Excerpt: 'Play My Game' by J. Kenner

J. Kenner, author of Play My Game, shares an excerpt from her new novella in her Stark Ever After series.

J. Kenner: I'm so excited to have a Valentine's Day theme for readers featuring Nikki and Damien Stark, whose story started in Release Me. Play My Game is a Stark Ever After novella. I started writing these "after happily ever after" novellas (which also include Take Me and Have Me) in order to give readers (and myself!) a chance to revisit these characters that I love so much.

Play My Game is steamy and sensual with just a hint of intrigue, and features not only Nikki and Damien (and a Valentine's Day treasure hunt!) but also introduces super sexy Jackson Steele, who is the hero of the upcoming Say My Name (April 7), the first of my new Stark International spin-off series!

I hope fans of the Stark series enjoy Play My Game as much as I enjoyed writing it!

EXCERPT

I yank open the door, probably terrifying the skinny guy standing there in a delivery uniform. Once I have the package and have sent the guy on his way with a tip, Jamie and I take the box back to my desk. I sit in my chair and she perches on the wooden desktop beside me.

"Well?" she says. "Open it."

Since I'm not sure what I'm waiting for, I nod, then use a letter opener to slice through the tape that is holding the decorative pastry box closed. It's only slightly bigger than a cupcake, and when I open it, I'm surprised to see that it holds exactly that—a cupcake.

Specifically, a lovely cupcake with green fondant icing and the numeral "4" printed perfectly across the top in blue icing.

I look at Jamie, who looks just as baffled as I feel.

"That can't be all of it." I reach for the cupcake. "There must be a message underneath."

As it turns out, I'm right, though it's not on the box beneath the cupcake where I expect it. Instead, it's on the bottom of the little paper wrapper, a fact that I discover after Jamie very reasonably suggests that the clue might be baked into the cupcake.

I use my iPhone to snap a picture of the treat—just in case—and then I use the letter opener as a knife and carefully cut the cake in half. There's nothing hidden inside. No secret message baked inside the cake.

But as soon as we've both picked up our halves to feast upon, I see the carefully printed website written on the bottom of the muffin cup.

"I knew it." I am feeling so smug and triumphant that I have to battle the urge to call Damien and gloat. I don't, though. Because I'm not home free just because I've found a website.

"Well?" Jamie sounds impatient.

"I'm on it." I pull my laptop closer to me, then type in the URL as she comes around my desk to look over my shoulder, then mutters, "well, damn," when all that pops up is an input box for a username.

I echo her sentiments as I lean back in my chair, thinking. "This has to be it," I say. "Somehow, this leads to the next clue."

"I adore Damien," Jamie says, "but couldn't he have just taken you out for dinner and a movie like a normal guy?"

I only shake my head. Not only is Damien a far cry from your average guy, but I'm so delighted by this game—which plays to both my romantic and geek sides—that if I weren't already full-up with love for my husband, I would fall even farther.

"Four," I say, even as I type the numeral into the box. I glance at Jamie, hit enter, and cross my fingers.

A moment later, the screen changes, and I feel a little tug of glee:

Welcome, Nikki Stark

Please Enter Password

My glee fades when I realize there is yet another hurdle.

Once again, I meet Jamie's eyes, but she's already on it. She's snatched the box and is examining every last inch of it and the paper muffin cup. "Nothing," she says. "Do you think we ate it?"

I don't answer. I'm too busy typing a four into the box. I hold my breath, hit enter, then both laugh and curse when I hear Damien's voice saying, "Try again, sweetheart."

"Oh my god," Jamie says. "You so have to figure this out. Like right now."

I agree. I can picture Damien at work today, doing whatever Master of the Universe thing is on his agenda. But even while he's buying Argentina, he's secretly smirking about the fact that he has befuddled his wife.

The image only makes me more determined to figure this out. And fast.

"Paris?" Jamie suggests.

I try. Nothing.

I try Stark, Wife, and Malibu.

And then, I realize.

"I know what it is," I say, then type in Sunset, the safe word that I picked my first night with Damien. That's sort of like a key, after all.

Find out more about J. Kenner and her books at juliekenner.com.