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The Sex Test
Patty Salier
Women to WatchSEX AND THE SINGLE MAN Rachel Smith knew better than to get involved with respondees to her "sex survey" - the questions she was asking for a nationwide study were very intimate. But one look at Zane Farrell - his muscular frame, his oh-so-broad shoulders - and she couldn't sleep without dreaming of long, sensuous nights in his arms.But the man Rachel thought was wealthy entrepreneur Zane Farrell was really down-to-earth- Johnny Wells. And while he wanted Rachel with a white-hot desire, he knew once she discovered his true identity, the promises made in the heat of passion could be easily broken… .Women to Watch: This sexy tale of modern love and mistaken identity from exciting new author Patty Salier will keep you up at night!
Table of Contents
Cover Page (#ub7c2dbd2-3ef7-5665-a38a-bcc5c57e2f42)
Excerpt (#u8452b752-ca86-51c6-96d1-7a5ed39d87ff)
Dear Reader (#u8ed8f396-59df-5485-b2a1-fbf1fa2593fa)
Title Page (#u1f6c6408-b49f-5119-8645-a75b6aaaedc5)
Dedication (#u46ab5428-8461-509e-9e80-76f74a46c126)
About the Author (#uc7fd2321-bdec-53d9-8545-5f2ff5daa3b2)
A Letter from the Author (#ud968dc67-008d-54de-b4ba-2191917b4f98)
One (#uef6b22da-39fc-5752-b565-32a1b31e6f4c)
Two (#u6aceb312-1ee6-5a8b-9857-7f6e2b4dc961)
Three (#litres_trial_promo)
Four (#litres_trial_promo)
Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
“I Knew This Would Happen,” She Blurted, Shoving His Résumé Back Into Her Briefcase.
“What?”
“Men don’t take the university sex study very seriously,” she went on, unable to control herself. “One anonymous male wrote on his volunteer form that he made love one hundred times per day, eight days per week. By any chance, was that you?”
Zane’s grin came slow and easy. “Sex can make a man say wild things,” he said. “Like when I have sex with a woman, she can make me forget where I am, what day it is or even who I am. Does sex with a man do that to you, Professor?”
“Me?” she asked, taken aback. “I—I—” How could she tell him that sensual pleasure was like a fever to her—hot and dangerous. And that it was sex that destroyed her engagement.
Dear Reader,
This month, we begin HOLIDAY HONEYMOONS, a wonderful new cross-line continuity series written by two of your favorites—Merline Lovelace and Carole Buck. The series begins in October with Merline’s Halloween Honeymoon. Then, once a month right through February, look for holiday love stories by Merline and Carole—in Desire for November, Intimate Moments for December, back to Desire in January and concluding in Intimate Moments for Valentine’s Day. Sound confusing? It’s not—we’ll keep you posted as the series continues…and I personally guarantee that these books are keepers!
And there are other goodies in store for you. Don’t miss the fun as Cathie Linz’s delightful series THREE WEDDINGS AND A GIFT continues with Seducing Hunter. And Lass Small’s MAN OF THE MONTH, The Texas Blue Norther, is simply scrumptious.
Those of you who want an ultrasensuous love story need look no further than The Sex Test by Patty Salier. She’s part of our WOMEN TO WATCH program highlighting brand-new writers. Warning: this book is HOT!
Readers who can’t get enough of cowboys shouldn’t miss Anne Marie Winston’s Rancher’s Baby. And if you’re partial to a classic amnesia story (as I certainly am!), be sure to read Barbara McCauley’s delectable Midnight Bride.
And, as always, I’m here to listen to you—so don’t be afraid to write and tell me your thoughts about Desire!
Until next month,
Senior Editor
Please address questions and book requests to:
Silhouette Reader Service
U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3
The Sex Test
Patty Salier
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
For my wonderful husband, lover and best fried,
Edward, and for my extraordinarily gifted children,
Diana and Jeff.
PATTY SALIER
Bom and raised in Gravesend, Brooklyn, in New York, Patty credits her mother for her keen logic and her father for her curious, creative mind. She has been a published writer for many years. To Patty, her wonderful husband and two great children are everything she could ever want in life. “I’ve got so much to be thankful for.”
Patty will enjoy hearing from her readers. Send a selfaddressed, stamped envelope to P.O. Box 66816, Los Angeles, CA 90066.
A Letter from the Author (#ulink_97312773-71af-52e6-85fd-1b54a7d6f4d0)
Dear Reader,
I was thrilled when Lucia Macro telephoned me from Silhouette Books in New York to say, “Patty, we want to buy The Sex Test.” I calmly and professionally replied, “That’s wonderful,” got off the phone and then cheered, hooted and happily burst into tears. “I sold it! I sold it!”
Actually, I’ve been a published magazine writer for years. I’ve sold my short stories to confession-story magazines such as Intimate Story, Personal Romances, True Life Secrets and True Confessions. But I’ve always dreamed of writing a romance novel, especially since I’m a major romantic.
