THE DEAL by Marsh, Nicola (electronic reader txt) 📕

A realist, he thought she’d choose the latter. He’d lost his cool back there but he couldn’t abide jealousy. Sure, his behaviour when Miranda arrived had beens shoddy but why did Kara had to interrogate him?

The thought she might care offered small comfort. Then again, for a guy who couldn’t harbour jealousy, the green-eyed monster had certainly stirred to life when he’d heard Steve Rockwell was Kara’s ex. And what had he done about it? He’d wanted to punch him. Why blame her before giving her a chance? For a smart lawyer, he could be a real dumbass sometimes.

Eager to straighten things out, he wrenched open the door, almost colliding with Kara, looking sheepish and uncertain.

“Can I come in?”

Relief flooded him as he stepped aside, resisting the temptation to sweep her into his arms. “Sure. Let me take your bag.”

Her gaze darted around the room before coming to rest on the huge four-poster bed that dominated it. “This is lovely suite.”

He looked around as if seeing it for the first time, noticing the polished floorboards, the burgundy rugs and the matching quilt on the bed. He stared at the king size bed and willed his mind not to fantasise. It didn’t work and he was hard within a second.

Turning his attention back to Kara didn’t help either. Clad in tight camel slacks and a figure-hugging khaki jumper, her lips highlighted with gloss and her cat-like eyes focussed on him, the sight of her tempted him to fulfil every thought that had just flashed through his mind.

“I’m sorry about before.”

A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Matt Byrne apologising? That’s got to be a first.”

He shrugged, his confidence somewhat restored by the cheeky grin on her face. “I call it as I see it.”

“Are you saying you behaved abominably and that you’d like me to stay?”

“Don’t push it,” he said, enveloping her in a hug, savouring the feel of her soft curves pressed against him. Her subtle floral perfume wrapped around him as he inhaled, allowing it to infuse his senses. The signature scent triggered memories of her eighteenth birthday, when he’d pushed her away. This weekend he wouldn’t be so foolish.

She wriggled in his arms. “So when do I get to use the key?”

“Key? What key?” He schooled his features into a mask of indifference, no mean feat considering he wanted to laugh at the consternation on her face.

She pulled away and folded her arms. The defensive gesture drew his attention to her breasts, pushed higher by the action. The blood roared through his veins as he yearned to cup their weight in his hands, to caress, to stroke, to taste...

“Don’t play coy with me. That mysterious key is what brought me here this weekend and you know it.”

He clutched his heart. “And I thought it was my devastating charm that led you here. You sure know how to wound a guy.”

She dropped her hands onto her hips. That jumper was a knockout, accentuating every curve and enhancing the intense green of her eyes. “If you’re toying with me, there certainly will be some wounding going on this weekend and it won’t just be to your ego.” Her glance travelled downwards and focussed on his groin region as her knee lifted in a mock kick.

“Ouch.” He winced. “Don’t even think about it.” He noticed her gaze stayed riveted, even as he spoke. “Besides, I can think of much more pleasurable pursuits if you’re heading in that general direction.”

Her eyes widened as a blush stained her cheeks. “I’m going to unpack.” She whirled around and bent to unzip her bag.

“What about the key?” he asked, eager to continue their jousting and see where it might lead.

“I’m sure you’ll reveal its use in good time,” she flung over her shoulder. “Right now, I’m going to take a shower and get ready for dinner.”

“That’s not all I might reveal if you’re lucky.”

She slammed the bathroom door on his laughter.

* * *

Dinner was a nightmare. Kara thought it had been hard posing as Matt’s girlfriend on their previous outings but she’d seen nothing yet. Surrounded by his closest work colleagues and friends, not to mention his father, she was way out of her depth. Faking it in front of business acquaintances had been a lot easier.

Her face ached from smiling, her heart ached from the deception. Jeff Byrne treated her like a long-lost daughter, parading her proudly for his employees. She could’ve almost carried it off if it wasn’t for Matt’s burning stare following her every move.

Her body throbbed with awareness, whether he was at her side or across the room. Every glance, every caress, every smile, drove her closer to the brink of losing control. How could she share a room with this man, let alone a bed, and keep it strictly platonic?

As the evening wound down to a close, her nerves stretched to breaking point. The infamous Miranda, who had managed to wind every man present around her little finger, chose this time to approach her.

“We finally get a chance to chat, Kara. I’m Miranda.” She held out a perfectly manicured hand.

Kara expected a cold grip to match the ice princess façade, yet her hand was surprisingly warm. “Nice to meet you.”

“So you’re Matt’s latest girlfriend?”

“Yes. And he’s told me all about you.” She kept the rancour out of her voice, wondering if she would burn in hell for the little white lie.

“He has?” Miranda’s plucked eyebrows shot up. “I hope there’s no hard feelings then? He hasn’t spoken to me since we split up. You know, bad karma and all that.”

She watched the brunette fidget with the neckline of her black silk