"I'll just leave you two lovebirds alone."
Kat's mouth hung open as she watched Betty exit the solarium.
"That's a good way to catch flies,” Jared tapped her chin lightly.
She snapped it shut. “You're enjoying this, aren't you? To you, this is all a game, isn't it?"
He shook his head. “No, it's not a game. It's business, serious business for MegaMart as well as Summerville."
"What do you know or care about Summerville?” she asked, her voice laced with contempt. Damn, she had to remember her goal ... seduction. Snapping at Jared certainly wouldn't get her anywhere.
"I know I like this town. I like the people. I like ... you."
Her face turned pink. Kat leaned over and grabbed the wine bottle just as Jared did.
"I'll pour,” he told her. His fingers brushed hers. Kat's lingered for a few seconds, then she let go of the bottle, her fingers tingling from his touch.
He poured two glasses and offered her one. She took a healthy swallow. Her head spun for just a second.
Jared blew out a breath. “When I first heard about Summerville and KISS, I thought this was a little hick town."
Kat stiffened. “Really."
"Yeah. Well, I've seen more in the few days I've been here. This town is a way of life; it's a comfort zone."
Kat took another healthy sip of wine. She certainly couldn't argue with his perception of Summerville. How was it that he always knew her exact thoughts, her exact feelings?
Jared took a piece of cheese off the tray and popped it into his mouth. Kat watched him chew, then swallow, the corded muscles of his throat moving up and down as he devoured the food with slow, sensual appreciation. She placed her glass on the table. The fruity mellow wine was giving her the strangest thoughts and feelings about him.
"I have an entirely different idea in mind for this particular MegaMart I want to build."
She shot him a look. “And what would that be? Instead of ‘blue-light’ specials you'll have ‘green-light specials?'” Kat wanted to bite her tongue.
He chuckled. “No, nothing like that at all."
Jared looked down at his glass, swirling the wine inside with a flick of his wrist. When he looked up again, his eyes settled on her mouth. Kat sucked in a breath as he studied her lips, as though he was trying to memorize every detail of them.
Without another word, he leaned over and kissed her. He brushed his lips across Kat's then wrapped his forearm around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest. The instant Kat's body met his, hers softened and molded to the lean contours of Jared's chest and abdomen. As he deepened the kiss, she dug her fingers into his shoulders. When the tip of his tongue flicked hers, Kat moaned in response.
Her head swam—she couldn't be sure in that moment if it were the wine or Jared's kiss.
As she gave herself up to the magic of Jared's mouth, she was no longer sure if Jared was seducing her or she him...
She realized she didn't care.
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Chapter Five
Heat seared every inch of Jared's body as Kat thrust and parried her tongue with his. He felt the warmth of the afternoon sun on his back as it streamed in through the solarium windows of the Pink Lily, but he knew his body was reacting to Kat, not the sun's sultry rays. He slid one hand down her back, trailing his fingers over the delicate bones in her spine, until he reached the soft swell of her bottom. Jared's entire body stiffened in response to Kat as he pulled her against his groin.
Kat's fingers crept up his shoulders. She cupped his face between her hands and nibbled at his lips. Her teeth raked his lower lip then the pink tip of her tongue darted into the corner, teasing the side of his mouth with each little flick. Jared's body leaped to attention. Warning bells went off in his head. If she didn't stop, he'd take her right there on the couch...
"Kat,” he whispered, tearing his mouth from hers. “Kat...” He couldn't seem to form an entire, cohesive sentence.
Her breathing came in short, shallow pants. Finally, she looked up at him. “Let's go to dinner,” she said, her voice pitched low. “I know this little out-of-the way place."
Jared rested his forehead against hers. “All right,” he managed. He didn't want dinner—he wanted her. No, he couldn't, wouldn't rush this. Dinner would help slow them down. When he finally got her into bed, she'd be in a frenzy for him...
If he wasn't first!
Kat rose to her feet and ran a hand through her fiery-red hair. Jared stood, too, his grin rueful. “I think we got a little carried away,” he murmured, gazing at her wayward locks. His heart still raced like a runaway train.
