Blurb                                                                

She has a shield...he has one too...and they’re both hiding secrets behind them.

Serious-minded Alexandra (Sandy) Donovan has one unbreakable rule—never fall for a rich playboy. She’s seen the pain it caused her mother, how it ruined her childhood, and she’s determined never to let the same thing happen to her.

Unfortunately, the only man to make her hormones sit up and take notice is a rich playboy who doesn’t know the first thing about taking life seriously.

A lonely miserable childhood has taught Cameron Berkeley-Scott to hide his feelings in humour, but his comic nature seems to be pushing away the one woman he wants to draw near. She thinks he’s a playboy—a title he has no desire to have—and she ignores his outrageous flirting.

Now it’s time for Cameron to show Sandy he isn’t all about seeking life’s pleasures without commitment or responsibilities, but will it push her further away when she finds out who he really is?

“There isn’t a ‘next level’. What we have can never go anywhere.”

He turned her to face him. “Why?”

She dropped her gaze to their feet. Her strappy red high-heels only a couple of inches from his shiny black dress shoes. “Because it can’t.” Even to herself, she sounded defeated.

“It can’t, or you won’t let it?”

She moistened her lips, raised her gaze back to his. “It’s the same thing.”

His eyes, dark with desire, dropped to her mouth. “I disagree.” He lifted her chin with one hand while his other hand gently stroked her cheek. “Can’t suggests something outside of your control stops you. Won’t implies an internal conflict. Which is it, Sandy? What’s really stopping you?”

How could she tell him she had a father wound so wide and deep she feared she’d never heal enough to let any man in? Taking a deep breath, she said. “You are, Cameron...you.”

His brows shot up. “Me?”       

“You’re nothing more than a pretty-boy with daddy’s millions to play with. I can’t be with a someone like you.”

Snaking an arm around her waist, he drew her against him. “You’re wrong, sweetheart...I'm so much more than that.” In a smooth move, he dipped his head and settled his lips on hers.