Ali Hazelwood

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis comes a collection of steamy, STEMinist novellas featuring a trio of engineers and their loves in loathing—with a special bonus chapter! Under One Roof An environmental engineer discovers that scientists should never cohabitate when she finds herself stuck with the roommate from hell—a detestable big-oil lawyer who won't leave the thermostat alone. Stuck with You A civil engineer and her nemesis take their rivalry—and love—to the next level when they get stuck in a New York elevator. Below Zero A NASA aerospace engineer's frozen heart melts as she lies injured and stranded at a remote Arctic research station and the only person willing to undertake the dangerous rescue mission is her longtime rival.

A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance. Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again... Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was…. Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis comes a new STEMinist rom-com in which a scientist is forced to work on a project with her nemesis—with explosive results. Bee Königswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a neuroengineering project - a literal dream come true - Marie would accept without hesitation. Duh. But the mother of modern physics never had to co-lead with Levi Ward. Sure, Levi is attractive in a tall, dark, and piercing-eyes kind of way. But Levi made his feelings toward Bee very clear in grad school - archenemies work best employed in their own galaxies far, far away. But when her equipment starts to go missing and the staff ignore her, Bee could swear she sees Levi softening into an ally, backing her plays, seconding her ideas... devouring her with those eyes. The possibilities have all her neurons firing. But when it comes time to actually make a move and put her heart on the line, there's only one question that matters: What will Bee Königswasser do?

It will take the frosty terrain of the Arctic to show these rival scientists that their chemistry burns hot. Mara, Sadie, and Hannah are friends first, scientists always. Though their fields of study might take them to different corners of the world, they can all agree on this universal truth: when it comes to love and science, opposites attract and rivals make you burn… Hannah’s got a bad feeling about this. Not only has the NASA aerospace engineer found herself injured and stranded at a remote Arctic research station—but the one person willing to undertake the hazardous rescue mission is her longtime rival. Ian has been many things to Hannah: the villain who tried to veto her expedition and ruin her career, the man who stars in her most deliciously lurid dreams…but he’s never played the hero. So why is he risking everything to be here? And why does his presence seem just as dangerous to her heart as the coming snowstorm? To read Mara and Sadie’s stories look for the novellas Under One Roof and Stuck with You available now from Berkley!

A Human hybrid and an Alpha Were claw against the bonds of fate in the highly anticipated companion novel to the New York Times bestselling Bride. Serena Paris is orphaned, pack-less, and one of a kind. Coming forward as the first Human-Were hybrid was supposed to heal a centuries-long rift between species. Instead, it made her a target, prey to the ruthless political machinations between Weres, Vampyres, and Humans. With her enemies closing in on her, she has only one option left—if he’ll have her. As Alpha of the Northwest pack, Koen Alexander commands obedience. His authority is so absolute, only a fool would threaten his mate. It doesn’t matter if Serena doesn’t reciprocate his feelings, nothing will stop him from keeping her safe. But power-hungry Vampyres and Weres are not the only threats chasing Serena. Sooner or later, her past is bound to catch up with her—and Koen might be the only thing standing between her and total annihilation…

For two former childhood friends, a blustery winter storm stirs some frosty—and scorching—memories in a delightful short story by #1 New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood. All newly minted pediatrician Jamie Malek wants is to borrow a roasting pan for Christmas dinner. Unfortunately, that requires her to interact with Marc—her best friend’s troublemaking brother, who’s now a tech billionaire. He’s the one who got away. She’s the one who broke his heart. Outside, a howling blizzard. Inside, a crackling fire. Suddenly, being snowbound with the man she never expected to see again might not be such a bad way to spend a winter’s night. Ali Hazelwood’s Cruel Winter with You is part of Under the Mistletoe, a stirring collection of December romances that thrill and tingle all the way. They can be read or listened to in one swoony sitting.

