Publication Date: April 13, 2020
Genres: Entangled: Bliss, Sweet Romance, Contemporary, Romance

Whitney Carroll is back home in Gatlinburg, Tennessee after divorcing her low-down, cheating husband. First thing on the to-do list: Get a job. Second thing: Just say no to men. Third thing: Don’t fall for the boss. One out of three’s not too bad, right?

For Sam Ellis, his to-do list is always work, work, work, trying to keep his family’s legacy alive. Now, out of concern, his siblings bet he can’t keep a girl happy for thirty days, and if he loses he’s out as CEO. No problem, he can fake a relationship. And he knows just who to ask…his new man-vegan assistant.

Yet Whitney’s sexy boss—secret singer and Skee-Ball champion—is definitely NOT boring, and their connection is undeniable. But when a disaster strikes at work, Sam will have to decide if he’s willing to trade in his job for his heart.

Excerpt

Someone who spoke to him.

Someone like Whitney.

Could he?

He dropped the list on the desk. No he couldn’t. It was wrong. Only…

If he asked her, was it wrong? After all, they would be spending plenty of time together on this project anyway. Pretending to be in a relationship couldn’t be that bad if she was in on it. It was just a bet.

“Excuse me?”

Sam’s face flushed with heat. Had he said something? “What?”

“You said bet.”

He closed his eyes and groaned.

“Is this a bet? This job offer?”

“What? No. Of course not. I didn’t even know you were coming; how could it be a bet?”

She crossed her arms, not convinced. If he didn’t want her to walk now, and he most certainly didn’t, then he needed to come clean.

“I’m sorry. This”—he motioned between them—“is not a bet. This is me hiring you because you are the best person for the job.”

“Why do I feel there’s a rather large but coming?”

“But there is a bet.”

“About me?”

“No. I mean. Lord, I am screwing this three sides to Sunday. My siblings have made a bet with me. A bet I really want to win. A bet I need to win and well…”

She stared, her eyes the size of saucers. He really did not want to say the words that were about to come out of his mouth, but if he didn’t, she would leave. He could practically see her sensible flats headed in that direction.

“What’s the bet, Sam?”

He closed his eyes, unable to look at her when he confessed. “To keep a relationship going for thirty days. A good, solid, spend-time-with-a-person relationship.”

The silence spoke volumes. He peeked to find her mouth open and her gaze darting about the room.

“Why?”

“Why what?” Really she could be asking numerous questions with that one word.

“Why did they come up with the bet?”

“Ahh…my siblings think I’m overworked and underplayed.”

“Are you?”

“Yes.”

“And how do I figure in?”

“You don’t.”

“Oh?”

“I mean you are not part of it, but I was thinking you might want to be—all fake of course—and then I realized that was stupid. None of that thought process was meant to leave my mind.”

“And yet here we are.”

“Yeah. Here we are.”

“A bet to have a relationship for thirty days that you want to win, so you’re looking for someone to fake it with you.”

“Ummm, yeah…that sounds really bad, but the alternative is not good.”

“It clearly must not be, since you’re making an utter fool of yourself.”

“Yes. Yes, I am and for that I am sorry. Let’s forget I ever mentioned it. Now how about the contract? Have any questions?”

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About the Author

Contemporary romance author, Jennifer Hoopes, lives in a small town in Pennsylvania with her husband, and two daughters. Stories have been in her head for as long as she recognized every person had one and figuring out how two people meet and fall in love makes for a rewarding dream job. When not writing she wears the many mom hats of PTO, dance, and music, all while driving a mean, mom-taxi. She loves caramel and roller coasters, plays a solo version of Carpool Karaoke, and cannot live without coffee and Jane Austen adaptations.