One-Click Buy: February 2010 Harlequin Blaze
Page 53
Are you stuck in traffic? We didn’t want to start without you. Gabrielle.
Gabrielle was the coordinator of the Red Tote Book Club. Carol couldn’t stop the relieved smile that curved her mouth—they did care. She quickly texted back that she’d be there in a few minutes, then grabbed the box of cookies and the red tote holding the precious books that had filled her lonely evenings over the past few months. After exiting her car, she jogged toward the entrance of the library.
Inside, she stopped to inhale the pungent scent of books and absorb the pleasant hum of computers and lowered voices. She’d been an avid reader most of her young life, but had gotten away from pleasure reading as an adult. When she’d seen the ad for the book club for women looking to add a little spice to their reading life, she’d been intrigued, if a little suspicious. But the group of women who’d gathered on that first night were amazingly like her—in their thirties, educated and single. Except, unlike her, they all seemed to be in the market for a boyfriend or a lover, neither of which appealed to her.
Carol wound her way through a maze of hallways to reach the tucked away room where the group met for ultimate privacy. Their book selections and discussions weren’t meant for tender eyes and ears. She rapped on the door and a few seconds later, it opened wide enough to reveal the wary, blue-eyed gaze of Cassie Goodwin, fellow member. Cassie’s wariness immediately turned into a smile as she opened the door and welcomed Carol inside where the other three club members—Page Sharpe, Wendy Trainer and Jacqueline Mays—sat around a table, with the group’s coordinator, Gabrielle Pope, at the head.
“We were just having a toast for Gabrielle,” Cassie sang, handing Carol a glass of red wine—contraband smuggled in for the occasion.
Taking a seat at the table, Carol glanced at Gabrielle and noticed the woman had a glow about her. Which could only mean one thing: Even their plain, bun-packing, cardigan-wearing leader had bagged a man. Dread settled in Carol’s stomach.
“The toast isn’t for me,” Gabrielle fussed, although she was clearly pleased by the attention. “To seduction by the book!”
Carol was the last to lift her glass and her smile felt stiff as she looked around the table. Over the past few months, the other four members had chosen erotic books to help guide them in their sensual journey to seduce a man. Now, even their leader Gabrielle had found her match in a lover and, if the light in the woman’s eyes was any indication, had found love as well.
And the cheese stands alone, Carol mused wryly as she drank deeply from the glass of merlot. She remained the lone holdout, refusing to go along with the optional assignment.
The women chorused good wishes and congratulations to Gabrielle and listened as their coordinator relayed happy details about her lover and how their relationship had taken off once they discovered common sexual ground. The woman spoke openly about tantric experiences, mirroring the frank, honest discussions the members had shared about the group’s book selections. Gabrielle had declared no topic and no language was off-limits. And while Carol conceded that the candid dialogue had riveted her, she acknowledged that she’d participated less than anyone. And she’d sensed the other women were resentful to varying degrees that she’d observed more than she’d partaken.
As Gabrielle shared the lush aspects of her new relationship, Carol felt excluded. The other women leaned into each other and seemed to share an emotional shorthand she wasn’t privy to. It occurred to her that they didn’t trust her because she’d refused to be vulnerable, refused to take the same risk they’d taken.
Carol shrank back in her chair, suddenly wishing she had followed her earlier impulse to leave. She knew the women around the table thought she was detached…maybe even thought she was a lesbian. They had no idea she once was like them—dreamy eyed, with an open door to her heart, waiting for the right man to walk through. And he had.
James had romanced her and cajoled her into falling head over heels in love with him. So much so that on Valentine’s Day eight years ago, she’d garnered her strength and proposed to him. But instead of the wholehearted “yes” she’d expected, the day had gone horribly wrong, shattering her hopes and dreams. Since that day, she’d kept her heart and body carefully under wraps.
