Charleston Heat

From the outside looking in? I’ve got it all. Prestigious job. Pretty house. And a perfect boyfriend who just proposed with the perfect ring. I should feel ecstatic—but instead, I feel suffocated. So I break up with my boyfriend, hop in my car, and head south. Charleston, South Carolina: home to stunning architecture, sultry accents, and—oh yeah—my perpetually shirtless neighbor, Elijah Jackson. As if his abs for days and inked up deliciousness aren’t enticing enough, he also encourages me to chase down my dreams. And the chemistry between us? Hotter than the kitchen at Eli’s restaurant.

Enter Luke Rodgers. My brother’s best friend. Former major league baseball player. A guy who now hangs out on his farm, sweaty and shirtless, as he nurses a shoulder injury. If the rumors are true, he also likes to work up a sweat behind closed doors. A total MVP in the sack. Just the take charge guy I’m looking for.

We argue over contracts and costs all day long. Behind closed doors, however, we engage in a different kind of business. The kind that has me surrendering to his unique brand of dominance. Our no-strings attached arrangement suits me just fine. Until I wake up one morning with what I think is a wicked hangover. Only it’s not a hangover.

First love. First guy I slept with. First heartbreak when he dumped me without explanation. A decade later, it’s just my luck he’s the first guy I run into after moving back to my hometown of Charleston. Three piece suit, tie, and a watch worth more than my car—being a mogul looks good on Ford. So does being a doting dad to his adorable four-year-old daughter. I tell myself I can resist him. But one impulsive, ill-advised kiss later, and Ford is in hot pursuit.