Jim never expected to see Rebecca again-especially not here, in a Denver hotel bar, twenty-some-odd years after high school. Back then, she was the queen bee of his nightmares, a golden girl who made life miserable for awkward, closeted kids like him. But she doesn't recognize him now... not as the man he's become. A few drinks, some harmless conversation, and suddenly, the past doesn't feel so sharp. They're just two professionals on separate work trips-Rebecca, a high-flying pharmaceutical sales rep, and Jim, a corporate trainer starting fresh... What happens over the next few days is a mistake. He knows it the moment their lips brush against each other. He should tell her who he is. He should walk away. Instead, he lets the lie linger. Because for one short work trip, he isn't that kid from high school. And she isn't the girl who made him feel small. But the truth has a way of surfacing. And when it does, neither of them will leave this hotel the same. Prompt 34: Your new job requires an out-of-town overnight orientation, but when you check in, you run into someone from your past you never thought you'd see again.

When a mysterious thief steals a treasure from a reckless prince, his knights spring into action. They're hunting for the precious necklace intended for the prince's bride, but the prince knows better. His heart was stolen, and his heart is priceless. The only way he can recover from this loss is to find his thief before the knights. Only, he can't court the thief and still be the same prince he's always been. ONC entry for Prompt 137: "I am a princess and I can't love a person who is a thief and has robbed our palace's treasure. But I can't help it." Replace 'princess' with 'prince'.

Open Novella Contest 2025 Round 2 Winner and Ambassador's pick Abraham Brewer surpassed everyone's expectations. As a troubled boy, his only support came from an imaginary friend who gave him the confidence he needed to succeed in life. Now a successful oncologist, he meets a patient who forces him to question reality and everything he has ever known as an adult. Abraham never believed in guardian angels or fairy tales... ...until his imaginary friend returns in the flesh, perhaps a former angel who chose life, death, and love, over immortality and fairy-tales. Prompt 105: Your childhood imaginary friend, who disappeared years ago, suddenly returns-only this time they're real. Prompt 120: The door that closed to you many years ago has reopened, and now it's up to you to take a chance once more.

When a series of thefts escalates to murder, werewolf detective Dane Hunter and his fae partner, Julian Hart, must uncover the dark history of Spring Lakes before the past repeats itself and destroys them both. ***** A year after starting a life together, private detectives Julian and Dane investigate a string of strange burglaries plaguing the shops in downtown Spring Lakes. It seems simple enough, until a murder, a disappearing body, and the discovery of strange tunnels beneath the streets take the case for a supernatural turn. The new detective in town, Rian Halloran, may hold the key to unlocking the town's dark past and its surprising connections to Julian. As Julian learns more about the Fae side of his family history and Dane struggles with the responsibility of being an alpha, solving a mystery isn't the only thing at stake. Dane and Julian must reconcile past and present, navigate complicated families, and learn how to work together-all while stopping an incursion of strange creatures from the Fae underworld-if their partnership, and love, will survive.

In a clash of academic focus and coastal freedom, a geology student and a surfer unearth unexpected passion between the fossil-rich cliffs and rolling waves of a picturesque college town. ***** Geology student Charlie Hill and surf-enthusiast Hazel MacDowell have little in common apart from the fact that Hazel's father is Charlie's favorite professor. After getting off on the wrong foot, Charlie and Hazel are unexpectedly thrown together on an elite, four-week internship at a paleontological dig site. Sparks fly, and soon their rivalry becomes a romance, but a closely-held secret soon puts their budding relationship to the test. Do Charlie and Hazel have what it takes to overcome the odds, or will their love turn to stone like the fossils buried in Crestwood's cliffs?

WATTYS 2024 SHORTLIST In a world of magic and mayhem, where ferrets fly and trees talk, three unlikely heroes find their fates entangled with a deadly mystery. ***** Tallon is a scoundrel-an elf/human hybrid ranger who leaves a trail of chaos in his wake. With only his wingerret as his companion, Tallon travels the realms at his leisure while living life on a whim with no concept of consequences. Ben is a natural-born thief with more magical talent than the typical human. He lives and works in a rundown inn owned by the man who raised him and dreams of adventure while doing his best to avoid serious trouble. When Lord Colbert of Sagehand sends his wayward son to Ballsdeep on a trade and reconnaissance mission, Tallon is miserable. The backwater town is located in a remote section of the world in the seediest of bad locales, and no one wants him there. But when a dangerous, illegal crate falls into the bay and interrupts a heist, a deadly and wide-ranging conspiracy is uncovered. As Tallon and Ben cross paths, they are forced to work together if they wish to safely escape Ballsdeep while investigating the clandestine operations behind the evil Coconut Conglomerate. During their travels, they gain allies and enemies while fighting their initial attraction and learning to trust one another in this epic fantasy adventure. ** Cover by @Kaiddance using Canva Pro

Finally free of the possessions that plagued him since childhood, Carlos moves to Spring Lakes and opens his own auto-garage. But even a life free of demons isn't a walk in the park, and Carlos soon has plenty of earthly problems to worry about. As he struggles to get a fledgling business off the ground and make ends meet, he barely has time to think of much else, and remains luckless in love. When his hapless assistant, Kyle, turns up dead, however, Carlos finds himself in trouble of a different kind, and the new detective in town-John Turner-has Carlos pegged as suspect number one. Meanwhile, Carlos has his own reasons for wanting the murder solved. Kyle's ghost won't leave him alone, and obviously has something important to say, but Carlos fears opening himself to the supernatural; if he lets Kyle through, he worries what else might follow. Reluctantly, Carlos and Detective Turner join forces, and gradually develop a mutual respect-and possibly attraction, as well. But Turner isn't completely unattached, and Carlos wonders if he's once again a distant second choice, or worse-a consolation prize. Will Carlos be third-wheeling forever, or will he find his own true love at last?

When a string of mysterious and violent deaths plague the small city of Spring Lakes, psychic consultant Julian Hart finds himself partnered with veteran detective Dane Hunter. As the mismatched pair dig deeper into the mystery, getting along with one another seems harder than catching a killer; but when Julian is marked as the killer's next target, solving the murders becomes a dicey game of "do or die." - Warnings: Contains strong language and explicit sexual content. - This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Felix's brother Dylan is getting married, and Felix isn't happy about it. For one thing, his brother is an abusive jerk. For another, a wedding and a new extended family means that at some point, someone is going to try to give him a hug. Felix hates to be touched--a quirk that has kept him from having a romantic relationship with anyone, and that he thinks will doom him to be forever alone--an idea that actually doesn't bother him all that much. What's bothering him is the brother of his future sister-in-law--Isaac Mason. Isaac is everything Felix is not--athletic, outgoing, and very physical. And for some reason, he just won't leave Felix alone. The other thing that's bothering him is the secret he's carrying around about this brother. Can he let his brother's fiance marry a man who might be abusive without at least warning her? And what other secrets is his brother hiding? The more Felix learns about Dylan's Perfect Wedding, the less he likes the idea. Too bad he's agreed to plan most of it. As the day of the event draws near and more secrets come to light, Felix may have to choose between love and truth. ---------------------- Warnings: This story contains strong language, explicit sexual content, and depictions of abuse (not graphic). ---------------------- This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Aaron Keene hates Valentine's Day. Which is strange, because he owns a candy store and the holiday is a big boost to business. When the reason he loathes February 14th opens a bike shop across the street from his store, Aaron realizes he finally has the chance to get his sweet revenge. But when all is said and done, will he still want it? ----- Cover by @kaiddance ❤️ -- Rated Mature for language and sexual content (i.e. man-on-man action). ----- This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.