Harlequin temptation ;

She'd never be a fool for love again When Lauren Mackenzie flipped an unruly drunk to the floor in a posh restaurant, her fellow diner Blake Harris gave her more than a once-over. Lauren had noticed him, too. Blake's blond good looks and trim hard body had awakened flurries of excitement she had thought were long buried. She had vowed never to let a man overwhelm her again. Now she was drawn to Blake, who gambled he could melt her resistance with his fiery passion. And when his strong arms pressed her against him, Lauren realized that the walls she had built were tumbling down... .

SHE WANTED THE REAL THING, NOT THE RIGHT THING... As a counselor for pregnant teens, Elizabeth Gallagher was forever lecturing about responsibility and safe sex. But when dynamic, darkly handsome Ben Damati came into her life--and her bed--she wasn't thinking about her own teachings. There was something about him--everything about him--that made her throw caution to the wind ... with disastrous results. He was willing--no, determined--to do the "right" thing and marry her but Elizabeth loved him too much to say yes.

The Good: Preacher's daughter, Maddie Givens - but she's not that good. The Bad: Rebel Steve Jackson - but he's not that bad. The Cuddly' Maddie's infant nephew Luke - who would have been cuddly if he hadn't been kidnapped on the way to his first Christmas pageant. Maddie Givens desperately wanted to be good, but she never quite managed it. Look what happened when she helped her sister with the Christmas show! Before she knew it, two crooks had driven off with her car...and her baby nephew. But when sexy-as-sin scoundrel Steve Jackson wheeled up on his motorcycle to save the day, Maddie was suddenly very tempted to find out just how good being bad could be...

Heir to the clan MacFarlane, Ailis was a prize to be bartered by her calculating father, and her wedding to a man she despised seemed inevitable--until she is abducted by her clan's worst enemy, Alexander MacDubh, a brutally handsome laird with ice in his eyes and hot blood in his veins. She had heard rumors of the most famous and feared member of the MacDubh clan, a fair and loving man transformed by grief into an embittered, cold-hearted raider. And now, she was at his mercy. Alexander had come riding into Leargan to claim the three children born of a forbidden love between his brother and lovely Ailis' sister. Now, with Ailis herself as his pawn, he can strike at the enemy whose treachery robbed his clan of so much. Her beauty and her fierce temper stir his blood, and vengeance has never been so sinfully sweet. But will a passion they cannot deny by enough to ease the pain and torment of the past--and break the chains around his heart?

When twenty-year-old PR exec Kasey Braddock accepts her coworkers' dare to hit on the gorgeous new landscaper, she's excited. Finally here's her chance to prove to her friends—and herself—that she's woman enough to entice a man and leave him drooling. After all, she's old enough to know what she wants—and she wants Sam Ashton...badly.And Sam is more than willing to be wanted. The chemistry between them is powerful, explosive. Still, there's something vaguely familiar about Kasey, something Sam can't put his finger on—although he's dying to get his hands all over her.... But he's not worried. He fully intends to enjoy uncovering all Kasey's secrets, one by one. But will the truth be too hot for him to handle?

TV talk-show host Meg Delaney needs a surefire way to boost ratings. Her solution? To introduce her viewers to "The Hottest Cowboy in the West"—once she finds him, that is. Luckily, after one trip to the Circle W Ranch,Meg finds her man...because they don't come any hotter than rancher Clint Walker! Only, before sharing him with her audience,Meg can't resist keeping this lean, hard cowboy all to herself for a while....There's no way Clint is going to strut his stuff on national television—even for a gorgeous woman like Meg. Still, he'd be a fool not to park his boots beside her bed for a few nights.... After all,Meg isn't the first woman to fall for his killer cowboy charm. But she's about to be the last....

Gina Harkness is stunned when an elderly woman she befriended leaves her an inheritance of millions. Suddenly the former accountant is living in a Park Avenue apartment and interviewing potential chauffeurs. Sexy, charismatic Justin Whitehead is definitely qualified, but hiring a man whose gaze sets her whole body on fire could be a huge mistake....Reporter J. L. Whitehead will do anything for a story--even pose as a chauffeur for six months to write about the suddenly rich. His relationship with his beautiful new "boss" quickly turns from business to mind-blowing pleasure. But will Gina ever believe that, though his identity was a lie, their untamed passion is real?

The uptown girls are headed downtown as Serena and Jenny take on their new fabulous roles as rock-star model girlfriends of New York's hottest band, The Raves. Meanwhile, Dan is to busy drowning his sorrows in empty bottles to notice a mysterious French beauty who has a penchant for dirty, Jim Morrison-wannabe lead singers. Blair takes residence at the Plaza to think about her future. Will she become a gun-toting international spy or Manhattan's snobbiest society hostess? Decisions are so difficult! Sounds like everyone needs a day off at the spa. And Senior Spa Day promises to serve up further doses of scandal for New York's busiest private-school vixens.

