Purchased For Pleasure

‘I bet.’

He couldn’t fathom the reason behind Jack’s sly grin.

‘Been to any auctions lately?’

Though the question seemed innocuous enough, combined with Jack’s smirk, Tyler knew his secret was out.

‘Ha, ha. How did you find out?’

Bear’s head turned from side to side as if watching a tennis match. ‘What are you clowns talking about?’

Jack’s grin widened. ‘Didn’t you hear the news? TJ’s latest mission involves being shackled to a woman for a week doing all her odd jobs.’

Bear guffawed loudly. ‘You’re kidding me, right? Why the hell would you do a fool thing like that?’

‘For charity, of course.’

Tyler glared meaningfully at Bear, hoping he’d get the drift. His friend was the only one who knew about his upbringing at the orphanage and he wanted to keep it that way. He’d had enough pity to last him a lifetime growing up, he sure as hell didn’t need any from his colleagues now.

Bear cottoned on quickly. He merely quirked an eyebrow and chugged on his beer.

Thankfully, Jack relented. ‘Yeah, I agree that the orphanage is a good cause. Though I reckon there’s more behind this, TJ. I reckon you like being at the beck and call of some fancy dame.’

‘Who told you she’s fancy?’ Tyler chuckled, envisaging how Kate would respond to being described as ‘fancy’.

‘Leila was at the auction. She just got home, bursting with the news about you and that magazine editor. Said that sparks were flying and that was before the shackles went on.’

Tyler’s gut tightened. The image of being bound to Kate did it. At least thinking about the orphanage had distracted him from her memory. For a good ten minutes, anyway.

He leaned back, trying to instil a measure of casualness into his voice. ‘I think Leila has a great imagination. There were no sparks. I’m just donating my time for a good cause.’

‘Yeah, right. So what if this editor looks like a supermodel? All part of the job, huh?’ Jack’s cheesy grin grew wider by the second.

‘Damn sure.’ Tyler pushed back his chair. ‘Sorry, guys. Much as I’d like to hang around, I have to go. Early start. O-six hundred.’

Suddenly, his need for company had vanished. He’d come here to erase Kate from his memory bank, not discuss her, and he knew the boys. Once they got started they would want to hear every last detail. He waved and walked away, leaving his two closest friends grinning in his wake.

‘See you in a week, TJ. If you survive, that is.’

Ignoring Jack’s final taunt, he headed out into the balmy Californian night. There was no doubt in his mind that he would survive. After all, he’d handled tougher missions and come out unscathed.

Once again, a vision of Kate’s gold-flecked hazel eyes flashed into his mind, closely followed by the memory of their searing kiss.

He just hoped this mission wasn’t about to become his nemesis.

Kate prided herself on being cool, organised and professional at all times. To do this she needed at least eight solid hours of sleep a night. Without it she turned into a monster, as all her staff knew. Unfortunately, last night hadn’t been conducive to sleeping and she was paying the price now. So would anyone else who crossed her path today.

‘Good morning, boss. Sleep well?’ Di strolled into her office, all blonde spikes and cheerfulness.

‘Is it? And no. Where’s that damn article on homeless shelters?’

She shuffled around her desk, sending papers flying in all directions while making a frantic grab for her take-out skinny latte.

What happened to organised and professional? Right now her desk resembled a second-grader’s with the writing strewn across it probably making about that much sense.

‘Didn’t sleep too well? Can’t blame you.’

Kate didn’t like the twinkle in her assistant’s eye. Besides, how could Di be so darn chirpy every morning? Didn’t she ever wake up with a sore head?

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

Kate finally stopped rummaging around and sat back, draining the last of her coffee, lobbing the cup in the bin and rubbing her temples. She rarely drank and the three glasses of champagne last night combined with the haunting image of Ty looking better than ever had kept her tossing and turning all night.

‘Oh, nothing.’ Di’s grin broadened. ‘Though if I had the prospect of some sexy sailor trailing after me all week I wouldn’t be able to get any shut-eye either.’

‘He’s not trailing after me,’ she snapped, her headache intensifying by the minute.

‘Oh, yes, he is. He’s just stepped out of the lift and is heading this way.’

Kate sat bolt upright in time to see Ty honing in on her office.

Great. Just great.

Di wiggled her fingers in a saucy wave and strolled away, giving Tyler a similar wave, and Kate tried to ignore the absurd jolt of jealousy that shot through her. Ty was her past and she shouldn’t have to remind herself of that fact.

He walked straight into her office as if he owned the place. ‘Hi. Got a minute?’

How dared he look so good at this hour of the morning? Faded denim jeans hugged his long legs and a white T-shirt moulded his muscular torso like a second skin, delineating every single layer of taut, hard muscle beneath it. The type of muscle she used to love running her hands over, caressing, skimming, relishing.

Okay, maybe good was an understatement. Try delectable and she struggled not to drool.

‘What are you doing here?’

Though she tried to keep her voice cool, it came out all high and squeaky.

A smile tugged at the corners of his delicious mouth. ‘Still not a morning person, huh?’

She shook her head and wished she hadn’t as the pounding in her brain increased.

‘I’m surprised you remember.’

‘How could I forget?’

He flashed his trademark killer smile, the one that always made her knees go weak. Thankfully, she was sitting down.

‘So, what else do you remember?’

He closed the door and strode across the room in one lithe movement. She loved how he walked. Correction, how he stalked, all stealth and fluid lines, and her pulse accelerated in anticipation as he perched on the corner of her desk less than two feet away.