His Temptation (X Enterprises Book 4)

by Tanya Gallagher

  “I’m swamped with this huge project for work.” At least it was sort of true.

  “Bummer.” Sophie tried to soften her words with a smile. “But I’m glad you’re so ambitious.”

  “Thank you.”

  Her friend glanced over Avery’s shoulder. “So, you don’t happen to have some secret lover stashed in your closet right now, do you?”

  “What?” Avery sputtered. She almost lost her grip on the wine, and she scrambled to tighten her grasp on the slick bottle. “No. Definitely not.”

  Sophie frowned like she didn’t quite believe her. “That’s an awfully sexy dress.”

  There was no way she knew, was there? Avery cocked her head to the side. “Have you been listening to Geoff’s show?”

  Sophie shook her head. “I told you, I don’t pay attention to my brother’s dating show. It’s a conflict of interest. And really, I don’t need any more evidence that he’s a pig.”

  “He’s not that bad,” Avery muttered, but her shoulders relaxed ever so slightly.

  Sophie barged on. “He is. And those girls who actually fall for his crap? How can I respect them when they don’t even respect themselves?”

  Ouch.

  Avery rubbed the heel of her hand over her chest. She’d started to fall for it, hadn’t she? It’s why this was all so damn confusing.

  “What time are your plans?” Sophie asked. “Do you at least have time for a quick drink?”

  “Um, actually, I’m heading out in a second. Just need to put on my shoes.”

  Sophie’s face pinched, and Avery’s stomach squeezed. “Tell you what,” Avery said. “I do have a way we might get to see each other a bit more. Jeremy and Vanessa at my work are trying to figure out wedding favors, and when I was brainstorming to help them, I suggested cookies. Nothing sexy, just totally on brand. If I could get you the gig baking them, would you want it?”

  Sophie’s face shone. “What? Seriously?”

  Avery nodded.

  “That’s only the biggest wedding on the social calendar.” Sophie’s eyes sparkled. “The kind of event that could boost my business even more.”

  “Yep.” Avery smiled. If anyone deserved a chance to get in front of some big players, it was Sophie.

  Sophie squealed and threw her arms around Avery’s neck. “Yes! Thank you.”

  “Of course. Now get out of here so I can finish getting ready.”

  Sophie turned on her heel and marched back toward the front door. “Keep the wine for next time.”

  Avery clutched the bottle to her chest. “You bet.” She walked into the kitchen to put away the bottle as Sophie let herself out.

  “What the hell?” Sophie’s shocked tone made a spike of panic stick in Avery’s throat.

  Oh shit.

  It couldn’t be Geoff. She still had a good five minutes, and what guy showed up to a date early?

  “Nice to see you too, squirt.”

  Avery’s whole body cringed. Teeth to stomach to face. Parts of her body she didn’t even know could cringe cringed.

  Oh, holy shit.

  She sucked in a deep breath and turned.

  Geoff stood in Avery’s front entry wearing dress pants and a white button-down shirt, throwing off sexy bachelor boss vibes. Something about the contrast between his crisp, white shirt and his dark hair and five o’clock shadow made her heart thump. Beside him, Sophie’s red face and raised shoulders betrayed how very pissed she was.

  “This isn’t what it looks like!” Avery yelped, hurrying toward the door.

  Geoff shut the door behind him and leaned his hip against the wall, a cocky grin on his face.

  Sophie gave Avery an accusing glare. “It looks like my brother just showed up at your house in date night clothes.”

  “Geoff and I have a business arrangement.” Avery smiled, trying to force it to be true. But her heart still leaped at the sight of him, her core tightening for him. “We’re heading to dinner to discuss how he’s going to share the news with his audience that I am not, in fact, hopeless at dating, and that I’m a total industry expert.”

  Sophie’s shoulders lowered a tiny bit, but her face remained skeptical. “I take it the first show didn’t go as planned?”

  Avery’s cheeks heated. “Not exactly.”

