Hot & Nerdy # 3
By: Shannyn Schroeder
Releasing November 24th, 2014
Kensington
Spring break was supposed to be a last blast of fun for three friends before the reality of adulthood set in. But for the trio’s science whiz, it’s an education in instant attraction…
Chemistry major Felicity Stone can tell you everything about the way chemicals interact, but when it comes to social interaction, she needs schooling. Abandoned by her friends, Felicity is faced with spending spring break alone—unless she accepts a gorgeous stranger’s invitation to pose as his girlfriend at a family wedding. Not one to turn down a research opportunity, Felicity never expected it to produce such breathtaking results…
Teacher and baseball coach Lucas Tanner is fascinated by Felicity’s potent mix of spirit and scientist, not to mention her delicious curves. When Felicity asks him to return the favor by teaching her how to pick up guys, he can’t refuse—but he’s not at all happy with the idea of her using a formula for flirting on anyone but him. Can he convince her that together they have the perfect chemistry?
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“Hey,
Felicity, it’s Lucas.”
She
rolled her eyes. “I have caller ID.”
“Sorry.
I just wanted to apologize for the message earlier.”
He
still sounded weird. “Is your mother making you call me again?”
He
laughed and she relaxed. “No. I’m glad you could tell she put me
up to that call. We went out to lunch and everyone was looking for
you. You made quite the impression last night.”
She
closed her eyes with a groan and thought of the many ways she
might’ve embarrassed him as she sank back to the chair. Her comment
to Becky led the list. Becky had probably already shared her crude
remark with everyone just to prove how “unfixable” she was.
“What
was that for? Everyone loved you.”
Her
eyes popped open. “What?”
“Everyone
who spoke to you loved you. They said things like you’re a charming
girl.”
She
laughed. And laughed. And then laughed some more until she doubled
over. Lucas’s voice murmured in her lap where she’d dropped her
phone, bringing her back to reality. She scooped up the phone and
placed it against her ear. “I’m here,” she said breathlessly.
Grin in place, she took a steadying breath.
“Are
you okay?” he asked.
Another
slow inhale before responding. “I haven’t laughed that hard in
forever. Are you serious? Your family loved me?”
“According
to my mom, yeah. That’s why she wants you to come to dinner
tomorrow.”
“I
guess I’m a pretty good actress then.” She paused because she
knew she never would’ve pulled it off if it hadn’t been for him.
“And you’re a miracle worker. No one has ever been able to give
me the magic formula for social interaction. Thank you.”
“No,
thank you. I don’t know if I would’ve survived the wedding
without you.”
He got
quiet suddenly, and her stomach tightened. She stood and braced her
elbows on the rail.
“Why
did you leave this morning?”
She
considered hanging up. She could probably get away with it and just
ignore him if he called back. But in her mind, she saw his smiling
face, and she didn’t want to do that to him.
“Didn’t
you have fun? I thought it was good for you too.”
Crap.
He thought the sex wasn’t good? She swallowed a chuckle. “Just
the opposite. It was amazing.”
“Then
why sneak out?”
“I
wasn’t really sneaking.” Liar. “You looked tired, and I didn’t
want to wake you. Plus, my commitment to you as your date was
officially over.”
“Uh-huh.”
He
didn’t sound like he believed her. It was the same sound Charlie
and Layla made when they wanted to call her a liar but were trying to
be nice.
“I
guess I need to hold up my end of the bargain then.”
“What?”
“You
asked me to help you pick up guys. I’ll meet you at your hotel at
seven. We’ll have dinner and our first lesson.”
“But—”
Her phone bleeped at her to signify he’d hung up. She plopped back
into her chair. What was that about? He had to know that she didn’t
really expect him to teach her how to pick up guys, especially after
last night. Even she wasn’t so dense to think that was a good idea.
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Spring break was supposed to be fun but when Felicity is the only one to make it to their spring break plans she is nervous about being alone. She meets Lucas on the plane and they talk. Lucas has a hard time flying but talking to Felicity seems to calm him. Lucas has the perfect solution to both their problems. He asks Felicity to come to a family wedding and pose as his girlfriend. Felicity is not one to turn down a research opportunity. Felicity was shocked at the results. Lucas is a teacher and Felicity is a scientist. They seem totally incompatible. But when she asks him to teach her to pick up guys, he can’t refuse. Can Lucas show her that they have the chemistry they both need?
I really enjoyed this story. It was sweet and romantic and I really liked it. I would recommend this to my friends. I give it 4 out of 5 stars!
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Shannyn Schroeder is the author of the O’Leary series, contemporary romances centered around a large Irish-American family in Chicago and the new Hot & Nerdy series about 3 nerdy friends and their last spring break. When she’s not wrangling her three kids or writing, she watches a ton of TV and loves to bake cookies.