A criminal analyst with no social life fascinates a superhero during a hostage taking where she was the hostage, until she wasn’t. Beryl lives a quiet life taking online classes and working on solving cases for her brother when he needs a second pair of eyes. Her skills gain her the notice of the Volunteer Project, and she is encouraged to go and get a life of her own. Working as a criminal analyst is incredibly rewarding and she thinks she has everything she needs until her path collides with that of one of the local Guardians and her life takes a sudden turn. Toyo sensed Beryl before he met her, but watching her disable a criminal cemented his interest. Her blood called to him, her scent drove him wild, and when she knocked him on his butt, he knew it was the first of many encounters to come.

Can true love begin with a lie? It has been a particularly trying day for Olivia Cranfield. Despite her impeccable manners, stylish clothing and posh accent, another protector has detected her lowborn status and rejected her out of hand. When fellow courtesan Violet invites her to come to Bath to help with the wicked seduction of the scarred, reclusive Earl of Windbury, Olivia jumps at the offer, eager for some excitement and a change of scenery. The moment Malcolm Graham lays eyes on the delectable woman lurking in the bathhouse alley, he knows she’s a decoy to keep him busy while her friend seduces the earl inside. For a moment, he allows her to play her game…but one touch, and all he can think about is ending the two years of self-denial he’s endured in the name of friendship. Instant attraction quickly turns into a decidedly erotic affair that makes Olivia question all she’s ever known about passion. But when the truth behind Violet’s assignment comes to light, betrayal threatens to bring everything they’ve built crashing down around Olivia’s broken heart. Product Warnings This book overlaps with Beauty and the Earl, so some passages may seem familiar to readers of both. Contains a lady lying for a good cause, a gentleman as loyal to his friends as he is passionate in the bedchamber, and a steamy affair that will change them both forever.