Dexter Ryan is smug. Arrogant. Manipulative. And he is alsoâŠLacey Amariâs new partner. Well, her partner on one case. A case she doesnât even want to take, but when DexâCIA super operative and all around puppet-masterâbasically blackmails her, she has no choice. Then he asks her the big questionâŠ
Will you marry me?
The proposal isnât real. Itâs just an undercover assignment. Dex needs Lacey to be his fake fiancĂ©e for a case. Not exactly her dream job. But, sheâll do it. He wants her to pretend to be head over heels in love with him, he wants her help on a dangerous investigation in a remote ski lodge, and heâŠwants her?
Their desire isnât pretend.
Dex doesnât work well with others and handling a case with a partner in close proximityâas in 24/7 closeâisnât his normal style. Heâs pulled Lacey into the investigation because she is smart and resourceful, and maybe because he knows a secret about her that could prove to be very useful to him. After all, Dex uses people all the time. Itâs his thing. Yet the more he is around her, the idea of using Lacey suddenly doesnât seem like such a good plan. But getting her into his bed? Stellar idea.Â
He wants her, but so do the bad guys.
The attraction between Dex and Lacey burns red-hot, hot enough to melt the snow around them. Except, just as he planned, Laceyâs presence draws in the enemy. Now the bad guys are after her, and Dex has to stick even closer to her. Heâs playing the role of the obsessed lover, only itâs not just a role. Because for the first time in his life, Dex is falling hard. Heâs losing his control.Â
Heâs lied. Heâs cheated. Heâs about to give up his heart.Â
When Lacey finds out the secret heâs known, her rage and pain break his heart. Dex has to find a way to make things up to her, and he has to stop the enemies who are closing in. Nothing he canât handle. Maybe. Dex is a master multi-taskerâmost days, anyway. Dex will use every trick in his very large arsenal to win this case. Lacey melted the ice around what the whole world knows is Dexâs very, very cold heart, and Dex will fight like hell to protect her and to prove to her that even master spies can fall in love.Â
Authorâs note: Dex loves playing games. Some would even say he enjoys playing with other peopleâs lives, but this timeâŠit is Dexâs life on the line. His life and his heart. The longer his pretend engagement to Lacey lasts, the longer Dex finds himself longing for the real deal. Prepare for lies, tricks, dangerous enemies, and romance hot enough to melt some heavy snowâŠDexâs story will burn like fire and things will get WILDE. Stand-alone romance, no cliff-hangers, and a guaranteed happy ending.
Cynthia Eden is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-