Debbi Rawlins - He's All That

“What do you mean?” Tori barely recognized her own voice. Deep. Husky. Sexy.

Drawing back, Jake gave her a lazy smile. “This was your idea. How do you like it…a little rough?” He gripped her waist and forced her back until she was against the bedroom wall, then he pushed his tongue between her lips.

Just as quickly, he withdrew to lightly nibble the side of her mouth, releasing her to cup her face in his hands, giving a gentle but very satisfying kiss.

“Or slow and tender?”

It took Tori a moment to catch her breath. “Well…if you really want to spend the night analyzing the situation, we should put our clothes back on,” she quipped, dipping a couple of fingers into his boxers.

“I’ve gotta admit, Ms. Whitford—” his gaze surveying her lips, then her breasts “—you turned out mighty fine.”

She kneaded the muscles along his upper arms, ran her palms down to his backside. When she reached for, then stroked, his erection, she replied, “Well, Mr. Conners, I’m happy to say the same about you….”

Dear Reader,

This book will always remind me of my recent move. Yes, I know I said that before, and for four years I actually stayed put. Pretty good for me. But then my sister decided to move here from Hawaii, and while helping her look for a place I discovered this awesome model town house nearby. In six days my house was sold and there was no turning back.

It didn’t matter that the new house was late on completion or that this book was due—I had to plow ahead, grumbling to my sister that it was all her fault. I even named the heroine’s sister after the sales rep, and the heroine’s last name is the name of the model of home I purchased. Not to mention that two of the guys her mom tries to fix her up with are named for the other two town house models! Oh well, the new place is finally finished! And this book is done and I sure hope you enjoy it!

Did I say what a peach my editor is? Kathryn was wonderfully patient through the entire ordeal. Even though it took an act of Congress to reach me.

Debbi Rawlins

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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This is for my sister, Earlette.

I can’t wait for you to get here.

And for the real Mallory.

Your humor and wit made the wait tolerable.

Thank you.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Epilogue

“ISABELLE, bring me my social calendar along with another pot of tea.”

Victoria Whitford sighed at the boorish way her mother spoke to their longtime housekeeper. The woman was practically part of the family, for God’s sake. She’d been ready with a Band-Aid the first time Tori had scraped her knee.

“Thank you,” Tori added for her mother, not that Marian Whitford noticed the subtle criticism.

Isabelle smiled. “Would you like some vanilla wafers with your tea, Tori?”

“My God, don’t call her that horrid name. It’s Victoria.”

“Sorry, Mrs. Whitford.” Isabelle scurried out of the sitting room, her sensible black shoes treading lightly over the polished wood floors.

“I like Tori, Mother.”

“That is not the name your father and I gave you.”

“Nevertheless, I suggest you get used to it.”

Her mother glared in disbelief. Her sister Mallory laughed.

Marian turned on her older daughter. “What do you find so amusing?”

She looked away and brought the martini glass to her lips.

“Don’t look away while I’m speaking to you.”

Tori waited for her sister to make a snide remark. But the only sign of her old defiance was a slight lift of her chin as she turned her attention back to their mother.

“Put that glass down. What have I told you about drinking so early in the day?”

With a sinking heart, Tori watched Mallory obey. Not that she approved of her sister’s drinking, something that she’d done quite a bit since Tori had gotten home three days ago, but she hated to see her spirited sister look so broken.

Having been away for seven years had really shed a different light on the home front. Even though Tori had spent half her life at boarding school, when she’d returned home for holidays and summers she’d never noticed her mother’s domineering attitude. Of course Tori had always been the obedient daughter and seldom her mother’s target.

“Is that couch new?” she asked, wanting to change the subject, yet seriously interested in the answer.

Her mother reared her head back, her carefully made-up blue eyes widening. “That piece belonged to your great-grandmother. It’s been in the family for generations.”

“Oh.” It was ugly. Burgundy velvet, trimmed with gold, obviously an antique, probably valuable. Tori hated it. “Is it comfortable?”

“For God’s sake, you don’t sit on it.”

Tori froze just as she swiveled, ready to plant her fanny on the diminutive settee. “Silly me,” she murmured, and Mallory hid a smile.

Isabelle appeared with a tray and as she poured the tea, Tori wandered over to the window overlooking the south garden, breathtaking as always with tiers of award-winning lavender and pink roses and crawling jasmine.

The Whitford mansion was beautiful, having been featured in Arch Digest twice, but Tori had always liked the gardens the best. They soothed her, helped her feel connected to the world. She missed them while she’d been away, sadly, more than she’d missed her family.

Of course it wasn’t the flowers that had initially caught her interest. Jake Conners had done that. The gardener’s son had the body of a god and when he’d take his shirt off, even her prepubescent heart would flutter like crazy. She wondered whatever happened to him. He was at least five years older. Probably married with two kids, living halfway across the country by now.

“Victoria?”

She turned to her mother. Fifty-eight years old and not a crease on her face, not a strand of gray glistening from her perfect blond bob.

“You’re not to make any plans this week without checking with me first,” she said opening her leather-bound appointment book. “We have a very full schedule.”

Out of the corner of her eye, movement in the garden caught Tori’s attention. She moved her head for a better look and squinted at the figure holding the shovel.

Her breath caught.

It couldn’t be…

“Victoria, are you listening to me?”

“Yes, Mother, I heard every word.” She changed windows for a better angle, and stared in giddy disbelief.

“For heaven’s sake, Victoria.” Her mother came up behind her, moved the heavy cream-colored drape aside and followed Tori’s gaze with disdain. “Don’t even think about dallying with the Conners boy.”