Book excerpt: Meet Chad, the third of five unforgettable characters in the Emerald Springs Legacy. Life in the small town of Emerald Springs, Washington, is anything but slow and peaceful. An old feud between former business partners Whitman and Sanders keeps competition on a high burner, fueling resentment, renewing rivalries . . . and love. Now someone is trying to bring down Emerald Tea Farm, and it’s up to both families to protect their future while still wrangling over the past. Chad Whitman loves his family, but he’s not entirely sure he shares their responsible, deliberate outlook on life. Where’s the excitement and passion in that? After being unfairly fired from her dream job, Jen Chavez picks up her worst nightmare in the parking lot - a rich guy, whom she thought was just another pretty face. She has no intention of turning out like her mother, latching on to wealthy men for self-worth and survival, so she bolts. Too bad the pretty face with the hefty bankroll tracks her down. She doesn’t need a man. She needs a job. She has no idea what to do when he offers both. Hiring Jen as a consultant to help him launch a microbrewery has its drawbacks. Chad has a reputation for messing around with the wrong women, and his family is watching his every move. As days pass, his desire to open a top-notch microbrewery is matched only by his desire for Jen. Can he overcome her raging independence and mistrust of men to prove to her this microbrewery could be dream enough for both of them? Sensuality Level: Sensual