself, which pretty much guarantees that nothing will ever come of my silly crush. Until the night of my best friend’s wedding. Jenny Jones is the definition of innocence. She’s also my little sister’s best friend, making her completely off limits. She’s a forever kind of girl with hearts in her eyes, where I’ve always been more of a love ‘em and leave ‘em kind of guy.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been the dark to my sister’s light—the awkward loner to her social butterfly. Growing up, she had it all: our parent’s unyielding approval, perfect grades, a permanent spot at the popular table, and the attention of the hottest guy ever—Duke Kincaid. After eighteen years of living in her shadow, I couldn’t wait to escape—to finally be my own person. Yet here I am, I’m back in my hometown, once again in Valorie’s shadow. Only now, it’s eternal. I had life all planned out: join the force, marry Valorie Parsons, and start a family of our own. I have the job, but the girl and all my dreams died before my very eyes. At the urging of my friends, I agree to a blind date. Imagine my shock when I arrive and find, Valorie’s twin sister, waiting across the table from me. Mallory should be a reminder of all that I’ve lost, but instead she feels like my redemption... like maybe life’s giving me a second chance. But, how can I be enough for her when I’ve already given her sister the best of me?