"Um, no." Finally, she snapped out of her trance. "No, I don't hate it.""Then what's with the funny expression on your face?"She gave an unsteady chuckle. "I'm stunned you would make such an offer. For me. Like this.""Hey." He tried to smooth his features. "That's what friends are for, right?""Don't you have your own women to romance? Do all the romance crap with? I'd hate for some jealous female to show up and scratch my eyes out.""No." He shrugged. "No one special.""And what about all the stuff the Warriors always do over holidays? For instance, I happen to know the owner and his wife have a huge party every year. Remember, we did a story about it last year?""One night. Big deal. When's your shindig?""On Valentine's Day itself. A week from Saturday.""Well, there you are." He leaned back and took a calming sip of his beer. "The Warriors party is on Friday night. No conflict. Anyway, all I have to do is put in an appearance there then split." His eyes lit up. "Hey! Why don't y
Stacy frowned at the disheveled pile of clothes on her bed. She had already chosen and discarded four different outfits. What did one wear to lunch, anyway, with a very sexy guy who pretended to be your guy to raise your hot babe quotient? All the outfits were somehow wrong: too fussy, too plain, too businesslike—What the hell? I am in business—or too casual.Why couldn't she simply pull some kind of ensemble together today without all the dithering?Because Max, the devil, had said, "Wear something sexy."Max. The man whose goodnight kiss had left her wanting to get naked with him and leap onto his cock. The thought startled her so she nearly dropped the clothes she held. Then another thought hit her.And wouldn't that just shock the hell out of him?Why on earth have erotic thoughts about Max, anyway? Good old Max. Doing her a favor.Staring at herself standing in her bra and thong before her mirror, she wondered what Max would think of her body. She pinched one of her nipples
"Well?" Deedee prodded. "Where did you come up with a guy like this?"Stacy frowned at the other woman. "You don't think I can attract one? Am I so unappealing?""That's not what I meant." Deedee fluffed her hair, a gesture Stacy always found annoying. "Except you never…"I know, I know. I never. "Never mind."The other women around her wore expressions of avid curiosity and pointed to the open box."Have a piece of chocolate, everyone. Have several. I'll never eat it all by myself. If I do, I won't fit behind my desk."The sweet confections were melt-in-your-mouth heavenly. Stacy let one roll around on her tongue, the rich flavor of the chocolate and peppermint exploding. Whoever ordered the delivery deserved a big kiss. She hoped it was Max because she sure had enjoyed that kiss the night before. Even if the unexpected sizzle had totally shocked her.She carried the candy back to her cubicle and booted up her computer, determined to get some work done. She had assignments alre
"Think that made an impression?" he asked with a grin."More like a sinkhole," she told him now that she could catch her breath. "Wow!""The guy in your office who glared as if he wanted to shoot me. I take it he's resident asshole?"She nodded. "That's Kurt.""Forgive me for saying so, Stacy. That guy even looks like an asshole. I need to talk to you about your taste in men.""Not today, okay?" How to tell him she really wanted to pretend what they were enjoying was a fun, romantic luncheon and she didn't want to talk about Kurt or anyone else? He'd think her nuts. The whole plan was all pretend and she had to keep that in mind. Even though her brain was still fogged from that kiss."I can already tell he's a loser." He hugged her against him and gave her a playful grin. "I'm so much handsomer. And much nicer."Was he only teasing her? More of his usual Max-type jokes? For an insane moment, she wanted this to be real.While she wondered, he kissed her on the cheek. Just a gent
He had two weeks to prove to her they were good together, and he planned to pull out all the stops. The night before, when he kissed her, his body stood up and begged for more. Not even in his dreams had he realized how explosive kissing Stacy Halligan would be. Now he wanted more. Of her. In his bed. And in his life.The problem would be convincing her, since their big romance was supposed to be nothing more than an act.Think of it like a football game and put a plan together, with lots of option plays. Maybe even an end around.He chuckled to himself at that."This is very nice of you."Stacy's voice jerked him out of his thoughts. She smiled at him, her plump lips begging for him to take a taste. He wanted to lick every inch of them. He could still feel the aftereffects of their kiss. Both kisses, as a matter of fact.Easy, boy. You're in a public place."I'm having fun." He winked. "What's not to enjoy? A great lunch with a beautiful, sexy lady? I'll bet every man in here w
If only he didn't worry so much that his plan would backfire on him. As she headed for the restroom, he took out his cell and punched in a number."Are you crazy?" his friend Arnie asked. "I need more than five minutes to prepare for what you want.""Pretend I'm helping you prepare for the Valentine's Day thing you always do. Don't you need some practice?""No," Arnie snapped. "Not as long as we've been doing it.""Then it should be easy," Max told him. "I have faith, my man. Just ask Josie to help."Arnie laughed. "My wife will do it if only to get a peek at a woman who has you obviously outside your comfort zone.""Whatever. As long as you get it done. Okay?""Yeah, yeah, yeah.""Did you call your office?" he asked when they were back in his car."Yes. When I went to the ladies room." She gave an unsteady little laugh. "They think I'm crazy. I never take off in the middle of the day.""Then maybe it's time you did. If none of those idiots you hung out with talked you into i
Stacy was both bewildered and enchanted. She could have objected at any time. If she had told Max she didn't want to go along with whatever he had planned, she knew he'd have taken her home again. She was curious, though, about what came next, as well as about his motive. Maybe she should take Max's advice and shake up her life a little. Setting off on a Valentine's adventure with him offered an enticing way to do it. Besides, the ride was one of the most romantic things anyone had ever done for her. And what could she lose except an afternoon at work?What had prompted this change in plans? Why was he doing it? An unexpected thread of sexual excitement wiggled its way through her body.Ohmigod!Sex and Max? Was that even possible?Still, as the enclosed buggy jostled along over the terrain, music drifting through the space, the memory of their kisses kept replaying in her mind. God, the man could certainly kiss. And that tongue. How would it feel on other parts of her body? Immedi
She was speechless. A king bed with a red satin comforter and piles of pillows sat against a wall of the one-room cabin. Red and white flowers in large clusters filled two vases, and candles decked nearly every surface."My God!" She could only stare, trying to take everything in. "Who did all this?""Arnie and Josie set it up three years ago. They rent it out for Valentine's Day, anniversaries, events like that. Starting next Monday, they'll do one run every afternoon and one every evening. Arnie was kind enough to pull it all together right away for me.""Does anyone get to stay overnight?"He winked at her. "That comes later.""It's so…so…so....""Romantic?" he finished, teasing."And then some.""Don't move," he said. "I'll be right back."She was still trying to process everything when he returned to place a large wicker basket on the small dining table. When he lifted the lid, she saw that it held two bottles of wine, glasses, and a square box of chocolates."They didn'