An all-new enemies to lovers romance is out this week from Rachel Van Dyken, a spin-off story from The Bet, and I have a hilarious little sneak peek for you.
Excerpt
Once my parents were asleep, I shoved the mask on and stared into the mirror. Oddly enough, I looked like a cross between a gorilla and a man with a bit of dinosaur dropped in.
My zip-in costume was covered in plastic fur, I had gloves with claws, and my mask was huge over my head. I nearly tripped over the threshold when I tried to quietly close the door. Ohhhh, that’s why I felt like a dinosaur. I had T-Rex arms that flapped in the wind as I ran across the yard and crouched in front of his house.
Dad had their code since we’re friendly neighbors like that, so typing it in was nothing. 2021? Okay, who had such an easy passcode?
I typed it in and…success.
It flashed green.
Perfection.
I slowly crept across the floor. His dad wasn’t home until next week, at least according to my sources, and his mom was asleep. And August? Oh, he’d be upstairs in his room, sleeping soundly until I scared the crap out of him.
Man, I wished I had a partner in crime to take a picture of him shitting the bed, but alas, all I would have was the memory of his fear.
I slowly crawled up the stairs on my hands and knees, still nearly blind from the mask slipping, and made it to the final step. It creaked as my right paw hit it. Wincing, I looked around as much as I could out half my right eye and waited, my breathing labored.
Nothing happened.
Smirking behind my plastic mask, I crept along the hall until I found his room. His door was open. Aw, he was sleeping soundly, a lump in the bed, though I couldn’t see his face again on account of my stupid costume. Still, this would be incredible.
I crawled into his room and leaned by the side of the bed. This was my moment, my crescendo. I stood to my full height and raised my paws into the air, only to feel a searing pain as I collapsed against the bed and was forced onto my back while a body fell on top of me. “Stop or I’ll call the police.”
A muffled “Huh?” came out of my mask. “Why the police?”
“Intruder. And my dad’s a retired cop so you should probably settle down, you sick creep. Who dresses like this and sneaks into people’s homes?”
This was the part where I probably shouldn’t have raised my hand, but I did.
He slapped it away. “Seriously? What’s wrong with you?”
“YOU!” I roared. “You’re what’s wrong. And I can read. Well, in fact.” I just couldn’t let go of that note he’d left with Jane Eyre.
His green eyes squinted briefly before he tugged off my mask and threw it to the floor. “Hazel?”
“Surprised?”
Lips pressed together, he sighed. “Wish I was, but actually, no. No, I’m not surprised.”
“Liar, you were terrified.”
“Nope, just trying to abide by the law when it comes to someone trespassing on private property. You’re lucky I didn’t tase you.”
“Aw, you need a Taser? Can’t even use your fists?”
“I can use my fists.”
“It’s okay.” I patted him on the shoulder, then squeezed as much as I could with my plastic claws. “Some men just can’t use things. Admit it, you’re one of them.”
“I admit nothing.” He pushed me down against the mattress. “And you smell like melted plastic.”
“Some might call that romantic.”
“Some might call you psychotic.”
I stuck out my tongue. “You started this battle, but I’m pretty sure I’m winning the war. Now, I can sleep in peace.”
“Bet you have a teddy bear,” he taunted, still on top of me.
I laughed and leaned up, so close to his face that I could see the flecks of gold in his green eyes. “Bet you’re a virgin.”
His nostrils flared. “Bet you’ve never had a good kiss in your entire life.”
“Bet you don’t even know how.”
“Challenge accepted.” He leaned down so aggressively there was no way I could stop the onslaught of his perfect mouth before it pressed against mine. My hands had ideas of their own as they tried to pull at his hair while my lips parted for him.
His groan literally gave me no choice but to follow suit as my hands—aka gloves—stroked the back of his neck. It was a good, deep kiss. Such a good kiss that I hated him even more for proving me wrong.
His tongue slid into my mouth and then, sheer pain again, this time in the form of what felt like electrocution as I went limp beneath him.
“Are you okay!?” a male voice shouted. “I heard groaning. Holy shit, is that a bear?”
“Dad.” August jumped up, then sat back down, pulling a blanket over his lap. “What the hell?”
“I thought you were getting mauled.”
“I was doing the mauling. Her fault. And now you’ve tased her.”
What? I’d been tased? My shaky eyes looked over at my arm and leg. Oh, look at that…tased. Was my tongue supposed to feel so heavy?
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