Kat smiled back. “I was thinking the same thing."
He reached out and touched the lace on her camisole then dropped his hand. Jared liked seeing her creamy skin flushed with passion. Beneath the silk of her camisole, he could see the outline of her peaked, hard nipples. His own body hardened again in response.
"I'll pick you up in an hour,” he said, his voice husky.
Kat ran her index finger over his jaw. “All right,” she whispered. “I'll be waiting for you ... at KISS..."
He angled his head, waiting for her to finish. Then she said, “I promise you won't regret it."
A hot shudder ran down the length of his body. He stood there and watched her disappear down the hall, heard the click of her heels against the wood floors, heard her say goodbye to Betty. Kat's promise rang in his head.
I promise you won't regret it...
What was she up to? Only one word came to mind ... seduction. Jared's smile widened then he started to laugh. So that fiery-haired minx thought she could seduce him? She had met her match, he decided. Jared would enjoy tussling with her—mentally as well as ... physically.
He left the solarium and bounded up the stairs, taking two steps at a time. When he got to his room, he kicked off his shoes and socks then stripped off his shirt, pants and boxers and got into the shower.
As he soaped his body, he thought of Kat ... dressed in that peek-a-boo gown he had seen. His shaft rose in response. He shut his eyes, let the water sluice down his chest and legs, and imagined her dressed in that red satin bustier he had seen at KISS, too. Jared tilted his head back and let the shower spray cover his face. In his mind's eye, he saw Kat again as she slipped into that coral-colored corset and garter belt. He imagined tying the ribbons in the back, her waist cinching in response, her magnificent breasts rising together until they almost spilled out of the lace-trimmed top of the corset.
Jared braced his palms against the shower wall to steady his shaking body as the force of his desire hit him swift and hard.
Kat might have met her match ... but so had he.
* * * *
Kat pulled into the back of KISS. She shut off the engine and got out of the car.
"Hey Ms. Sullivan..."
She swiveled her head in the direction of the man's voice.
Kat smiled. “Hi Bill. Where's April?"
Just then, a woman got out of a sleek, white sports car, her shiny blonde hair gleamed in the sunlight. She wore a bright red bra-dress. Beads and gold embroidery embellished the daring halter-top. It tied at the neck, outlining April Chapman's curvy frame. Her high stiletto heel sandals covered long, slender feet.
Bill glanced at Kat. “We just stopped by to say ... thanks."
"Oh, Bill ... April,” Kat looked over at the young woman. “Please, you don't have to say anything—"
He shook his head. “But we do. You ... well,” he lowered his voice. “I came to give you this.” Bill reached for Kat's hand and placed a wad of money in her palm.
She looked down at it, her eyes wide. “No! Bill, I can't accept this.” She tried to give it back to him, but he wouldn't take it.
"Please. If you don't want it, maybe ... maybe you can use it to help someone else, like the way you helped my April."
Kat swallowed, felt her throat constrict. “All right. That's the only way I will."
"Okay, then.” He glanced at April. Dark shadows appeared under her green eyes. She gave him a tentative smile. “She still gets tired,” he said for Kat's ears only.
"She will, for a while yet."
"But she's stronger ... up here.” He tapped the side of his head with his index finger. “And that's all that counts right now. She even told me that she wants to go back to work."
"Oh my, that's wonderful, Bill."
"Yeah. You did a lot for her and well, me."
Kat folded the money and placed it in her handbag. “I'll be seeing you then."
He nodded. Kat noticed a small tear in his eye.
"Go on then, she's waiting for you."
"Right."
Bill Chapman got in the car and drove off, leaving Kat standing there, a mass of raw emotion churning inside her.
* * * *
Click ... Click ... Click...
A man sat in a black Ford Taurus in the parking lot behind KISS and snapped pictures with a digital camera. He whistled when he saw the blonde get out of the white BMW. Man, she was something else! Click ... click...
He sat up a little straighter when he saw a man get out of the car and hand Kat Sullivan a wad of money. He whistled through his teeth as he clicked away.
