Impulse Control by Amanda Usen – Excerpt

Aries (March 21-April 19): Your inability to resist a challenge could put you in hot water today. Leash your inner daredevil lest your impulsive streak get the best of you in ways you’ve never imagined. Look before you leap—or even get out of bed, Aries, or your life will never be the same. I’m not kidding. I really mean it this time. PAY ATTENTION! Still not listening? All right, you foolhardy, competitive daredevil. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I guess you’ll learn the hard way—as usual.

 

Welcome to the IMPULSE CONTROL release blitz! I’m thrilled to introduce Book One of the Men Of The Zodiac Series for Entangled Indulgence. Russ Donovan is an Aries, and he embodies all the best—and worst—traits of the sign. He’s a survivalist, a former Green Beret, twice-voted the toughest man alive, and he’s never met a challenge he didn’t like. When an old friend calls in a favor and strong-arms him into collaborating on a new show with, of all things, a homemaking expert, Russ is fit to be tied. Dainty Susannah Stone reminds him of a pink marshmallow, but Russ soon learns she’s made of tough stuff. The minute she throws down the gauntlet, he can’t resist picking it up and running—and snowshoeing and climbing—with it.

 

Here’s an excerpt from the beginning of the book that sets up their sexy conflict:

 

Bergman shrugged, attention back on the tablet in front of him, and Russ felt sorry for her. She didn’t seem to know she was fighting a losing battle. Bergman’s mind was clearly made up, and he was very good at tightening screws. “Frankly, Susannah, the worse it goes, the better it will play on TV. Some of the most famous on-screen couples couldn’t stand each other. You don’t have to be friends to have great chemistry.”

She looked appalled. “We don’t have chemistry.”

Russ draped an arm along the back of her chair. “Aw, gimme a chance, sweetheart.” Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad for his image. He looked twice as wild standing in her froufrou kitchen, and keeping her alive in the forest or wherever they wanted to film would make him look even tougher. Hello, ratings. Good-bye, leukemia. Double win.

She scooted to the edge of her seat, away from his arm. “Impossible. I have a family, and I can’t take off into the woods at a moment’s notice. That’s why my show is so popular. I stay at home.

Bergman finally looked up from his tablet. Russ tensed at the steel in his eyes. Here it comes. “Ms. Stone, you have the top-rated show on this network, but you didn’t get there without help—my help. I suggest you get with the program. If you absolutely cannot work out a solution for your family so that you can go on a short camping trip next weekend, then I can’t guarantee your star will continue to rise at Media Life Networks. I need to back a winner. Are you my winner or not?”

Susannah’s gaze dropped and then flashed over to meet his. He had no idea what was going through her mind, but her shattered expression knocked the wind out of him. Bergman was taking this to the mat, but had chosen different techniques to pin them. He was dangling a carrot in front of Russ, and threatening Susannah with a stick. It wasn’t like Bergman to be such a dick, so there must be more at stake than he was letting on. Was the network in trouble?

Russ took her hand and squeezed it. If Bergman truly needed help, Russ couldn’t let her say no. “No worries, Rich. We’ve got our Wild Woman right here. Just leave her to me.” He tightened his fingers in warning. She squeezed back, harder, before her hand slid out of his. He was glad for his sturdy shoes when her spike heel ground into his instep.

She had her game face back on when she gave Bergman a tight smile. “When you put it that way, I’m feeling wilder by the minute. I assume turnabout’s fair play? Mr. Donovan looks wonderful in my kitchen. I’d love the chance to teach him some useful domestic skills, and my mind is spinning with ways to smooth his rough edges. I’m thinking we’ll start with a revitalizing cucumber-and-oatmeal facial for all that sun damage. His hair could use some TLC, too.”

He barely stifled a shudder.

Her smile filled with malice. “Perhaps we’ll prepare an elegant black-tie dinner for some celebrity guests to show off your new look. Oh, and my viewers are a sucker for a man who isn’t afraid to change a diaper. You’re not afraid, are you?”

Absolutely terrified, but he’d swim through Arctic water before he’d admit it. She wanted to play dirty? Fine with him. “Bring it on, Susie.” There was no way anything she threw at him could be rougher than what he could plan for her.

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