EXCERPT

What happens when two work rivals start playing twenty questions during a business trip drive?

“I knew that was coming.” Celeste let out a deep breath. “Marriage, to him, meant a house and kids. I don’t have time for kids. Maybe other women dream about having babies, but my preference is those with fur. Don’t get me wrong. I adore being an auntie. I love it. Simply love it. I spoil them rotten. But raising one isn’t for me.”

“Because of your career?”

“That’s another question. Save it for later.”

Her upturned nose and impishness reminded him of a Christmas elf holding out a present before him.

“What would a lady need to do to earn a second date.”

Be like you. He stopped himself from gasping. Where had the thought come from? He was thirty-two. Marriage was the last thing on his mind. Along with dating. Then why was he enjoying Celeste’s company now—even when she irritated the fuck out of him and wanted to boot her from the SUV face-first into the snow?

“Hmm, you’re doing an awful lot of thinking,” she noted. “I guess she has some major hurdles to jump.”

Reed cleared his throat. The answer was stuck on his tongue, probably because his mouth had dried. He wiggled the travel mug from between his legs and sipped while never taking his eyes off the highway of snow-white.

“Well?” Her question had a tapping foot of impatience to it.

Her annoyance crawled along his skin. He squeezed the steering wheel. “She’d have to morph into my job, because that’s all I have time for right now.”

“Nope.” She shook her head. “Not buying your answer. You need to come up with one.”

He stomped down the growl threatening to erupt. There she was, pushing him, again. “She has to challenge me. Get on my last nerve.” To hell with the snow. He chugged back more coffee like it was the shot of whiskey he needed.

The SUV swerved slightly. He didn’t have time to try to stuff the mug back between his knees and quickly held out his hand. Right on cue, without having to tell her, Celeste snatched the mug from his grasp—in the same way a wife of ten years who knew her husband well, would—which allowed him to set his other hand on the wheel to steer the vehicle out of the swerve the snow was tugging them into. He also made sure to keep his foot on the pedal to engage all four tires. The darn purpose of four-wheel drive.

Once he had them plowing through the thick snow again, his tense muscles relaxed.

Nothing came from Celeste. Not one damned word. She didn’t even gasp. For the second time, like a wife who’d been married to him for a decade, she simply handed him his mug.

“She also has to know when to keep her trap shut.” Like you. Not hound me with sneering words or a big-ass lecture.

“Trap? Seriously?” She snorted. “Oh my God, you are a total misogynist.”

He shrugged. “If I said mouth, I…” I might start thinking about your mouth. You have a gorgeous mouth meant for more than reporting the news. It’s meant for a man to kiss and taste with his tongue.

“You what?” She almost blasted the question in his ear.