Slow Hands

almost-impulsive woman who’d cut through all the bullshit games and bid a small fortune for an evening with him was gone. She had been replaced by a smooth, impeccably mannered businesswoman.
    The completely unflappable professional was still incredibly hot. And the idea of un smoothing her, tempting her into forgetting her manners and her reserve and going wild—with him —already had his pants fitting a little tighter than they’d been this morning.
    She was a contradiction…ice maiden and sexy, earthy woman in midnight-blue. He wanted them both. Badly.
    “We really don’t have to continue this facade.”
    “What facade?”
    “This…impromptu lunch. Obviously you were startled into making the offer when my father showed up.”
    He grinned. “The best part was that you were startled into accepting it.”
    Her face flushed the tiniest bit, but she waved a hand, as if shooing a pesky little insect—or that pesky little detail—away. “Whatever the case, my father’s office is on the twentieth floor. He’s not watching to make sure we really are going on a date.”
    “Don’t consider it a date,” he conceded. “Let’s call it a lunch meeting. Just a casual get-together so we can figure out our real date.”
    Her back stiffened. “ That’s not a real date, either.”
    “What would you call it?”
    “A planned meeting.”
    “Sounds cold. What about a shared experience between two friends?”
    “We’re not friends.”
    “Maybe we will be by the time we go out.” Today would, hopefully, be the start of that.
    “Let’s call it a…business arrangement.”
    “Business arrangement?” He couldn’t help snorting a laugh, wondering if she had any idea what she was implying. “You know, in some circles, a woman paying a huge sum of money for a man to take her out, saying she wanted a business arrangement , could be construed as something very naughty.”
    She stopped, turning her head to look up at him. Behind them, an impatient businessman humphed but followed the pedestrian traffic as it immediately separated into two streams and went around them. Her dark eyes flashed almost black, despite the brightness of the June day. “There’s nothing naughty about this, Mr. Wallace. I’m not in the market for anything like that .”
    Well, he certainly hoped not. Not only because he sure wasn’t up for playing any reverse Pretty Woman games, but also because there was no way this woman would ever need to pay a man to spend time with her. Any man would want to be with Maddy, despite the tall, self-protective wall of ice she kept firmly in place around herself. And not just for her money or her background, or for the beautiful exterior package.
    There was a smiling, laughing, earthy and passionate woman lurking inside her. He knew it. “Of course not.”
    She went on as if she hadn’t heard him. “I went to that auction because I wanted to give some needy kids a good Christmas. Having to share an evening with you was entirely incidental.”
    Lifting one brow, he had to ask, “Why couldn’t you just mail a check?”
    Her mouth opened, but quickly snapped closed again. And for the first time since he’d laid eyes on her from behind that curtain, Jake realized the woman was completely flustered. Speechless. He’d finally gotten the best of her.
    But he didn’t revel in it. Instead of tormenting her with it, Jake merely took her arm, and resumed their walk, glancing occasionally at her face and seeing by the way her lips moved that she was mentally composing a cutting retort. Even though it was far too late to make one.
    Jake couldn’t keep a tiny smile from his mouth. Damn, he was going to enjoy watching this woman lose her self-protective shell, even if he took a few hits in the process.
    Maddy Turner was most definitely worth it.

4
    L YING IN A DEEP TUB of bubbles in a bathroom awash with candlelight that night, Maddy tried to empty her mind. She slowly sipped from a glass of wine and let the water ease away her cares and worries, hoping one of her greatest pleasures would distract her from the thoughts running rampant through her head. She’d been soaking for a half hour, adding hot water when it became lukewarm, nursing the glass so she wouldn’t have to step out too early.
    Her mind, however, wasn’t cooperating. Instead it kept going over the lunch she’d shared with Jake today.
    It was lunch. Just a planning meeting, as he said. Didn’t mean a thing and their ball game date on