Viola Bowen has the chance of a lifetime: to design a video game based on her all-time favorite book series. The only problem? Her co-lead is Jesse F-ing Andrews, a.k.a. her arch-nemesis. Jesse has made it abundantly clear over the years that he wants nothing to do with her–and Viola has no idea why. When their bosses insist a wintery retreat is the perfect team-building exercise, Viola can’t think of anything worse. Being freezing cold in a remote mountain lodge knowing Jesse is right next door? No, thank you. But as the snow piles on, Viola discovers there’s more to Jesse than she knew, and heat builds in more ways than one.

Una relación falsa entre dos científicos se topa con la irresistible fuerza de la atracción Olive Smith es una doctoranda de tercer año que no cree en las relaciones amorosas duraderas, pero su mejor amiga, Ahn, sí, y por eso Olive se ha metido en un lío monumental. A Ahn le gusta el exnovio de Olive, pero jamás daría el primer paso porque es una buena amiga. Convencerla de que ha pasado página y de que está construyendo su «fueron felices y comieron perdices» no va a resultarle nada fácil a Olive, puesto que los científicos necesitan pruebas. Por eso, como cualquier mujer con un mínimo de amor propio, se deja llevar por el pánico y besa al primer hombre con el que se encuentra para que Ahn la vea. Ese hombre es nada más y nada menos que Adam Carlsen, un joven profesor tan reputado por la calidad de su trabajo como por su imbecilidad. Así que Olive se queda de piedra cuando Carlsen accede a mantener su farsa en secreto y ser su novio falso. Sin embargo, después de que un importante congreso científico se convierta en un desastre y Adam vuelva a sorprenderla con su apoyo inquebrantable (y sus inquebrantables abdominales), su pequeño experimento se acerca peligrosamente al punto de combustión. Olive no tarda en descubrir que la única cosa más complicada que una hipótesis sobre el amor es analizar su propio corazón bajo el microscopio.

Фіолетововолоса Бі Кеніґсвассер, певною мірою лицарка-джедай, берегиня цілосвітньої рівноваги, чинить, як учинила б Марія Кюрі. Авжеж, пані Кюрі пристала б на пропозицію очолити проєкт своєї мрії від NASA. Та керувати проєктом разом із Леві Вардом — матір сучасної фізики, рятуй! Заклятим ворогам краще працюється в різних галактиках, стверджував Леві-аспірант. Має статися лиха пригода, щоб одного (насправді першого ж) робочого дня Кеніґсвассер опинилася в міцних обіймах Варда. І поки дівчина намагається давати собі раду без потрібного обладнання, колегіальної підтримки та, як їй ввижається, кар’єрних перспектив, саме Леві перетворюється на союзника… й очей із неї не зводить. Від нових можливостей їй палають нейрони. Та коли настає час ризикнути власним серцем, Бі мусить відповісти на критично важливе запитання: як учинила б… Бі Кеніґсвассер?

Una peligrosa alianza entre una novia vampira y un licántropo alfa da lugar a un amor tan profundo como para hincarle el diente en este nuevo romance paranormal de la autora superventas del New York Times de La hipótesis del amor. Misery Lark, la única hija del concejal vampírico más poderoso del suroeste, es, de nuevo, una marginada. Los días de anonimato entre los humanos se le han acabado: su padre recurre a ella para poder llevar a cabo una alianza de paz histórica entre los vampiros y sus enemigos mortales, los licántropos, por lo que no le queda más remedio que resignarse al intercambio. Otra vez... Los licántropos son despiadados e impredecibles y su alfa, Lowe Moreland, no es la excepción. Lidera a su manada con total autoridad, pero siempre de forma justa y, a diferencia del Consejo Vampírico, con compasión. Por el modo en que no pierde de vista a Misery, está claro que no se fía de ella. Y bien que hace... Porque Misery tiene sus motivos para haber accedido a ese matrimonio de conveniencia, motivos que nada tienen que ver con la política ni con ninguna alianza, sino con lo único que le ha importado en la vida. Y está dispuesta a hacer lo que haga falta para recuperar lo que es suyo, incluso si para ello debe vivir a solas en territorio licántropo... a solas con el lobo.

