The Seduction Game Read Free

a sweet natured schoolteacher and a sexy vixen, to see which persona a man will be more interested in?”
    “Coming from an established psychologist who’s already written a string of bestsellers on relationships, I would call it research. Undercover research, if you will.” Kate was beginning to lose patience. She didn’t need her sister adding fuel to her own doubts. “I thought you’d be supportive. You love all my other books.”
    Barbara folded her arms across her chest, her silky pale blonde hair resting over one shoulder, and Kate silently admired her younger sister. She couldn’t help it. Even in a pink T-shirt and faded, snug jeans, Barbara still managed to look like she was ready to saunter down a runway.
    Kate didn’t want to think about her own appearance. Mall shopping with Lindsay meant comfortable clothing like the loose pair of tan pants, brown flats, and beige top she wore. Hardly the radiant image Barbara displayed. Kate felt dowdy and self-consciously brought a hand up to her secured hair.
    “Yes. I do love your other books, but there was no cloak and dagger stuff going on with them. Did it ever occur to you Adam Tyler might find out what’s going on?”
    “That’s irrelevant since he’ll never find out.” She caught the skeptical look on her sister’s face and stiffened. “Look, I’m a competent psychologist who specializes in human behavior. Give me some credit. Do you really think I’m going into this with my eyes closed?” Yes, you are , a nagging voice said in her head. She ignored it. “I may have a few kinks to work out, like when I can spring my bad girl persona on him, but I do know what I’m doing.”
    Barbara wasn’t budging. “Okay, convince me and I won’t tell Mom or Gail about this.”
    Kate gasped. “You wouldn’t! Don’t you dare tell them what I’m doing.”
    “I said convince me.”
    Kate sighed wearily. “Okay, but first I have to show you something.” She took Adam’s ad out of her purse and handed it to Barbara. “Here. Read it and tell me he’s not perfect for my research.”
    Barbara read it, slowly sinking on the couch. She raised a startled gaze to Kate. “I don’t believe it. He said tired of bad girls, wants to meet a nice girl. Your new book’s title. They’re the same.” She lowered her gaze to the ad. “What a coincidence.”
    “Yes, and it will also prove the results from all the research I’ve amassed the past few months. Meeting him as a nice girl and then a bad girl is Phase Four of my research.”
    Barbara still appeared dazed as she glanced up at her sister. “Phase what?”
    “Phase Four. Phase One was the hundred interviews I conducted with single men ranging from ages twenty-five to forty-five. I asked them about their likes and dislikes in women and they all gravitated to the same points. They want someone soft and feminine, yet confidant and strong. They want her to be thoughtful and intelligent, well-read and insightful. And they want a woman who likes to have fun and has a good sense of humor, For lack of a better word, they want a nice girl.” She noticed the spark of interest in Barbara’s gaze and continued before she lost her. “Then I defined another type of woman to them. A woman who uses her sexuality to manipulate men, dresses provocatively, is promiscuous, and uses slinky body language,scorching eye contact, suggestive behavior, touches a lot. My definition of a bad girl. The kind of woman who wants to pleasure only herself. A taker. A huntress who sniffs out her prey, marks their weakness and attacks.
    Barbara’s eyes widened. “What did they say?”
    Kate hid a smile. “They were enticed, a few even turned on, but bottom line was they all agreed that was not the kind of woman they would spend the rest of their lives with. During Phase Two I conducted case studies of fifty successful marriages. I wanted to find out what made these couples sustain their love and remain together. It all came down to three