The Seduction Game

“Pheromones,” Meg said, with a judicious nod. “Or endorphins. It’s chemical at least. You want him on a basic level. There’s nothing wrong with admitting that.”

“I have admitted it,” Kate said, closing her eyes. “When he kissed me…” She snapped her eyes back open. “Fifty-two.”

“Huh? He kissed you fifty-two times?” Meg asked. “You never told me this. And where did you find the time? Are we talking a constant kiss, or are you counting each break for air?”

Kate laughed. “No, I mean Bond has slept with fifty-two women. Up to Quantum of Solace, that is. I’m gonna need to check the rest.”

Meg wrinkled her nose. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“It was…something Will and I were talking about.”

“Bond? His conquests?” Meg asked, tapping a finger against her chin. “Christ, you guys are thrilling. Fyi, I think it’s sixty-one, but let’s get to the real question here…did it make you tingle?”

“Meg!”

“Did it?” Meg demanded.

“Yes,” Kate said after a moment, and then feeling like this was a “go hard or go home” kinda situation she continued, “It made me want more.”

Meg’s smile was so bright Kate was amazed that it didn’t light the whole changing room up. “This is so freaking cool, Katie pie. The first time should be with someone who makes you feel like that. And so what if it leads nowhere else? You’ll have an amazo memory and you’ll be confident about stepping out and dating. After all, you’ll have a millionaire under your belt.”

Kate groaned. “Don’t put it like that.”

“Why the hell not? It’s true. Will Thornton is a hottie. He’ll show you a good time for sure.” She reached out and clasped her friend’s hand, giving it a squeeze. “And flaming affair or longer lasting, you know I’ll be there for you, either way, don’t you?”

“I know.”

“So let’s go and get this dress paid for and get you ready for your date. By the time we’re through,” Meg declared, “Will Thornton is not going to know what hit him.”

Kate had a strong suspicion that the reverse was going to be just as true.





Chapter Fourteen


That Saturday afternoon it was quite possible that Will’s heart stopped for a moment or two. Maybe because all the blood was suddenly heading south. Or maybe because Kate Kelly in jeans and a tee was something to behold, but Kate Kelly in a dress was something else entirely.

He ran a hand over his face, trying to take the sight in, his hands twitching with the desire to take her in his arms again, but not only his hands.

“Kate…” He practically whispered the word, sounding like all kinds of a fool, and standing there he couldn’t help but wonder where his much vaunted bad boy cool had disappeared to. Perhaps he’d left it in London?

“Will.”

“You look beautiful,” he said, finally finding his voice, and she blushed. Of course she blushed. Kate would not be Kate without the blush.

“Thank you.”

She walked over to the car, the very slight breeze lifting her hair from her shoulders and giving him a clear view of her body in all its glory. The dress was her. It was her all over. A very pale blue, it was only as she got closer that he could see it had little owls printed all over it—how apt. It was also short, skimming her thighs and showing off her trim, tanned legs. That sight did nothing to help his twitching situation.

“So where are we going?” he asked, shifting, as he opened the passenger side door for her.

“You said I could pick?”

He nodded and made his way around the car, jumped in, and buckled up. “I did. Let me guess, we’re going to a football game?”

“Don’t be sexist,” she said, swatting his arm. It was the first time she’d initiated any physical contact between them without any kind of prompting from him. Will savored it far more than he should have.

“With two sisters and a mother like mine? Never happen.”

“Your mother is tough?”

“You’ll see when you meet her,” he said and then paused, because that idea did not bother him at all. In fact he was almost looking forward to seeing what his mom would make of the very capable Kate Kelly.

“When I meet her?”

Kate’s words were just a whisper but they were enough for Will to give a satisfied sigh. It was all coming together now. The Risings would resolve itself, he was sure of it, and he and Kate were out on a proper date. Who knew that it would have ended up like this at the beginning of the week?

“Yes, when you meet her,” he confirmed. “I have a feeling it’ll be an interesting meeting. She is all about discipline, my mom. Efficient. Stern. I wouldn’t be surprised to find a whip and cuffs hidden in her bedroom drawer.”

“Will!”

He grinned. “What? She’s only in her early fifties. She certainly isn’t dead yet.”

“Yes, but….”

“But nothing. So come on, where am I going?”

Kate shifted in her seat, gripping the hem of the dress to ensure it didn’t ride up. Will grinned some more, wishing she wouldn’t because hell, he’d like to see a little more of her thighs. In fact it was taking a considerable amount of control not to simply twist her around and sit her on his lap where he could have as much access to them as he liked. He groaned sort of silently because those sorts of fantasies were not going to make this date run smoothly. Not at all.

“To the convention center.”

“Is there a show on?”

“Sort of.” She paused, shot him a look, and then shifted some more. “I thought you should see what I like to do with my time. It might make you think differently about…”

“About what?” he prompted when it seemed like she wasn’t going to continue.

Kate shrugged. “This.”

“And by this, do you mean our date?” She looked away and Will knew that he was right and he did not like that. “Kate,” he said, hurrying to reassure her, “unless you’re going to take me to some sort of kinky club, I can guarantee that it won’t.”

She gaped. “A kinky club?”

He reached out and took her hands, enveloping them in both of his. They were so soft, so delicate, and he shuddered imagining them wrapped around certain parts of his body. “I’ve heard there are quite a few around here, but it’s not my sort of thing. Still, for you I’d probably find a way to deal. It’d be a tough job but somehow, I would get over it.”

She shifted again on her seat, leaving Will no choice but to take a deep breath, because he had her hands and that meant she did not have the hem of her dress, and ride up it did, giving him a clear view of the very tops of her thighs. Dear God. He felt like a complete pervert as he urged the dress to ride a bit higher.

“But why?”

Will tore his eyes away from her thighs with difficulty. “Huh?”

“I know I shouldn’t ask,” she said. “It probably isn’t the way things are done, but, Will, I have to. I don’t understand what’s going on here. We’re going on a date but I don’t know why.”

“The same reason anyone goes on a date. Because I like you, Kate. A lot.”

She tugged her hands back and tucked her hair behind her ears. It was then that he noticed she was wearing a different pair of glasses. These were tortoiseshell and horn-rimmed. They were unbelievably sexy and made her look like some sort of kinky secretary. Damn it, was he doomed to this type of torture the entire day? Most likely. It was because of the kiss. He’d thought about it so many times. Ached to do it again. The entire day was going to be an exercise in restraint.