Fire and Ice — Patt Bucheister

When John Zachary arrived in his office to find his three-year-old daughter, Amy, playing happily, he was relieved -- and intrigued by Lauren McLean, the lovely woman who'd charmed the child he barely knew. Unexpected custody of Amy had left the powerful executive feeling helpless, but once he'd seen Lauren's tender playfulness, he wanted her help with Amy...and longed for her himself. Drawn to Lauren's serene beauty and her warmth, John asked her to come home with him, vowing to keep the weekend strictly business. Lauren was surprised -- and thrilled by his request; she'd secretly been in love with John for more than a year. When the three shared a cottage, stolen kisses became inevitable -- and fiery attraction irresistible. Starved for ecstasy, Lauren wanted John more than her next breath, but she'd learned firsthand the pain of becoming attached to people -- and how much it hurt when she lost them. Could John melt the icy barriers that kept her passion safe and make Lauren gamble on love?