скачать книгу бесплатно
A Dash of Temptation
Jo Leigh
Tess Norton knows that Dash Black is way out of her league.She just looks after his houseplants, for heaven's sake. But she can't resist a sizzling fling with the sexy media king before she settles for Mr. Ordinary someday. Dash has never experienced a woman like Tess in his life. Hot…sweet…sinful, she occupies his bed - and his mind - day after day.She's a welcome distraction in the New York frenzy that he calls home. For Tess, he knows he's just a man to do. Not a man to marry. But sometimes sex and romance can get all mixed up when you least expect it….
Dash Black. The sexiest man on earth.
Tess moved beneath the silky sheets, her body pleasantly warm from their amazing lovemaking earlier. Dash lay beside her breathing gently. She wanted to get up, call all her friends with the news. Why not? It was her bed, after all. He was a guest. A lover.
Her lover. If she wanted him to be.
Could she just have a fling? Or would she end up losing? She was half in love with him already. Then what? Long lonely nights wishing he was with her? Jealousy every time she saw him in the National Enquirer?
It was foolish to get involved with him. What could he possibly see in Tess from tiny Tulip, Texas, who was trying to make it in the Big Apple?
Dash wasn’t going to fall in love with her. This was about fun and sex. Sex and more sex. Which was by no means a bad thing. As long as she didn’t confuse it with love. If she said yes to the sex part, what did all the rest matter? He belonged in her bed…and boy, did Dash belong in her.
“So to do Dash,” she whispered. “Or not to do Dash?” She grinned and gazed over at his nude body.
Even in the dark he was a beautiful man. With that sculpted chin, strong nose and eyes that made grown women weep.
All in her bed. Hers. Tess from Tulip, Texas.
A Dash of Temptation
Jo Leigh
To Lawrence, who is my Man To Keep
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Epilogue
Prologue
To: Erin
CC: Samantha
From: TessThePlantLady@hotmail.com
Subject: Men I’m NOT Going To Do!
Okay, picture this: I’m with Brad. He’s wearing Armani and he smells like cashmere on ice. His hair is perfect, including the obligatory rakish bangs across his forehead. His frown is fetching, his gaze hurt.
Me: I’m sorry, Brad. I just can’t do this. I want more from a relationship than you can give.
Him: Oh, Tess. You’ve made me realize you’re the only woman in the world for me. I’d be lost without you. (He drops to one knee and whips out a Tiffany ring box. Flicking it open, the diamond blinds me for a moment.)
Him: Marry me, Tess. Be mine forever.
Me: Put that 1.2 million dollar ring back in your pocket. We’re not meant to be together. I must go.
Him: Wait! Tess! (He bursts into racking sobs.)
Me: (I wipe a tear as I head for the subway. My posture is excellent.)
Nice, huh? Okay, so here’s what really happened.
Me: I don’t think we can, I mean, uh, I don’t think I can see you anymore.
Him: Okay.
Me: (pulling the knife from the center of my heart) Bye.
The first one’s better. MUCH better, don’t you think? Unfortunately, Brad, bless his pointed little head, didn’t understand that he was losing a gem. That I am, indeed, one hell of a catch and he’s a fool for letting me go.
Really. I mean that. Honest.
I love it, Erin, that you’ve been so lucky with your Man To Do. And I really mean that, too. I sit here and wonder where I went wrong. Dating dangerous, fabulously wealthy, terminally handsome boys seemed like a good idea at the time. What was a broken heart (or ten)? Nevertheless, I’ve learned my lesson. No more Men To Do… I’m doing Men To Marry now. Period. The end. Well, not the end so much as the beginning. A new beginning with a whole new me.
I’m going to do all the things Dear Abby suggests: church socials (note to self: find church), night classes (note to self: ditto), afternoon concerts in Central Park, maybe some golf lessons. I am determined to find Mr. Right and become Mrs. Right by the end of the year. Or next year. Soon, okay? No more Brads. Ever!
So don’t you guys worry about me. You just crawl into your respective beds with your respective hunks and don’t give your poor, desperate friend a thought. I mean it.
Okay then. I’ll just go cry myself to sleep. TTYS!
Love and kisses,
Tess
1
DASH BLACK FINISHED his e-mail and sent it off, wishing he didn’t have fifteen more to go. It would take hours, when all he wanted to do was lock himself in the music room and reacquaint himself with his piano.
Kelly, his assistant, was a godsend and handled his life with practiced ease, but she wasn’t a magician. With the ever increasing success of Noir, he was just damn lucky he could work at home once in a blue moon. Given all the travel, public appearances and investor relations he’d had to do over the past year, sitting in his home office should have been reward enough, but he was a selfish bastard. He wanted it all. Most people would say that’s just what he had. He said it to himself often enough. Like the prince who wants to see how the pauper lives, he had never rebelled, never known anything but his life of privilege. It was sick, the way he thought about it, when all he should be was grateful.
Screw it. Self-pity bored him even more than self-aggrandizement. Just do the work, and shut the hell—
“…the wonder dick. He wasn’t even that good in bed, for heaven’s sake.”
