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

As she stared into his eyes, her stomach somersaulted. She wanted him. More than she’d ever wanted anything in her life. Thank goodness tonight was a one-off. Matt Byrne was dangerous. In one day, he’d managed to revive feelings she’d buried for years. He was far too much man for her to handle. Unfortunately, the thought of handling him conjured up more vivid images, flashing across her mind in an erotic kaleidoscope.

She pulled her hand away, needing to re-establish boundaries between them.

“I’m not here to cajole anything out of you. You’ll tell me what’s bugging you eventually. If not, I don’t give a damn. Our friendship ended a long time ago, so why don’t we get on with tonight’s business and go our separate ways?”

He leaned back, crossed his arms and fixed her with a glare, leaving her feeling like a bug under a microscope. “What makes you think tonight will be the end of it?”

He smiled. Damn, she’d always had a hard time resisting that grin. She schooled her face into what she hoped was a mask of indifference. “I’m not the one who quit our friendship, Matt. As I recall it was all your decision when you pushed me away.”

The memory of his rejection still rankled. Pain like that lasted a lifetime. He’d been her first love. Her only love if she was completely honest. And here he was after all this time, pretending like nothing had happened. She wouldn’t make it easy for him.

“Can’t we let bygones be bygones and move forward? Besides, you were just a kid back then. What did you expect me to do?”

To her annoyance, tears welled in her eyes. Tears of anger, shame and unmistakable regret.

“A kid? I was eighteen. Old enough to know what I wanted. Not that you cared. Apparently I was a pain in the ass, a little girl clinging to you, playing at being a vamp, with a hell of a lot of growing up to do. Do those words ring any bells?” She blinked furiously, wishing the tears away.

He ran his hand through his hair, a telltale sign he was rattled.

“I’m sorry, Kara. I’d just finished law school and was doing my Articles. I had a lot on my mind and didn’t need the attentions of a schoolgirl, hell-bent on experimentation...” He trailed off as she leaped to her feet.

“Who the hell do you think you are? I wasn’t experimenting, I was in l--”

“Hey, you two. We’re about to start. What’s with the fireworks?” Sally materialised at their table, hands on hips, a frown marring her forehead.

“Sal, I need to talk to you.” Kara grabbed her arm and dragged Sally away from the table.

“I can’t do this,” she hissed. “Matt is driving me insane. You can’t expect me to spend another second with him, let alone the next seven minutes.”

Sally smiled, her stoicism doing little to soothe Kara’s frazzled nerves. “Calm down, dear. I know tonight is an ordeal for you. Just do it for me. Please?”

Kara took a deep breath and exhaled. There was no way she could resist the beseeching in Sal’s eyes.

“Okay. I’ll do this for you. But I swear, as soon as I’ve spoken to the last moronic male, I’m out of here.”

“That’s my girl. Now take a seat, smile at Matt, make small talk and the torture will be over before you know it.”

Kara turned to face Matt. He hadn’t moved an inch and by the amused look on his face, he’d heard every word of their conversation.

“All sorted out?” he inquired softly.

“Mmm,” she mumbled. “We’re about to get started. Good luck, Matt. I hope you find what, or should I say who, you’re looking for tonight.”

“What if I’ve already found her?”

“I’d say good luck to her. She’s going to need it. Thank goodness we’ve established I’m not your type.”

A hint of uncertainty flickered in his eyes. “Yeah, lucky, huh? Who knows what would’ve happened if I hadn’t pushed you away all those years ago?”

Kara had a fair idea and she didn’t feel lucky at all.

Over an hour later, the ordeal was over. She could hardly remember speaking to the various men as only one guy’s words echoed in her mind. Matt had held her enthralled for their seven minutes together, flirting with the practice of a man seasoned to the art.

Sure, she’d resisted. However, it had been like holding back a flood with a few sandbags. No chance. Despite their earlier confrontation, all accusations had been put aside as he’d focussed his attention solely and squarely on her.

No woman could resist Matt Byrne at his best: flashing smile, mesmerising eyes, animated conversation. He’d drawn her in like a spider coaxed a fly into its web. Trapping her, whether she liked it or not. Seven minutes had passed in an instant. That was his power. He could make time seem insignificant, his voice wrapping its seductive tones around her, holding her spellbound.

The rest of the men had paled in comparison. She couldn’t recall one word of the other conversations, though each man had been polite and a good conversationalist. Kara knew her poor recollection had everything to do with her wandering attention as she’d watched Matt ensnare the other women with his charm.

A tight coil of tension had wound deep in her belly as she watched every woman fall under his spell. Who could blame them? She’d done the same thing, despite her vow of playing it cool. Who would be the lucky lady, she wondered? Her bets were on the busty brunette who had hung on his every