Tawny Weber - The Night Before Christmas - Naughty Christmas Nights / The Nightshift Before Christmas / 'Twas the Week Before Christmas

Damned if she wasn’t adorable. Even through his irritation, all he could think of was how cute she was. And remember what she’d tasted like.

“Well, it looks like it’s not quite over yet.” Her voice was filled with bravado, but she’d chewed off her pretty pink lipstick and her eyes were wary. As if she wasn’t quite sure what he was going to do now that they’d lost their buffer.

What he wanted to do was slide his hand up those smooth red tights, right under her skirt, and see if they were the kind that went to the waist or just to the top of the thighs. He wanted to touch her, to warm himself against her sweet little body again.

But mostly he wanted to tie her to his bed, where she couldn’t cause him any further trouble. Except, he acknowledged as he shifted from one foot to the other, trouble to the fit of his slacks.

“You know what you’ve done, don’t you?” he said, keeping his words quiet in hopes that the anger wouldn’t come through. If the way her eyes widened as she leaned backward was any indication, he didn’t succeed.

It didn’t stop her from lifting her chin and giving him a so-what look, though. “I did exactly what I came here to do. I did my best to get this account.”

Gage laughed. Couldn’t fault her that.

“Sweetheart, you’ve got us double-dating.”

7

HOW DID A girl dress for a date with her competition—the sexiest man on earth—a wealthy pervert with the power to make or break her future and a gorgeous woman who intimidated the hell out of her?

With killer lingerie, of course.

Hopefully, killer lingerie would make this evening magic. Parking her car, Hailey grimaced. Two days after she’d issued the bet challenge, and it was time to rock. She took a deep breath, the move pushing her lacy-edged breasts tight against the sheer fabric of her blouse. Tonight was all about romance. But that didn’t mean romance wasn’t sexy. To prove that point, she’d opted for exquisite lace and satin in a delicate shade of pink under a blouse the color of milk chocolate. Her full skirt, the same shade of brown, hit midthigh, the better to show off the delicate seams and bows climbing the backs of her sheer stockings.

That her thong and garter belt matched the pale pink bra visible through the filmy fabric of her blouse was Hailey’s little secret. One that people might guess, which meant it’d titillate and intrigue. Not scream “do me because I wear sexy underwear”...like some people’s lingerie.

“Miss North, you look amazing,” the maître d’ greeted as she swept into Carinos, where she’d set the scene for her special scenario pitch. It wasn’t so much that she wanted to rub in Gage’s face what he’d lost by choosing a contract over her. No. Carinos was her favorite restaurant. If he ate his heart out in addition to the delicious dinner she’d arranged, well, that was icing on the cake.

“Thanks, Paolo,” she responded with a warm smile, following him to the private room she’d arranged, pleased at the ambience along the way. Soft music, flickering candles, the delicate scent of roses filling the air as they skirted the main dining room and stopped just short of the atrium, with its lush display of winter roses.

“The rest of the party should be along shortly,” she told Paolo, slipping him a generous tip as he gestured to the door of their private room.

“One gentleman is already here, Miss North. I’ll escort the others as soon as they arrive.”

Figuring that gentleman was Gage trying to get the jump on her, and wanting to be sure Paolo was waiting for Rudy and Cherry, she told him she’d seat herself. Hailey took a deep breath, mentally going over her checklist for the evening, then plastered on her biggest smile as she entered the room.

Her breath stuck in her chest.

Oh, baby, Gage was gorgeous.

The navy suit fit him to perfection. And since his back was turned while he stared out the glass wall at the flower garden, she could see how well tailored the slacks were, cupping his butt in a way that made her jealous of the fabric.

Then he turned.

And the view from the front was even sexier.

Puffing out a little breath, she forced herself to lift her gaze to his face. It was like trying to heft a very reluctant elephant over her head. Her eyes wanted to slide right back down.

“Ahh, my date.” His smile was wickedly teasing and light. But his gaze turned hot fast as he took in her appearance. “You look lovely.”

Uh-oh.

The first rule she’d set for this evening was to keep a distance between herself and Gage. To stay as far away as politely possible so she could maintain control. Of her thoughts. Of her body. And of the situation.

But as he crossed the room and took her hands in his, all she could do was sigh. After all, it’d be rude to pull away.

“Thank you.” She gazed up at him, her fingers itching to touch his perfectly styled hair, to muss it just a little so it fell across his forehead like it had the first evening they’d met.

Then he raised one of her hands to his lips, brushing his mouth over her knuckles. Hailey’s knees almost buckled. Talk about romantic. It was as if he had magic in those lips of his.

And if he could get her all weak in the knees with such a sweet move, what else could that mouth do? She knew his kisses were hot enough to melt her panties.

Suddenly she was desperate to know how much more power he had. To feel more of what he had to offer.

And he knew it.

The look in Gage’s eyes was a combination of wicked amusement and sexual heat. A promise. One she had every faith he could keep, and one she was quickly becoming desperate to feel.

“Miss North...”

Hailey’s eyes dropped to Gage’s mouth. Those lips were curved. Soft. Full. She wanted to taste them. To feel them trailing down her body.

“Excuse me.”

“Someone wants you,” Gage said, his words low and amused.

Him?

“Miss North?”

Dammit.

Hailey pulled her hands, and her body, away from Gage and turned. Face on fire, she shook her head, trying to toss off the spell, then turned to give Paolo a shaky smile.

“Yes?”

“A message for you.” As polite and circumspect as if he were totally oblivious to the sexual sparks flying around the room, he stepped forward and handed Hailey a slip of paper. Then, without a word, he turned smartly on one heel and exited. Leaving Hailey alone with Gage and all that sexual temptation.

Frowning, she opened the slip of paper and read it. Her frown turned into a scowl and she crushed the note in her fist.

“What’s wrong?”

“Apparently Cherry can’t make it. She’s not feeling well this evening. She sent the message through Rudy, who said he’d meet us in an hour and to go ahead and start dinner without him.”

Damn. Damn, damn, damn.

Hailey all but stomped her foot and shook her fist at the ceiling, she was so frustrated.

She’d planned this evening so carefully. The most romantic restaurant, a private room. She’d ordered the meal, the dessert, the champagne and even picked the music, all with the idea of impressing Cherry and Rudy.

Now, neither of them was here.

Her grand plan to prove she was the best pick for the contract, poof. Gone. She swallowed hard, trying to get past the lump of tears clogging her throat.

“Well, I guess we can get on with the evening,” Gage said, his tone close to a shrug. “Rudy will get here when he gets here.”

“What’s the point? I’m not trying to convince you of the merits of a romantic evening,” she said, jerking one shoulder in a dismissive shrug. Be nice, a part of her chided. He might be her competition, but Gage was still a major player who knew a lot of people. If she angered him, he could easily spread the word that she was a bitch or a diva. Or just a pain in his butt.