Sometimes a traffic stop is just the ticket to break up a morning commute.

Art Historian Aidan Bell and student Collista Carson can't stand each other. Yet for some reason, he asks her to be his new assistant.  Although doubtful that they can co-exist without killing each other, Collista has her grade in his class to think about and so accepts the position.  One thing leads to another, and before long, the two are finding it hard to maintain their professional distance.

Then the specter of Aidan's murky past casts its shadow over the forbidden relationship.  Add a priceless painting, a ruthless art collector and soon Collista finds herself in the position of having to help Aidan solve a mystery before he goes down for the count.  Will he have enough time to teach her what she needs to know about the art of the steal?  

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Kristina Ward is looking for a fresh start. She has just gotten out of a relationship with a married man who also had children. She would have never guess a woman as intelligent as her would miss the warning signs of his deception. But she had. There was nothing like a heartbreak to make a woman reevaluate her life. Too bad her first night in town gets off to a bad start when she is propositioned by a complete stranger. Yes he is sexy as sin but so what. His rudeness deters from it. It only gets worse when Kristina finds out he is not only her co-worker but her boss.

Robert Cantu doesn't normally go out and he isn't much of a drinker either but it still doesn't excuse his behavior during his first encounter with Kristina. He also knows his first impression just might be his last. He can't afford to lose her. It is hard to find good, qualified help especially since most people are clamoring to leave San Angelo. He is willing to do whatever it takes to keep Kristina on board even if it means ignoring his intense attraction to her . . .

                                              Kristina Ward  Robert Cantu   

I have always been alone and that was all I knew how to be. My mother and father only showed up on two occasions: my dreams and my nightmares. In my dreams, they were normal people who worked nine-to-five jobs. They were always there when I needed someone to talk to. We lived in a suburban area where all the neighbors watched me grow up. We were average people in my dreams, but in my nightmares, the truth came out. My mother was a city prostitute with a drug addiction. She slept with numerous men; consequently, my father had a name or a face. For all I know, he was just a quick [ rendevous ] to help her habit. I have bounced around from different foster homes, never finding a place that I was truly happy with or that was ever happy with me.

A young Irish gangster falls for an older woman with ambitions for musical stardom, in 1930's prohibition Ohio.