Fuck Around and Find Out: A Forbidden Office Romance

by S.B. Vale

She walked into my bar wearing a black dress and a motto that changed fuck around and find out.

On night of raw, unforgettable heat — her hips grinding against mine on the dance floor, her nails in my back as I took her apart — and I was hooked.

Then Monday hit. Francesca Thompson is my new direct report. Brilliant British strategist. Off-limits in every way that matters.

A year of torture stolen glances across glass-walled offices, late nights pretending we don’t remember every filthy inch of each other. Her Graves’ disease battle only makes me want to protect her more — and fight for her harder.

But can we rewrite the rules without burning everything down?

A steamy forbidden boss-employee novella with slow-burn tension, high heat, and a hard-won HEA. ~30,000 words. Book 1 in the Jace & Frankie Duet — her side coming soon

145 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 3, 2026

Reviews

[Layla Brough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good read. Very spicy, Not a book I could read at work. Can't wait for the next book to arrive.

[FeralForFiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jace's side of the story is incredible. It's sweet, spicy and sob worthy all in one! The yearning is top tier and actually quite heartbreaking 🥺 I loved the fact that there's two sides to the story as each perspective shows you just how different things can seem through someone else's eyes. You never really know what internal struggles people are dealing with and these two POVs show just that! Absolutely incredible, I can't wait for more or SBs work! 🖤🤌🏻

[Yuri Perez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story between Jace and Frankie is definitely a great one. Jace is the boss of a company while Frankie is his employee. They meet before Frankie is even hired at his company and have a one night stand. Jace falls complete in love with Frankie she is the best person for him, strong, sexy and knows what she wants. She disappears after their night stand and he goes crazy, he doesn’t know her name, doesn’t have her phone number and is completely at a loss. A week later his assistant lets him know of a new employee at his company and he is completely unaware that this new employee is Frankie. She pretends not to know him and greats him with professionalism and respect. When they are finally alone she sets some boundaries and rules between them. She is clear to him that she is a professional woman and that their relationship will keep being professional despite what had happened that night. He’s devastated for sure because he is obsessed with this woman now more than ever. But Frankie will not jeopardize her career and job for a relationship with her boss. Will this work for Jace? Read to find out. Review 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️spice 🌶️ the story is interesting for sure the only thing that was a downfall for me is that I enjoy reading dual POVs going back and forth between the main characters and this book isn’t the case we first have to read one POV of the story than continue to the next on a later on side of the book. Overall this book was pretty good 😊 I enjoyed the story, Jace is such a great character, so nice, thoughtful, funny and handsome for sure. I can’t wait to read Frankie’s POV and see her side of the story.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first novella out of 2, this one follows Jace and his side of events. I thoroughly enjoyed this, the writing was captivating, the characters felt real, not unrealistic expectations but people that you could know in real life. I loved Frankie, the fact she was so strong, knew exactly what she wanted and wouldn't be forced into anything she didn't want or wasn't ready for. And it was nice to have a story where the man wasn't forceful and respected the woman's choice for once! And there was a good amount of spice, very enjoyable spice, BUT it wasn't overpowering and it added to the story because there was a story to follow!

This story just proves, it doesn't need to be long to be impactful and enjoyable! Excited to read Frankie's POV next!

[Kirstin O’Donnell · Rating 1 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🌶️🌶️🌶️

This was a really solid novella and a great reminder that shorter books can still deliver a strong story.

It sits comfortably between soft romance and dark romance. It is not mushy or overly sweet but not heavy or brutal either. The writing is clean engaging and easy to sink into with a dynamic that keeps the tension simmering without dragging. At 145 pages it is a quick read that flows well and would be perfect for pulling yourself out of a reading slump.

The spice lands at 3🌶️ for me. It is well written and satisfying though I personally would have loved a little more page time there. Not because what is included is not good but because the chemistry deserves it. That said the balance between plot and heat works and nothing feels forced.

I rated this 4⭐️ because while it is not quite in my all time favourites pile it is a genuinely enjoyable read with a strong premise and good execution. I finished it feeling satisfied and interested to see where the series goes next especially with the promise of a different POV in the follow up.

A solid enjoyable novella that knows its lane and does it well.

[Jennifer Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Fuck Around and Find Out” by S.B. Vale was an easy five-star read for me, and a large part of that comes down to Frankie as a main character.
Frankie lives with an autoimmune condition, yet she refuses to let it define her or limit her ambitions. Her determination, resilience, and refusal to be held back felt incredibly authentic. As someone who also deals with chronic health challenges, I found her character deeply relatable and honestly refreshing to read.
Her strength isn’t portrayed as perfection, it’s messy, human, and hard-earned. She struggles, but she keeps showing up, and that representation meant a lot to me.
Beyond that, the story itself delivers exactly what the title promises. It’s bold, chaotic, and driven by decisions that carry real consequences. The tension builds steadily, and the pacing makes it difficult to put down.
This isn’t a light or easy read, but it is an engaging one...especially for readers who appreciate flawed characters, high-stakes choices, and stories that don’t shy away from the fallout.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Escapism

Enjoyable escapism with a hint of tension and heat. Jace is compelling without being overdone — controlled, watchful, and clearly holding back more than he lets on. A good setup overall, and I’m looking forward to reading Frankie’s POV next. Not bad for a first book by this author. Give it a go.

[Makayla Kayla reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything and more. A MMC that grovels at your feet. Who would respect you at the right times and be a demon in the sheets at night. And our FMC who’s a badass even while dealing with a chronic illness. Nobody can tell her anything, not when she’s in charge. I enjoyed this book so much I gave her a 5 stars!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

From page one this book had me engrossed, it is an incredible read. Now onto Frankie’s side of the story.

[Hell of a book (Helga) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it!

This cute office romance is about forbidden love, longing and lust.

It doesn’t have the usual power dynamics you would normally see in an office romance. In fact, the woman is actually in charge. Besides the spicy scenes, there is actually a story that is being told. One that is funny, sweet and sometimes also serious. It’s the perfect book to read when you just want to turn your mind off and escape the world for a little bit. Even though it’s a short book, I did have the feeling that I was developing a “relationship” with the characters and actually cared what happened to them.

Would definitely recommend!

[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jace has got to be top tier. The respect he had for Frankie just made him absolutely delicious. And when he brought her the miso cod after her surgery? I absolutely melted. He was so sweet and so perfect for her. Everyone needs a partner like Jace.