This book event is through RABT Book Tours and PR.
Just What the Doctor Hired book tour has a quick promo stop at Sarandipity’s and a full schedule at the end of this post with other awesome tour hosts. I’ve hosted a book blitz for this book previously. Share, subscribe, and comment to earn entries for the July contest.
Book Details
Sweet romance, romance, romcom, contemporary romance, closed door romance, clean romance
Date Published: July 9, 2025
Student Autumn Haze’s motto is: no men until she completes her bachelor of nursing degree. Years before, Autumn learned the hard way men are just a distraction she can’t afford until she’s established her career and what she wants. While moonlighting as a Plus One companion pays the bills, she struggles to follow her rules after meeting her newest contract. Pediatric Hospitalist Jensen Edwards is still recovering from a bad breakup that left him the talk of the hospital. Now he’s receiving a best doctor’s award, but after he hires Autumn as his plus one, Jensen is on edge. If word gets out that he hired a companion, rumors are bound to circulate, making work unbearable—again. Their chemistry as a fake couple is undeniable, but can a chance at a real relationship override their fear of commitment?
Excerpt
Chapter 1
Autumn
Seattle’s Rock Bar was like no other establishment I’d ever seen. While one half was ultra-
modern with minimalistic barstools and tables, the other half was organic—a backlit wall with
varying hues of peach and gold rock salt. Even the pendant lights were rough-hewn cubes of
the natural mineral, giving the whole place a soft orange glow, like a photo filter. I wouldn’t have
been surprised to find incense burning in the corner; it would have fit the vibe. Instead, I was
greeted by the standard pungent aroma of spirits and beer.
I took a seat in front of the glowing wall facing the entrance, laying my gray pea coat over the
back. A man, with a deeply creased smile and thatchy brown hair I’d bet my next paycheck was
a wig, approached.
“Can I bring you a drink? Beer, wine, cocktail?” He laid a square brown napkin on the table.
I shook my head. “Um, just a water for now. I’m waiting for a friend.” I shifted my gaze to the
light wood plank door. Still no client.
The server nodded and strode away.
I glanced around. The environment was precisely the type of place I’d expect to meet a personal
life consultant—the listed profession of my newest client. However, Josh Anderson’s photo
didn’t match how I’d pictured a twenty-seven-year-old inspirational guru. If I hired someone to
oversee my mental well-being, I’d expect them to be a linen-wearing, happy person with a
sense of empathetic energy. In the profile Josh submitted to my boss, Ruth, at the Plus One
Companion Agency, he wore a navy suit and tie with neatly coiffed, coffee-colored hair. The
leery smile was what threw me, though. Not to mention, his naturally smoldering dark eyes
appeared way too aggressive—a common expression from most of my cocky, workaholic clients
whose personal life only consisted of occasional one-night stands. However, Josh’s choice of
venue had me doubting my first impression. Maybe he was a tranquil person who knew the
secrets to happiness.
Last night, I checked out Josh’s website, The Life Lexicon, and found the homepage busy and
gimmicky, filled with cheesy, uplifting quotes, hollow promises, and a link to register for his
online classes. His site listed no qualifications and a disclaimer releasing him of any
responsibility. Yet, Josh had over two million followers. As my lawyer father would say,
something wasn’t adding up. I picked up the miniature wooden tool and raked swirls in the white
sand of the Zen garden embedded in the table.
The server returned with a glass and small carafe of water. “I’ll check back in a few minutes.”
“Thank you.” Throwing him an apologetic smile, I curled my shoulders. I knew servers hated
tables that wouldn’t generate a profit.
The man gave two sharp raps on the table with his knuckles and left.
I glanced at my watch. Fifteen minutes tested the limits of the no-show boundary—if Josh didn’t
arrive soon, I’d bail.
Just then, the entrance door swung open, and in swayed my client. The pronounced hunch in
his shoulders deemphasized his tall, lean build. Nodding acknowledgement, he flopped into the
black chair across from me, almost slipping out the other side, and shifting his unbrushed hair
over his sunglasses.
“Damn. You’re even hotter in person.” He wore a wrinkled black suit over a wine-stained, white
cotton T-shirt. Josh wobbled and grabbed onto the edge of the table. “Whoa.”