When her chest squeezed painfully, Carol gave herself a mental shake, surprised that the mortification of that day still felt so fresh. She dropped her gaze to her feet to gather herself.
That was when she noticed a small white envelope sticking out of one of the books in her red tote.
Being the long-time employee of a greeting card company, she was accustomed to finding cards in her briefcase and scattered around her car and condo—samples and mockups and overruns. But this card was sealed and seemed to have been placed purposely. She glanced up to see if any of the other women had noticed, but they were congratulating Gabrielle and talking amongst themselves. Ignoring her.
Carol removed the envelope, then slid her thumb under the flap, broke the seal and slid out the card.
The front of the greeting card was a photograph of an early spring scene, with the green shoots of bulb flowers poking through the earth. In the foreground, one large, lone icicle glistened spectacularly. She opened the card and read the computer-generated words inside.
Spring came, and still Carol Snow refused to thaw.
There was no signature.
Hurt whipped through her, leaving her skin stinging. She knew she had a reputation at work for being cold, knew that people saw her as unfeeling and rigid. Her mind raced, scanning the faces and names of coworkers, wondering which one had gone to the trouble of putting the note in her book…
And her mind stopped on Luke Chancellor, the cad. The reason he’d detained her today wasn’t to talk about bonuses—he’d been looking for an opportunity to plant the card. It made even more sense when she recalled his parting shot.
Instead of reading about life, you should try the real thing sometime!
Tears pressed the back of her eyes and she must have uttered something because suddenly, all heads turned in her direction.
“Carol, did you say something?” Page asked.
They all stared at her expectantly, silently challenging her to step up, to join their sexually active sisterhood. Her reluctance to participate in the seduction experiment was like an elephant in the room. In the beginning, she had justified to herself that she barely knew the other women and therefore, owed them no explanation.
But over the course of the monthly meetings, things had changed. Carol felt closer to these women than to anyone else in her life, and she wanted to fit in, wanted to be accepted. Her pleasure over Gabrielle’s simple, thoughtful text message in the parking lot was proof that she needed these women and these meetings.
Judging from her traitorous response to Luke Chancellor today, she conceded she would benefit from the physical release a seduction would provide. But if she seduced a man, it wouldn’t be with stars in her eyes…it would be purely for revenge. Revenge for the way men had treated her, especially James, but there had been others who had made her feel powerless…men like Luke…
It would serve the cad right if she seduced him and then cast him aside…play the playboy.
“Are you okay?” Cassie asked her in a gentle tone.
Carol wet her lips and nodded. “I’ve been thinking…”
Eyes widened in her direction, shoulders leaned. Her bravado fled, leaving a trail of perspiration trickling between her breasts.
“Yes, Carol?” Gabrielle prompted in the ensuing silence. “What’s on your mind?”
Her heart galloped in her chest, but she managed a smile. “I’ve decided to try the seduction experiment.”
Congratulations reverberated in the room and happy smiles wreathed the faces of her fellow book club members. They seemed equally pleased and surprised. She wondered how their expressions would change if she told them she planned to use sex to avenge her wounded pride, to humiliate, and hopefully, to inflict pain on her target. Only Gabri
elle seemed reserved for some reason, studying Carol over the brim of her wine glass. Carol couldn’t meet the woman’s gaze.
“So who’s the lucky guy?” Wendy asked, practically bouncing up and down in her chair.
“Someone I work with,” Carol responded casually. “His name is Luke.”
“He sounds sexy,” Jacqueline said with a smile.
“He’s perfect,” Carol agreed through gritted teeth. Beneath the table, she crumpled the icicle card into a tight ball in her fist. Too late, she realized Gabrielle had noticed. When she met the woman’s gaze, Carol saw the flash of something in the coordinator’s eye—apprehension?
“A seduction just in time for Valentine’s Day,” Cassie continued, oblivious to the exchange, as were the other women. “Do you have a plan?”
“Not really,” Carol admitted. “Although…there is the possibility of a company party on the horizon.”
