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

detail: the laugh lines at the outer corners of his eyes, the creases around his mouth, the dark shadow of stubble along his jaw line. Her heart galloped, desire snaking through her body.

She clenched her hands under the table, willing her mind and mouth to work in synchrony. “I don’t know, Matt. You’re the gambling man by your reported jaunts to Randwick racecourse. You tell me.”

He smiled, appearing undaunted by her jibe. “Odds of a million to one, I’d say. By the way, nice to know you’ve kept such a close eye on me via the newspapers. Miss me?”

She didn’t have a chance to answer. To her amazement, he sat down, folding his long legs under the pokey table. In doing so, their knees brushed, sending shock waves shooting up her legs.

“Why don’t we have that drink I mentioned this afternoon?” He leaned towards her, creating an intimacy that drew her like a magnet.

“As I recall, I said no to your offer.”

His hypnotic stare bored right through to her soul.

“I know you didn’t mean it. Anyway, let’s call this fate. We were destined to meet again and now we’re both here, what’s the harm in two old friends sharing a drink?”

Kara was lost in the liquid, blue pools of his eyes, helpless to resist. She’d always been like this around him. Floundering. Lost. Yearning.

“Um, I’m actually meeting some people here shortly. Why don’t we have that drink some other time?”

She had to fob him off before he discovered the real reason she was here and agreeing to a drink with him was a small price to pay.

“Actually, I’m one of those people you’re waiting for.”

He grinned, his confident smile revealing a row of even teeth that gleamed unnaturally white in the fluorescent lighting of the bar.

His answer floored her as realisation dawned. Matt, entering the agency this afternoon, Sal saying she had one more male applicant to screen, the coincidental meeting at the bar tonight. No way. He’d been at Sal’s on other business, surely?

“You’re kidding? The great Matt Byrne, all-round party guy, can’t get a date? Tell me the real reason you’re here. Did Sal put you up to this?” She tried to keep the sarcasm out of her voice and failed.

He crossed his arms and leaned back, looking every inch the cool lawyer under interrogation. “Don’t be ridiculous. I found Sal’s agency by chance. As for my being here tonight, I signed up this afternoon. I don’t owe you any explanations, Kara. My life isn’t an open book, so don’t jump to conclusions.”

“But a dating agency? Why would a guy like you need help in getting a date?”

The words were out before she could think. Damn, now she’d have to justify what she meant.

“A guy like me?” His voice dropped low, as tingles of excitement skittered down her spine.

“You know. Successful. Rich.” She glanced away, unable to match his stare.

“You forgot good-looking,” he teased.

Her cheeks warmed as she was forced to admit to the understatement of the year. “Yeah, that too. So, what’s your story?” She kept her tone flippant, hoping he was fooled. By the smug expression on his face, he wasn’t.

“Not so fast. How about we enjoy our seven minutes together and if you want to know more, you’ll have to choose me as your prospective date?”

She laughed. “Blackmail will get you nowhere.”

“How about flattery? Will that get me anywhere?”

Stupidly eager to match wits with this intoxicating man, she batted her mascaraed eyelashes. “You’ll just have to try it and find out.”

His lips curved in a slow, seductive smile that melted any lingering resistance. “Lady, you’ve got a deal.”

Kara leaned back and crossed her legs, giving Matt a tantalising glimpse of long legs leading straight to heaven. He yearned to touch her, to stroke every inch of her smooth flesh, caressing till she begged for more. Ever since he’d walked into the room he could barely keep his eyes off her. Now he had to convince his hands to do the same.

“So, do you know how tonight works?”

Even her voice seemed laden with sexy promise. He would have a hard time concentrating on anything she said over the next seven minutes if his thoughts persisted down this track.

“Yeah, Sally explained the routine to me. I spend seven minutes with seven women, then choose my perfect match at the end. No laborious blind dates, no wasted small talk, no mindless chatter over dinners that seem to last an eternity. Just the way I wanted it.”

Kara glared at him. “There’s something you’re not telling me. From all reports, you love dating. The more the merrier seems to be your motto. So why resort to this? I thought you’re the type of guy who loves the thrill of the chase?”

“Sure, I love the chase as much as the next guy, but my priorities are changing.”

He hoped the answer would satisfy her. He wasn’t ready to tell her the truth. He could barely accept it himself.

She held her hands up in apparent surrender. “Fine, whatever you say, though I still think you’re up to something.”

She laughed, a sweet tinkling sound that revived memories of hot summer afternoons when they’d shared confidences and dreams. “I’m looking forward to dragging your secrets from you, whether you like it or not.”

He reached across the table and captured her hand in his, sliding his thumb around her palm. “I’m much more open to cajoling. Care to try?”

Kara swallowed, desperate to ease the sudden dryness in her throat. Matt’s thumb created havoc with her senses, its swirling, concentric circles sending waves of pleasure through her body. She savoured his caress, all