Flash Heat — Joyce Lamb

Photographer Bailey Chase and reporter Cole Goodman only tolerate working with each other at a Southwest Florida newspaper. Cole knows Bailey's ex, and he's told Cole lots of lies about her. Not that Bailey cares. She's still healing from that disastrous relationship and has far more important issues on her plate: such as keeping her recovering drug addict brother on the right track as a single dad to his 6-year-old son.
When Bailey gets slightly injured during a mugging while on assignment with Cole, she's shocked that he sticks around to help her out. He's kind and warm and caring ... and when it soon becomes clear that the mugging wasn't random, he reveals a protective streak that quickly turns into far more.
Cole has never loved a woman who didn't let him down. His mother abandoned him as a child. His sister hasn't been there for her own kids. And his ex-wife did something he can never forgive her for. So he has no interest whatsoever in getting involved with Bailey Chase, a woman who already has way too much baggage. Except he can't seem to help himself. She's just ... so ... hot. And exasperating. And amazing.
Now, someone is after a photo in Bailey's possession, and he'll clearly stop at nothing to get it. Worse, it appears her brother's shady past is connected.
Cole and Bailey team up to crack this mystery before someone ends up dead. While they're at it, they let the sparks fly ...