Steven Lockwood sat in his car and fought down the rage. Fuck! That arrogant little shit had the nerve to say no to him! Then the red Jaguar F-Type Convertible was about the only thing of value he owned, and he only owned that because he’d sweet-talked Rose into putting the title in his name. It was amazing what women would do if you gave them a mind-blowing orgasm. Selling the car wasn’t an option… Steven wasn’t ready to part with it just yet. It was perfect for his image, and it reminded him of the youth he’d squandered bowing and scraping to women in order to get by. He’d deserved so much more… There was another way back to the lifestyle he’d grown accustomed to, the lifestyle he deserved so much. But it required start-up capital, something he didn’t have. But Dr. Lovejoy did. Taking a deep breath, Steven unclenched his fists and laid them over the leather-wrapped steering wheel. He stroked th
Heath watched Rowena from across the table. She wasn’t what he’d expected after hearing her on the radio. When Heath had pictured her in his mind, Alissa aka Rowena Killian hadn’t been an ugly woman but she hadn’t been beautiful, either. Plain, average, unexciting… At least that’s what he’d expected. What he’d gotten was nothing close to unexciting. She was something very similar to a fairy. Her beauty was out of this world. So much so that Heath had to pinch himself just to be sure he wasn’t imagining her at his table in the private room. Rowena Killian was the k
All through dinner, Rowena felt as if she was walking a tightrope. Despite the fact that every cell in her body seemed swollen, excited, and expectant, somehow, she managed to keep her reaction to herself. Or she hoped she had… Leaning toward him across the table was normal, right? She wanted to hear him over the kitchen clatter coming from behind the doors. And so, what that she’d forgotten and let their hands touch... It was an accident… pure accident. She just hoped Heath hadn’t noticed that when dessert arrived and her tongue darted across her lips in anticipation, she hadn’t been staring at his chocolate tart.“You should try this, Rowena. It’s delicious.” Heath looked at her across the table, his fork halfway to his almost-empty plate, a thoroughly satisfied smile on his face. Chocolate could do that to a person. Rowena started to protest, opening her mouth to insist she was full already. But he didn’t give her a chance.
Heath nodded his head sideways, toward the back window and the tiny cluster of people standing behind them. Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! He was right… If they left in separate cars, the journalists would know immediately that she wasn’t just some date he’d taken out on a normal Saturday night. And they’d see her license plate number. Turning back to face him, she glared.“Great! I didn’t need this… So, what do you suggest?”“Have you ever been to 'Angels Meadow'?” 'Angels Meadow'? Was he out of his mind?“No, I haven’t. And we’re not going.” Any other time, Rowena might have thought she’d died and gone to heaven. The sexiest, most charismatic, most amazing man she’d ever met was asking her to take a walk in a park with him. But not because he actually wanted to kiss and touch her. If he had, she’d have said yes in a heartbeat. No… She’d been the one fantasizing about all the fun they could have in the compact sports car.
“What the hell is going on?” Rowena jerked, stabbing herself with her pen and sending black ink gliding across the back of her hand. She blinked at Summer, disoriented and a little unsteady.“What are you talking about?”“This…” her friend replied, slapping a folded newspaper on top of the year-to-date expense report she’d been reading before Summer’s incredulous voice had interrupted. Rowena stared… She’d never seen Summer so agitated. Leaning forward, she furiously scanned the page.“There’s a gala at Paramount Theatre on Saturday?” Rowena said then looked up. “I can’t get an invitation, Summie. You’re the one with family in high places.”“Very funny! No, not that.” Summer glared and pointed to the bottom of the page.“This. The story about Dr. Lovejoy. Accompanied by a picture of him with you.”“What?” Snatching the flimsy paper from her desk, Rowena stared at the unmistakable picture of Heath… with his arm draped around her shoulders. It had
Fighting the urge to hold up open palms in a gesture of surrender Heath smiled at Summer.“We’re just friends…”“Yeah… and I’m a supermodel…” She shifted away. Somehow the widening gap between them didn’t make him feel any more comfortable.“I know lust when I see it… Just remember I’ve got her back. Rowe might not stoop to revenge, but I have no problem with physical retribution.” The fact that she recognized the attraction he was trying desperately to deny set his nerves on edge.“Summer, we’re not involved.” She shrugged.“Okay… Whatever…” Before he could pursue it further, convince her that he meant what he said, Summer turned and left him there. A few seconds later, Rowena reappeared.“Where’s Summie?” she asked looking around.“I guess she didn’t need coffee anymore… She just… left…” Rowena sighed and shook her head.“Dammit… I’m going to kill her…” she whispered. Then, snagging him by the elbow, Rowena tugge
Rowena’s body hummed. That was some kiss. And she wanted more. Of course, from the moment she’d set eyes on him, she’d known. Known Heath could cut through the protective layers she’d built up and melt the ice that kept her frozen for all these years. Known he could turn her on like no one before. Known that with Heath Evans nothing else would matter. And she’d been right. Not that he seemed to care. Heath blinked down at her. His eyes were glazed with the same arousal still writhing through her body. But as he took another tiny step away, it became crystal clear he had no intention of a repeat performance. And Rowena was so ready for an encore. “My God, Heath… Why are you looking at me like that? What are you afraid of?” The words burst from her like an accusation. Rowena hadn’t meant them to be, but he was looking at her like she was Medusa or something. Between the two of them, she was supposed to be the o
Something close to pure jealousy rolled through Steven’s stomach as he watched his son and the pretty little thing Heath was holding and kissing. An odd grin appeared on his lips and he felt his enlarged member pressing against the zipper of his trousers. Steven Lockwood saw himself as a player, through and through… He was able to charm the pants off a woman anytime and anywhere. Everywhere he went, the ladies were falling at his feet. But lately, that luck was starting to run out and he was starting to miss the thrill of the chase. The surge of power he got the moment he knew he had a woman in the palm of his hand was absolutely unique. There was nothing in this world like that feeling, when everything coalesced to perfection, when his brilliance and human nature combined to give him whatever he wanted. And the boy was a chip off the old block. He watched from inside his car as his son moved in for the kill, pulled a fi