Stripped Raw Read Free Page B

obnoxious and when he put up your picture. . . .”
    Tessa gives me a sideways hug. “Watching you hand Deacon Barnes his balls made my entire year, outside of giving birth to Zoe, of course.”
    “I’m adding Deacon to the list of men I hate.” I’m in a serious man-hating phase, and not just Charles and my own father, who long ago abandoned my mother and me. No, it’s way beyond that. I’m questioning the motivation of most all men on every continent. And I’ve got a long list going—like two pages already filled up, single-space, front and back.
    “Not all men are bad,” Tessa says, tickling her seven-month-old as the phone rings again. “Machine again.”
    “I don’t know how you, of all people, can say that,” I say. “Brandon left you while you were pregnant and fighting cancer.”
    “You know there’s more to it than that,” Tessa says.
    I roll my eyes, but I know there is. Still, I can’t stand to listen to Tessa defend Brandon, who’s sitting pretty at the very top of my list. “Look, I can’t deal with this right now. How bad is it? How many orders have cancelled since this morning? Just tell me.” I fire up my computer to check.
    Tessa smiles. “Are you kidding? The phone’s been ringing non-stop. We’re getting tons of hits online, too. The orders are piling in from everywhere.”
    “What?” I gasp as the phone rings once again.
    “Your interview has gone viral! Women are calling from New York to California! The national media picked up the story! Kenzie Lingerie just exploded!”
    I’m in a state of shock. The phone keeps ringing all morning. Never thought I’d be grateful for a man behaving like a total prick, but thanks, Deacon Barnes!
    I answer as many calls as humanly possible and let the others roll to the answering machine. Tessa helps as best she can, but for all practical purposes, Kenzie Lingerie is just me. I don’t have any staff and can barely keep up with orders on a regular week. As great as this is, I’m starting to panic a little, and I’m feeling overwhelmed. My back also hurts from leaning over my design table, writing down order after order and monitoring the online activity, but I’m not complaining one bit.
    I look at the clock. I’ve been up forever, but the morning has flown by. I’m mentally calculating how much fabric I’ll need to fill my most recent order when the door behind me suddenly opens, and I turn around to find an intense pair of royal blue eyes staring at me. The man is completely sexy—tall, tan, and muscular, with a head of thick, dark hair and dressed in a suit that probably cost several thousand dollars. What is it about a man in a well-fitting suit? I saw a meme once that said a suit does for women what lingerie does for men, and looking at this guy, I’d have to say I agree.
    My mouth drops open, and before I drool, I quickly close it. I need to say something, to greet the man in some way, but I can’t think of a single word in the English language because my mind and heart are racing. The only thing coming to my mind is that M&M’s commercial. You know, the one where the little candy dudes say they do exist ?
    Because men who look like this guy do not exist.
    He runs his thumb across his bottom lip. God, that’s so hot! I’m sure I’m drooling now. How did I not notice those lips before? Who is this sexy beast of a man? What is he doing here? Is he a customer? Most importantly, have I ever seen anyone so gorgeous? I hope he’s not some crazy who saw me on TV this morning and decided to stalk me or something. It would be so disappointing if he was a crazy. He can’t be. He’s way too gorgeous.
    Actually. . .
    Is it bad that I’m not sure I’d mind the crazy? He’s that hot.
    The phone rings, snapping me out of my lust-induced stupor. “Can I help you?” I ask.
    “I think I’m lost,” he says.
    “I figured,” I say. His voice sounds familiar, but I can’t place it. “You don’t look like our usual