David Baldacci Best Stand-alone Books Novels & Stories

I was working as a stunt double for a fight scene when a rising idol actor stabbed me with a real knife and sent me straight to the hospital. My actress girlfriend rushed over in a panic, fussing over me with endless concern. Before I could even feel touched, a floating comment suddenly appeared above her head. [When is Scott finally going to realize that the Best Actress linked him and Francis through a Beauty System?] [The more Scott cares about a certain part of his body, the more perfect that same part becomes on Francis!] The next second, my manager of five years hurried into the room as well. Another barrage of comments floated up. [The manager's no better. She tied them to an Achievement System. The harder Scott works, the more achievements Francis gets!] I stared at the two women in front of me and fell silent. So… my only option was to give up and do nothing?

His large hand wraps around my throat just enough to make my pulse race, pinning me to the rain-slicked cabin wall as thunder rolls outside. “We can’t keep doing this,” he growls, but his hips grind against mine, hard and insistent, while his free hand slips under my skirt to find me already soaked. I whimper, arching into his touch, craving the sharp sting of his palm across my ass, the way he commands me to come for him like I’m his dirty little secret. My father’s best friend, the man who’s been in my life forever finally breaking every rule to claim me roughly, deeply, until I’m trembling and marked by him. What begins as one reckless, forbidden night spirals into an addiction of heated stolen moments, whispered dominance, and raw need… until the truth crashes down, pregnancies and betrayals threaten to shatter us, and everyone we love demands we end it. But how do you walk away when the only person who owns your body and heart refuses to let go?

He's her bodyguard and driver. He got that features that made every girl drool. Raina Williams is a twenty three year old lady, who has everything she wants. She's what you'll call a grumpy and rude brat as she's popularly known in the Sunshine city. She was avoided like a plague not until she employed Jasper. Jasper also hated her for the fact that she's to rude. Not until he found our her darkest secret. What really changed her from the Angel she was to the demon she is today. Will Jasper be able to stay despite the harsh treatment from his grumpy boss? What do you think made her change?

Alcohol and heartbreak are definitely not a good combo. Too bad I learned that a little too late. I’m Tessa Beckett and I painfully got dumped by my boyfriend of three years. That led me to get drunk at a bar and have a one-night stand with a stranger. Before he would see me as a slut the next day,I paid him for the sex and deeply insulted his ability to please me. But this stranger turned out to be my new boss!

Eranthe and Colin's story began with a ludicrous act of revenge. The next time she saw Colin was at her boyfriend's birthday party. She knew him only as a wealthy man with high status, and he was captivated by her beauty. They engaged in a game of mutual manipulation, beginning an adult game. Eranthe: I took the initiative to call Colin and had a one-night stand with him, deliberately allowing my boyfriend to catch us. Seeing his angry and frustrated reaction was so satisfying and joyful. I had finally taken revenge on that cheating scoundrel. But why did things start slipping out of my control? The one-night stand with Colin was just an adult game, so why take it seriously? I found that I couldn't get rid of you. Alright, let the game continue. If you can't submit to me, there will be no survivors in this game. Colin: Eranthe thought I was just a tool she used to get back at her ex-boyfriend for betraying her. No, she was wrong! In reality, I don't belong to the human world. I blend among humans in the hope of finding my Luna. At first, I used a little trick to make her approach me and fall into my love trap. She didn't know that I had loved her for many, many years. She's the only one in my heart, the apple in my eyes. I've always longed to be with her, to win her heart. My lifelong wish is to have her as my Luna, be with her forever, and be the mother of my Alpha child.

Everything in Camilla's life was going smoothly until she; *found out that her boyfriend of two years has been cheating on her *has a one night stand with a complete stranger *discovers that her mother is seriously ill Now, a newly unemployed Camilla is desperate and lost, trying to figure out how to get money for her mother's treatment AND make ends meet when she bumps into a familiar male who she discovers is a multi - billionaire. Her whole world gets turned upside down even more when he proceeds to make her a very shocking offer; one that Camilla may not be able to refuse......even if she might loose herself in the process.

