Once upon a time, a long, long time ago—Oh, who am I kidding? My life is no fairy tale. Not since my Broadway career dried up like a year-old prune.

Once upon a time, I was the leading lady in many a fairy tale, but now? Now I’m coming back, and I’m not playing the sweet princess anymore. I’m the Wicked Witch of the West, and I’m making a comeback to prove that no one can hold me down. Not the illness that caused me to faceplant in the middle of a show two years ago, and not the naysayers who are convinced I’m done.

There’s only one teeny, tiny problem. Someone is after me. Luckily, my problem has a simple solution: personal security. A round-the-clock bodyguard should do the trick. And if I get my way, he should be damn hot. But when I meet him? It’s not the trick I want him to do—it’s me.

There’s something hauntingly familiar about him, and I just can’t shake the feeling that I know him. There’s only one other man who’s ever had this effect on me: my brother’s best friend from high school. And this boy is all grown up and giving me the serious feels. Our chemistry is still off the charts, and a new year is starting soon. Time to get my career back and score the hottie for a New Year’s kiss. Let’s just hope neither of us drop the ball.