“Sounds promising,” Wendy said with a grin. “Maybe you and Luke can slip away to a supply closet.”
The women laughed and passed around the almond cookies that Carol had brought. For the first time, she felt at ease with her fellow book club members. As the evening progressed and they discussed titles for upcoming selections, she contributed to the discussion and felt accepted. But she was aware of Gabrielle’s thoughtful gaze on her throughout.
As they left the meeting, Gabrielle walked out into the parking lot with her. Their breath formed frosty puffs in the winter air.
“It’s really getting cold,” the older woman offered. “I heard rumors of snow flurries.”
Carol laughed. “I think the groceries get that rumor started every year so people will go out and buy milk and bread. It never snows in Atlanta.”
Gabrielle nodded, then seemed to turn inward. “I confess your about-face on the seduction experiment surprises me. If you don’t me asking, why did you change your mind?”
Carol attempted a casual shrug. Inside her coat pocket, she clenched the crumpled card so hard her hand hurt. “Does it really matter?”
“No,” the coordinator admitted. “Just be careful with your motivations, else you might be the person who winds up getting hurt.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Carol assured her.
Gabrielle smiled. “Then I feel sorry for Luke.”
As the woman walked away, Carol adopted a smug smile. Someone should feel sorry for Luke. Because, just like the cartoon Cupid dressed in fatigues on the sappy valentine, Carol planned to take no prisoners.
3
Carol sat in her car in the parking lot in front of her office building gripping the cold steering wheel with sweaty hands. She glanced at her watch, fighting the compulsion to go inside. At 7:50 a.m. she was usually well into her workday, but Luke Chancellor always cut it close, so…
As if she had conjured him up, his pewter-colored BMW zipped into view. She followed his car in her rearview mirror, noting where he parked. Then she timed her exit from her own sensible sedan so they would meet on their way into the building. It was a brisk winter morning, with enough of a breeze to send chills up her skirt. Carol tried to ignore the cold, slowing to allow Luke to catch up with her. He was whistling under his breath and tying a yellow tie, his white shirt collar flipped up. When he saw her, he did a double-take and rolled his wrist to check his watch.
“Good morning, Snow,” he said with a grin. “Two more minutes and you’d have gotten a tardy slip.”
“Good morning, Chancellor,” Carol returned as nicely as she could manage given the fact that she wanted to confront him about the icicle card he’d stuck in her book.
“How was your book club?”
“Fine,” she said, wondering if the man was, on top of everything else, a mind reader. Her heart pounded in her chest. Could he tell something was different?
“Something’s different,” he said, looking her up and down.
She stiffened. “What?”
“You’re wearing a skirt,” he said, appraising her legs. “Nice.”
It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate the compliment—it was just that she hadn’t received a compliment from a man in so long, she didn’t know how to respond. “Thank…you?”
He angled his head at her. “Was that a question?”
Flustered, Carol nodded to his undone collar. “Didn’t have time to dress at home?”
“Maybe I wasn’t at home this morning.”
She started to roll her eyes at his insinuation that he’d spent the night elsewhere, then remembered some of the coaching tips the women in the book club had given her—act interested…make eye contact…flirt…touch him…
“So…um…where were you?” she asked, batting her lashes.
“At the gym.” Luke squinted. “Do you have something in your eye?”
“Er, yes,” she lied, lifting her knuckle for a fake rub.
“Let me see,” he said, stopping to turn toward her.
Caught off guard by his sudden proximity, she inhaled sharply, breathing in the scent of shaving cream and soap that emanated from him. Even with her wearing heels, he stood a head taller. The ends of his dark hair were still damp, conjuring up images of him in the gym shower…sudsing sweat from his long, muscular body. He peered into her perfectly healthy eye while she stood stock still in an effort to ward off the sexual vibes rolling off him.
It didn’t work. Even standing in the cold wind, her temperature raised a few degrees.
