Eight Dates

All it takes for me to be locked inside a sauna for eight hours is an accidental splash of hot water on Wayne Miller's secretary's hand. Right before I lose consciousness, he finally orders someone to let me out. He hisses, "Consider this a warning. If I ever see you lay a hand on Naomi again, I won't let you off so easily." I lie on a stretcher and answer with quiet composure, "Understood."

Parenthood is hard. It's even harder when you're a single mother with a smart eight year old in your hand. Zoey Martinez has been doing well providing for both herself and her child. Things changed one day when she got a complaint from one of her son's teachers about him being disruptive. It has been eight years since that dreadful night. Almost a decade since they last saw each other. Eight years since Xavier Danvers rejected his own flesh and blood. What will happen when the universe brings them back together? Has their love survived after all these years?

"I don't regret the rain or the nights I felt the pain or the tears i had to cry, some of those times along the way, every road I had to take, every time my heart would break. It was just something I had to do to get me to you" Winter had to wishes in her life, to live happily and for her crush to notice her. At first, it was like an infatuation which later developed into affection. She had always thought just looking at him from afar would be enough, but she got greedier and wanted him closer. Having reject her various blind dates simply because they weren't Xander, her Mother finally had enough of her and set her up with the Son of her childhood friend. Winter as usual was ready to reject whoever he was, until she saw him. Her crush was her blind date..... It was a matter of do or die and definitely she was going to take the chance which was laid before her on a platter. Xander had an illness which was known only to his immediate family and also the reason he was always resisting relationships. But this time, he had no choice because his brother's relationship was on the line. With Winter finally knowing the nature of his illness, she was going to do everything to make him believe he deserves to be loved, but will she succeed?

Cleo has been going it alone since she was a teenager, perfectly content with her solitary lifestyle. Until she starts meeting her mates, that is. While two of them are what every shifter dreams of when thinking of their destined soulmate, the third has far more nefarious plans for her than character building and going on dates together. Every day is something unknown and new to Cleo, making new friends, learning about who she really is and where she came from. But just like Cleo has never gotten to experience what it's like to have a group of shifters around her that care for her, she's also never had to feel what it's like to watch someone you truly love die. How will a shapeshifting panther with bodies under her belt deal with the tragedies she's about to be put through? Only one way to find out.

Someone pushes me off a cliff when I'm eight months pregnant before taking their life on the spot. Meanwhile, blood pools underneath me as I'm rushed to the hospital. As despair washes over me, I hear Jacob Langley's voice come from outside my hospital ward. "Are you sure it'll work this time?" "Yes, Mr. Langley. Mrs. Langley has taken good care of herself during her pregnancy, but the branch pierced her belly. There's no chance of the baby surviving this, and she won't ever be able to conceive again." "Good. Make sure the culprit's family has been sent away. I won't let anything go wrong before the Adkins agree to adopt Clara." "Yes, sir. Still… why did you need to push Mrs. Langley off a cliff if you wanted to adopt Ms. Jennings' daughter? Mrs. Langley is kind; I'm sure she would've treated the child well." Jacob snorts. "What do you know? Why would Selene agree to adopt Clara if she had her own child? She'll only treat Clara as her own once she can't have children and leave everything she has to Clara. I couldn't marry Kaia back then; this is all I can do to make it up to her." The voices slowly fade away, but they reverberate loud and clear in my mind. I've spent six years by Jacob's side, yet all I've gotten in return are lies and betrayal. His so-called love for me is nothing but a trick to steal my inheritance for someone else. Since this is what he wants, I'll make his wish come true.

When I was ten, I bugged my brother to come home for my birthday. He died in a plane crash that day. They never found his body. After that, my parents saw me as a total screw-up. They blamed me for his death. Every year on his memorial day, they forced me to kneel at the cemetery and repent my mistakes. I did that for eight years. I figured I'd spend my whole life paying for it. But on my 18th birthday, some creep stalked and murdered me. Right before I died, I tried calling for help. But my mom chewed me out. "I bet you're just dodging your duty to make up for James. You're full of crap. If you hadn't forced him to come back, he would have been alive. This is what you deserve." She hung up, leaving me staring at the dead screen. My last hope was dashed. She was right. Someone like me meant nothing but bad luck to those around me. I didn't deserve to exist. But then, eight years after his death, James showed up with his pregnant wife. When they heard I was gone, they fell apart.

