The CEO Buys in (Wager of Hearts #1)

by Nancy Herkness

  “And gamblers are superstitious,” Frankie said, putting the envelope back in the portfolio and closing the safe. “Nathan here doesn’t want to jinx his chances of marrying you.”

  “Seriously?” Chloe said, giving him a skeptical look.

  “Better safe than sorry,” he said, lifting her hands to kiss first one and then the other, his lips firm on her skin. “It’s not easy to find a woman brave enough to love me for myself.”

  Chloe could feel his touch along all the nerve endings in her body.

  “We have rooms upstairs,” Frankie said, her tone dry. “But first your friends are waiting for you in the bar where this sentimental bet began.” The club owner held out her hand to Chloe again. “I expect a wedding invitation.”

  “You’re at the top of the guest list,” Nathan said.

  As they left Frankie’s office, Chloe said, “Let’s make a deal.”

  Nathan groaned. “You always come out on top in these negotiations.”

  “I thought you liked me in that position,” Chloe said, enjoying the quick intake of Nathan’s breath. “Anyway, this one’s easy. You tell me what you wrote on that piece of paper in Frankie’s safe, and I’ll have a drink with Luke and Gavin.”

  All the teasing went out of Nathan’s expression. “Let’s go somewhere more private.”

  He led her down the hall to a small hexagonal room furnished with a round, leather-topped table surrounded by four dark wooden chairs upholstered in matching leather. A circular gold-and-wine-patterned Oriental rug covered the floor. Closing the door, he pulled out a chair to seat Chloe before turning another one toward her and sitting down himself.

  “We agreed to wager something that was not only valuable in and of itself, but which would cause us pain to lose.” He crossed his arms on his chest. “I considered the pair of paintings in my bedroom. They would bring a lot of money at auction, but I could replace them with different ones. Another possibility was the first battery I invented. That had significance to me, but it wasn’t intrinsically valuable, except maybe to a computer geek.”

  He uncrossed his arms and leaned forward in his chair. “So I wagered the family sword.”

  Chloe gasped. “You must have been really drunk.”

  “It was desperation that drove me. I knew there was something wrong with my life and I needed to make a change.” His gaze burned with intensity. “You didn’t just save the family sword. You saved me.”

  “Love saved you,” Chloe said. “I was just lucky enough to be the one you gambled on.”

  He stood and drew her up against him before he lowered his head and kissed her. She understood he wanted to do more than just say he loved her. He wanted her to feel it deep down in her bones.

  “I love you too,” she breathed against his lips.

  For a long moment, they stood pressed together, absorbing the emotion swirling around and through them. Then he slid his hand down to the curve of her behind.

  “There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you all night,” he said.

  She looked up to find a devil in his eye. “What’s that?”

  “Are you wearing anything under that dress?”

  “Just my skin,” she said, injecting a little seduction into her voice.

  “That’s what I thought.” And then both of his hands were cupping her bottom, rubbing the silk against her. “I want to tear this dress off you and have you right here on the Oriental rug.”

  “You did that last night, only on a different Oriental rug,” she said, her breath catching as his fingers traced lightly down between her buttocks.

  “Damn Miller and Archer for stopping me,” he muttered before opening the door and gesturing toward the stairs. “Let’s get this over with so I can have you naked in the car.”

  Anticipation rippled through Chloe. She slipped her hand under Nathan’s tux jacket and gave his muscular butt a quick squeeze. He grinned, but corralled her hand to steady her up the elegant staircase.

  At the top of the stairs, he led her into a room that was so stereotypically “men’s club” she nearly laughed out loud. “I can’t believe Frankie decorated this place,” she said.

  “She did it as a swipe at the other clubs that wouldn’t let her in. She decided to out-club them, as she puts it.” Nathan swept his gaze around the room. “There they are.”

  The two men stood as they approached the table set by a tall, arched window. Luke sported a blue blazer, white button-down shirt, and khaki slacks that gave his well-muscled, athletic frame an elegantly tailored look. The black turtleneck and slacks Gavin wore under his tweed jacket made him appear lean and slightly piratical.

  Gavin stepped forward first, giving her a peck on both cheeks. “A pleasure, Chloe. I see you made the entirely wrong decision to tie yourself to Trainor here. How much did he have to pay you to wear that ring?”

  “You’re contradicting yourself,” Chloe said, amazed as always that the writer could make his insults sound so charming. It was something about the self-mocking light in his dark eyes.

  “Or maybe it’s merely an oxymoron,” Gavin said with a wink.

  Luke offered his hand and said in his Texas drawl, “Best wishes on your engagement.” He shook Nathan’s hand as well. “Congratulations on winning your fiancée. You’re a real competitor.”

  Chloe always liked Luke’s straightforward courtesy, but she caught the hint of steel when he called Nathan a competitor.

  Gavin waved his hand at an ice bucket. “We’ve ordered a 1928 Dom Pérignon to celebrate this happy occasion.”

  “My favorite,” Chloe said. She had a feeling she didn’t want to know what the bottle of champagne cost.

  The glasses were filled and distributed as they stood. Gavin lifted his flute in the center of their circle. “Here’s to Nathan drawing a queen into his royal flush. We wish you health, happiness, and a long life together.”

  Luke brought his glass up. “Here’s to putting seven points on the board on the opening drive. I predict a championship season.”

  Since she was next to Luke, Chloe put her glass into the cluster. Despite the rocky start, she’d gotten fond of Nathan’s two friends. “Here’s to burning all three envelopes by the end of the bet.”

  Nathan touched his flute to Chloe’s, looking into her eyes and saying, “The true prize in this wager was not my heart. It was yours. Winning your love makes me the luckiest man in the world.”

  Chloe couldn’t speak past the emotions squeezing her throat.

