Cole's Gamble — Jory Strong

Cole Maguire has no trouble getting women into his bed -- or kicking them out of it. He shuffles through them as if they were cards in a deck. But now he's trying to avoid Renata Reynolds and his grandmother's prediction of a wedding in his future.

Renata has fantasized about Cole for months. She prides herself on being smart enough to stay away from him. He's white, she's black. Dating's tricky enough without risking additional complications. Besides, Cole's a player whose name is spelled heartbreak as far as she's concerned. Little does she know when she discovers a murder that Cole's grandmother is about to meddle. Cole's assigned the murder to solve. Renata's given the story to write. Close proximity does the rest.

Cole gambles he can walk away from Renata unattached and unaffected. Renata gambles she can enjoy the fantasy without falling in love. Losing a bet can be so much better than winning.