Unguarded Hearts — Lynda Sue Cooper

SHE WAS HIS FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE...
A professional bodyguard, Nina Wild had been forced to leave the Secret Service after being embroiled in a sexual harassment scandal. Now she had a golden opportunity to save her tarnished reputation. Pro-basketball coach Mitch Halloran might be superstar handsome and All-Star arrogant, but death threats were no joke, and keeping him safe was her job--even if it meant putting her life on the line.

...AND HIS GREATEST WEAKNESS
Given the choice, Mitch would have sent the gorgeous blonde bodyguard packing. Except Nina wasn't listening. First she agreed to play the part of his "girlfriend," then, to please his dying mother, his "wife." What began as a harmless, well-meaning charade caught him completely off guard. He hadn't reckoned the killer would go after his beautiful new "bride"--or that Nina would become the one woman in the world he wasn't willing to lose.