Dois físicos rivais colidem em meio a um turbilhão de disputas acadêmicas e caóticos namoros de mentira nesta nova comédia romântica da autora de A hipótese do amor. Elsie Hannaway é uma física teórica que passou anos de sua vida moldando diferentes versões de si mesma. Em alguns dias, ela trabalha como professora adjunta, na esperança de conseguir um emprego melhor. Em outros, compensa seu ridículo salário oferecendo serviços de namorada de mentira, aproveitando sua habilidade de se adaptar exatamente ao que os outros querem dela. Apesar das dificuldades, ela consegue equilibrar bem seu cuidadoso “Elsie-verso”... até que ele começa a desabar. E o culpado é Jack Smith, o irritante e atraente irmão mais velho de seu cliente favorito, que acaba se revelando um importante físico experimental e um possível obstáculo para o emprego dos sonhos de Elsie. Ela está pronta para uma guerra declarada de sabotagens acadêmicas, mas não está nem um pouco preparada para aqueles olhares demorados e penetrantes. E logo ela percebe que não precisa fingir ser outra pessoa quando está com Jack. Será que ser atraída pela órbita de um cientista vai enfim fazê-la colocar em prática suas mais secretas teorias sobre o amor?

Misery Lark, filha do vampiro mais poderoso do sudoeste, nunca foi bem-vista pelos seres de sua espécie. Ela passa seus dias anonimamente em meio aos humanos, isolada, até que é chamada para firmar um acordo de paz entre vampiros e licanos, seus inimigos mortais. Para isso, será obrigada a se casar com Lowe Moreland. Licanos são lobisomens cruéis e imprevisíveis, e o alfa do bando, Lowe, não é exceção. Ele governa o grupo com autoridade absoluta, mas também com justiça. Pela forma como acompanha cada passo de Misery, fica claro que não confia nela. E ele não poderia estar mais certo... A vampira tem as próprias razões para concordar com o casamento arranjado, razões que nada têm a ver com política ou alianças, mas tudo a ver com a coisa que ela mais preza no mundo. Misery está disposta a fazer o que for necessário para recuperar o que é seu, mesmo que precise viver sozinha em território licano. Ela só não esperava se sentir atraída por seu inimigo... e ainda ser correspondida.

What is wrong meets what feels right in this romance set in Italy by the New York Times bestselling author of Deep End. Maya Killgore is twenty-three and still in the process of figuring out her life. Conor Harkness is thirty-eight, and Maya cannot stop thinking about him. It’s such a cliché, it almost makes her heart implode: older man and younger woman; successful biotech guy and struggling grad student; brother’s best friend and the girl he never even knew existed. As Conor loves to remind her, the power dynamic is too imbalanced. Any relationship between them would be problematic in too many ways to count, and Maya should just get over him. After all, he has made it clear that he wants her gone from his life. But not everything is as it seems—and clichés sometimes become plot twists. When Maya’s brother decides to get married in Taormina, she and Conor end up stuck together in a romantic Sicilian villa for over a week. There, on the beautiful Ionian coast, between ancient ruins, delicious foods, and natural caves, Maya realizes that Conor might be hiding something from her. And as the destination wedding begins to erupt out of control, she decides that a summer fling might be just what she needs—even if it’s a problematic one.

Em A hipótese do amor, o leitor acompanhou a história pelos olhos de Olive, rindo e se emocionando com todos os personagens. Agora chegou a hora de ler uma parte da história pelo ponto de vista de nada mais, nada menos que uma cena bem sexy entre os dois. Prepare-se para se divertir e se arrepiar com este capítulo extra!

As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesn't believe in lasting romantic relationships--but her best friend does, and that's what got her into this situation. Convincing Anh that Olive is dating and well on her way to a happily ever after was always going to take more than hand-wavy Jedi mind tricks: Scientists require proof. So, like any self-respecting biologist, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees. That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor--and well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when Stanford's reigning lab tyrant agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. But when a big science conference goes haywire, putting Olive's career on the Bunsen burner, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyielding... six-pack abs. Suddenly their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion. And Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope.