Tonight is not going well. His breath was rank—the fermented stench of someone who’d already
had several drinks. I leaned back in my booth, putting as much distance between him and
myself as possible.
Josh dragged the back of his hand across his mouth. “So, how does this work?”
His slurred question was a standard from all my clients. I wish Ruth would put instructions on
the website. “Well, we exchange pertinent information about ourselves and the expectations for
tonight.” He might as well take off those damn sunglasses because they’re not disguising his
wandering gaze. I feel dirty even talking to him.
A salacious smile crept over Josh’s lips.
“I got tested three weeks ago. I’m clean.”
Jerking my head back, I scowled. “What? No. I don’t need to know your medical history.”
Josh scratched his head, further mussing his hair. “You don’t?”
Ugh. Here we go again—he thinks I’m an escort . Moments like this made me frustrated with
myself. If I could swallow my giant pride and accept financial help from my dads, I wouldn’t have
to put up with clients like Josh to earn the additional income from Plus One. Swallowing the
rising bile, I fought to keep the repulsion from my expression. “No. Your sex life is not relevant to
a country club fundraising dinner.”
He barked a laugh. “I lied. We’re not going there. Country clubs are for people like my father.”
Sweat trickled down my back, and I readjusted the neckline of my burgundy wrap jumpsuit,
covering as much of my cleavage as possible. “Then why did you hire me, Josh?”
He aggressively leaned forward, finally removing his sunglasses, his bloodshot eyes dark and
cheek lifting. “A dare.”
I clenched my teeth. “What kind of dare?” Don’t say it. Don’t say it.
The rough pressure of his dress shoe tugged on my pant leg under the table, rubbing my calf.
“The only kind I’d accept.” He winked.
Gross! I jerked my leg away and straightened, bracing my hands on the table. “What do you
think you’re doing?” Heat rose up my chest, and I couldn’t stop my heart from pounding.
Josh reached forward and squeezed my wrist.
Twisting my left arm from his grip, I rested a hand on top of my purse, taking comfort in the bulk
of the taser under my palm.
Josh leaned back, exhaling in a huff, and rolling his eyes. “Oh, come on, sweetheart. What do
you think I’m doing? I’m cutting to the chase.”
Shaking my head, I collected my coat and bag. “Clearly, you didn’t read the constraints of the
Plus One policies.” I stood, ensuring a safe distance. “Your contract is canceled. Good night.”
Adrenaline raced through my veins, and I had to restrain myself from running toward the exit.
When I got onto the sidewalk, I inhaled deeply, clearing Josh’s foul stench from my
lungs—replacing his unpleasant odor with the familiar scent of downtown’s asphalt and brine. I
strode to the corner away from the bar, with one hand on my taser, the other clutching my
phone.
—Lil, leaving Rock Bar, keep an eye on me. Client was a creeper—
Since I’d started at Plus One, Lilly Huang—a fellow nursing student, Plus One companion, and
my best friend—and I had worked out an anti-creeper system. She and I shared companion
appointment calendars and location statuses via our phones to keep each other safe. I glanced
over my shoulder like a skittish cat. The vibration of Lilly’s response made me jump.
—barf emoji I got you. Do you want to talk about it when you get home?—
—No, it’s okay. I’ve got my taser. I’ll fill you in tomorrow during class—
—Thumbs up emoji, wide-eyeball emoji—
Switching out of messages, I tapped on the app for my Plus One portal. I opened Josh’s
contract and clicked cancel. A text box popped on the screen.
Are you sure you want to cancel this contract?
Hell, yes!
Author Details
Tour Schedule
July 10 – RABT Book Tours – Kick Off
July 10 – Book Junkiez – Excerpt
July 11 – Texas Book Nook – Review
July 12 – Tea Time and Books – Spotlight
July 13 – The Faerie Review – Spotlight
July 14 – What Is That Book About – Excerpt
July 15 – The Avid Reader – Interview
July 16 – Nana’s Book Reviews – Spotlight
July 17 – On a Reading Bender – Review
July 18 – Sarandipity’s – Excerpt
July 21 – Matters That Count – Spotlight
July 22 – The Indie Express – Review
July 23 – Always Reading – Excerpt
July 23 – RABT Reviews – Wrap Up