He is supposed to be my best friend—at least I have been seeing him as one—doing a lot of things with him together. We go to school together, share the same hobbies, and love the same sports. He is my day one, my buddy. Up until after the summer vacation when we started a new life in the same college as freshmen. That is when I discover that I have developed a soft spot for him, which accounts for the way I missed him during the summer vacation. I have never missed Liam like that. I mean, I do miss him but not compared to last summer. I wanted him around me and his image occupied my mind's eye. Starting college with a crush on my best friend is not an ideal way to begin the academic year. No matter how I try to suppress it by going on dates and accepting relationship proposals from guys, instead of it going away, it doubles. Worse still, he sees me as his buddy. He has never looked at me the way he looks at other girls. I know I am a bit of a tomboy. My other friends tell me that my dress sense is a bit masculine. I try changing my fashion sense but to no avail. Sadly, all I am to Liam is his day one bestie and buddy. I do not want to tell him about the feelings I have because I do not want to put our friendship in jeopardy. I had already given up hope Until the dare at one of my other friend's parties _ Evie. The dare for Liam to kiss me. The kiss opens another chapter; I would never have believed in my entire life to be possible—Liam actually likes me!

"if you knew you were in love with my sister,"I asked quietly, "why did you sleep with me then?". The room froze at the question ,Rhea turned to him sharply."You slept with her?".She asked in a disgusting tone. Damien ran a hand through his hair." I am so sorry,I could not control myself,the mate bond was too overwhelming" he said So cheap of him to blame the bond.Rhea inhaled deeply and then looked at me coldly."He has apologized,” she said. "Just accept it" . Accept it like that would change anything. I looked at all of them,my parents,the Alpha,the Luna,my mate,my twin and it dawn on me that I have lost my home and there was no place for me here. Not as a daughter,not as a sister and definitely not as a mate. On her graduation day in the Gifted academy, Raven met her mate Damien Wood,the heir to the Woodcroft pack and they were intimate but the next morning Damien disappeared without a word. What felt like a beginning of a new chapter became a one night stand to Raven , Damien left her just like that but unlike Damien,she knew who he was and where exactly to find him.

Ethan Cole is a billionaire tech heir who needs a relationship as soon as possible. Not for love, but to secure a powerful merger and win control of his family's empire. Desperate, he turns to the most unexpected person: Jamie Rivera, his charming, openly gay best friend with dreams of owning an art gallery. What begins as a harmless fake romance soon turns into real emotions, with stolen glances, strange desires and forbidden kisses. But with jealous exes, ruthless family rivals, and the media watching their every move, pretending to be in love might destroy everything, unless they’re brave enough to make it real. A swoon-worthy, slow-burn romance where fake love turns dangerously real and one kiss was all it took.

In a world where love and betrayal collide, Aria's heartache led her on a rollercoaster ride of passion, deception, and redemption. As she grappled with the bitter sting of infidelity, little did she know that her life would soon be engulfed in a web of secrets and lies. When she caught her boyfriend Caleb entwined with her arch-nemesis Amy, Aria's world crumbled. As she severed ties with Caleb, a twist of fate brought Jacob into her life – a charismatic stranger who ignited an electric connection. But their burgeoning love story took a startling turn when Aria realized that Jacob was the father of a boy she was to babysit. Fueled by jealousy and greed, Caleb conspired with the manipulative Chastity to destroy Aria's newfound happiness. They plotted to make Aria look like a gold digger and Jacob a victim, using fabricated evidence to tear them apart. Through a relentless pursuit of the truth and unwavering support from her friend Bianca, Aria exposed the web of deceit woven by Caleb and Chastity. Her determination only deepened her bond with Jacob, who stood by her side, vowing to protect their love. As their love blossomed, Caleb and Chastity grew increasingly desperate, unveiling Aria's initial intentions to use Jacob as a pawn. Jacob, devastated, cast Aria out of his life, leaving her heartbroken and begging for a second chance. But a sinister revelation changed everything – Chastity claimed she was pregnant with Jacob's child, and the test results seemed to confirm her story. In her darkest hour, Aria found herself working at the clinic where the truth would ultimately unravel.