Unlock my Heart: A Billionaire Workplace Romance by Jennifer Wilck

Today I’m tickled to welcome back Jennifer Wilck, a talented and prolific author of emotion-packed contemporary romance. This one takes place in my childhood hometown, San Francisco! How can I resist?

Book cover Unlock my Heart. Golden Gate Bridge in the background

Jennifer Wilck’s newest contemporary romance!

Can love break through their firewalls?

Abby Marlow, computer security expert, lands a job at the best IT security firm in the country. Her sole focus is financial independence so she never has to rely on others again, especially a man. But why does her boss make her wires short circuit?

Ted Endicott, CEO and founder of the IT security firm, is hard of hearing. Although an expert in his field, he’s still uncomfortable admitting his difficulty hearing to his clients or employees. So why is he willing to accept Abby’s help?

As Ted and Abby work together, barriers fall away, and soon the lines blur between colleagues and lovers. But a security glitch in a client’s system indicates one of his employees is the hacker, and all signs point to Abby. Can they get past the suspicion and find a future together?

Get your copy of Scarred Hearts here.

EXCERPT:

“You always run alone?”

She pointed to a nearby jogger. “I’m not alone.”

“But you’re not with anyone.”

Standing this close to him, she wished for things she shouldn’t. “No, I’m not.”

“How far are you going?”

“The end of the trail and back.” Or however long it took to get him out of her mind.

He put his helmet on. “Come on, I’ll keep you company.”

“It’s not necessary.” Clearing her mind would be impossible with him next to her.

“It’s safer this way.” He looked down the trail.

His desire to protect her sent warmth curling up and down her spine. It had been a long time since anyone was concerned about her. All of a sudden, the idea of company appealed to her. Touching his arm— and trying not to squeeze his bicep like you would if you tested the ripeness of a peach—she waited for him to turn. “You’re welcome to join me if you want. If you can keep up.” She winked and raced away, his bark of laughter a brief punch in the silence behind her.

She no longer kept an easy pace, easing into the morning. This time, she sprinted hard. The slight whir of his bike wheels warned her as he reached her a few moments later.

“You’re pretty fast, but I’d suggest you slow down.”

She turned toward him. “Out of pity for you?”

His lips twitched, and his nostrils flared, but he kept his humor reined tight. Instead, he cycled next to her, his head turned slightly toward her. “The only pity I ask for is please don’t make me carry you home when you’re too tired to continue.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it, sir.” She made sure he could read her lips.

He grinned, and the last of her tension disappeared. He accepted her teasing.

“Oh, you’ll pay,” he said.

****

Sounds tasty! Get your copy of Unlock My Heart here.

Meet the Author

Author Jennifer Wilck

Jennifer started telling herself stories as a little girl when she couldn’t fall asleep at night. Pretty soon, her head was filled with these stories and the characters that populated them. Even as an adult, she thinks about the characters and stories at night before she falls asleep or walking the dog. Eventually, she started writing them down. Her favorite stories to write are those with smart, sassy, independent heroines; handsome, strong and slightly vulnerable heroes; and her stories always end with happily ever after.

In the real world, she’s the mother of two amazing daughters and wife of one of the smartest men she knows. She believes humor is the only way to get through the day and does not believe in sharing her chocolate.

Jennifer Wilck is an award-winning contemporary romance author for readers who are passionate about love, laughter, and happily ever after. Known for writing both Jewish and non-Jewish romances, her books feature damaged heroes, sassy and independent heroines, witty banter and hot chemistry. Jennifer’s ability to transport the reader into the scene, create characters the reader will fall in love with, and evoke a roller coaster of emotions, will hook you from the first page. You can find her books at all major online retailers in a variety of formats.

A few questions for the author:

Tell us about your inspiration for this story.

This is the second book in my Scarred Hearts series (although each is a standalone and doesn’t require previous knowledge of the series). The series follows four college buddies who have each reached the pinnacle of their careers. They have more money than they know what to do with, so they have pooled their resources to invest in organizations that help people. Each book follows one of the men as he searches for meaning in his life and finds love. The inspiration for the series came from a plotting session I had with a writer friend of mine. The world news was disheartening and during our conversation, I came up with this idea in order to offer an escape from real life. As for this particular book, well, all of the men are wounded in some way. I wanted to show how people’s reactions to physical wounds can get into our psyche and affect how we interact with others. As for the heroine, well, I needed her to be smart and independent. I didn’t want her to want to fall in love with a rich guy—I wanted that to actually be a reason not to pursue him.

What do you love about the genre you write in?

I write contemporary romance, and I love to be able to take reality and twist it to how I wish it could be. It’s fun taking inspiration from things I see around me and going, “what if…”

Tell us about your journey from aspiring writer to published author.

I started writing when my kids were little and I needed to make use of my creativity and find some “me time.” I joined some writers’ organizations, entered contests, and attended workshops to improve my craft. Eventually I started submitting to publishers and agents, and found a home with a small press. That led to other publishers and I’m currently published with The Wild Rose Press, which I love!

What’s your favorite part of the writing life?

My favorite part is getting caught up in the story I’m creating and thinking of my characters as real people who I care about and want to befriend.

What do you do for fun when you’re not writing?

I love hiking with my husband (even though I tell everyone he’s trying to kill me) in the nicer weather. At home, I like baking, reading, watching TV and playing board games. And when possible, I love getting together with my friends.

What does your writing space look like?

I don’t really have one. Since I write on my laptop, I like to move around the house as the mood suits me—sitting at the dining table looking through the French doors into the backyard; curling up on the sofa with an afghan my mom made; or sitting out on my deck in the warm weather.

Any advice for aspiring writers?

Write what makes you happy. Learn your craft and constantly look for ways to improve. And help others who aren’t as far along as you.

Authors always seem to have a teetering To Be Read pile. What’s in yours?

Way, way, way too many to name. I have them on my Kindle and the list is endless. I’m currently reading a historical romance by Mary Balogh.

What makes you put down a book without finishing?

Bad writing/grammar is the biggest reason I don’t finish a book. It drives me crazy.

Which authors have inspired you?

Lynn Kurland writes time travel romance and her books have so much emotion that I’ve always wanted to write like her.