Teaser 1
“Millie!”

Her shouted name came from beyond the swinging door. Irritation rose, winning the war over guilt as she quickened her pace. “Ugh, coming!”

She pushed through the door into the back, muttering to herself. “Get your boxers out of a bunch you grumpy asshole. It was five damn seconds.”

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Ace demanded the second the door stopped swinging.

“Well, I was working, until you pulled me back here to yell at me like an angry schoolmarm.”

Confusion drew his brow down. “What the…never mind. How is pulling some dangerous stunt and almost breaking your fool neck working? Last time I checked this was a bar, not some ridiculous stunt show.”  

That was it. She knew the guy was her boss, but he was being a giant dick. No one talked to her that way.

“First of all, I wasn’t about to break anything. Before you rushed in and grabbed me—”

“Saved you.”

She arched one eyebrow in disbelief. “Is that what you thought you were doing? Saving the helpless damsel in distress? I got news for you buddy. I have been bottle-walking for years. I know how to fall from the bottles safely. Provided some jackass doesn’t grab me off them and tweak my back.”

His angry demeanor disappeared in an instant. Ace took a step forward, eyes scanning her body as his voice softened. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”

Shocked by the sudden switch—and his concern—she shook her head. “No. I’m fine.”

The sudden grab had surprised her and put her off kilter, but he hadn’t injured her back.

He glanced into her eyes, stealing her breath as she saw the unmasked worry filling them. Wow. Who knew Mr. Ice had feelings?     

“Really, Ace,” she said gently, placing a hand on his arm. “I’m okay.”

He glanced down at her hand on his arm. The air in the room thickened. A rush of heat filled her. A bolt of electricity shot through her body, her fingers tingling against his warm skin. She quickly pulled her hand back, clenching it into a fist and placing it behind her. 

What the hell was that?

Pushing the moment away, Millie cleared her throat. “I know how to fall safely off the bottles. I promise you I would have been fine.”

Ace shook his head, blinking a few times before the angry scowl returned to his face. “Why the hell were you on top of those bottles in the first place? We pay you to work, Millie. Not goof around.”

And there went all her warm fuzzy feelings for this man. Jeeze, it was like Jekyll and Hyde with him.

“I was working.” She lifted onto her toes, still not high enough to be eye to eye with the Grumpy Green Giant. Lifting a finger, she poked him in the chest. “If you take a peek out that door you will see.”

Ace glanced down at her finger, raising a brow when he looked back up at her.

Maybe poking her boss wasn’t the best idea, but he was being a jerk, and she didn’t like to be pushed around. Especially not when she was making him a ton of money.

“Look,” she huffed, flopping back onto flat feet and pushing the door open a crack. “See all those people rushing to get the new drink special? I did that. It’s called creative marketing.”

Ace leaned over her. His chest pressing against her back, the heat radiating off his body nearly suffocating her with its warm, intoxicating scent. Dammit! Why did he have to be so hot? Normally it didn’t matter how attractive a person was, if they were an ass, she wasn’t attracted to them. Her body didn’t get that memo with Ace. Didn’t matter. Wasn’t like she was going to do anything about it.

Teaser 2
“Ten thousand,” she said with a straight face.

Ace’s jaw dropped. 

“Are you fucking serious?”   

“Okay, twenty.” She crossed her arms over her chest and sent him her own smug smirk.

He scowled. “That’s not how negotiations work, Millie.” 

Lifting one shoulder in a small shrug, she turned and headed for the door. “Fine. If you don’t need me—”

“Five.” 

The offer sounded from behind her, resigned but firm. She paused. She could work with five. 

“It’s a ridiculous number for what I’m asking, but if this keeps going on we stand to lose a hell of a lot more than that, so five. Take it or leave it.”

Giddy excitement filled her. She’d done it! She was getting the money she needed for her studio. Her dream would become a reality.

Schooling her features, she turned with a serious expression pasted on her face and stuck out her hand. “Deal.”

Ace grabbed her hand and shook, muttering something about her being a stubborn pain in his ass under his breath before quickly letting go.

Gracing him with her most charming smile, she winked. “Buddy, you just bought yourself a spy.”

His gaze took her in, a wary expression filling his eyes. “Why do I get the feeling I just sealed my doom?”

And he called her dramatic. 

She huffed out a laugh. “Because you always think the worst of people.”

“I do not,” he frowned. 

“You’re right.” She moved closer and patted his cheek like one would do to a petulant child. She had to stand up on her tippy toes but the deepening scowl on his face was worth it. “You’re a bastion of believing the good in everyone. Happy now?”

Ace grabbed her hand, tugging her closer until she nearly fell into him. She had to place her free hand on his chest to steady herself. A small gasp left her as her palm encountered the firm hardness of him. The steady thundering beat of his heart pumped against her hand. His thumb rubbed small circles in her palm as he stared down at her with a wolfish grin.

“I’ll be happy when the thief is caught, so get out there and do your job.”

Normally Millie bristled at anyone commanding her to do things, but this weird back and forth power control thing she had going on with Ace was…exciting. Something about pushing this man’s buttons tempted her in a way she’d never been before. Knowing she was playing with fire, Millie trailed her fingers down his chest, stopping right above the snap on his jeans.

“Sure thing, boss,” she said in a voice far huskier than she’d intended it to be.

With that she pulled her other hand out of his and turned. Moving across the office she left, closing the door behind her and leaning against it to catch her breath. 

“This is either going to be a thrill ride or a disaster,” she whispered into the distillery, not sure if she was referring to the spy mission or the dangerous flirting with Ace.

Either way, it wouldn’t be boring.