  “And this is just business?” Sophie looked between the two of them like she was trying to sniff out a lie. “Because it looks awfully fancy for a business dinner on a Saturday night.”

  Geoff cleared his throat. “You know me—if I go out, I do it in style.”

  “Not a date,” Avery confirmed.

  “Good. Because I’m not about to let my older brother come between us. And since dating him has led to disaster for every other female on the planet so far, it could be the kind of thing that could change everything.”

  A breath puffed out of her. “Why?”

  “Because I don’t want to clean up his mess. Because I don’t want to have to split my loyalty between him and you. I love you both.”

  Geoff rubbed a thumb over his lower lip. “You know, even if something happened between me and Cheese Girl, I’m sure your friendship is strong enough to overcome anything.”

  Sophie shrugged. “That may be true, but I’m still shutting down that possibility. Common sense rules in my favor.”

  Avery’s throat felt tight. Sophie had always been a voice of reason for her, but this was one piece of advice she had a hard time wanting to follow. Even though she should.

  Geoff swallowed the last dregs of his wine and smiled at Avery. “That was delicious.”

  “It was.” Her own plate had been scraped clean, Osteria La Spiga’s tagliatelle with white truffle butter devoured within minutes. A candle flickered on the wood-topped table between them, and the sound of happy patrons and tinkling silverware filled the restaurant.

  “Are you ready for dessert?” Geoff’s voice was a low promise, a smooth seduction.

  Avery ran her fingers over the napkin in her lap. “First the cookie, now this. You’re always trying to make me break my diet.”

  He cocked an eyebrow but responded without heat. “As a pointer, don’t talk about your diet. You’re at the stage of dating where everything needs to feel like a possibility, including dessert.”

  She swallowed hard. “Including sex?”

  “Yeah.” He licked his lips. “Including sex.” His eyes were dark and so deeply sensual that she was about ready to hand over her V-card to him, propriety be damned.

  “But you took it off the table,” she whispered. She needed to say it out loud to remind herself. Geoffrey Carter did not want to have sex with her.

  Crap.

  Geoff groaned. “That’s not the point.”

  Wasn’t it, though?

  He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table and folding his hands under his chin. “Live a little, Cheese Girl. If I recall, you had a very positive response to sugar the other day. I’d like to see you that happy again.”

  Avery blushed. “Okay, fine. Let’s go get dessert.” She pointed a finger at him. “But only if you promise to make me look good on your show.”

  Geoff grinned at her teasing tone, his eyes catching the candlelight from their table. “Deal. But you really don’t need to be so worried about what everyone else thinks.” He stood and offered her his hand. “And anyway, you already look good.” He grazed his eyes over her dress, and she sucked in a breath.

  “I meant for your audience.”

  He tipped his head at her. “The vast majority of my audience loves you.”

  “The vast majority?” She slid her hand into his and frowned at him. “I didn’t know this was a statistics lesson.”

  He squeezed her hand and laughed. “The ones who love you are going to be true fans.” He led her toward the restaurant’s front door. “As for the rest, who cares? You’re not going to impress everyone.”

  Avery frowned. “Well when it comes to dating, isn’t that the point?”

  Geoff shook hi
s head, his voice serious. “No.” He placed a hand on her lower back and guided her through the front door and onto the street.

  His touch, burning through the thin fabric of her dress, also burned away her senses. It took her a second to regain her voice. “In PR, we’re trying to reach the widest range of our target customers. So I thought impressing more people would be good.”

  They turned left, walking around the corner shoulder to shoulder. “Right, but they’re still your target customers,” Geoff said. “Let’s face it, Ave, you’re not out to land the ex-frat boy who doesn’t care that you prefer strawberry ice cream to vanilla and who doesn’t care that you like soccer and that you played center striker in eleventh grade.”

  He’d paid attention. He didn’t just know her favorite ice cream flavor—he’d remembered the damn position she’d played ten years ago.

  Still, Avery stiffened at the frat boy line, unable to hide the way it hit too close to home.

  “This okay?” Geoff asked, and she was about to respond that she could land whoever she wanted when she realized he’d stopped short in front of Cupcake Royale.

