Chapter 12
After struggling to pay for her mother’s nursing home fees, Tannis Carlson seeks help from her neighbor Tom Hayes, a widower with young kids. When Tannis tells him that she has no choice but to sell her house, Tom makes an impulsive suggestion—marriage! Tom believes she will be the perfect mother for his kids. Tannis agrees to the convenient marriage and is delighted that the kids seem to love her, but she can’t help but wish for more—to have true love with her pretend husband!
Chapter 1.5
from fictiondb: Handsome, eligible ranch owner Stuart York was not one to mince words. Ivy Conley, his younger sister's best friend, found out the hard way. During a night's stay at his Jacobsville ranch, Ivy wound up in Stuart's arms. The resulting fireworks singed them both...and knowing she was too young, Stuart closed his heart to her. Now, years later, Ivy is determined not to be treated like a little girl anymore. Although still an innocent, Ivy knows she has to fight her own battles, but for some reason Stuart is always fighting them for her, and keeping her from harm. And, safe in Stuart's arms, Ivy feels like a woman--a woman who belongs to him.