Un nadador de competición y una saltadora de trampolín experta se adentran en aguas prohibidas en este tórrido romance universitario de la autora de La hipótesis del amor, bestseller del Sunday Times y del New York Times. Scarlett Vandermeer combina sus estudios en Stanford con una carrera como saltadora de trampolín e intenta no llamar la atención mientras se concentra en ingresar en la facultad de medicina y en recuperarse de la lesión que casi acaba con su carrera. No tiene tiempo para relaciones, o al menos eso se dice a sí misma. Lukas Blomqvist, campeón del mundo de natación, se nutre de la disciplina. Así es como gana medallas de oro y bate ré concentración total en cada brazada. En apariencia, Lukas y Scarlett no tienen nada en común. Hasta que un secreto bien guardado sale a la luz y todo cambia. Entonces empiezan un acuerdo. Y a medida que aumenta la presión por los Juegos Olímpicos, también lo hace su relación. Se suponía que iba a ser solo una aventura temporal y mutuamente satisfactoria. Pero cuando mantenerse alejada de Lukas se hace imposible, Scarlett se da cuenta de que su corazón podría estar pisando aguas peligrosas...

Nothing like a little rivalry between scientists to take love to the next level. Mara, Sadie, and Hannah are friends first, scientists always. Though their fields of study might take them to different corners of the world, they can all agree on this universal truth: when it comes to love and science, opposites attract and rivals make you burn… Logically, Sadie knows that civil engineers are supposed to build bridges. However, as a woman of STEM she also understands that variables can change, and when you are stuck for hours in a tiny New York elevator with the man who broke your heart, you earn the right to burn that brawny, blond bridge to the ground. Erik can apologize all he wants, but to quote her rebel leader—she’d just as soon kiss a Wookiee. Not even the most sophisticated of Sadie’s superstitious rituals could have predicted such a disastrous reunion. But while she refuses to acknowledge the siren call of Erik’s steely forearms or the way his voice softens when he offers her his sweater, Sadie can’t help but wonder if there might be more layers to her cold-hearted nemesis than meet the eye. Maybe, possibly, even burned bridges can still be crossed…. To read Mara and Hannah’s stories look for the novellas Under One Roof, available now, and Below Zero, coming soon from Berkley!

A scientist should never cohabitate with her annoyingly hot nemesis – it leads to combustion. Mara, Sadie, and Hannah are friends first, scientists always. Though their fields of study might take them to different corners of the world, they can all agree on this universal truth: when it comes to love and science, opposites attract and rivals make you burn…. As an environmental engineer, Mara knows all about the delicate nature of ecosystems. They require balance. And leaving the thermostat alone. And not stealing someone else’s food. And other rules Liam, her detestable big-oil lawyer of a roommate, knows nothing about. Okay, sure, technically she’s the interloper. Liam was already entrenched in his aunt’s house like some glowering grumpy giant when Mara moved in, with his big muscles and kissable mouth just sitting there on the couch tempting respectable scientists to the dark side…but Helena was her mentor and Mara’s not about to move out and give up her inheritance without a fight. The problem is, living with someone means getting to know them. And the more Mara finds out about Liam, the harder it is to loathe him…and the easier it is to love him.

Quando um relacionamento falso entre cientistas encontra a irresistível força da atração, as teorias de uma mulher sobre o amor, cuidadosamente calculadas, são postas à prova. Olive Smith, uma estudante de doutoramento em Biologia, não acredita em namoros duradouros. Após terminar o relacionamento com Jeremy, percebe que a sua melhor amiga, Anh, gosta dele e decide juntá-los. Para a convencer de que não se importa e de que está feliz e a namorar, Olive precisa de o provar, mas, pressionada, entra em pânico e resolve beijar o primeiro homem que vê: Adam Carlsen, um jovem professor de outro departamento. Olive acaba por ficar chocada ao perceber que este tirano do laboratório da Universidade de Stanford, conhecido por deixar os estudantes em lágrimas, aceita manter a farsa e fingir que é, realmente, seu namorado. Quando uma conferência científica corre mal e ameaça a carreira de Olive, Adam surpreende-a de várias formas… e uma pequena possibilidade científica, o que era apenas uma hipótese sobre o amor, transforma-se então numa experiência inesperada. Uma história maravilhosa imersa num ambiente académico. Um tubo de ensaio para a vida.