  He’d meant was the cupcake store okay. Not was his comment okay.

  Right.

  “Yeah, it’s perfect.”

  Geoff held open the door for her, and the scent of butter and sugar and ice cream wafted through the air. Avery crossed the threshold and paused, closing her eyes and breathing in a deep gulp of air. The smells washed over her body, relaxing her and making her smile.

  She opened her eyes and caught Geoff staring at her. Her skin tingled. “What? Do I have something in my teeth?”

  “No, Ave.” He curled one hand around hers, then leaned forward so his mouth was against her ear, all radiating heat and promise. Was it bad that she wanted to lean into him? To feel his mouth on her neck once more? “That was the sexiest breath of air I think I’ve ever witnessed.”

  Her lips tugged into a smile. If he was going to play this game, then so was she. “Now imagine if I was coming instead of just smelling cupcakes,” she whispered back.

  Geoff’s fingers tightened around her hand. “Jesus Christ.”

  “See, I’m not so terrible at the flirting thing.”

  “Never said you were. I think that was all in your head. You know exactly how to get a guy’s attention.”

  Her satisfied smile stretched wider. “Just because I haven’t…you know…doesn’t mean I’m not a fan.”

  Geoff shot her a dark look. “You don’t need to prove yourself to me.”

  Her cheeks heated. “I know,” she said quietly.

  Open mouth. Insert foot.

  Geoff turned his attention to the cupcake display. “What’s it going to be tonight, Ave?”

  Wasn’t that the question?

  She stepped forward and peered through the glass, where buttercream frosting swirled temptingly on top of huge cupcakes.

  “I can’t decide between a red velvet and a Dance Party,” she said.

  He grinned. “One of each,” he told the employee behind the display case.

  Geoff paid for the cupcakes and led Avery to a cozy corner booth in the store.

  They sat to eat, splitting the two cupcakes so a sugar buzz made her chest soar. He smiled at her, attentive, his eyes on her face as they chatted, and it would be so easy to let this flirtation keep going. First the fancy dinner, now this. Geoff had gone above and beyond to make tonight really special for her, and he looked so good in his pressed shirt—smelled so good. It would be so easy to give in to him. To let herself get carried away like she had the other day in the hot tub.

  Avery finished the last bite of her vanilla-vanilla cupcake and licked her lips, fiddling with the empty cupcake wrapper on her plate.

  “You look like you’re deciding if you want another one,” Geoff laughed.

  She shook her head.

  “Solving world peace, then?”

  “Trying to decide how this all fits into your three-date structure.” She cringed at her own honesty.

  Hesitation flashed on Geoff’s face, and he twisted his mouth.

  There.

  She knew she’d just gotten swept up in his charm. Dating girls was what he was so good at doing—hell, he’d made a career doing it. But he was a player, and if she wasn’t careful, she was going to get played.

  Tonight wasn’t real, even if she wanted it to be.

  “Avery, you’re different than any other girl I’ve met.” Geoff’s voice was quiet. “You’re smart and funny and kind.”

  She frowned and dropped her eyes. “That may be true. But you didn’t say sexy.”

  “Sexy, Ave. Sexy as hell. I thought that was pretty fucking clear.” The sincerity in his tone made her glance up, and she found his eyes dark and sensual. The heat in his gaze set her core on fire, and everything in her body tightened in anticipation.

  “So have I learned all my lessons?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

  “I guess it depends what you want to know.” Geoff’s words were a low invitation.

  What would it be like to take the next step with him? Would it matter if it wasn’t for real? Her body wanted it, that was for sure.

  Avery bit her lip and stared into his gorgeous eyes, longing and logic warring inside her. She drew a deep breath and opened her mouth. “Geoff, is there any chance you could take me home?”

  Chapter 12

  Geoff parked his car on the curb outside of Avery’s apartment and cut the engine. With the air conditioning in the car turned off, the windows fogged ever so slightly with the heat of him and the gorgeous girl next to him. He leaned his arm on the backrest of her seat, his heart pounding.

