Janelle Denison - Sinfully Sweet

“No application necessary. The attraction between us is undeniable, and I already know you’d make the perfect girlfriend. In every way.” Reaching out, he brushed back a strand of hair that had fallen over her cheek and gently tucked it behind her ear, before letting his fingers trail lightly down the side of her neck. “So, what do you say, Becca? Wanna be my girlfriend?”

His tone was teasing, but his eyes were very serious as they stared into hers. She felt mesmerized, the urge to say yes a powerful, overwhelming temptation. What a rush it would be to experience the full effect of all that dazzling, masculine sex appeal of his. Even if it was just a temporary fling.

“Here are your petits fours,” Ellie said as she breezed back into the room. She came to an abrupt stop when she caught sight of the intimate way that Connor was still touching her. “Oh, excuse me! I didn’t mean to interrupt you two.”

Rebecca stepped away from Connor and tried to shake off the sensual spell he’d so effortlessly spun around her. “You weren’t interrupting anything,” she reassured Ellie. In fact, you just saved me from making a colossal mistake.

Rebecca had no doubt that Connor’s interest was a transitory thing. And once she succumbed to his charms he’d most likely quickly grow tired of her, as he seemed to do with every other woman he’d ever dated. The man wasn’t known for longevity in his relationships.

Succumbing to a twenty-six-year-old millionaire playboy wasn’t an option, not for practical, responsible thirty-two-year-old Rebecca Moore. The situation had heartache written all over it.

Since her sister had prepaid her order, there was no reason for Rebecca to hang around any longer. Her job here was done.

“Thank you, Ellie.” Rebecca took the handled bag from the other woman. “I’m sure the petits fours will be a huge hit at the cocktail party tonight.”

And then she headed for the door.

“Wait!” Ellie exclaimed before she could make her clean escape. “You forgot your pink chocolate heart half!”

Despite the urge to run, Rebecca stopped, turned back around, and forced a smile as Ellie selected one and then pressed it into her hand. She really didn’t want to have anything to do with the Sinfully Sweet contest, but took the candy from Ellie out of sheer politeness.

Then she high-tailed it out of the shop-away from Connor and away from the influence of all the heady chocolate affecting her better judgment.

CONNOR STARED AFTER Rebecca, wondering why in the world he continued to pursue such a stubborn woman when she managed to cut down every advance he made toward her.

The answer came easily, as it always did when he asked himself this question. Which was much too often.

An intense attraction and sexual tension swirled between them, though he couldn’t blame his lasting interest in her on those things. She was classically pretty, with nothing flashy or artificial about her, which he liked. What you saw with Rebecca was exactly what you got. Yet that wasn’t what reeled him in and kept him hooked either.

It was other traits and qualities he’d seen throughout the years-her honesty, inner strength, and loyalty-that made him a glutton for punishment, in hopes that one day she’d give him a chance.

Today was not going to be that day, he thought with a resigned sigh.

“You’re smitten with her, aren’t you?”

Connor returned his attention to the woman behind the counter and grinned wryly. “Am I that obvious?” Or was he just incredibly pathetic?

“To someone who knows what to look for, yes,” Ellie said, as if she had knowledge of such things. “She’s attracted to you, too, but she’s not willing to admit it, is she?”

“She’s definitely been a tough one to crack.” But that, too, made Rebecca very appealing to him, despite her reasons for keeping him at arm’s length. She wasn’t like the other women who took one look at his millionaire status, along with his title as San Francisco’s most eligible bachelor, and decided that they were going to become a permanent fixture in his life. Instead, she was the first female who wasn’t influenced by his money. Her lack of interest was a refreshing change and only added to his reasons for being so attracted to her.

“And why is that, do you think?” Ellie asked as she rang up his boxes of Valentine candies.

“Well, I’m fortunate enough, or unfortunate enough depending on how you look at things, to get first-hand information through my best friend from Rebecca’s sister. It seems that she thinks I’m irresponsible and have a spending problem.” Not to mention the issue she had with the six-year age difference between them, and the fact that he played computer games for a living, which didn’t fit into her image of a professional occupation.

Ellie took his credit card for his purchases, but hesitated before running it through the register. “Do you have a spending problem?”

Connor laughed at the woman’s straight-forward question, feeling as though he was talking to his level-headed grandmother instead of a stranger he’d just met. “No. I have a lot of nice things because I can afford them.” However, he’d come to realize over the past year that he tended to buy expensive items and toys to make up for what was really lacking in his life: a strong, solid relationship with a woman. And no fancy imported sports car or pricey electronic gadget could make up for that kind of companionship.

It also didn’t help that he was holding out for the one woman who didn’t want to have anything to do with him. Yeah, he really was pathetic.

“It sounds as though she needs to get to know the real you.”

He signed the sales receipt and slipped the credit card back into his wallet. “Great advice, but I’m afraid that’s easier said than done.” Getting Rebecca to go out on a date with him had proved fruitless and frustrating.

“Well, I’m a firm believer that one way to a woman’s soul is through chocolate, and she did seem to favor the chocolate-dipped strawberries.”

Ellie’s eyes twinkled conspiratorially, giving Connor the distinct impression that he had an ally in the older woman. “You’re absolutely right.” It was, after all, Valentine’s weekend, so why not take advantage of that fact? “I’ll take half a dozen, wrapped up with a nice ribbon and a note card to go with it.”

Obviously pleased with her match-making attempts, Ellie set about selecting the best and biggest chocolate-covered strawberries on the tray. While she arranged them in a white box and tied it off with a big elaborate red bow, Connor filled out mailing labels so Ellie could deliver the Valentine candies.

“Here you go.” Ellie presented him with the beautifully decorated box. “I’m certain she won’t be able to resist them.”

Of course Connor wanted Rebecca to enjoy the strawberries, but most importantly would she be able to resist the note he attached to the sweets? Only time would tell and he’d have his answer tonight.

Ellie rounded the counter and walked to the display of pink and blue foil-wrapped chocolates, the ones he’d noticed were part of some kind of Valentine contest. Carefully, she selected one of the blue-wrapped candies, then came back to where he was still standing by the register.

“And if those strawberries don’t do the trick for you, then maybe this will.” Grabbing his hand, she pressed the half chocolate heart into his palm, then winked at him. “I picked this one especially for you.”

The woman was as sweet as she was cunning. Connor felt as though he’d stepped into the Willy Wonka chocolate factory and he’d just been given a golden ticket. One that might just help him finally get the girl.