“Hm,” he murmured. “I don’t see anything. Wait a minute—there’s something.”
She cut her gaze to him. “What?”
He pulled back. “A pair of big, gorgeous green eyes.”
She wanted to scoff, but the sound came out sounding like…a sigh! Then Carol remembered she was supposed to be swooning over him. The sheer push-pull of emotion left her paralyzed.
Luke, meanwhile, seemed to be enjoying himself. He walked ahead, his stride carefree. She shook herself and trotted to keep up as they walked into the lobby of the office building. An elevator car was waiting, open. Luke stepped inside, then looked to her. “Are you coming, or are you taking the stairs?”
He was mocking her now. And she was so nervous, Carol was halfway ready to make a run for the stairwell. Maybe this seduction plan wasn’t such a good idea after all. Standing next to him in the open air was unnerving enough…she wasn’t sure she was ready to be confined with him on the elevator…alone.
Then another woman stepped past her onto the elevator. The cute brunette with the stylish razor-cut hairstyle worked in marketing, Carol recalled. The woman flashed a toothy smile at Luke and the door started to close. At the last second, Carol put out her hand and the door bounced back. She stepped inside and faced the front. When the doors closed, Carol glanced at her reflection, realizing there was nothing “cute” about the way she wore her coarse, bronze-colored hair clasped at the nape of her neck.
This seduction thing was making her self-conscious.
“Luke, do you have plans for Valentine’s?” the young woman asked in a hopeful voice.
“Dinner with a special lady,” he quipped.
Carol could practically feel the air whoosh out of the brunette’s sails, and she conceded a blip of dismay herself that Luke was dating someone, yet still flirting indiscriminately. Her mouth tightened. All the more reason to bring him down a notch.
At the next floor, the brunette got off, leaving them alone for the ride up another ten floors. Then, to her dismay, Luke reached forward to push the button for every floor in between. “What are you doing?” she demanded.
“Just wanted a couple of minutes to finish tying my tie,” he said easily, reaching up to resume the job. “Not sure I’ll ever understand why men wear these things.”
The elevator doors opened at the next floor and a woman walking past peered inside at the couple, giving them a strange look when neither one of them alighted. When the doors closed, Carol glared at Luke.
“People are going to talk about us.”
Carol felt a sputter coming on, then reminded herself that she was supposed to be flirting with the man. The elevator climbed, opening and closing on every floor before proceeding. After lying in wait for him in the parking lot, Carol knew she should be taking advantage of this time alone with Luke, but she didn’t know what to say.
“How’d I do?” he asked, pulling on the tie.
She glanced over and couldn’t help smiling at the crooked knot. “It’s lopsided.”
“Help me out, Snow?”
When Carol stepped closer, she was struck with a sense of déjà vu she’d always helped James with his ties. That had been so long ago, did she even remember what to do? The size of the knot went in and out of fashion and there was something about putting a dimple in the knot.
The pure silk of Luke’s mustard-colored tie felt velvety to her trembling fingers. Beneath the layers of clothing, she could feel the beat of his heart. The electric impulse seemed to transfer to her fingertips and up her arm as she adjusted the knot. She met his dark gaze and for a split second, she thought she saw the same look of surprised confusion she felt fluttering in her stomach. But in a blink, the look was replaced with a teasing light.
“The thought of you reading those naughty books kept me awake last night. It makes me think there’s more to you than meets the eye.”
His rumbling voice skated over her nerves like sandpaper, stirring responses long-buried in her womb. Carol bit her tongue to keep from asking what the woman he was taking to Valentine’s Day dinner would think of that remark, reminding herself that if she was going to seduce this man who had come to represent the Cheating Everyman, she was going to have to pretend that she liked him.
She smoothed her hand down his chest, feeling the wall of muscle beneath his shirt, then conjured up a seductive smile. “You’re like a barking dog chasing a car, Chancellor. What would you do if you actually caught it?”