  “Home sweet home.”

  Avery glanced out the window and rubbed a hand over her arm. “Thank you.”

  She’d said she wanted him to bring her home, and from the look on her face in Cupcake Royale, he’d have been willing to bet she wanted to kiss him. So why wasn’t she inviting him in?

  Geoff wanted to explore her apartment, see the spot she ate breakfast every morning, maybe even see her bed. He wouldn’t push the sex thing, obviously. She wasn’t ready, or maybe he wasn’t. But having her moan into his mouth the way she’d done the other night? His cock twitched at just the thought.

  Avery wasn’t saying anything, so he spoke instead. “When can I take you out next?”

  Her eyes widened. “Go out again? Like a date?”

  “Yeah, Cheese Girl. I like being around you.”

  “Oh.” Her voice trembled before the silence of the car swallowed it. “But the show’s over, right? Three episodes for three dates?”

  “Who cares?”

  Her face crumpled, and she darted her eyes away. A muscle in her face tightened, and a crease formed between her eyebrows. “I think we should just be friends.” She said it with great effort, like it hurt, and dammit, it did.

  Geoff blinked at her, unable to process how fast things had changed. “Are you serious?”

  She still wouldn’t meet his eye. “Yeah. It’ll be easier. With Sophie, and all.”

  “I’m sorry, you’re using Sophie as an excuse?” He shouldn’t want to kiss Avery this badly. He shouldn’t want to wrap his arms around her and sink into her. It could destroy everything—his reputation, his career, his relationship with his sister. As much as he wanted to argue her last point, Avery wasn’t entirely wrong.

  She sighed. “You heard how much she’s against this. And maybe she’s right. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re not exactly long-term material yourself.”

  “What?” In the three years he’d been running How to Hook a Hottie, he’d only ever been told he was a catch. He was driven and successful, made more than enough money, and had taken enough press photos to know he cleaned up well. And, yeah, he hadn’t been in any long-term relationships, but that was kind of required by the show.

  He sat back, stung, and his voice came out flinty and hard. “Another pointer, Ave. If you want to get any
where, don’t cut a guy off at the knees.”

  Her bitter laugh was a knife. “I’m sure you can handle it.”

  Where had he gone wrong? In the store, she’d implied he should hear her orgasm, and now she was tearing down everything he’d built, her words crushing like a sledgehammer through drywall.

  Geoff yanked his arm from the back of her seat and raked a hand through his hair. “I don’t think you’re being fair right now. I like you. You like me.”

  “The point is, whatever I do want, Geoff, it’s something real. Not something staged for your show. And I don’t even know what this is.”

  “Me neither. But I’m willing to find out.”

  But instead of agreeing, she slung her purse over her shoulder and reached for the door handle. “Thanks again for a great night, Geoff. I really enjoyed myself.” Her words were flat, like she was only saying the lines to be nice. She was putting all those uptight rules into place again, washing away the looser, carefree girl he’d started to crave.

  “Sure.” He nodded, her words not quite sinking in.

  Avery opened the car door and walked toward her home with her spine straight. Geoff sat there, stunned, as he let her slip away.

  Geoff looked through his studio window out at the sprawl of Seattle. The trees on the street below had started dropping leaves, and on this morning’s run through the city, he’d finally needed to trade in his T-shirt for a long-sleeved running shirt. Inside his apartment, he’d kicked on the heat, and it chugged quietly in the background as he sat at his desk.

  The day dripped rainy, and the light spilling onto his face through the window was like a weak tea. Still, he smiled for the rolling webcam.

  “As far as things go, I’m going to chalk this up to being a super successful dating experiment. After the three dates with Avery, I think we both had a great feel for our initial chemistry.”

  High and sparking.

  “Through our more active date, we were able to assess our ability to get through problems together.”

  Not at all. Not when she gave up on him without trying. It still stung, even four days later.

  “And we were able to reach a final consensus as to whether or not we’d like to continue seeing each other.”