He's the One Read Free

and a boob tube with an empty space for a brain?"
    "Meow,” he chided. “Not nice."
    A soft pink flush colored her cheeks. He liked that. Showed she wasn't as hard as she made out to be. A point definitely in her favor.
    "I'm sorry."
    "That's okay. I figure it took a lot of guts for you to walk in here. What I can't figure out is why me? There are plenty of guys out there who'd take up your offer."
    "Perhaps,” she acquiesced, wiping the tip of her tongue across her bottom lip, an action Cade found himself following in minute detail and wished he could be that tongue tasting her lips.
    Damn it. He was hooked, and his arousal had made itself blatantly obvious and him uncomfortable. Embarrassed to be caught like a schoolboy on heat, he moved to sit behind his desk.
    "You're renowned for the parade of women you leave behind."
    His rumbling laughter filled the room. “You've done your homework,” he said.
    "I'm a businesswoman. I know my business."
    "And sex is your business?"
    "No!"
    He could see he'd shocked her. Her eyes widened like saucers, all glistening, and ... innocent. Cade's teeth scraped across his bottom lip. Such a tempting proposal.
    Taylor continued. “Weddings, love and commitment are my business."
    "Yet you search me out knowing commitment is definitely not my middle name."
    "That's exactly why I chose you. You don't believe in ever lasting love or roses and the white picket fence deal."
    "For others, maybe, but not me,” he agreed. “But you, Taylor, are a wedding planner; you've got to be a romantic at heart."
    "I'm a businesswoman. Marriage is a good business."
    "And yet, you haven't married."
    Taylor shrugged, but she couldn't hide the shadow of sadness that washed across her eyes before the fall of her heavy lashes blotted it out.
    "So now we get back to my commitment, or lack of it,” Cade said, drawing her from her memories.
    Taylor fixed her steadfast blue eyes on him. She meant business. “Mr. Harper, I don't want commitment, either. So, we're a good match. And I have a deal for you."
    Cade's eyebrows quirked upwards. “This gets more interesting by the minute. But maybe you should try Cade. It's less formal, since we'll be getting to know each other ... intimately."
    * * * *
    Taylor choked back a cough.
    She twisted her shaking hands behind her back and linked her fingers. Her chin lifted upwards a fraction. “I understand you're looking at expanding the chain and starting up more of a boutique line of cocktail bars."
    "I'm surprised you found that out. It hasn't been advertised."
    "I told you, I'm a..."
    "Businesswoman. Yeah. I know. Very impressive. So, what's the deal?"
    "You want to expand, to expose yourself."
    A burst of laughter rumbled from Cade's chest. “Sounds provocative."
    "I ... didn't mean the way it sounded,” she stammered.
    "I know, just teasing. Sorry, you were offering me a sweetener to this proposal of yours.” He folded his arms across his chest, which did nothing for Taylor's equilibrium as she eyed the play of his T-shirt over taut muscles.
    Taylor breathed. Deeply. And again, and again, trying to remain calm. “I know promotions,” she said formally. “I'll promote your new venture, for ... ah..."
    "Services rendered,” he offered.
    Her lips pursed. “Something like that."
    Cade pushed himself from his desk and stood in front of her. His gaze dropped to her face. He cupped her chin, thumb circling her cheek. His touch felt so soft and so gentle, she almost purred.
    "I'm definitely interested. But let's get this straight. You use your promotional skills in return for my lovemaking skills?"
    Taylor's breath whooshed out in a sharp exhalation. Oh, Lord. It sounded brazen and so not her. Again, she wondered what on earth was she doing?
    Getting in too deep without a lifejacket, that's what.
    But Cade had agreed and now she had to close the deal. “There's just one thing,” she said, aware as her body tilted forward, anticipation zinging through her