Tessa's Hero — Paige Warren

Tessa Milner never had much, but when she lost her mom, she lost everything. Her dad became a mean drunk and lost his job. What little the high school dropout makes bussing tables helps keep the lights on and food in the fridge, but she has little hope of ever escaping. When her dad takes things too far, and Tessa ends up in the hospital, she finds a hero in an unlikely place. A man she's had a crush on since she was a kid, someone she's always idolized. And now he's here, by her side, and doesn't seem ready to leave anytime soon.

Dr. Morgan Hilliard has felt drawn to Tessa ever since he first noticed the woman she was becoming, with curves that begged to be touched. He's wanted to ask her out more times than he can count, but because of their age difference, he's tried to keep his distance. The small town of Blossom Creek might be accepting of an interracial couple, but their nearly twenty year age gap is sure to set tongues wagging. Now things are different. Tessa needs him, whether she'll admit it or not, and Morgan will do anything to keep her safe -- even something as crazy as marrying her.