Grumpy Off-Limits CEO

by Sara Dale

Secrets cannot be hidden forever; not even by a tech billionaire.

James Hunt is a damaged, scorching hot, alpha entrepreneur.
That’s my fault. Well, not the alpha part.

His tech company made me a job offer I couldn’t refuse.
I took the bait, leaving my secure life and fiance behind.

Nobody told me the boss was actually Oliver James Hunter,
my brother’s best friend and the man who took my v-card.

I ghosted Oliver 10 years ago. Now he wants answers. So do I.

Butting heads at work opens our second chance, and leaves our clothes on the floor.
His bedroom moves reveal he’s learned more than cooking since our last kiss.

Oliver thinks he’s keeping some innocent secrets.
But as the truth slips out, it’s one trust-shattering betrayal after another.

Friendships, reputations, jobs and our love are all in jeopardy.
Now I must stop playing it safe or we’ll both lose everything.

A second chance, brother’s best friend, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, grumpy damaged alpha billionaire boss, runaway bride romance.

171 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 25, 2024

Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like that book cover! Very hottt! This is a very short book. About 100 or so pages. So things will be happening rather quickly here. Emma left her fiancé at the alter for a new job in Boston. She wasn't happy. She meets her new boss, to talk about her position at Green Harbor. Lo and behold, that's Oliver, or Ollie, her brother's best friend and he's also a secret billionaire. Yup. Gobs and gobs of money.😆😆 And Emma does have a secret past with him too. They were involved when she was 18yrs old, which was 10yrs ago, and Ollie was 28 at that time. But then she ghosted him to go to college.

Now here they are rekindling that flame and dealing with office politics. I didn't have any issues with Ollie. He's a private guy living his life. I didn't see him as grumpy at all. He was super nice. Now Emma, she was annoying. She was very immature and prone to having outbursts. Like when she thought Ollie had been with someone else. She yelled and was snarky. In the office where everyone can hear! Remember office politics are happening. And Emma's coworkers are not being nice to her. Later there was: I'm not getting in that car. You can't make me. Girlll uh, how old are you again?😬 She walked into traffic. I mean seriously. Walked into traffic to avoid Oliver. She was irritating. I'm sorry. For me she was. That's not a person you cheer for. One minute she pushes Ollie away, next day, she's at his door wanting him.🙄 Things escalated when Ollie's identity is revealed to the entire world. Ohoh. Disaster has struck. What's going to happen now?

Jax, Ollie's PA, was awesome. I liked him. He told it like it is. I think Oliver deserved better than Emma. That's just my takeaway.

♻️Thank you for an early read via Booksprout. This is my honest review on this story.♻️.

[Sheila M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What are the chances of tripping and falling unexpectedly into the arms of your old crush on the sidewalk of Boston on your first day back in town? Well, if you are Emma, chances are good! Emma was in Boston because she once again bailed on a man, her fiancé, on their wedding day. Instead, she accepted the job offer from Green Harbor Investments. Emma was on her way to meeting her new boss at a bistro when she fell into the arms of a grumpy man. She recognized him as her brother’s best friend Ollie. Her new boss was the elusive James Hunt. Also known as Oliver James Hunter, or Ollie to her. Emma has not seen Ollie in ten years, and now Ollie is a billionaire businessman CEO. The same Ollie that took her v-card before she left for college and asked her to go backpacking through Europe with him. Instead, she bailed and left for college and didn’t tell him she was leaving.

Emma did not know that Ollie owned the company when she accepted the job offer, but Ollie knew she was the woman from his past when he hired her. Something unspoken still simmered between them and they soon embarked on a second chance at getting it right. However, the past didn’t stay in the past and they had to weather the storm to get their HEA.

I really liked this book. It was as short novel and was well written and edited. It captured my attention from the first page, and I couldn’t stop until I finished the book. I liked that it tackled the complexity of having a workplace romance and the repercussions if you are a woman. If you crave short, steamy, and heartwarming stories of second chances, this might be the book for you.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[PW · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of this book is an excellent synopsis of the content. Isabella is hard working young woman looking to improve herself by applying for a new position. She meets Andrew on her way through an accidental bump on the street. This innocent contact was blown out of proportion and here starts the enemy part of their relationship. The way Ms Dale writes about their interactions is very realistic. I enjoyed how the story progressed as their perceptions of the other changed. This is a story I enjoyed immensely especially how technology issues are interwoven throughout the story.

This Booksprout ARC is a very entertaining read, enjoy as I have.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma and Oliver had a week together before she ghosted him leaving to go to college instead of backpacking across Europe with him. Now he is a sought-after billionaire that Emma has landed a job with. Will their time in close proximity have their feelings blossoming and will it lead them to rekindling what they once shared.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

**ARC** So if you put two of my favorite tropes together - brother's best friend and workplace romance - you get a romance i will always love. I love the dual POV and feeling the angst between the characters. This romance showed how someone can completely change your whole outlook and love will always prevail.

[Book Addict · Rating 5 out of 5]

Characters resonated and plot was built well. Didn’t like a few of the characters but was happy with the outcome for Ollie and Emma.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[John Saxon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book even though I don’t read much romance I found that I enjoyed reading this book and I gave it a 4 star rating

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Oliver and Emma’s book. It was a roller coaster ride. And am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Nix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short second chance boss employee office whirlwind romance with some ruffled feathers before the HEA.