Fluke

FLUKE ADRIANA LOCKE Fluke Copyright 2023 by Adriana Locke Cover Designer: Kari March Cover Photo: iStock Content Editor: Marion Making Manuscripts Copy Editor: Editing 4 Indies, Jenny Sims Proofreader: Michele Ficht Umbrella Publishing, Inc. Copyright Law: If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, this book has been pirated and you are stealing. Please delete it from your device and support the author by purchasing a legal copy. All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under the copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the above copyright owner of this book or publisher. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked statue and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners. To Michele Ficht, Everyone should be lucky enough to have someone like you in their corner. With love. BOOKS BY ADRIANA LOCKE Landry Family Series Sway Swing Switch Swear Swink Sweet The Gibson Boys Series Crank Craft Cross Crave Crazy Mason Family Series Restraint Reputation Reckless Relentless Resolution Carmichael Family Series Flirt Fling Fluke Flaunt Flame The Exception Series The Exception The Connection The Perception Honey Creek Series Like You Love Me Dogwood Lane Series Tumble Tangle Trouble Cherry Falls 608 Alpha Avenue 907 For Keeps Way Standalone Novels Sacrifice Wherever It Leads Written in the Scars Lucky Number Eleven Battle of Sexes The Relationship Pact (Hollis’s story) The Sweet Spot For an email every time Adriana has a new release, sign up for an alert here: http://bit.ly/AmazonAlertAddy or text the word adriana to 21000 DEAR READER What can I say? I thoroughly enjoyed writing this book. The levity, banter, and shenanigans gave me a break from the heaviness that can be everyday life. I hope they do that for you too. My goal for this story was simply to put a smile on your face for a few hours. The Carmichael men are swoony and steamy, while also being a little silly. It was just what my heart ordered. Thank you for choosing to read this book. I know you have a million choices out there, and I’m honored that you decided to give Fluke, and me, a try. I hope you enjoy. With love, Addy CONTENTS Synopsis 1. Pippa 2. Pippa 3. Jess 4. Pippa 5. Pippa 6. Jess 7. Pippa 8. Pippa 9. Pippa 10. Jess 11. Pippa 12. Pippa 13. Jess 14. Pippa 15. Pippa 16. Pippa 17. Jess 18. Pippa 19. Jess 20. Pippa 21. Jess 22. Pippa 23. Jess 24. Pippa 25. Pippa 26. Pippa 27. Jess 28. Jess 29. Jess 30. Pippa 31. Pippa 32. Pippa Epilogue: Jess Chapter One - Crank Acknowledgments About the Author SYNOPSIS SEEKING AN EX-HUSBAND I need a fake ex-husband. Let me explain … I may have let it slip to my new coworkers that I have an ex-husband. Now they’re fascinated with the details, specifically with him. Why wouldn’t they be? He’s gorgeous, has exceptional skills in the bedroom, and is determined to win me back. But there’s a problem. He doesn’t exist. The bigger problem? I have to produce him to save my job. This is where you come in. I’m seeking someone to play a smitten ex-husband for two weeks. You’ll need to remember our love story—details matter when it comes to romance! I need you to be prepared to travel in-state at a moment’s notice. We may be in close proximity; sharing a bed may be required. One more thing—kisses are essential for optics as necessary. If this sounds interesting or, at the very least, entertaining, let me know. Signed, Your Future Ex-Wife Buckle up for a steamy adventure between friends-turned-lovers in this new “fresh twist on a favorite trope” take on fake dating, close proximity, and romance in the workplace from USA Today Bestselling author Adriana Locke. 1 PIPPA “Seeking a fake ex-husband.” My words fall into the air, sounding just as ridiculous as I imagined they would. I sigh and lift a brow at Kerissa, my best friend and troublemaker extraordinaire, sitting across the table from me. The mischief in her eyes complements the smug grin on her face, and I know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that I need to rethink this attempt at crisis management. “I can’t do this,” I say, slamming my notebook closed. “And why not?” I level my gaze with hers. “You’ve come up with a lot of bizarre things in your life, but this one takes the cake.” “Takes the … wedding cake?” She laughs at her joke—one that I don’t find especially funny under the circumstances. How do I get myself into these situations? I grab a couple of Cajun fries—the whole reason we came to Shade House for happy hour—and pop them in my mouth. Tables around us begin to fill with patrons ordering drinks and appetizers. I side-eye my root beer float and consider breaking down and ordering an amaretto sour. The only problem is that my problem-solving abilities go down with each drink. At this point, I need all the help I can get. “We could use this as an excuse to throw a divorce party,” Kerissa says. “Kerissa—” “Will you just think about it? Hear me out.” Her eyes twinkle. “We’ll go to Savannah and get a room at Picante.” I sigh happily. “I do love that hotel.” “Right? We can hit up a Georgia Hornets game, get a massage, and shop. Maybe find a couple of unassuming bachelors to ravage for the weekend.” “Well, I did see that Lincoln Landry is the general manager of