  Nathan tossed back his champagne in one gulp and removed her half-empty flute from Chloe’s grasp. Taking her hand and interlacing his long, powerful fingers with hers, he nodded to Luke and Gavin. “I wish you both good luck. And now I’m going to take my fiancée home and show her just how much I mean what I said.”

  Don’t Miss THE QUARTERBACK ANTES UP, the Next Book in Nancy Herkness’s Wager of Hearts series.

  Luke Archer is the superstar quarterback for the New York Empire and a media darling because of his good looks, talent, charm, and longevity. He’s facing the prospect of retirement from the game he has lived, breathed, and loved for his entire life. If he can’t be on the field, he doesn’t want to be anywhere near football, so what will he do with the rest of his life?

  He’s contemplating this dilemma with deep depression when he meets Nathan Trainor and Gavin Miller in the bar at the Bellwether Club. There, they make their potentially life-changing wager of hearts: find a woman who loves them for themselves—not their money, power, or fame.

  Little does Luke know that his game changer works right in the luxury condominium building where he lives. Miranda Tate is the hardworking and highly ethical assistant concierge, and when Luke nearly gets her fired, he finds he has a lot to make up for before he can win the love of his life.

  Coming in summer 2016

  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  Nathan does whatever he can to be different from his father, yet Chloe notices that he shares many of the same mann
erisms and attitudes. Is it possible to completely throw off the influence of our parents? Or is their impact on our younger selves always going to affect our future behavior?

  Is there anyone in your life whom you would be willing to make significant personal sacrifices for, the way Chloe does for Grandmillie? Who would it be and why?

  Much of the book’s conflict comes from the vast gap in economic status between Chloe and Nathan. Would the story have played out differently if both were wealthy or both middle-class? How would it have been affected if Chloe were the billionaire and Nathan the temp?

  Nathan and his father’s relationship is strained because his father believes in tradition, while Nathan focuses on progress. In which direction does your own thinking lean? Why do you feel that way?

  Ed, Ben, and Grandmillie are secondary characters, yet they have great influence on the protagonists. Who are the secondary characters in your life who have shaped you? And whom do you think you have helped shape?

  Chloe and her Grandmillie are fiercely independent, which sometimes stands in the way of asking for the help they need. Nathan and his father also cling to their pride, which keeps them from reconciling. Can any trait be considered harmful if taken to an extreme? What trait defines you, and has it ever caused problems?

  The Marines are an important—although not always positive—part of Nathan’s childhood. What do you see as the pros and cons of a military upbringing?

  Frankie Hogan founds the Bellwether Club because she is denied access to other prestigious social venues due to her gender and lack of social background. Are high-powered women considered a threat to high-powered men? Do you believe there is gender equality in the workplace and/or in society today?

  When Nathan finally returns to the research-and-development department, he realizes that his persistent unhappiness has been caused at least partially by the lack of a creative outlet. Gavin Miller admits that he doesn’t have to write for his living anymore, but he’s miserable when he can’t. Does everyone have something they need to do to stay sane and happy, some outlet that relieves stress? What is yours?

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  A thousand thank-yous to all the people who generously poured their time, talent, thought, and expertise into making The CEO Buys In the best book it could be. My deepest gratitude goes to: JoVon Sotak, my incredible editor, who shepherded my book through all its many phases and iterations, and who came up with the inspired idea of giving my hero a military father, adding a whole new depth to his character. She rocks!

  Jessica Poore, Marlene Kelly, and the Montlake Author Relations team, an amazing, high-energy group of professionals who support my books in a myriad of ways.

  Jane Dystel and Miriam Goderich, my fabulous agents. I sometimes have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not just dreaming that they represent me.

  Andrea Hurst, my fantastic developmental editor, whose brilliant, insightful suggestions not only strengthened this book but the whole Wager of Hearts series.

  Sara Brady and Tara Doernberg, my superb copy editors, who wield their considerable expertise on matters of grammar and style to make my book sparkle like a diamond.

  Jill Kramer, my terrific proofreader, who uses her fine-tooth comb to catch my mistakes and inconsistencies and gives my book that gleaming professional polish.

  Elizabeth Turner, my excellent cover designer, who was endlessly patient and painstaking in her work to capture my vision for this book, as well as the series, and turn it into its current gorgeous reality.

  Miriam Allenson, Lisa Verge Higgins, and Jennifer Wilck, my astoundingly talented and downright fun critique group, who applaud my work’s strengths and pinpoint its weaknesses. They are my lifeboat.

  Rebecca Theodorou, who developed the thought-provoking discussion questions for this book’s readers to ponder and debate. That degree in English lit comes in handy sometimes.

  Jeff, Rebecca, and Loukas, whom I love with all my heart. You all keep me anchored in the real world.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Photo © 2003 Phil Cantor

  Nancy Herkness is the author of the award-winning Whisper Horse series, as well as the Wager of Hearts series and several other contemporary romance novels. Three Whisper Horse novels were nominated for Romance Writers of America RITA™ awards.

  Nancy is a member of Romance Writers of America, New Jersey Romance Writers, and Novelists, Inc. She has received many honors for her work, including the Golden Leaf Award, the Maggie Award in Contemporary Romance, and the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award. She graduated from Princeton University with a degree in English literature and creative writing.

  A native of West Virginia, Nancy now lives in New Jersey in a Victorian house twelve miles west of the Lincoln Tunnel with her husband, two mismatched dogs, and an elderly cat.

  For more information about Nancy and her books, visit www.NancyHerkness.com. Nancy also loves to connect with fans online: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nancyherkness

  Blog: http://fromthegarret.wordpress.com/

  Twitter: @NancyHerkness

  Pinterest (with a board for each of her books): http://www.pinterest.com/nancyherkness/