Cole Maguire doesn’t have any trouble getting women into his bed—or kicking them out of it. He’s always shuffled through them as if they were cards in a deck. But now he’s on the run, 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 is tricky enough without risking additional complications. And 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 victim during a competitive trail ride that Cole’s grandmother is about to meddle and call in a bet. He’s assigned the murder to solve. Renata’s given the story to write. And 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. And both of them soon discover, losing a bet can be so much better than winning.

Please note: A previous edition of this story was published by Ellora’s Cave.