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

“Yes, a man against whom I have a restraining order forced his way into my apartment and threatened to strike one of my children. Excellent, thank you. My name is Dinesh Mishra—”


The pastor turned on his heel and stalked out of the apartment. Dinesh continued to speak with the dispatcher, while Ida burst into tears. Now Jai was crying too, clinging to Sam like his life depended on it, and no wonder. He probably thought it did.


Sam sighed and bowed his head. “Ida, you shouldn’t have brought him here.”


Ida’s tears dried up. “You have no business being anywhere near my children, you absolute pervert.”


All three children gasped and fell silent. Their sobs had been chased away by their terror, and the shock at hearing Ida speak that way to their beloved uncle. Sam knew where he stood with the kids. He’d thought he knew where he stood with their mother once, but apparently, he’d been wrong.


Chapter 23