With two great kids, I’m still wildly in love with my husband, and I love to sensually fantasize. While writing The Sex Test, I had fun imagining myself as a professor doing a sex study on the nineties single male. I immensely enjoyed falling in love with my hero as I probed his male psyche for his innermost erotic secrets.
To me, the best part of writing The Sex Test was creating a heroine who realized that her fantasies and passionate desire for the man she loved were totally and completely natural.
I hope you enjoy reading The Sex Test, because I loved writing it!
All my best to you,
One (#ulink_076e96cf-5b45-5468-8b73-17d945ef0097)
The telephone number Professor Rachel Smith had dialed rang and rang in her ear.
The textbook-filled office she shared at the university with her friend, Professor Kim Woods, suddenly seemed so stuffy and cramped that she could barely breathe.
“He’s not answering, Kim,” Rachel said tensely as she gripped the white telephone. “Maybe I should hang up.”
“You haven’t given the man a chance to get to the phone,” her friend said. “Will you relax?”
“I can’t,” she said, the dreaded ringing hauntingly echoing through her head.
She couldn’t even sit still. She abruptly stood up at her desk, fighting the urge to disconnect the phone before he answered.
“Kim, I can’t do this!” Rachel screeched as she heard the ringing stop and his phone being picked up.
“Zane Farrell’s residence,” an out-of-breath male voice resonated in Rachel’s ear. “How can I help you?”
The deep sensual tone of him momentarily made her heart leap.
“Ahhh, hello, can I speak to Zane Farrell?” she stammered, helplessly glancing at Kim for support.
“Are you bringing me good or bad news?”
Rachel looked at Kim questioningly. Kim immediately leaned her head against Rachel’s to listen in.
“Mr. Farrell, I’m Professor Rachel Smith at State University. I’m calling regarding the university sexuality research study.”
“A sex study?” His manly voice deepened with sudden interest. “You’re kidding, right?”
Rachel exchanged a confused glance with Kim.
“Mr. Farrell, I’d like to set up an appointment to come over to your house. Our first interview should take no more than an hour.”
“Wait a minute, wait a minute,” he said, sounding astounded. “You want to come over here and ask me questions about my sex life?”
“Don’t you recall, Mr. Farrell?” she continued. “You volunteered for the study by E-mailing your résumé to the university. We’re doing research on the sex lives of the nineties single male. I’d like to discuss with you—”
“Oh, I get it,” he interrupted. His voice lightened, as if he was smiling over the phone. “You’re trying to scam me, right?”
“What?” she bellowed, insulted that he was doubting her sincerity. “I certainly am not!”
“Come on, Professor,” Zane stressed with a chuckle. “Admit it. You’re a radio talk-show host. Am I close? And you’re trying to entice me into making sexual innuendos over the air to titillate your listeners.”
She angrily grabbed his résumé from Kim. “Is this Zane Farrell at 312 Crescent Road in Bel Air?”
“Right name, right address,” he replied. He lowered his voice like he was telling a secret. “But I refuse to tell you the shade or size of my cotton briefs.”
“How dare you!” Rachel blurted. Her heart was hammering. Her blood pressure was soaring. “I’m not scamming you, Mr. Farrell. If you’d stop being a pigheaded—”
“Rachel!” Kim called out, pulling the phone away from her. “You’re representing the university.”
“But he’s ridiculing me!”
“Just talk him into the interview,” Kim insisted.
Rachel angrily grabbed back the phone. “Mr. Farrell,” she began, trying to suppress her fury. “I have your résumé right in front of me. You graduated from high school at fourteen years old. You received your master’s degree and Ph.D. by age twenty-four. Now you’re an entrepreneur who owns PLT Corporation, Zantic Corporation, and Afloment Industries.”
“Did I really do all that?”
He was impossible! “Mr. Farrell, I’m not sure why you E-mailed your business background instead of the personally-slanted bio we requested, but that’s your business. However, if you are afraid to participate in our sex study—”
“Who’s afraid?”
“Are you still interested, Mr. Farrell?” She inwardly gloated that she’d finally gotten to him the same way he’d gotten to her.
“I’m one hundred percent intrigued.” Then, in a bass voice almost in an intimate whisper, he added, “Will you ever forgive me for doubting you, Professor Smith?”
The warmth in his voice. His lips seemed so close to the phone that Rachel could almost feel his breath on her face. A pleasurable tingle radiated through her veins. She quickly looked away from Kim, embarrassed by her sensual reaction to him.
“There’s no need to apologize…” she began, clearing her throat.
“How could I have let my memory lapse on such an important project?” he went on. “I’ll be glad to assist you in every way I can.”
Kim shot her a satisfied smile, but Rachel didn’t return it. She got the distinct feeling that Zane Farrell was still goofing on her.
“When can we set up a time to meet?” she asked, preparing herself for his next smart-alecky remark.
“How about right now?” he suggested with an enthusiasm that both irked and excited her.
“Now?” she repeated.
“Sure. I’m very eager to find out what your sex test is all about.”
She glanced uneasily at Kim who mouthed, “Take him up on it.”
“Well, I—” she stammered, plopping down in her chair.
“Great! I’ll be waiting for you.” Then he hung up.
