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'
Max rose from his knees and bent over her, giving her a slow, tender kiss. Her taste on his lips started her quivering all over again. He gentled her with long slow strokes along her arms and shoulders. With kisses from her throat over her breasts to her navel. And finally, one very tender kiss on her silky pubic curls.When he rose to his feet and pulled his sweater over his head, Stacy almost cried at the perfection of him. He possessed a true athlete's physique, with broad shoulders, a defined six-pack, and sculptured muscles along his arms. Dark hair scattered over his chest, arrowing down to disappear into the waistband of slacks resting on narrow hips. Just looking at him was enough to make her mouth water. How had she never realized what a hunk Max was before?His eyes, hot and hungry, burned into hers as he stripped off his slacks and boxer briefs. Her gaze drew at once to his cock, rising long and thick from a tight nest of curls, and she began to shake with need again."I
The women at the magazine were in an absolute tizzy. No one came right out and said it, but Stacy could tell by the tone of their comments they all wondered how she had managed to snag the hunky football player. Kurt showed up every day for a week to check out her desk and see whatever new gift she might be displaying. His efforts to rekindle whatever had been going on between them actually made her laugh. What had she ever seen in him, anyway? She'd taken great pleasure in brushing him off with a smile, turning down every invitation until he finally gave up, only doing it with very bad grace.The whole whatever-this-was with Max gave her a sense of power she'd never enjoyed before. Amazing that a man who could have nearly any woman he wanted chose her. And if she could believe him, he did it because he really wanted to be much more than friends. Had hidden that desire all this time.If she could believe him.She couldn't help harboring that secret fear he'd wake up one morning, rea
"You know I would love to have you come with me." Max repeated the sentence for about the hundredth time.He had a very uneasy feeling about going to the Warrens' party without her."It's fine. I'm fine." She grinned. "Besides, it will give me a chance to rest up for our big night tomorrow.""That's right. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, and I have a big surprise for you." He had a slight attack of nerves when he thought about the agenda. He was ready for it, though, and he hoped she was, too."Are you even going to give me a clue?""Nope." He kissed the tip of her nose. "Not one tiny hint. Just be sure to wear that outfit we bought last weekend."He had insisted on taking her shopping, picking out a red dress of silky material that clung to her body in all the right places. Then, ignoring her blushing embarrassment, he'd hauled her into a lingerie shop and picked out the sexiest red bra and thong the salesgirl could find for them."Everyone knows what you have in mind now," she'd
Max rose before six in the morning, having slept uneasily. He couldn't shake the feeling the sword of doom was about strike him. Those damn pictures. If only he'd been able to push the woman away, but she'd been worse than a vulture. As soon as the clock hit a decent time, he planned to call Tony Warren and ask him to help. You just never knew when a picture would show up on someone's phone and make its way out into cyberspace. Unfortunately, he didn't think the Warrens would be taking any calls before noon today.He downed two cups of coffee while he watched the clock. Valentine's Day. He had big plans for Stacy, along with a special event tonight, before the magazine party. Maybe that was why he was so nervous. By eight o'clock, he was ready to jump out of his skin. Showered and dressed, he hurried down to the bakery in the nearby strip center and bought the cinnamon rolls she told him she had a real obsession for. At eight forty-five, he rang her bell, excitement at the upcoming da