Seduce Me Read Free

touched her hair as she took another look in the mirror. Not great. “Blow-dryer?”
    â€œThe thing blew up six months ago and you never replaced it.”
    â€œRight. No problem.” Twisting up her hair, she searched for something to pin it with.
    Lorissa rolled her eyes and pulled the shiny black clip out of her own hair, offering it to Sam. “Makeup.”
    Sam knew this was not a request. She offered up her face and Lorissa applied blush, mascara and lip gloss. The last item she handed to Sam. “Keep this with you and reapply every once in awhile. Please remember that. Now, it’s time to get out there and—”
    A heavy knock sounded on the bathroom door, accompanied by a low male voice. “Hello?”
    In the mirror, Sam raised her brow at Lorissa.
    â€œUh—hi,” he said through the door. “Do you suppose we can get on with this?”
    Get on with this? “A real charmer,” Sam said beneath her breath.
    â€œI’m sure he’s just—”
    Another knock. “Hello in there?”
    â€œâ€”in a hurry,” Lorissa finished weakly.
    â€œYeah, well, he’d better be hot,” Sam whispered, and with one last deep breath, hauled open the door.
    And came face to face with her date.
    Or more accurately, her date’s broad, wide chest.
    â€œI think he’s got the hot covered,” Lorissa whispered in her ear.
    Good thing she was a fairly tall woman herself, Sam thought vaguely, tilting her head back to catch sight of his face, because the guy had to be six and a half feet tall.
    â€œOh, good,” he said with obvious relief, running his gaze down her own five-foot-ten willowy body. “You’re ready.” He held out his arm, which she didn’t take.
    â€œI don’t go out with nameless men,” she said.
    He looked surprised, as if shocked she had no idea who he was. “Jack Knight,” he said in that slightly husky voice.
    Okay, not a bad name, she’d give him that. In fact, it sounded vaguely familiar…“Sam O’Ryan.”
    â€œYes, I know. Nice to meet you.” He was wearing a tux and a frown, and to her relief, wasn’t ugly or fat, but quite…
    Actually, Lorissa had put it most aptly. Hot. He had dark hair and even darker eyes, a wide, sensual mouth that wasn’t smiling at the moment but seemed to have good potential, and a strong jaw covered in a barely there five o’clock shadow, all on top of a long, lean, tough body…Nice combo, she’d admit that.
    Not that she was hung up on appearances, but on her run to the bathroom, she’d caught sight of the black Escalade out front. The guy was indeed rich and, as she’d told Lorissa, rich guys usually didn’t have much else going for them. So really, she didn’t hold out much hope for this one.
    But she was committed to tonight. With a last look over her shoulder at Lorissa, she settled her hand on his arm and let him lead her out of the café.
    â€œWe probably should have met at a safer location than this,” Jack said. As they walked outside into air that was no cooler than the café bathroom had been, he favored his right leg, but she didn’t say anything about it because he’d sidetracked her with the “safe” comment. She glanced back at the Wild Cherries sign she’d painted herself five years ago when she’d bought the place from Red.
    â€œIt’s perfectly safe,” she said.
    â€œNow, maybe, but I don’t want to drop you off at some isolated hole-in-the-wall later tonight when it’s dark. There are no lights out here.”
    â€œWatch it,” she warned lightly. “I own this hole-in-the-wall, and happen to be quite fond of it, lights or no.” She wasn’t open at night, so she’d never felt the need to add outdoor lighting.
    He glanced at her as he unlocked the passenger door with his remote, but she avoided his gaze until he