Page 35 (1/2)

ONE

The goddaht as well be ht as he came into full wakefulness at the low,from the hallway He’d never actually heard the mystery wonized her immediately, nonetheless

Weird Just her voice ainst the cool sheets

He’d seen her twice now, once in Louie’s—the steakhouse located in the lobby of Rivervieers The other tiether

He’d have bet the finest stallion in his stable that she was as aware of him on that elevator ride as he was of her

Sort of an understatement, actually, to say that Vic had been aware of her He’d noticed everything about herthe light sprinkling of freckles on her nose, the movement of her lips when they closed and parted, the pulse at her elegant throat, the shape of her breasts beneath the conservative yet sensual silk blouse that she wore

She was beautiful Vic knew better than most how overused that hen it came to women But other descriptors—pretty, attractive, sexy—fell far short when it came to the woman across the hall

She was luminous

He liked women He liked them smart, feisty, sexy, skilled, and hot But this woman’s beauty irked him He steered clear of beautiful women Ever since the debacle with Jenny

His head caain Did her voice sound strained?

When he heard a s over the side of the bed and reached for his jeans

“Evan, I’ve made it very clear where I stand with you I’ve never played coy And no, I can’t give you soht feel differently,” she said before Evan had the chance to say the predictable

What was it about getting dressed up for a black-tie affair that et laid? Niall Chandler wondered dispiritedly God, she was an idiot She should never have agreed to accoo Metropolitan Museuht As a member of the museum’s board of trustees, Evan Forrester had the potential to make her job very difficult if he chose to play the part of a rejected lover

“You’re not even giving this a chance Look, I don’t have any of the details, but I’d have to be an idiot not to know that I’ue references and dirty looks your boss is always giving me, not to mention that secretary of yours But so is to just take the plunge Come on, Nialljump off that pedestal of ice, sweetheart,” he coaxed “The weather down below is nice and hot”