"George O'Reilly is gonna love this,” he muttered.
He took a few more pictures—one of Kat placing the large wad of cash in her handbag. The last one he took was of her going into the back entrance of KISS.
"She's got some racket going on here,” he said aloud.
He reviewed the pictures he had taken. First, there was that man and woman he had seen earlier. The girl had a fanny he'd love to get his hands on ... and now the blonde.
He couldn't wait for George O'Reilly to see these photographs. George told him there'd be a nice, fat bonus. Jared Martin and MegaMart could well afford to pay what they promised. After all, that's who George O'Reilly received orders from—the big guns himself—the president and CEO of MegaMart—Jared Martin.
The man tucked the camera into his pocket and drove out of the back of the parking lot, pleased with his day's work...
Knowing George O'Reilly, Jared Martin's personal assistant, had ten thousand dollars waiting for him.
* * * *
Kat hurried down the hallway toward her office. She deposited her bag and keys on the desk, clutching the wad of cash from Bill Chapman. Opening the small safe near her desk, she placed the money inside and locked it. Bill shouldn't have given her the money, that's not why she had helped April. Wheels turned in her head. All that money could certainly help someone else, and Kat would make sure it did. After locking the safe, she strode into her workroom down the hall. She opened the door and walked over to the closet on the far side, taking a deep coral-colored dress with a matching jacket off its hangar. The sexy, body-hugging style of the dress with its ruched center would highlight her curves. The dress swirled down, stopping just above her knees. She thought for a few seconds, a slow smile lighting her face. The coral-colored corset, garter belt and matching thong. They would look stunning with that dress and show off her figure!
Kat glanced at the shoe collection in the corner of the workroom. There she spotted the perfect pair of pumps—'corset side’ stiletto heels. The sexy pumps had a swatch of leather on the side of each shoe, with satin ties that reached around the ankle. Kat picked up the shoes and outfit. She strode to the dressing room where she deposited them, then walked out to the front of KISS and retrieved the corset, garter belt, a thong, and a pair of pure silk stockings. Shivers ran up her spine—a combination of excitement and ... fear. Running her hands over the stays in the corset, she imagined Jared doing the same thing...
To her.
She shut her eyes for a moment and imagined his long fingers gliding over the stays. When they made love, he'd unlace the back of the corset slowly, driving her wild with anticipation of what he'd do next. She imagined him slipping the corset from her torso, his hands sliding around her back. He'd reach up and cup her breasts. Kat trembled in response to the thoughts swirling through her mind.
She hurried to the dressing room, stripped out of her clothes, and gazed at her body in the mirror. It had been two long years since she'd thought of actually being with another man. Now, she was actually thinking of seducing one.
"For Summerville,” she said aloud, her voice echoing through the dressing room.
Kat slipped into the thong-style panty then grabbed the garter belt, shimmying it up her legs and hips. Next, she took the stockings from their package and placed the toe over her hand to examine them for any flaws. Nothing marred their silky perfection. She sat down on the bench against the far wall and pulled each stocking over her toes and feet, up her calves, then attached them to the garters dangling at the end of the satin and lace belt. She stepped into the ‘corset shoes,’ then bent down to draw the laces through the swatch of material around her ankles.
Rising to her feet, she assessed her appearance in the mirror once more.
She sucked in a breath as she gazed at her body. Kat ran a finger along the edge of the garter belt outlining her trim waist and hips. The silvery shoes complemented the coral-colored garter belt and thong—making her feet appear delicate, feminine...
Sexy.
Damn! Could she do this? The first seeds of doubt began to take root but Kat pushed them down. She had started this ... she'd have to see it through.
Jared Martin didn't stand a chance in hell of resisting.
Kat walked over to the other side of the dressing room and grabbed the corset. She unlaced the back and drew it around her breasts and torso, then stopped. How would she lace it? Kat glanced at her watch. Six-thirty p.m. Jared would be here in a half an hour...
