Title You Give Good Game
Author Claire Marti
Genre Steamy Contemporary Romance Novella
Book Blurb
Grace Steele lit up the screen as a child star. Toby McAvoy burned up the slopes snowboarding in the Olympics. Now they share one goal: to win the coveted one million dollar prize on reality TV’s Celebrity Charity Champions. Only one of them can walk away with the cash. Without the prize money, Grace will have to shutter her senior animal rescue sanctuary, and Toby won’t be able to help any more disabled athletes.
All’s fair in love and reality TV, and Grace and Toby’s scorching chemistry makes for great ratings. It’s also a huge distraction from what matters most: winning. Can these two worthy competitors keep their eyes on the prize and resist their very real connection?
Excerpt
Grace Steele clasped her hands together, willing her pulse to slow down because when she considered, really considered, what she’d agreed to do, she wanted to seize a parachute and jump out of the plane. No matter that it was the most lavish private jet she’d ever seen, complete with pearlescent white walls, buttery leather loveseats, and opulent midnight-blue carpeting.
What had she done? She’d sworn to avoid Hollywood forever but here she was, perched on a dove-gray seat supple enough to be made into an Italian leather jacket.
When the producer of Celebrity Charity Champions had called her personally––because hello, she hadn’t had an agent or manager in close to a decade––she’d almost hung up without hearing him out. But the man had caught her at a vulnerable moment. Ahem, maybe even a desperate moment. Tomato-Tomahto.
When he’d tossed out the lure of one million dollars paid directly to the winner’s charity of choice, he’d reeled her in, easy as you please. The prize was too tempting to resist, even if the concept of appearing on television again was about as appealing as cage diving with sharks.
Although, judging by the other nine contestants sharing the ginormous cabin, maybe she had landed in the shark tank after all. She stole another glance across the aisle, checking out the competition. She was sure the Ken Doll-looking guy downing mouthfuls of whiskey was in one of those famous 90s boy bands; the gorgeous brunette was Isabella, a veteran dating show star; and the striking Black woman was a supermodel. The others looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn't necessarily place them.
A pit formed in her belly––her introverted self was panicking. These days she spent most of her time at her animal rescue, Golden Years Pet Sanctuary, because unlike people, dogs and cats were trustworthy. Especially show business types.
The sexy ginger sitting across from her was an athlete she recognized from the Olympics several years back––maybe the Winter Games? The fine hairs on the back of her neck prickled and she looked up to find him studying her.
He flashed straight white teeth and reached out a strong hand––his moss green eyes gleaming with humor. “So it looks like we’re in for an interesting few weeks. I’m Toby but my friends call me Fox.”
She slid her palm against his cool one and a frisson of something sparked up her arm. “I’m Grace. So since you’re my opponent, which one should I call you?”
“We can be friendly rivals, right?” His smile expanded into a wolfish grin and his fingers tightened around hers.
Yeah, he was a charmer, for sure. She released his grip, leaned back, and tapped a finger against her lips. “How about I call you Toby for now and we’ll see how it goes?”
Now it clicked––Toby McAvoy, an X-Games star and an Olympic gold medalist in snowboarding. So, Winter Olympian with a reputation for loving the snow bunnies. Yeah, he was trouble waiting to happen.
He lounged back in his seat and in red board shorts and a white T-shirt, his lean, wiry frame was sinewy muscled perfection. Colorful tattoos covered one arm. He wasn’t classically handsome. His face was too lean, his chin too sharp, and his red hair stuck up in unruly tufts. But his mouth was beautiful, with chiseled defined lips.
Why did he have to be so hot? Because the last thing she needed was to hook up with one of the other contestants, she’d keep him at arm’s distance. She gazed out the oversized window, which revealed only pristine blue sky and sparkling azure water, not a speck of land in sight.
No distractions needed, especially not with a cocky daredevil.
Not when she’d been scrambling to figure out how to find a major infusion of cash to keep her non-profit viable. Not when she had a list of abandoned senior cats and dogs living on borrowed time, desperate for a second chance. Not when her 3 million TikTok followers were clamoring for more happy endings for animals who deserved to live out their final chapter in peace.
And since some new show matching philanthropic billionaires with competitors looking to win money for their charity had offered her a spot, she would face her fears and give it her all. For the animals’ sake, she would risk another disastrous public failure. So now here she was careening through the air to a mystery location with a dozen strangers.
Suddenly, the plane rocked dramatically, and screams erupted throughout the cabin. Grace pitched forward out of her seat directly into Toby’s lap. She squealed and braced her hands against his hard hot chest, but she couldn’t prevent landing on top of him. Her breath escaped in an unsteady whoosh and the air between them thickened.
He steadied her with one powerful arm around her waist. “Don’t worry, I’ve got you. You okay?”
She exhaled a nervous laugh and looked up. Their mouths were mere inches apart, close enough to catch the hint of cinnamon on his breath. Heat blossomed low in her belly, and she inhaled a steadying breath, working to tamp down her completely illogical desire to kiss him. She scooted back to her own seat and fastened her seatbelt.
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Author Biography
Claire Marti is an award winning and USA Today Bestselling author of swoonworthy Contemporary Romance novels set in Southern California, including the Pacific Vista Ranch series, the California Suits series, and the Romance in Laguna series. She lives in San Diego with her husband, silly dog, and three clever cats.
Claire started writing stories as soon as she was old enough to pick up pencil and paper. After graduating from the University of Virginia with a BA in English Literature, Claire was sidetracked by other careers, including practicing law, selling software for legal publishers, and managing a non-profit animal rescue for a Hollywood actress.
Finally, Claire followed her heart and now focuses on two of her true passions: writing romance and teaching yoga.
Social Media Links
Website: www.clairemarti.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairemartiwrites