Jo Leigh - One-Click Buy - September Harlequin Blaze

“Got bad news for you, buddy boy.” Tony grinned. “There’s only one way to beat this thing.”

“How’s that?”

“Embrace it.”

Liam didn’t like the direction this conversation was headed. “What do you mean, embrace it?”

“You’ve been working nonstop since you were what? Sixteen?”

“Yeah.”

“And all this time, you’ve been keeping your emotions in check.”

“What’s your point?”

“It was bound to happen.”

Frustration had him fisting his hand around his beer. “What was bound to happen?”

“You gotta have a little fun at some point. Kick up your heels. Let your libido run wild.”

“You think so? You think if I embrace this feeling and go with it, have a good time with this woman, it will eventually pass and then I can get back to work?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

Hmm. It was a thought.

“So what does Katie Winfield do for a living?” Tony asked.

“She’s a graphic designer at a small advertising agency.”

“There you go. It’s perfect.” Tony dabbed mustard off his chin with a green napkin.

“There I go where?”

“Hire her advertising agency to do some work for us. Those downtown warehouses you’ve renovated into condos are opening soon. Throw the ad campaign her way.”

“And then what?”

“Seduce her. Have a good time if she’s game. Besides, it’s way past time you sowed a few wild oats.”

“You think that would work?”

“Worth a shot. Here we go boys!” Tony jumped to his feet and almost spilled his beer. “Home run Red Sox!”

COLD TURKEY?

Easy for Tanisha to say. She had a key to her boyfriend’s place. Katie had to admit she was jealous.

And lonely.

Maybe Tanisha was right. Maybe it was time for her to turn over a new leaf.

Bright and early Tuesday morning, Max stuck his head into the office she shared with Tanisha. “Excuse me, ladies. We have a new client. Meeting in the conference room at ten.”

“Should we put together a preliminary pitch before the meeting?” Katie asked. “Who’s the client?”

“He’s only here to get preliminary bids. But bring your A game. This fish is a big one.”

An hour later, the creative team assembled in the conference room, buzzing with speculation about this new high-profile project. Katie was still preoccupied with what had happened at the Ladies League ball and she wasn’t paying much attention.

That is until the door to the conference room opened and Max walked in, followed by their new client.

At the sight of him, Katie’s heart stumbled drunkenly against her rib cage. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

Liam James, wrist tattoo and all, came striding into the room as if he owned it.

The memory of their rendezvous in the cloak closet came rushing back in gloriously shameful detail. The hot kisses, the frantic shedding of clothes, the quick, powerful thrusts in the inky blackness.

She hiccoughed.

Did he recognize her? Katie kept her head down as she slipped into a leather swivel chair at the far end of the conference table and prayed that he did not.

Max went around the room, introducing him to everyone on the team. When Liam’s eyes lighted on Katie, a bone-clutching chill shot through her, immediately followed by a gush of thrilling heat.

Oh, this was bad.

“Katie,” he said, his voice oozing charm. “It’s nice to see you again.”

What did he mean by that remark?

He shook her hand and her gaze fixed on the now familiar barbed-wire tattoo encircling his wrist. A quick pulse of energy surged between them.

Lightning in a jar.

She jerked her hand back from the contact. His hazel eyes darkened and a slight but suggestive smile tipped his lips.

He knew!

“Hi,” she said because that was all she could manage to squeeze past her constricted throat.

Play it cool and act as if Friday night never happened. You’re going cold turkey.

“You two know each other?” Max arched an eyebrow.

“He’s dating my sister,” Katie explained.

“I’m not.” Liam’s eyes never left her face. “Brooke and I are just friends.”

“Really?”

“Really.” He smiled at her.

Relief washed over Katie, along with a surge of hope and a heightened sense of excitement. Settle down.

Liam turned to Max. “Actually, Katie’s the reason I’m here.”

“Really?” Max said archly.

“I’ve seen the graphic designs she did for the new campaign for Worthington’s Department Store. She’s a very talented artist. You scored big when you hired her.”

Liam’s compliment brought a flush of pride to Katie’s cheeks. Brooke worked for Worthington’s and she must have been the one to show Liam her design.

Max looked at Katie as if seeing her for the first time. “She’s not bad. A bit raw, but maybe she could become great with time and dedication.”

Coming from Max, that was a magnanimous admission.

Liam, broad shouldered and lean hipped, pulled out the chair beside Katie and sat down. Her heart thumped.

My legs have been wrapped around those hips, she thought.

The large conference room suddenly seemed claustrophobically small sitting this close to him, his crisp, masculine scent wafting over her. He smelled startlingly wonderful-like minty toothpaste mingled with rainy autumn days and…sweet, sweet sin.

Max took a seat, as well, steepled his fingertips and leaned forward. “So tell us about your new project, Mr. James.”

“Well,” Liam said, his gaze lingering on Katie so long she was certain he must have guessed her secret identity. She wanted to look away, but she simply could not. “It’s all about sex.”

“SEX?” Katie whispered.

Sex?

What in the devil had made him say that?

Katie Winfield, that’s who.

Liam hadn’t failed to notice the sweet curve of her ass as she’d gracefully eased it down into the plush leather chair. His palms itched to knead her sweet, firm flesh sheathed so provocatively by the silky material of her skirt. The strength of his need was shocking.

She was staring him straight in the eyes, not intimidated in the least by his frank appraisal.

Courageous. He liked that.

His gaze fell to her full, feminine mouth and hung there. God, she had gorgeous lips. It felt as if the conference room were empty and the world had narrowed to just the two of them. Staring into her eyes, Liam recognized the same out-of-control sensation that had gripped him at the masquerade party.

“Sex,” he repeated, as if that’s what he’d intended on saying all along. “I’m renovating downtown warehouses into condos and I want an ad campaign that appeals to hip, young, well-to-do urbanites.”

“And sex sells,” Katie said.

“Exactly.”

“We can do that,” Max Kruger interjected.

“But,” Liam spoke, never taking his gaze off Katie, “I want Katie in as the art director.”

“Katie?” Max sounded nonplussed.

“Me?” Katie squeaked.

“You.”

“Katie’s never served as art director on a campaign,” Max said.

“First time for everything,” Liam replied.

“Max is right,” Katie said. “I’d be out of my league.”

Liam shrugged and started to get up. “All right, if you don’t think you can handle success.”

“Excuse me.” Katie’s eyes sparked.

Had he made her mad?

“Could I speak to you out in the hallway for a moment?”

“Me?” He arched an eyebrow.

“You,” she said curtly.

“Why, sure.” Liam couldn’t stop the grin this time. “Max, do you mind?”

“It’s your dime.” Max waved a hand.

Katie marched out into the hallway. Liam followed leisurely, enjoying the view below her flouncing skirt hem. Damn, but the woman had a gorgeous pair of legs.