With a business to grow and a teenaged son to raise, Catherine Bennett doesn’t have time for a social life. Besides, after her ex’s betrayal, she’s not willing to open up her heart again. But when she leases office space in Dominic Russo’s building, she can’t keep her mind—or her eyes—off her new landlord. Only problem is he happens to be a known womanizer…and her professional rival.
Unfortunately for Dominic, Philadelphia’s most eligible bachelor is definitely experiencing a dry spell. He hasn’t dated in months, contrary to the rumors, yet convincing career-minded Catherine that there’s more to him than his reputation will be a challenge. Since she’s determined to focus on work, he offers her an irresistible chance at winning a huge contract if she partners with his company.
Can he show Catherine that mixing business with pleasure wouldn’t be such a bad idea and might lead to a New Year’s Eve she’ll never forget?
“I have a question I’d like to ask you.”
“Sure. What do you want to know?”
“How do you like to be seduced?”
Her startled reaction was rewarding. “What?”
“I think I was clear about my request. How do you like to be …?”
“Why are you asking?”
“Because I want to get it right. There are a lot of ways to seduce a woman and …”
“And you know them all?” The tone of her voice was amused even though he’d been going for excited.
“No, but it’s much more enjoyable when both parties agree on what they like.” He traced a line over her collarbone with his forefinger. “For example, I like the feel of your skin. Do you like to be seduced with touch?” His finger moved from her collarbone down to the top of her breast. “Like this?”
Her sharp intake of breath was all he needed to continue his explorations. With the softest of touches, he moved from her chest, up her neck to her chin then to the curve of her ear and the soft lobe. He could see her nipples peaking through the drape of her dress.
“Or shall I tell you how soft your skin is? Seduce you with words. By saying how much I want to touch your breasts the way I’m touching your ear. How much I want to see if your thighs are as soft and smooth as …”
“Dominic, please.”
“Please, what, cara?’
“Please … I don’t … I don’t know.” She moved restlessly in her seat, tried to put space between them, but he wouldn’t let her. “Don’t tease me like this.”
“I’m not teasing. I’m doing research for later.” He kissed her temple. “How about seduction by kissing?” He began to give her light, butterfly kisses from her temple to her cheek, to her ear and her neck. His hand moved across the span of her waist, and he pulled her against him, her back to his chest. With the other hand he moved her hair to one side so he could nibble at her neck and shoulder. He knew from the way she was breathing, from the way her head was thrown back, he’d achieved his goal. She was excited.
Then the lights went down and the orchestra began to play the overture.
Born in Philadelphia, I’ve spent most of my adult life in the Pacific Northwest where I have happily grown webs between my toes and moss behind my ears. Over my adult life, I pursued a number of careers—nurse, legislative staffer, lobbyist, public affairs consultant, non-profit association executive, workshop teacher, oh, and mother and wife—before deciding to leave it all for what I’ve loved through every stage of life—writing.
As much as I wanted to be a writer, if someone had told me I’d spend my sixties writing romances, I’d have laughed. I was sure I’d be writing intricately plotted mysteries and deeply moving memoir pieces. But the characters in every piece of fiction I started wanted their love stories told in spite of the fact I had many of them hanging around questionable people or involved in murder, intrigue and general mayhem.
That’s how the Second Chances romance series was born. Six books in the series have been released by Crimson Romance as ebooks and trade paperbacks, all set in some of my favorite places—Portland, Oregon, the Puget Sound, Philadelphia. My second series, A Holiday For Romance, now includes four books with a fifth to be released in June of 2015.
Still no mysteries but I’m working on it. I’m working on it.
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