The many lives of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway have finally caught up with her. By day, she’s an adjunct professor, toiling away at grading labs and teaching thermodynamics in the hopes of landing tenure. By other day, Elsie makes up for her non-existent paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, tapping into her expertly honed people pleasing skills to embody whichever version of herself the client needs. Honestly, it’s a pretty sweet gig—until her carefully constructed Elsie-verse comes crashing down. Because Jack Smith, the annoyingly attractive and broody older brother of her favorite client, turns out to be the cold-hearted experimental physicist who ruined her mentor’s career and undermined the reputation of theorists everywhere. And that same Jack who now sits on the hiring committee at MIT, right between Elsie and her dream job. Elsie is prepared for an all-out war of scholarly sabotage but…those long, penetrating looks? Not having to be anything other than her true self when she’s with him? Will falling into an experimentalist’s orbit finally tempt her to put her most guarded theories on love into practice?

En esta fantástica comedia romántica de la autora de La hipótesis del amor y La química del amor, dos físicos rivales chocan en una vorágine de disputas académicas y relaciones falsas. Las múltiples vidas de la física teórica Elsie Hannaway han acabado atrapándola. De día es profesora adjunta. Se afana en corregir exámenes y enseñar termodinámica con la esperanza de, algún día, conseguir la titularidad. De noche, complementa su inexistente sueldo ofreciendo el servicio de ser una novia falsa, lo cual lleva a cabo con éxito gracias a sus habilidades para caerle bien a la gente y encarnar cualquier versión de sí misma que necesite el cliente. Lo cierto es que es un trabajo estupendo... hasta que el Elsie-verso que tanto le ha costado construir se viene abajo. Jack Smith, el hermano arrogante e irritantemente atractivo de su cliente favorito, resulta ser el físico experimentalista sin corazón que arruinó la carrera de su mentor y minó la reputación de los teóricos a nivel mundial. Y ese mismo Jack Smith, que es quien dirige el departamento de Física del MIT, se interpone ahora entre Elsie y el trabajo de sus sueños. Ella está dispuesta a poner en marcha una guerra de sabotaje académico, pero... ¿qué son esas miradas tan largas y penetrantes? ¿Cómo es que, cuando está con él, no tiene que ser una versión diferente de sí misma? ¿Caer en la órbita de un experimentalista conseguirá que, por fin, ponga en práctica todas sus teorías sobre el amor?

Una nueva comedia romántica situada en la NASA en la que una científica se ve obligada a trabajar en un proyecto junto a su archienemigo... con resultados explosivos. Bee Königswasser se rige siempre por un código muy sencillo: ¿qué haría Marie Curie? Si la NASA le ofreciera liderar un proyecto de neuroingeniería, un sueño hecho realidad después de pasarse años malviviendo con las migajas del mundo académico, Marie aceptaría sin dudarlo. Obvio. Pero la madre de la física moderna nunca tuvo que codirigir ningún proyecto con Levi Ward. A ver, Levi no está nada mal: es alto, moreno y tiene una mirada de lo más penetrante. Pero Levi dejó muy claros sus sentimientos por Bee en la universidad: es mejor que dos enemigos trabajen cada uno en su propia galaxia muy muy lejana. De pronto, Bee se encuentra con que su material ha desaparecido, el personal pasa de ella y su maltrecha carrera profesional pende de un hilo. Puede que su lóbulo occipital esté jugándole una mala pasada, pero juraría que Levi empieza a convertirse en su aliado, apoyando sus decisiones, secundando sus ideas... devorándola con esa mirada suya. Y las diferentes posibilidades traen a sus neuronas de cabeza. Sin embargo, cuando llega el momento de jugársela y arriesgar el corazón, solo hay una pregunta que importe: ¿Qué hará Bee Königswasser?

