The Rule Book

Informationen zum Autor Sarah Adams is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Rome, Kentucky series and the Los Angeles Sharks duology. She writes tender, joyful romances from Nashville, Tennesseealmost always with a cat curled up in her lap. Known for crafting stories full of heart, humor, and swoony slow-burn chemistry, Sarah's books are a cozy escape for the romantics, the dreamers, and the deep feelers. Her Southern roots shape her voice, her characters, and her love of big emotions told with warmth and charm. Klappentext "Although this book is written in such a way that it feels light and comedic, please be advised that there are heavier topics and themes portrayed such as late diagnosis of dyslexia and parental neglect. The story also contains adult language and sexual scenes. If you prefer to keep the bedroom door fully closed, please skip chapter 34"--Provided by publisher. Leseprobe 1 Nora Sometimes life is like a box of chocolates, and sometimes life is like a box of chocolates left out in the sun all day. Today, it turns out, is a melty, disappointing chocolate sort of day. Not only did I step in gum while wearing my favorite shoes on my way into work, but I also fired up my email to find some wonderfully disturbing information. Knock knock, I say to my boss, Nicole Hart, as I step hesitantly into her office to address said email. Truthfully, I'm always a little hesitant to step into her office because, whew, this woman is a force to be reckoned with. There's a reason she's CEO of the agency. She's kind to me (in her own way), but she's like a tornado of confidence. You need a helmet and a safe place to take shelter when she focuses her attention on you. Like now, she's sitting at her desk in her immaculate gray pin-striped skirt and silk blousered lipstick painted perfectly on her full lips, blond hair pulled back into a sleek, perky ponytail that has a magical flip on the end. But all those surface-level attributes are nothing but a misdirection. It's in her eyes you see the truth. The alert, bone-chilling, feline ferocity. Her keen mind is why she's the top agent in our industry and lands enormous deals for clients like Nathan Donelson, famous quarterback for our city's NFL team, the L.A. Sharks. The woman is all sharp edges and absolute dedication. She's an inspiration. Please tell me you're asking to come in and it's not the beginning of a joke. I could tell you that, but then I'd be lying. She cuts her eyes to me, and I smile. She's worked with me long enough to know I'm not going anywhere until this is over. Who's there? she asks like she's in the middle of a root canal. Needle. Needle who? Needle little smile to brighten your day? I give her one as I shuffle into her office. She looks up from her keyboardposture ramrod straightand her eyes bounce from my reddish-brown hair, down to my yellow sneakers, and back up to my face. Nicole misses nothing. She's an assassin who's just identified her target's weak spot. God, I want to be her. She discards my fabulous joke. How many pairs of those shoes do you own? She's referring to my bright yellow sneakers. Four. I was wearing my red pair this morning, but I stepped in gum and had to change into these. I raise my foot and wiggle it proudly. Smelled delicious but left a nasty squelching trail. I'm guessing Marty had something to say when he saw those. Do I need to humble him? Her attention is on her keyboard, somehow still able to talk as her fingers fly across the keys. The thing about Nicole is she's all bark and . . . an even worse bite. But she only bites those who threaten her people. And even though she likes to pretend I mean nothing to hershe's made it clear I'm one of her people. I wrinkle my nose at the mention of the worst man i...

Autorentext

Sarah Adams is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Rome, Kentucky series and the Los Angeles Sharks duology. She writes tender, joyful romances from Nashville, Tennessee—almost always with a cat curled up in her lap. Known for crafting stories full of heart, humor, and swoony slow-burn chemistry, Sarah’s books are a cozy escape for the romantics, the dreamers, and the deep feelers. Her Southern roots shape her voice, her characters, and her love of big emotions told with warmth and charm.

Klappentext

**NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • College exes break all the rules when they reunite years later in this enemies to lovers, second-chance romance, the companion novel to the TikTok sensation The Cheat Sheet—from the New York Times bestselling author of Practice Makes Perfect.

“A really fun, chemistry-filled sports romance you don’t want to miss!”—Hannah Grace, author of Icebreaker**

Nora Mackenzie’s entire career lies in the hands of famous NFL tight end Derek Pender, who also happens to be her extremely hot college ex-boyfriend. Nora didn’t end things as gracefully as she could have back then, and now it has come back to haunt her. Derek is her first client as an official full-time sports agent and he’s holding a grudge.

Derek has set his sights on a little friendly revenge. If Nora Mackenzie, the first girl to ever break his heart, wants to be his agent, oh, he’ll let her be his agent. The plan is simple: make Nora’s life absolutely miserable. But if Derek knows anything about the woman he once loved—she won’t quit easily.

Instead of giving in, Nora starts a scheme of her own. But then a wild night in Vegas leads to Nora and Derek in bed the next morning married. With their rule book out the window, could this new relationship save their careers or spark the romance of a lifetime?

Leseprobe
**1

Nora**

Sometimes life is like a box of chocolates, and sometimes life is like a box of chocolates left out in the sun all day.

Today, it turns out, is a melty, disappointing chocolate sort of day. Not only did I step in gum while wearing my favorite shoes on my way into work, but I also fired up my email to find some wonderfully disturbing information.

“Knock knock,” I say to my boss, Nicole Hart, as I step hesitantly into her office to address said email.

Truthfully, I’m always a little hesitant to step into her office because, whew, this woman is a force to be reckoned with. There’s a reason she’s CEO of the agency. She’s kind to me (in her own way), but she’s like a tornado of confidence. You need a helmet and a safe place to take shelter when she focuses her attention on you.

Like now, she’s sitting at her desk in her immaculate gray pin-striped skirt and silk blouse—red lipstick painted perfectly on her full lips, blond hair pulled back into a sleek, perky ponytail that has a magical flip on the end. But all those surface-level attributes are nothing but a misdirection. It’s in her eyes you see the truth. The alert, bone-chilling, feline ferocity. Her keen mind is why she’s the top agent in our industry and lands enormous deals for clients like Nathan Donelson, famous quarterback for our city’s NFL team, the L.A. Sharks. The woman is all sharp edges and absolute dedication. She’s an inspiration.

“Please tell me you’re asking to come in and it’s not the beginning of a joke.”

“I could tell you that, but then I’d be lying.”

She cuts her eyes to me, and I smile. She’s worked with me long enough to know I’m not going anywhere until this is over.

“Who’s there?” she asks like she’s in the middle of a root canal.

“Needle.”

“Needle who?”

“Needle little smile to brighten your day?” I give her one as I shuffle into her office.

She looks up from her keyboard—posture ramrod straight—a…