Showing results by author "Layla Hagen" in All Categories

As a divorced single father, I live by three rules: Make sure every day my daughter, Paisley, knows she’s number one in my life. No matter what, keep contact with my cheating ex-wife to a minimum, and turn Maxwell Wineries into a legacy that keeps Paisley set for life. When I hire Lexi to look after my daughter, I realize I need another rule: Don’t pursue Paisley’s nanny. But even if I had that rule it wouldn’t matter. Because I'm breaking it already.

I’m a no-nonsense man. As the head of a business empire, I have to be. I’m logical, cut-throat, and don’t believe in cheesy things like marriage and happy ever afters. But when my best friend asks me to be Best Man, I can't say no. En route to the wedding, I get stuck at the airport when my flight is delayed, and this obnoxious woman sits next to me. Not only does she keep drinking champagne even though she obviously can’t hold her liquor, but she seems determined to push every single one of my buttons.

I am wildly successful in my career. Everyone knows Graham Frazier, soccer club owner, is a winner. In my love life? Decidedly less so. But just because I'm divorced doesn't mean I can't throw my best friend the wedding party of the year. Even if marriage is a mistake. I hadn't expected the long hours with Lori to make me wonder. Wedding planning is Lori Connor's favorite thing, a vicarious escape from her life as a single mom. I doubt she's ever had a client fluster her like I seem to.

Bad luck seems to follow me. Last night, I grabbed a drink at the bar near my new workplace. I met the most sophisticated man when he “stole” my table. We bantered and danced, and I went home with a stranger for the first time in my life. The next morning, I find out my hot one-night stand is my new boss. Gone is the playful, charming man from last night. Luke Maxwell is all business, acting as if our night together never happened. He’s impossible to please, but I’m determined to succeed. This job is my chance to prove myself and put my past—and my ex—behind me.

I moved to Chicago six months ago, determined to finally open my own bakery. My landlady was this sweet woman who treated me like her granddaughter. Then she sold the house. Now the devil himself is my landlord and neighbor, since I live in the guesthouse on his property. Declan Maxwell is moody, unreasonable, and takes himself far too seriously. Unfortunately for me, he’s also damn sexy. Then one day I come home injured from work and he surprises me by taking care of me. And kissing me. And just like that, all my best intentions go up in smoke.

Landon Connor is a man of many talents - all business magazines agree on that. My family calls me a workaholic, but being driven and career-focused is what turned me into a hotshot CEO. I have good reasons for keeping my personal life on hold. Then Maddie Jennings walks into my life and makes me question all my choices. Maddie says she hasn't met anyone like me before, and hopes she never will again. Good. I can't stand the thought of anyone else getting the reactions I do out of her when I boss her around, when I stand just a little too close.

The last time I saw Cade Whitley, I was the curvy, nerdy girl who tutored him in math. He was the popular boy who only saw me as a friend. Now he’s the CEO of the competition. The second we meet again, we start pushing each other’s buttons…then end up flirting.

As the hockey league’s star goalie, I live by three simple principles. I was killing it until a mishap tarnished my image. Now, management has me cleaning up my reputation and coaching a bunch of kids. And damn, those little punks are growing on me, and so is the program coordinator, Kendra. I’m hell-bent on proving myself, but my attraction to Kendra takes me by complete surprise. Her defenses are up, but I like a good challenge.

“Have dinner with me.” Four words. That was all Travis Maxwell needed to charm me, even though I’d just met him. In my defense, we were kind of stuck together, and he was the hottest man I’d laid eyes on. We spent a glorious week together, knowing we'd go our separate ways in the end.

Jake Whitley and I start off on the wrong foot. And then it goes downhill from there. After my career implodes, I’m determined to make a living with my new event planning business. But Jake and I are at odds from the moment I step on his private plane.

It all starts as pretend. To everyone else, Hunter is the most powerful man in New York. Respected by his associates and feared by his competitors. But to me? He's just my best friend. my sexy-as-hell best friend. It was easy to agree to help him fake a romance. After all, who knows him like I do? Convincing his tight-knit family takes a little more: An unexpected kiss that makes my skin sizzle, my knees go weak. Before I know it, our banter turns to flirting and Hunter's hell-bent on charming me. On our first night together, we barely keep our hands off each other.

I've always relished being a man of mystery. My LA hotel empire is public, but my private life as plain old Reid Davenport stays that way. Right up until it doesn't, and the tabloids threaten not just my privacy, but that of my family. I'd do anything to protect them from the limelight. But must it involve Hailey, the fiery PR consultant I can't stop fantasizing about? Hailey Connor keeps warning me she won't take on an uncooperative client. So why is she so compelled to help me?

I made my name winning cases. Carter Sloane is known for being sharp, astute, and never taking no for an answer. At home, though, I'm fumbling my way through raising my two nieces and saying yes to far too many bowls of ice cream. If only I wasn't so distracted by the woman across from my new office. Running a booming fragrance business gives Valentina Connor a great excuse to avoid dating. But I see right through her. I'm not going to be another bad decision.

I won't fall for my ex, even if I move in with him…famous last words. Conned out of my business I have no other choice but to move back home to Chicago. I’m determined to rebuild everything, but I’m so broke that I can’t even afford to pay rent.

I have a lot of titles. Jace Connor-Sexiest Soccer Player. Top-Scoring Athlete. America's Favorite Party Boy. But I'm sick of being what other people expect. Starting with the last one, I'm ready to earn some new nicknames. So I absolutely, positively, can't go anywhere near my coach's daughter.

Reese Maxwell meets her happy-ever-after in Layla Hagen's latest. What starts as a pretend romance soon turns into so much more...Newly divorced Dominic Waldorf is the most coveted bachelor in Chicago. At least, that’s what he thinks. I’d describe him as more of a Neanderthal with a really nice backside. When I accidentally spill champagne on him at a charity event, he accuses me of hitting on him. Then later, I run into him in an empty coat room, and he’s convinced.

I’m Spencer Whitley, the CEO of a billion-dollar company. But behind closed doors, I’m a clueless, single dad…. Between reading as many parenting books as I can and trying to get the little dude to sleep during the night, I can barely think about anything else.

I believe in rules to live by. It's how I built my reputation as Will Connor-the tough cop, and how I've survived being one. I give a hundred percent to the job, I care for my family, and I never, ever ignore my instincts. So when Paige turns my head, all my senses go on high alert. As the developmental director of a non-profit, Paige Lamonica meets a lot of people. That's how she got so good at reading them. But I enjoy surprising her at every turn. She keeps expecting a jerk. Maybe it's my confidence. Maybe it's my looks.

Our new general manager is the most difficult man on the planet. The night before Drake begins working at my family's hotel, he finds me in the bar, trying to get rid of a boring date. But the guy won’t take even a not-so-subtle hint. Then, Drake surprises me and comes to our table, but only to reprimand me about dating in our workplace. The asshat! I swear he thinks he can get away with it only because of those smoldering green eyes. Well, they don’t affect me. Nope, not at all.

When I find out on my wedding day that my fiancé is cheating on me, my whole world comes crashing down. The only bright spot? My best friend Leo is by my side every step of the way, offering his unconditional support — including a temporary getaway, which I so badly need right now. Once in Boston, he invites me to stay with him until I get back on my feet. Temporarily, of course. And I don’t even think twice before agreeing. But I quickly question if this was the right thing to do. Did I forget to mention Leo is the hottest man on the planet?