Hooked on the Boss

By Kali Hart

Maisey

After my corporate career crashes and burns, I need time to reset.
When my brother offers to let me stay with him and help at his horse rescue ranch, I don't think twice.
I pack my bags and get on a plane.
I expect to spend a couple weeks bookkeeping.
What I don't expect is that his childhood friend is working at the ranch, too.
Or that my brother is leaving town and putting Colter in charge.
The boy who used to pick on me is now an incredibly sexy man.
I shouldn't get involved with my boss.
He's my brother's best friend, and I'm not staying.
But would it be so bad if we kept it a secret?

Colter

I haven't seen Maisey since we were both kids.
I'm not prepared for the curvaceous woman who shows up to the rescue ranch.
When Deke leaves town and puts me in charge, I know I'm in trouble.
Maisey makes mucking out stalls look sexy.
It doesn't matter that she's off limits.
Resisting her becomes impossible.
One kiss changes everything.
She promises we'll keep things a secret; that she only wants one night.
But I know one night will never be enough.
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jackie M. Wallick
• Release date: Oct 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9798215367308

Book preview

1

MAISEY

I can’t seem to pull my attention from the rocky, snow-capped mountains that have us surrounded. Of all the places I expected to spend my twenty-sixth birthday, middle-of-nowhere Montana was not on the list. But when your life goes to shit, and your older brother offers you an opportunity to reset, you take it.

This place is even further off the beaten path than your cabin, I say to Deke as he weaves along a winding gravel road.

It’s perfect for the horses. You’ll see.

I check my phone for the third time, to no avail. It’s not like he didn’t warn me ten times before I got on the plane. A reliable signal, with all these mountains around, is more myth than fact. Shit. I really am going to be cut off from civilization. I draw a shaky breath, turning the phone face down against my thigh.

Okay. So yes, I’m starting to shake on the inside. Dare I say, I’m totally freaking out, but I’m also not about to let Deke know that. I’ve spent too much time convincing him that what I need is an escape from reality. Besides, it’s probably better if I can’t see the nasty social media posts.

Anger bubbles in my chest at the memory of my corporate career crashing down, all because of an asshole boss. One who made a pass at me. But the entire company believes it’s the other way around, H.R. included. The douche canoe retaliated when I turned down having an affair with his married ass. He thought promising me a quick climb up the ladder if I slept with him was an enticing proposition. That’d I’d jump at it. Toss away my morals. That I should be grateful⁠—

"My driving’s not that bad," Deke teases, nodding at my clenched fingers gripping the door handle.

With a deep breath, I release the worst of my anger and let color return to my white knuckles. It’s a bumpy road. That’s all. Deke only knows the highlights of the disaster that wrecked my life, and I don’t feel like filling in the missing gaps. Not now. Maybe not ever.

I don’t know what comes next after a couple of weeks in Montana, but I do know that my old life is behind me now. There’s no going back to L.A. since my former boss promised to black list me. California is out. Maybe even some of the big cities back east. Shit. F⁠—

We’re here, Deke says, pulling me from my depressing thoughts. He drives under an arch made of old fence post. The keyword being old. The horse rescue ranch looks nothing like I imagined. In fact, it looks downright tired. As if one strong wind could make it disappear entirely. A single wide trailer, that’s probably older than I am, sits at the end of the dirt drive. Oh, Deke… Is that really the office? I glance to the left, then right, trying to find something that gives me hope. A weather-beaten barn stands to the side, surrounded by a corral that’s missing more than a few rails. I widen my search, but a few smaller, rickety sheds are the only buildings scattered in the distance.

"You’ve only got one stable? And I use the term stable loosely."

We’re a new operation. Deke cuts the ignition and pushes open his door. Come on. I’ll introduce you to the team.

Skeptically, I follow my brother to the trailer, wondering how much of a team could fit inside that tiny space. He warned me it was a small operation, but I didn’t expect it to look so run down.

Two heads pop up from the same desk when Deke and I enter. One is a woman who looks much too polished for a place like this. The other seems vaguely familiar. He’s … delicious. Brown hair, a killer smile, chiseled features, and eyes bluer than the Montana sky. The combination threatens to kill my newly born resolve. Men are sworn off