Hot prospects? Chicago cop Jake Calhoun is used to playing by the rules. But that's all for nothing when he's forced to team up with civilian insider Zoe Kidd, posing as romantic honeymooners at a resort. Flaky Zoe has no real job, reads tarot cards and claims to be psychic -- not exactly ''marriage'' material for Jake. But her pert little body -- and the cozy bedroom -- has him constantly thinking about s-e-x. Zoe's never met anyone like sexy, blue-eyed Jake. Okay, so he's got too many rules and is far too straight, but his karma is calling out to her. And she's determined to help play detective on his quirky case, despite his protests. But as they maintain their cover as loving newlyweds, it's harder and harder to stop thinking about s-e-x. The prospects for them slipping under the covers are heating up!

He was packing heat...and more While following a hot tip, Chicago policeman Cooper Calhoun runs smack into gorgeous Violet O'Leary. The sexy brunette FBI agent is no shrinking violet, however. She's tough, no-nonsense, and not exactly thrilled when Coop proposes they join forces on this puzzling case. Sure, they're after the same con-artist suspect, but Violet is feeling territorial in more ways than one. Except this hotshot rookie cop keeps distracting Violet -- by kissing her senseless, touching her emotions...seducing her body. But when Coop takes out the handcuffs, Violet doesn't know whether to run...or go for it! True Blue Calhouns Watch out for these sinfully sexy, very arresting brothers!

BAD GIRL #3: Expert thief Nicole BennettHER MOTTO: Anything worth having is worth stealing...Nicole Bennett isn't just a bad girl—she's a thief, too! And although she's been in some tight spots over the years, she's never been tailed by a guy like Alex Cassevetis before. It wouldn't be so bad...if she didn't want to drag the sexy insurance investigator into the closest tight spot with her. So she decides to lead him on a sensual, merry chase. And when he catches her, the pleasure will be all his....Alex has never met a woman like Nicole. She's wild, she's uninhibited...and she has him in a permanent state of arousal. She's also his only lead in a major burglary case. Like fighting fire with fire, Alex intends to use a thief to catch one. Only, he never dreams he'll be the one who ends up getting burned....

When Rebecca inherits the land her boss, Kyle Stockbridge, considers his--land that is the object of a centuries-old feud--she absolutely refuses to sell out. Especially after Kyle almost has her believing he loves her. Rebecca knows that she's facing a modern-day gunfighter, a throwback to the lawless time when men made their own rules in the Colorado wilderness. And despite Kyle's claim that their relationship is independent of the issue between them, she knows that selling the land won't solve all of their problems. For that to happen, Kyle must prove his love.

Oh, baby... Chicago detective Sean Calhoun has a knack for sniffing out trouble. And beautiful Abra Holloway is definitely trouble with a capital T! Pregnant, on the lam and incredibly sexy, she nevertheless needs his protection. What's a true-blue guy like Sean to do but come to the rescue? Oh, baby! As far as Abra is concerned, Sean can take a hike. She's got good reason for hiding out. She doesn't need some gorgeous blue-eyed cop hovering over her. Even if he is hot stuff! Even if her hormones are going crazy and telling her to hit the sheets with him now. She's got to think of her unborn baby. But the longer Sean is around the harder it is not to imagine him changing diapers with her. And maybe making a few little Calhouns of their own...

"I see you with a woman in a red dress. She's telling you that she wants to make all your sensual dreams comes true..." When a gorgeous stranger walks into the carnival tent where Riley Addison is telling fortunes, it's lust at first sight. So what else can she do but give him a glimpse of a possible future -- one that would be very good for both of them? After that, all she has to do is show up at his hotel -- in a hot little red dress, of course... Marketing exec Jackson Lange has never fallen so hard, so fast. And he has every intention of taking the sultry fortune-teller up on her offer -- until she introduces herself as his co-worker and personal nemesis, Riley Addison. Still, Jackson isn't giving up -- he wants her, no matter how much they disagree. And with the seduction he's planned, he's confident Riley won't be arguing with him for long...

The City: San Francisco, California The Single: Desperate but determined computer geek Marnie LaTour The Solution: The skirt! After the guy she thinks she's dating tells her she's not "girlfriend" material, Marnie LaTour decides to make some changes. She's going to learn how to be a femme fatale -- or else. Only, attracting guys isn't as tough as she thinks. Especially when she's wearing the skirt her landlord swears works like a man magnet. And it sure isn't long before rugged construction worker Zach Renfro finds himself under the influence....

Cat Sheehan is the wild child of the Sheehan family. But when her family bar closes, she decides it's time to straighten up. She's going to reform—and she's going to start by hooking up with a nice guy. But her resolution goes down the drain when bad-boy musician Dylan Spencer walks in. Because he's a temptation no woman could resist....Dylan has a secret. Not only is he not a bad boy...he's not a stranger, either. Though Cat doesn't recognize him, Dylan's been in love with her since high school. And for a chance to have Cat where he wants her—in his life, in his bed—he's willing to be whatever kind of man she wants....