Book excerpt: Read the final book in New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis’s classic series, South Village Singles. South Village was safe…or so she thought! The secure world that Rachel Wellers has carefully constructed is crumbling around her. Her sweet twelve-year-old daughter is turning into a sullen teenager before her eyes. The injuries she’s just sustained in a hit-and-run accident are jeopardizing her career. And worst of all, Ben Asher—the man she sent away thirteen years ago—is back, tipped off by her daughter that they need him. When Ben hears that Rachel has been injured, he panics. In an instant, he drops his obsession—photojournalism—and returns to the city that he swore he’d never visit again. He doesn’t want to question his motives for doing so…he only knows he has to protect Rachel. Suddenly he’s convinced the hit-and-run wasn’t an accident. Rachel might have been hurt because of him. But he doesn’t count on the feelings that get stirred up being with her…or how hard it will be to leave her again. Originally published in 2003.