Mallory Greenleaf is done with chess. Every move counts nowadays. After the sport led to the destruction of her family four years earlier, Mallory's focus is on her mom, her sisters, and the dead-end job that keeps the lights on. That is, until she begrudgingly agrees to play in one last charity tournament and inadvertently wipes the board with notorious "Kingkiller" Nolan Sawyer: current world champion and reigning bad boy of chess. Nolan's loss to an unknown rook-ie shocks everyone—especially Mallory. What's even more confusing? His desire to cross pawns again. What kind of gambit is Nolan playing? The smart move would be to walk away. Resign. Game over. But Mallory's victory opens the door to sorely needed cash prizes and, despite everything, she can't help feeling drawn to the enigmatic strategist.... As she rockets up the ranks, Mallory struggles to keep her family safely separated from the game that wrecked it in the first place. And as her love for the sport she so desperately wanted to hate begins to rekindle, Mallory quickly realizes that the games aren't only on the board, the spotlight is hotter than she imagined, and the competition can be fierce(-ly attractive. And intelligent...and infuriating...)

Da autora bestseller de A Hipótese do Amor, chega uma nova comédia STEMinista na qual uma cientista é forçada a trabalhar num projeto com o seu arqui-inimigo... com resultados explosivos. Para a neurocientista Bee, o amor é apenas um incidente neurofisiológico irremediavelmente instável e o verdadeiro inimigo das relações humanas cujos fundamentos neurológicos explora no dia a dia. Enquanto mulher a trabalhar na ciência, Bee é uma espécie em vias de extinção num mundo dominado por homens e, por isso, vive de acordo com um código muito simples: o que faria Marie Curie? Se lhe fosse oferecido o cargo de liderança num projeto de neuro-engenharia, Marie aceitaria sem hesitar. Claro! Mas a mãe da física moderna nunca teve de coliderar com Levi Ward, o arqui-inimigo académico de longa data de Bee que transforma o seu sonho num pesadelo de projeto. Mas quando Bee se vê numa situação romântica completamente irracional e precisa de pôr em risco o seu coração, a única pergunta que realmente importa é: o que fará Bee Königswasser? Bee vai ter de escolher entre fazer o que deve ser feito, ou o que o seu coração manda.

A competitive diver and an ace swimmer jump into forbidden waters in this steamy college romance from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis. Scarlett Vandermeer is swimming upstream. A Junior at Stanford and a student-athlete who specializes in platform diving, Scarlett prefers to keep her head down, concentrating on getting into med school and on recovering from the injury that almost ended her career. She has no time for relationships—at least, that’s what she tells herself.   Swim captain, world champion, all-around aquatics golden boy, Lukas Blomqvist thrives on discipline. It’s how he wins gold medals and breaks complete focus, with every stroke. On the surface, Lukas and Scarlett have nothing in common. Until a well-guarded secret slips out, and everything changes.   So they start an arrangement. And as the pressure leading to the Olympics heats up, so does their relationship. It was supposed to be just a temporary, mutually satisfying fling. But when staying away from Lukas becomes impossible, Scarlett realizes that her heart might be treading into dangerous water...

A forbidden, secret affair proves that all’s fair in love and science. Rue Siebert might not have it all, but she has enough: a few friends she can always count on, the financial stability she yearned for as a kid, and a successful career as a biotech engineer at Kline, one of the most promising start-ups in the field of food science. Her world is stable, pleasant, and hard-fought. Until a hostile takeover and its offensively attractive front man threatens to bring it all crumbling down. Eli Killgore and his business partners want Kline, period. Eli has his own reasons for pushing this deal through - and he's a man who gets what he wants. With one burning exception: Rue. The woman he can't stop thinking about. The woman who's off-limits to him. Torn between loyalty and an undeniable attraction, Rue and Eli throw caution out the lab and the boardroom windows. Their affair is secret, no-strings-attached, and has a built-in deadline: the day one of their companies will prevail. But the heart is risky business - one that plays for keeps.