“Great idea. I have just the place.” He ledher into a kitchen and then through a door at the back. Inside thegarage two cars, a Rolls and a Range Rover, were parked closest tothe open garage door,but he headed for a row of at least six motorbikes, expensive andpowerful, the latest models and one or two classics.
Grayson straddled a black Harley Davidsonwith shiny chrome handlebars. “How’s this?”
If he was trying to impress her, it wasn’tworking. In fact, hisblatant display of wealth grated on her nerves. “That’s quitepossibly the naffest pose I’ve ever seen,” she blurted out beforeshe could stop herself.
One eyebrow arched and he regarded her forseveral seconds.
An uncomfortable pricklecrept around her neck. “Sorry,my mouth runs away with me sometimes.” She took the picture withher phone.
“You’re lucky you have a such a prettymouth,” he said in a low voice.
Really? That was the most cringe-worthy one-linershe’d ever heard, too.
She ignored his comment. Keep it professional, Jamie. “We did a survey on Love Bites once,”she explained, “asking people what put them off in a profilepicture. Straddling a motorbike, or sitting on the bonnet of someexpensive car came up as the number one peeve.”
To her surprise, he got off the motorcycle.“Best not use that one then.”
He glanced around and leant against thegarage wall. “How about here?”
The painted grey wall wasn’t the best, butshe supposed it would do. “Okay, better.” She held up her phone andwaited for it to focus on his face.
Grayson executed a brooding pose toperfection. He even touched his jaw with his hand, like he wasmodelling for some watchadvert. She rolled her eyes. “Posing like that was the number twoturn off,” she told him. “People are looking for someone moregenuine. Think of something that makes you smile.”
He dropped his hand and flashed amischievous grin that made her heart skip a beat.
She took the photo. “Perfect,” she said,hoping her tone sounded business-like.
“I’m glad you think so.” His grin widened.“Aren’t you going to ask me what I was thinking of that made mesmile?”
No, she wasn’t. The guy was toococky for his owngood.
“I was imagining your face when you say yes.”With that, he walked off into the kitchen again.
She picked up her laptop case and followed.“Yes to what?”
“Yes to going out with me.” He switched onthe kettle. “Would you like tea or coffee?”
Her hackles rose. “No, I don’t want tea orcoffee. I told you I’m here to help you sign up to the datingagency.”
“You have a boyfriend then?”
“No, I don’t have a boyfriend, and I don’twant one either.” Especially not an arrogant, self-assured dork likeyou. “I think I shouldgo.”
Grayson fetched two mugs from a cupboard. “Ihave a confession to make, Jamie.”
At that point, she didn’t care.
“I’m not a technophobe, and I don’t need yourhelp with signing up to the agency.”
“What the heck am I doing herethen?” Anger bubbled inside.“It’s my day off and I had to drop everything to comehere.”
“I saw your picture on the Love Biteswebsite last night—the one that pops up with the speech bubble—andI didn’t need to look any further.” He faced her. “You’reperfect, JamieOsborne.”
“I… I’m not looking for someone. I… justwork there.” Why am I stuttering?
“So you don’t want to go out with me?”
“No, I don’t.” She couldn’t think ofanything worse, even if he was making her weak at the knees. Heatrose from her neck toher cheeks. Sunsets came to mind again.
“There’s one thing you need to know about me;I never accept no for an answer.”
“I don’t care, Mr Beckett. Accept that.”
He narrowed his eyes, and suddenly theywere more menacing, the intriguing flecks now flashing like gold lightning. “I’ll payyou. What do you make as an online coach anyway? It can’t bemuch.”
Un-bloody-believable.
Jamie gripped the case handle so tightlyher knuckles turned white. “I don’t need your money, Mr Beckett.”She didn’t know whetherto be insulted or enraged. She settled on both and reached for hernecklace with the vial of spelled sleeping powder. If he decided tomorph into a wolf, she’d be ready. To hell with professionalism,the oaf needed to hear some home truths. “You’re either desperateor disillusioned.” She jutted her chin. “No wait, you must be bothto think I would even consider going out with an arrogant,egotistical son of a bitch like you.”
Harper wouldn’t be pleased she’d insulteda potential client, but she was beyond the point of no return.
Shock swept across his not-that-handsomeface. Who was she kidding? The man was so devilishly good-lookingshe felt the sudden need for an ice-cold shower.
“I won’t be helping you sign up to LoveBites,” she ranted on. “You need help with something else.” She left it to hisimagination as to what he needed help with. A personalitytransplant for starters. A healthy dollop of respect wouldn’t goamiss either.
A yap came from outside the kitchen door.“Cujo?” Thank the stars; at least she could get the hell out of there before she saidsomething she really regretted.
Jamie turned away from Grayson as a younggirl entered the kitchen, holding Cujo in her arms. She looked tobe eleven or twelve, but she was dressed more like an eight yearold in pink, babyish clothes and sparkly trainers.
“Luna, didn’t you hear mecalling you earlier?”came Grayson’s gruff voice from behind.
“Sorry, Dad. I was in the library and thiscute ball of fluff came and found me.”
“We checked the library.”
“I was in the reading nook.” She offeredJamie a smile, her dark, wavy hair and gold-flecked eyes like her father’s. “Hi, I’m Luna.You’re so pretty. Is this your dog?”
Jamie bit down her anger. The girl hadnothing to do with her argument with her father. “Hi, I’m Jamie.Yes, he’s my dog. Thanks for finding him.”
“Before you ask, Luna,”Grayson piped in, “I’mnot buying you a Chihuahua.”
Luna walked towards her father. “But lookat his cute face, Daddy.” The girlfluttered her eyelashes, black and thick, the same as Grayson’s.She held Cujo up to him.
The condescending wolf melted like hotcandle wax as he gazedat his daughter and made a fuss of Cujo. “Don’t you flutter youreyelashes at me, you little pup.” He tapped her nose. “When do youever call me Daddy?”
Cujo licked Grayson’s bear-like hand, histail wagging excitedly.
Traitor.
Luna looked at
