From her peripheral vision, she spotted Candace, the third and final partner in their bustling interior-decoration business, Styles for Living. Candace lunged forward, stretching her muscles on the sun-crisped lawn before her habitual early-morning run. Thankful for the distraction, and deciding to take the focus off her and her current lack of communication skills, Anna gave a wave and shouted a friendly greeting. Pamina and Lindsay fixed their gazes on Candace and followed suit.
After exchanging pleasantries, Anna turned her concentration back to negotiating the walkway. Fortunately for her, Pamina and Lindsay returned to their conversation, forgetting all about Anna’s opinion. Deciding to pay a little more attention, she half listened to them discuss Lindsay’s BDSM room, but Mr. Sexy proved too much of a distraction, and Anna stole another glance as they closed the distance between them.
As though unaware of their presence as they approached his van, Mr. Sexy ripped off his professional polo shirt, the company name embroidered on the back, and proceeded to change into his work wear. Good Lord! His sun-kissed skin was bronzed, smooth and glistening under the morning rays. Firm shoulders tapered to a trim waist and the delectable sight had her feeling all warm and wicked inside. A fine tingle worked its way down her body and loitered around that hungry little spot between her legs. If the mere sight of his backside had the ability to rattle her like dice in a Yahtzee cup, she could just imagine what a full frontal would do to her.
Truthfully, only one other guy had ever made her feel so edgy, so sexually aroused, and she hadn’t set eyes on him since high school. Nor did she have any desire to. Not after what he’d done to her. Which suddenly reminded her why she’d agreed to the pact and sworn off men in the first place. She frowned, then quickly buried those thoughts in favor of more pleasant ones.
No, it certainly wasn’t the time to dredge up old painful memories of Daniel Long, the cute boy next door and Mason Creek High School sports hero who’d been coveted by all. It was time to take pleasure in the fit man before her and commit every striated muscle to memory. At least then when she was lying in bed later that night, it would give her something to fantasize about while she took the edge off. And take the edge off she would. Just because she’d sworn off men and had given up on finding her very own Prince Charming, didn’t mean she couldn’t dream about delicious, orgasmic sex, did it?
She absently toyed with the gold chain around her neck, bit back a chuckle and shook her head. To think that just a short while ago, she’d been both shocked and embarrassed as she stood on the sidewalk outside Toys4Gals and examined the array of sexual devices through the curbside window. Never had she thought she’d purchase such a toy, let alone use one. Now, here she was gathering quite the collection in her bedside table. Working solo wasn’t normally her style. But lack of action had forced her to think outside the box—or inside the box—or… Oh hell, she didn’t know what she was thinking anymore. All she knew was that she was hurting. Anna gave a quick shake of her head to clear her salacious musings and wondered if a quick shake of her hips would help push back the lust that gathered there.
As she tried to marshal her thoughts and focus on the job at hand, Pamina stepped forward and spoke to the man at the rear of the truck. Mr. Sex in a Pair of Jeans turned to face the woman who’d hired him. With his work shirt dangling in his left hand, he reached out with his right. As they exchanged greetings, Anna shot him a glance. Catching his profile, she began a leisurely inspection of his perfect physique. So much for her efforts to redirect her concentration.
Beginning with his rock-hard thighs, she let her glance wander upward, stopping to linger around that impressive bulge just below his waistband. A tremble worked its way through her body and her mind went on an erotic journey as her gaze climbed higher, to take in his handsome face and chiseled features. When her eyes met his, he angled his body, giving her a full-frontal view. As Anna took in the Grade A specimen at the back of the truck, her brain practically shut down and her jaw gaped open. It couldn’t be.
Oh God, it just couldn’t be.
She attempted to speak, but couldn’t seem to formulate any words as the sight of the man standing before her left her speechless.
Totally and utterly speechless.
Not because of those long hewn legs of his, or how she envisioned them wrapped around her body. Not because her fingers itched to touch those tight sculpted abdominals, now damp with early-morning perspiration. And definitely not because those mesmerizing hazel eyes seemed to be staring into her soul, unearthing feelings best left buried.
Oh no, not at all. It was because the man behind those eyes was none other than Daniel Long, the high-school stud who’d destroyed her belief in Prince Charming and happily-ever-after.
He gave her a wolfish grin, flashing his perfect white teeth, as he took one measured step closer, closing the small gap between them. He dipped his head and put his mouth close to hers, and his warm breath felt more intimate than a kiss. As her body absorbed the heat radiating off his bare chest, her nipples tightened beneath her cotton sundress, and she crossed her arms over her chest, fearing he could see her ill-favored arousal.
He gave