Dash swiveled in his chair, but the startling feminine voice with the slight southern accent had come from outside. It wasn’t Kelly’s voice. Today was his housekeeper’s day off. It was, damn, what was her name? The plant lady. Teresa, Toni? Tess. That’s right. Tess. Tall, curvy, lips like Angelina Jolie. Somewhere in the back of his mind he’d known she came to his place to tend his plants, but he’d only seen her a couple of times. Which was a damn shame. He’d thought about those curves, and how they’d feel in his arms. Maybe he’d find out.
He sure as hell hoped she was talking on the phone, and not to an invisible “friend.” In any case, he doubted she knew he was here, or she would have been a lot more discreet.
“Erin, I’m not rationalizing. Well, maybe I am, but I can’t help it. This weekend is the most important of my life. Cullen is expecting me there, and if he comes through, I’ll be able to put down the deposit on the store. I can’t hang in limbo like this. It’s now or never.”
He shouldn’t listen. This was obviously private. Especially that “wonder dick” comment.
“Okay, yes, I understand that it’s a sign of immaturity to want to show up Brad and Lacey, but I don’t care. I need someone spectacular on my arm and I’m running out of time. The party is Saturday night.”
Dash frowned. Cullen? Could she mean Jim Cullen? He was a venture capitalist with a powerful track record. And he was going to the Hamptons this weekend for a party at Rain Nickleby’s.
Her laughter drew him back to her conversation, his curiosity piqued even further. Were they both going to the same party? It would make sense. He’d seen Tess at social functions before. She worked for a lot of influential people.
“…the mice are sewing up my dress right now, and the pumpkin is reserved. Now all I need is Prince Charming, and I’ll be the belle of the ball.”
He grinned. With her body, if he remembered correctly, she shouldn’t have any trouble finding her prince, even if it was just for the night.
“And if I don’t find Prince Charming, I’ll settle for a rent-a-stud. Oh, God. Do you think they expect sex? I mean, is he going to be put out if I don’t put out?”
Rent-a-stud? Dash stood and moved closer to the door.
“Yeah, like I’ve paid for escorts a hundred times before. Come on, Erin, I’m desperate here.”
It occurred to Dash that this might be an interesting situation. If she was referring to the same party. He was no prince, but he also didn’t charge for his services. No, that wouldn’t work. His attendance wouldn’t be for pleasure. He’d have to work the party, and what that required was someone useful on his arm.
She laughed again, a rich, throaty, uninhibited sound. He smiled. Screw it. When was the last time he’d had anonymous sex? Jeez, he couldn’t remember. And when was the last time he’d had a woman who wasn’t connected to Noir? Being a celebrity was great if you wanted a nice table, but it sucked if you wanted a one-night stand.
He walked into the hallway, wondering if he should cough or something so Tess wouldn’t get scared. He rounded the corner to the living room, and there she was. At least part of her.
He had an exceptional view of her backside. And a nice backside it was. She was tending a plant, doing something with a bag of soil. If he coughed now, she’d be embarrassed. But if she stood up and saw him, she’d be scared. Which would be more to his advantage?
As he debated his next move, his gaze never wavered from the tantalizing view in front of him. Her jeans fit snugly over very voluptuous hips. He didn’t see enough curves in his life. Even the models who posed for Noir were so damn skinny he kept wanting to cook them pasta. He’d never admit it, but the women in his magazine weren’t exactly his taste. Heresy, but what can you do? He liked a woman who looked real. Shapely. Someone he could hold on to.
“Oh, right,” she said.
She must have a headset on, because both hands were busy.
“Yeah, I’m sure he’s dying to take me out. I haunt his dreams. Did you see last week’s People? He was with Nicole Kidman, for God’s sake.”
Nicole… She was talking about him. He’d taken Nic to a premier, a charity event. This was getting more interesting by the moment.
“Don’t I know it. He’s so gorgeous. Just being here makes me wet.”
Dash grinned. This was too easy. Like taking candy from a baby.
“Erin, you wicked creature. And here you try to pass yourself off as so nice. I know better, woman. You’re evil. And I love that about you.”
He wanted to know what Erin had said. He had the feeling he would have liked it a lot. Tess reached for more potting soil and he held his breath, certain she was going to see him. But she didn’t. She did, however, crouch down. Damn. He’d better get the hell out of—
“Oh!” Tess jumped up, turned to face him, flinging dirt in all directions. Her horrified expression gave him a twinge of guilt.
“What are you…? When did you…? Oh, God.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“Startle me? I’m in the middle of a coronary, here. You shouldn’t do that to people.”
“I didn’t realize you were here. I would have announced myself.”
“A cough would have been fine. Oh, Jesus.”
She put her hand over her heart, and his gaze moved down with it. Curves. Lush, touchable curves.
“What?”
He looked up at her, but she wasn’t talking to him. There was the earpiece, the wires leading to a pocket on her apron.
“I gotta go,” she said. “I’ll explain later.”
She reached into her pocket, then took the headset off. Her short, dark hair was in disarray, spiky and wild. He hadn’t noticed how blue her eyes were but he sure as hell remembered that mouth. Damn, but he’d like to see those lips wrapped around his cock.
