Kings of California

It doesn't take long for Sean King to realize he's in trouble. Despite the idyllic setting and the exquisite contract bride, his marriage to Melinda Stanford is meant to be strictly business. Pure profit is his for the taking. All he has to do is marry the boss's granddaughter-and keep his hands off his sexy new wife. Melinda had made the rules, but now her marriage seems a little too convenient. Is it just the Caribbean heat making her burn for her groom? Or is she ready to make their temporary arrangement a permanent one?

As penance for losing a bet, Rafe King had promised to work one job as an everyday carpenter. And that's when he hit the jackpot-an introduction to Katie Charles. With every word, every touch, the sweet, sexy lady made Rafe feel like more than the cold-hearted tycoon he was reputed to be. There was only one problem: Katie despised all wealthy men, especially those in the King family. He couldn't reveal his feelings without coming clean about his last name. But if he kept this secret, it might cost him…everything.

For security expert Garrett King, rescuing a damsel in distress is routine-even if she is a runaway princess. And especially if she's a sexy, desirable woman he intends to keep very, very close. Garrett knows Princess Alexis escaped her castle to look for independence and true love-and she thinks she's found it in him. But he's no white knight. As a bodyguard, he's been covertly hired to protect her during her adventure. As a confirmed bachelor, he doesn't do happily ever after…but one kiss from a princess could change everything.

Single mom Nicole Baxter is perfectly fulfilled without a man in her life. But when billionaire Griffin King moves in next door, she considers a fling. Not only is he gorgeous and exciting, but he's not staying. It's an ideal situation, as long as she doesn't fall in love…. Griffin King never met a woman he couldn't leave. But desire sparks with Nicole like lightning: quick and hot. It's just what this workaholic commitmentphobe needs. But why does the thought of summer's end have Griffin longing for more with the one woman he shouldn't have?

For three years she'd haunted his dreams. And the memory of that heated anonymous night sent tycoon Jesse King back to Morgan Beach, California, determined to find her. He would have his mystery woman once more-a King never lost. Bella Cruz was far from happy to see Jesse again. The millionaire had swept her off her feet, then left, and now he didn't even recognize her! And since he was her new landlord, she couldn't avoid him. Heaven help her if he discovered her identity, for she'd never be able to deny the power of King's seduction….

According to airline tycoon Jackson King, business always triumphed over romance, and babies were best appreciated from afar. That was, until the beautiful stranger with whom he'd shared a mind-blowing tryst revealed he had fathered her baby daughter. If Casey Davis thought she could drop a bombshell like that and just disappear, she didn't know Jackson. For a King would never deny his own flesh and blood. He was determined to have his daughter under his roof…even if it meant marrying a near stranger.

Just twenty more acres and millionaire Adam King would restore his family ranch to its former glory. So intense was his obsession, he even considered marrying the girl next door. For Gina Torino's father was willing to "sell" her in exchange for the much-desired land. Gina was aware of her father's manipulative bargain…and decided to make a deal with Adam herself. She'd marry the ice-cold rancher. He'd get the land. And she'd get King's baby.

For years, Rose Clancy dreamed of her brother's best friend, Lucas King, but touching him was off-limits. And Rose, always dutiful, kept her distance. Until a recent chance meeting leads Lucas to hire her for intimate, nightly cooking classes. The heat between them quickly ignites. Wealthy, powerful, commanding, Lucas runs his life like he runs his business…and Rose knows his interest in her can't be all that it seems. But Lucas makes her feel wanted-like he can't get enough. So no matter what secrets eventually come to light, Rose is more than ready for Lucas King.

Revenge has never been so sweet as in this Kings of California novel by USA TODAY bestselling author Maureen Child… She married him. Used him. Then left him. Rico King has waited five years for revenge. Now he's got Teresa Coretti where he wants her. To save her family, she'll return to Rico's island…and his bed…for one month. That will cure the hunger that's afflicted him since she left…. But Rico can't know what it cost Teresa to leave him. Nor the exquisite torture of being with him again. Because soon, her divided loyalties could once again cost her the love of her life.

It was supposed to be a last meeting to sign divorce papers. Then passion overtook them and Maggie King walked away with more than just a legal decree-she was pregnant with the child Justice King had always refused to give her. A fact she would never dare reveal to him. But when circumstances forced her back to the King ranch, she could hide her secret no longer. Justice had a son, one he desperately wanted to deny was his own. Because admitting the boy to be his blood kin would mean he'd made the biggest mistake of his life.

Wed and bed one of his biggest client's unsavory daughters? No thanks. But the only way millionaire Travis King could get the man off his back was to marry someone else. So he handpicked his temporary and on-his-terms bride- hometown girl Julie O'Hara. The woman was desperate and should easily fade into the background. And, as per their contract, she'd do exactly what he wanted during their year of platonic marriage. Unless what he wanted began to change.…

Everyone did Jefferson King's bidding. Except the folks in a certain Irish village he'd "bought" for his latest production. And when the movie mogul arrived in town, he discovered why everyone had turned against him. He'd gotten one of their own pregnant. True, it looked as though he'd been avoiding Maura Donohue's phone calls; he was a busy billionaire. It didn't have anything to do with their night of passion…one he couldn't erase from his memory. Naturally he'd give the expectant mother a wedding worthy of a King's bride. But Maura wouldn't enter a marriage without love…and Jefferson wouldn't bend to that demand.

Scrooge had moved in next door and Ivy Holloway was at his mercy. Billionaire Tanner King wanted her year-round Christmas-tree farm shut down so he could have his peace and quiet. He had enough money and power to do it, too. Leaving Ivy with only one option-tame the savage beast. Tanner had found little tranquillity thanks to his annoying neighbor. And then he found himself saddled with a gorgeous housekeeper he couldn't keep his mind-or hands-off. Trouble was, these two women were the same person…leaving the CEO wondering if he could really love his enemy.