Excerpt

Snow gusting against the window was the only sound in the room as he searched for a show for us to watch.

So quiet.
Way too quiet.
I fidgeted with my necklace, moving the small diamond

back and forth on the chain. The last time I was in bed with Ryder…I didn’t even want to finish that thought, because it’d do nothing but make this situation worse. I chanced a peek in his direction.

He chewed the inside of his cheek, swiping through our options. “This is awkward, huh?” he said.

“We’ve achieved Urkel status.”

He chuckled and scrolled through the show queue. “Would you rather watch Law and Order: SVU or Criminal Minds?”

“That is quite possibly the worst Would You Rather question ever asked.”

His eyes cut to mine. “I didn’t know I was playing a game.”

“You’ve never played it?”
He shook his head.
Lainey and I played this game all the time in college,

and when we’d take road trips together. She always came up with the grossest ones. “It’s simple. All you have to do is ask the person which horrible thing they’d rather do. The harder

the question, the better. Like would you rather lay in a pit of snakes, or eat questionably dead roadkill?” I pointed to his phone. “Oh, John Tucker Must Die. I like that one.”

“Negative, ghost rider.” He scrolled past my suggestion. “And what the hell does questionably dead mean? Is it still twitching, or are we talking suspicious cause of death?”

I shrugged. “The interpretation’s up to you.”

“You’re absolutely no help.” He swiped his thumb across his beard and contemplated. “I guess I’d go with the snakes.”

“Okay, now it’s your turn,” I said.

“Do I really have to play? I thought we were picking a show.”

I shot him a look.

“Fine. Would you rather have me or Chewbacca as your valentine?”

“Too easy. The spider.”
He put his hand to his heart. “You wound me.”
“Stop being such a baby.” I swatted at his chest and

immediately pulled my hand back. Nope. Would not go there. “Okay, would you rather not be able to see or talk for a month?”

He answered instantly. “See.”

“Right. You’d probably go nuts if you couldn’t open that big mouth of yours.”

His lips twitched. “You’re one to talk.”

“Excuse me?” Okay, I did have a tough time keeping my thoughts on lockdown outside the office, but that was my own cross to bear.

“Don’t even try to play it off like you’re innocent.”

I’d dated a lot of losers in the past, most who hadn’t even bothered to get to know me, but even after only hanging out a few times, Ryder had me pegged. He was perceptive. I saw the look in his eyes whenever I dealt with Jason. His attention focused solely on me was unnerving. “Jerk,” I sputtered.

“Now I know you’re holding back. You can do way better than that.” He scrolled through his phone again. “How about Die Hard?”

“Are all your show selections about death? I’m starting to worry I’d made a mistake coming over here.” My lips pulled into a smile and I quickly extinguished it. God, I wanted to hate him.

“Fine.” He continued looking at the Netflix queue. “Would you rather eat sushi from a taco stand, or lick an airplane armrest?”

“Good one. Sushi.” I pointed to his screen. “How about

10 Things I Hate About You?”
He shook his head and chuckled. “Are all of your

suggestions going to not-so-subtly tell me you hate me?”
I smiled sweetly. “Maybe.”
“Just think, most people would find this to be a romantic

escape. Two people, stuck in the mountains on Valentine’s Day,” he said.

“We’re Hallmark movie material, all right,” I deadpanned.

“Okay, fine. How about The Walking Dead?”

“Your show picking powers have been officially revoked.” I grabbed the phone from his hand.

“Hey!” He grabbed for the phone and I held it out of reach. “You’re going to regret that.” Within seconds he was on top of me, playfully pinning me to the bed, his strong hands circling my wrists. Air evaporated from my lungs as

our gazes connected.
I was immediately transported back to that night.
Tell me what you want, Zoey. Tell me what you need from

I swallowed hard. That was months ago, and those words still haunted me from time to time. Because he did exactly that, gave me what I wanted and needed. Repeatedly.

Don’t miss the first book in the sizzling rule breakers series!

The Rule Book

by Jennifer Blackwood
The Rule Breakers #1
Publication Date: May 9, 2016
Genres: Adult, Entangled: Embrace, Contemporary Romance

Synopsis: Starr Media Second-Assistant Survival Guide

1. Don’t call your hot boss the antichrist to his face.

2. Don’t stare at hot boss’s, um, package or his full sleeve of tattoos. (No. Really. Stop!)

3. Don’t get on the malicious first assistant’s bad side.

4. Don’t forget to memorize the 300-page employee manual.

5. If you value your cashmere, steer clear of boss’s dog.

6. Boss’s dimples are lust-inducing. Do. Not. Give. In.

7. “The elevator ate your clothes” is not a valid excuse for showing up to important meetings half dressed.

8. Don’t break seven of the rules within the first week of employment if you, ya know, are in dire need of money to support your sick mom.

9. Whatever you do, don’t fall for the boss. See rule eight about sick mom.

10. Never forget the rules.

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