Samantha Hardcastle is horrified when the sensual stranger she has a one-night fling with turns out to be her long-lost stepson. Restauranteur Louis DuLac prefers his relationships short and sweet but he’s floored by deep feelings for the beautiful and loving woman who won’t let him touch her again. The thrice-married “Merry Widow” has washed her hands of love—until she starts to realize that she’s never truly known it before. EXCERPT: Louis rose and placed his hands on her waist. “Didn’t you receive some advice to follow your heart?” Sam frowned. “Madame Ayida? Oh, please, I’m sure she just makes that stuff up to entertain the tourists. What kind of a cliché is ‘follow your heart,’ anyway?” “A powerful one.” He buried his face in her neck and pressed his lips softly to her skin. “I followed mine here.” His deep voice penetrated her fog of anxiety. “Your heart?” He looked up, and met her gaze with those haunting eyes. “I do have one, you know, despite what they say.” “And what is it telling you?” She spoke slowly, her voice shaking. Maybe he’d say something that would let them both off the hook. That would be fine. Good even. Her heart hammered behind her ribs. “It’s telling me I’ve met a very special woman. A woman so generous and caring that people assume she must have an ulterior motive.” Frowning, he looked into her eyes. “A woman who has so much love to give that the world can’t seem to absorb it all and keeps throwing it back in her face.” He brushed her cheek with his thumb. “And I’m not fool enough to let you throw away what we’ve found together.” Sam’s heart squeezed. She managed to keep her breathing under control. “What have we found?” She cursed herself instantly after asking the stupid question. What did she want to hear? That he loved her? How lame could she get? She didn’t even want him to love her. They couldn’t have any kind of relationship given the weird family situation, so the whole thing was just pointless and stupid and painful and... A whimper escaped her mouth as Louis took her into his embrace and held her so tight she couldn’t possibly escape even if she wanted to. Explore the Billionaires' Secrets series: A family scattered by pride and greed—brought back together by love. Book 1: Volatile Chemistry (Dominic and Bella) Book 2: Grapes of Wrath (Amado and Susannah) Book 3: A Taste of Heaven (Louis and Samantha) Boxed set of all three books. Join the new release newsletter at www.jenlewis.com