WARNING: MATURE CONTENT! Victoria Carter finally dons the puffy dress and ties her hair tight, ready to walk down the aisle, only to be abandoned at the altar by a cowardly groom who claims he's not ready. Her father, desperate to marry off his youngest daughter, arranges countless dates and meet-ups, but Victoria turns down every suitor. Then, at a family gathering, the perfect man appears, igniting a spark she thought was lost. However, there's one major reason she can't have him. "Your father can't find out about this," he whispered as he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me in closer.

When Vivian’s parents died in a tragic accident, her world was shattered. Orphaned and alone at eight years old, she was sent to an orphanage, where her once bright life turned dark, and everything she knew began to fade, including her memories of Jack, the boy who once held her heart. As she approached her 18th birthday and the chance to leave the orphanage behind, Vivian was unexpectedly adopted. But her new life quickly became a nightmare when she was forced to assume the identity of the family's deceased daughter. Bound by secrets and trapped in a role she never chose, Vivian's life spiraled into a web of lies and manipulation. Then, by a twist of fate, she crossed paths with Jack once more. But after all these years, would he still recognize her? "Would she be able to free herself from her new family, or would she be trapped there forever? A story of love, betrayal, romance and suspense. The Billionaire Deception is a gripping and intriguing read that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final page.

When my best friend died, his wife, Mia Lewis, was eight months pregnant. Mia said she didn't want her baby growing up without a father. I owed my best friend my life. He saved me, literally pulled me from death's door. So I stepped up, marrying Mia and raising their son as my own. Mia loved her career, so I quit mine. Traded my job for diapers and school runs. For seven whole years, I cooked, cleaned, folded laundry, and handled the housework. Rain or shine, sickness or health, I was there—every single day. Mia, though? She stayed cold, distant. Her warmth only surfaced in the bedroom—and even then, it was a flicker, never a flame. Just soft sighs and breathy murmurs, like she was playing a role she couldn't wait to finish. Afterward, she would quietly check the condom, as if she couldn't trust me. Then came New Year's Eve. A snap. A tear. A broken condom. Her fury struck like a thunderclap. She locked me out on the balcony, left me standing in the freezing rain, soaked to the bone as the wind howled like a wounded beast. Teeth chattering, I shivered as I watched the door like a dog, waiting to be let in. Then I saw him. Our boy, Ethan Bailey. Six years old. My son, at least in name. He came running with an umbrella in his hand. For a second, my heart leapt. 'Maybe, just maybe…' But he didn't even look at me. Just walked past in silence and handed the umbrella to the nanny heading out. Right then and there, something inside me cracked. I knew it was time to go.

My name is Emma. At 31, I am doing well for myself. I’ve got a great job. Or at least a well paid job, my boss loves me, and my girlfriends think I’m great. More important than anyone's opinion is that of my housemate, and best friend in the world, Scott. Scott thinks the world of me and always tells me to be myself. So why do I feel the need to lie outrageously on dates? From rock-climbing to Muay Thai: when it comes to prospective boyfriends, I am compelled to embellish my C.V. with unlikely porkies that alwaysbackfire - with hilarious results. I have Craig to blame for that - he really shattered my sense of self-confidence and self-worth. But then I turn the spotlight on Scott, and he wishes he'd never brought it up. With a penchant for checked shirts and Harry Potter-style specs, I decide he needs a makeover and to experience the abysmal dating world. My friendship with Scott began in the most unconventional way. His past life had made him homeless and isolated, but he saved me. And now we are inseparable. My dating disasters began when my relationship with he-who-must-not-be-named ended. Waking up with a pounding head, a dry mouth, aching limbs and a random arm draped over my waist, I struggle to get up and then stumble to the bathroom. I rubbed my eyes and stare at the hungover, half dead panda eyed loser staring back at me. What started out as a lighthearted challenge with Scott, became something more. We were prepared. But nothing could prepare us for the surprise results! Before long, I realise that our lives will never be the same again.