A divorce lawyer with a romantic spirit. A cynical television executive who thinks commitment is for fools. They can’t fight their attraction, or their affection. Can they find a way to reconcile their vastly different needs, or will each walk away from the best thing they’ve ever had? Jordan might be a divorce lawyer, but he’s a hopeless romantic. He doesn’t see the two as incompatible, either. He’s never had a relationship last long enough to be with someone on Valentine’s Day, but he’s still hopeful he’ll find the one out there somewhere. Sam is an executive vice president at a major television network. He spends his days managing programming, much of it centered around romance, and he knows exactly how fake television romances are. His own background of rejection only cements his views on the fleeting nature of affection. They meet by chance, when Sam’s sister and best friend file for divorce. The divorce is messy, and Sam and Jordan are thrown together often enough to try to make a relationship work. When the winter holidays roll around, the difference in their expectations comes to the fore. Can Sam overcome his fear of commitment ... and rejection? Can Jordan get over his need to define their relationship? Or will they both lose the one thing in their lives that makes them happiest?

Paper Hearts

So many romantic opportunities for Christmas. As Jordan rode the elevator up to Sam’s apartment his head spun with images of the tree lighting in Rockefeller Center, ice skating, and cuddling in front of a Christmas tree in private. New Year’s would come with a kiss and maybe more, depending on whether they went to a party or stayed in.


And then, of course, Valentine’s Day. Jordan couldn’t wait to see what Valentine’s Day was like with a partner. He could make a nice dinner for him, maybe spend a nice evening by the fire. Or they could take in the opera, like Sam loved.


He got off the elevator and opened the door to Sam’s palatial apartment. As always, the view took his breath away. Sure, he’d seen it dozens of times from those windows, and thousands of times from others, but the city lights never failed to impress him. He hadn’t been meant for suburban life. Fortunately, he hadn’t had to live it past the age of eighteen.


Chapter 16