Sinfully Sweet

2

CONNOR STARED AFTER Rebecca, wondering why in the world he continued to pursue such a stubborn woman when she managed to cut down every advance he made toward her.

The answer came easily, as it always did when he asked himself this question. Which was much too often.

An intense attraction and sexual tension swirled between them, though he couldn’t blame his lasting interest in her on those things. She was classically pretty, with nothing flashy or artificial about her, which he liked. What you saw with Rebecca was exactly what you got. Yet that wasn’t what reeled him in and kept him hooked either.

It was other traits and qualities he’d seen throughout the years-her honesty, inner strength, and loyalty-that made him a glutton for punishment, in hopes that one day she’d give him a chance.

Today was not going to be that day, he thought with a resigned sigh.

“You’re smitten with her, aren’t you?”

Connor returned his attention to the woman behind the counter and grinned wryly. “Am I that obvious?” Or was he just incredibly pathetic?

“To someone who knows what to look for, yes,” Ellie said, as if she had knowledge of such things. “She’s attracted to you, too, but she’s not willing to admit it, is she?”

“She’s definitely been a tough one to crack.” But that, too, made Rebecca very appealing to him, despite her reasons for keeping him at arm’s length. She wasn’t like the other women who took one look at his millionaire status, along with his title as San Francisco’s most eligible bachelor, and decided that they were going to become a permanent fixture in his life. Instead, she was the first female who wasn’t influenced by his money. Her lack of interest was a refreshing change and only added to his reasons for being so attracted to her.

“And why is that, do you think?” Ellie asked as she rang up his boxes of Valentine candies.

“Well, I’m fortunate enough, or unfortunate enough depending on how you look at things, to get first-hand information through my best friend from Rebecca’s sister. It seems that she thinks I’m irresponsible and have a spending problem.” Not to mention the issue she had with the six-year age difference between them, and the fact that he played computer games for a living, which didn’t fit into her image of a professional occupation.

Ellie took his credit card for his purchases, but hesitated before running it through the register. “Do you have a spending problem?”

Connor laughed at the woman’s straight-forward question, feeling as though he was talking to his level-headed grandmother instead of a stranger he’d just met. “No. I have a lot of nice things because I can afford them.” However, he’d come to realize over the past year that he tended to buy expensive items and toys to make up for what was really lacking in his life: a strong, solid relationship with a woman. And no fancy imported sports car or pricey electronic gadget could make up for that kind of companionship.

It also didn’t help that he was holding out for the one woman who didn’t want to have anything to do with him. Yeah, he really was pathetic.

“It sounds as though she needs to get to know the real you.”

He signed the sales receipt and slipped the credit card back into his wallet. “Great advice, but I’m afraid that’s easier said than done.” Getting Rebecca to go out on a date with him had proved fruitless and frustrating.

“Well, I’m a firm believer that one way to a woman’s soul is through chocolate, and she did seem to favor the chocolate-dipped strawberries.”

Ellie’s eyes twinkled conspiratorially, giving Connor the distinct impression that he had an ally in the older woman. “You’re absolutely right.” It was, after all, Valentine’s weekend, so why not take advantage of that fact? “I’ll take half a dozen, wrapped up with a nice ribbon and a note card to go with it.”

Obviously pleased with her match-making attempts, Ellie set about selecting the best and biggest chocolate- covered strawberries on the tray. While she arranged them in a white box and tied it off with a big elaborate red bow, Connor filled out mailing labels so Ellie could deliver the Valentine candies.

“Here you go.” Ellie presented him with the beautifully decorated box. “I’m certain she won’t be able to resist them.”

Of course Connor wanted Rebecca to enjoy the strawberries, but most importantly would she be able to resist the note he attached to the sweets? Only time would tell and he’d have his answer tonight.

Ellie rounded the counter and walked to the display of pink and blue foil-wrapped chocolates, the ones he’d noticed were part of some kind of Valentine contest. Carefully, she selected one of the blue-wrapped candies, then came back to where he was still standing by the register.

“And if those strawberries don’t do the trick for you, then maybe this will.” Grabbing his hand, she pressed the half chocolate heart into his palm, then winked at him. “I picked this one especially for you.”

The woman was as sweet as she was cunning. Connor felt as though he’d stepped into the Willy Wonka chocolate factory and he’d just been given a golden ticket. One that might just help him finally get the girl.

REBECCA EXITED the elevator and headed toward her hotel room, glad that the cocktail party was over and she was able to slip out relatively unnoticed. She’d had a nice time mingling with the bridal party and Greg’s family and had managed to avoid running into Connor. However, her attempts at putting distance between them hadn’t stopped the rogue from watching her from afar.

Every time she’d happened to casually glance his way their eyes would meet, and with a lazy sweep of his gaze he’d make her feel as though she was wearing provocative, revealing lingerie, instead of the button-up silk blouse, straight A-line skirt, and no-nonsense pumps. Then, as if that hadn’t been enough to make her melt, he’d followed up that smoldering glance with a private, breath-stealing smile that had kept her body in a constant state of awareness.

Even now, a pleasant buzz of desire seemed to hum through her veins, and she knew it had nothing to do with the one glass of champagne she’d consumed. No, this intimate longing had been her constant companion since Connor had caught her eating that chocolate-covered strawberry in a very seductive manner. What had begun as a slow burn at the candy shop had gradually increased over the course of the evening into a full-blown craving. For Connor.

Digging her key card from her purse, she shook that notion from her head, only to be replaced by the image of how well he’d cleaned up from his T-shirt and jeans. For the evening’s festivities, he’d changed into a pair of brown slacks and a tan knit shirt that did incredible things for his bedroom eyes. His disheveled hair had been combed away from his face, making his gorgeous, chiseled features even more pronounced. And she wasn’t the only one who’d noticed how hot he’d looked, either, considering the way a few of Celeste’s bridesmaids had tried to capture Connor’s attention. She’d expected him to flirt with those other younger women as he did with her, but much to her surprise he remained polite and sociable, expressing no interest in any of the females other than to make cordial conversation-much to the girls’ disappointment.

So why did Connor’s lack of interest in other women give her such a perverse sense of satisfaction? The question, she decided, didn’t bear close scrutiny.

She entered her room and turned on the light in the sitting area, all too aware of how quiet the place was since her sister was staying the night in the bridal suite. Setting her purse and key card down on a small table, she kicked off her pumps and curled her toes into the plush carpeting.

Pink foil in the shape of half a heart caught the overhead light and winked at her. When she’d arrived back from Sinfully Sweet earlier that afternoon she’d left the candy that Ellie had given her on the table, unopened, just to prove to herself that she had the willpower to resist its seductive pull. But now, it seemed to tempt and tease her with its presence, beckoning her to eat the luscious, creamy bit of ambrosia.

“Oh, what the hell,” she murmured to herself. She had no desire to take part in the Valentine contest Sinfully Sweet was sponsoring, but there was absolutely no reason why she should waste such a generous piece of the richest, most amazing chocolate she’d ever tasted.

She unwrapped the candy and ate it leisurely, and with as much enjoyment as she had her strawberry that