The Wild Card

He buried a fake-girlfriend clause in a roommate agreement.
She signed it without reading.
What could possibly go wrong?

FBI agent Crew Jensen thrives on control. His rigid routines keep his anxiety and OCD in check: no chaos, no distractions, and definitely no relationships.

Until his boss threatens to transfer him to Alaska.

Desperate to prove he has "roots," Crew makes a wildly unhinged decision: he slips a fake-girlfriend clause into his roommate contract, hoping his next applicant won't read it carefully.

Emmie Marshall signs on page seventeen without blinking.

Emmie is everything Crew is not—warm, messy, impossibly chatty—and currently racing a cookbook deadline that could make or break her career. She needs stability. He needs a convincing relationship. It's a simple, mutually beneficial arrangement.

Fake dates. Public hand-holding. Mandatory cuddling sessions (her counter-demand—he's just so touch-starved and grumpy).

The more they pretend, the harder it becomes to remember where the contract ends and real feelings begin.

Because she makes the counting in his head stop. He makes her feel like she doesn't have to try so hard.

Suddenly, the arrangement that was supposed to be temporary feels dangerously real.

A grumpy, touch-starved hero, a sunshine heroine who won’t take no for an answer, forced proximity, roommates-to-lovers, fake dating that feels way too real, and one very judgmental cat. Perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey and Elsie Silver.

Kendall Ryan is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of flirty, feel-good romance filled with heart, heat, and plenty of banter. An American author who has lived all over the world, her books have sold millions of copies and been translated into multiple languages. She writes swoony heroes, bold heroines, and stories that make you laugh, blush, and fall in love. When she’s not dreaming up new plotlines, she is a proud mom to two amazing sons and the wife of her real-life hero.

"This is a must read!" - Patti, Booksprout

"Not your average fake relationship story. I love the characters and their chemistry. Really cute and fun, I was laughing and truly enjoyed myself!" - Wander Reads

"I loved Crew and Emmie together. it was pure magic." - DDNice

"It's sweet, funny, original, sexy and my favorite of hers this year." - Stephanie

"Their chemistry was terrific. Really enjoyed the book. Emmie and Crew were fascinating characters. " - Kate, Booksprout

"Oh, what a fun grumpy sunshine romance. I loved Crew and all his quirks dealing with his OCD." - Miss Petite Brunette Book Blog

"Crew absolutely owned my heart. All I wanted to do was give that man the biggest hug. A hero you'll be cheering for from beginning to end." - Amour Rebelle Reads

"Loved the story, loved the characters, loved the struggle. For me a winner." - Simone, Goodreads