Holding the corset to her body with her right forearm, she used her left hand and fumbled with the ties in the back. She managed to draw the laces through two hooks to secure it and keep the corset from slipping from her body.
She heard the buzzer in the front of KISS sound an alarm.
Oh no! Jared was here already?
Someone pounded on the front door. Kat heard the rattle of the doorknob then they pounded on the door again. She looked around the small dressing room and saw a robe hanging on the back of the door.
Thank God for small favors. She let go of her pent up breath and shoved her arms into the sleeves of the robe. Kat drew the belt across her waist and tied it as she strode from the dressing room to the front of KISS. As she neared the front door, she could make out a woman's shape through the slats in the blinds covering the glass pane.
"Kat! Are you in there? It's Lilith."
Kat opened the door and dragged Lilith inside.
"What on earth—” Lilith's eyes grew wide as they traveled up from the tips of the ‘corset shoes’ Kat wore, to the stockings on her legs, finally settling on the outline of the corset beneath the robe.
"I need your help.” Desperation laced Kat's voice as she shifted the corset to keep it from falling. She grabbed Lilith's hand and pulled her along as she made her way toward the dressing room.
"I came by to see whether you wanted to join Nancy and me for dinner,” Lilith replied around a smile, “but I can uh, see that you're otherwise occupied."
"Lilith, this is no time for humor,” Kat wailed as she pulled her friend along. At the dressing room door, she pushed it open and shoved Lilith in ahead of her. “You've got to help me lace this thing,” Kat begged while she shed her robe and tossed it on the bench.
Lilith's mouth hung open. “Oh Kat,” she breathed. “You look ... magnificent.” A grin lit her face when she saw Kat's lacy under things. “Very sexy, my friend.” She narrowed her eyes. “You have a date?"
Kat gave her a sour look. “Why else would I be dressed this way?"
Lilith whistled low. “My, my, and just who is the lucky guy?"
Kat pushed the corset up and over her breasts. “Please, Lilith, I'll answer all your nosy questions if you'll just help
me with this thing."
Lilith folded her arms across her chest. “Uh, uh. Apologize."
"Huh?” Kat gave her an exasperated look. “For what?"
Lilith stuck her nose in the air. “I do not ask nosy questions."
Kat sighed. “Oh, all right, already. Just help me, please, and ... I'm sorry okay? I'm desperate here.” Again, she glanced at her watch. Six forty-five.
Lilith moved behind her and brushed Kat's hand away from the back of the corset. She grabbed the satin laces and tugged.
"Hey! Not so tight.” Kat squirmed away but Lilith tugged on the laces, pulling her back.
"These have to be tight, silly. Stop fidgeting.” Lilith worked quickly, pulling the satin ties through the hooks. “You of all people should know that,” she grinned.
Kat gazed at her reflection in the mirror as Lilith laced the corset. Her waist cinched inward, and her breasts grew rounder, fuller, pushing up and over the lace edging at the top.
"Oh my, Lilith..."
Lilith smiled. “You look stunning, Kat."
Kat swallowed hard. “Are you sure?"
Lilith laughed. “Okay, now, out with it ... who's this hot date with? Michael?"
Kat shook her head, no. She couldn't take her eyes off her figure. Her waist looked small, delicate ... curvy. Her breasts rounded over the top of the corset, the cleavage between them appeared long and ... deep.
"Well? I'm waiting,” Lilith grinned back at Kat's reflection in the mirror.
"Jared Martin,” Kat blurted.
Lilith blinked once. “Mr. Moneybags? The one you swore to run out of Summerville?"
"Don't be a smartass,” Kat admonished her friend. “It's not what you think it is—"
Lilith's dark brows shot up. “You're dressed in a corset and garter belt and...” She glanced at the dress hanging up on the far wall. “You're planning, I take it, to wear that stunning dress,” she pointed her index finger to the coral-colored creation, “not to mention you're going out with a tall, dark, sexy guy."
"I'm saving Summerville,” Kat snapped.
"Oh, honey, what you're saving is yourself to be Jared Martin's dessert for tonight!” Her violet eyes danced with mirth.
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