Satisfaction guaranteed…

The software empire Jason Ward built from scratch is his best revenge against the tragic past he wants to forget. But when a business rival seizes his company, he discovers he has to reinvent his ruthless reputation. Hiring Abby Baylor to give him a polished edge with investors is a brilliant business move. Until she unleashes a desire that has Jason aching to show the gorgeous etiquette coach a few maneuvers of his own.

Still reeling from a messy divorce, Abby’s steering clear of romance, especially with her fiery-tempered new client. But the seductive entrepreneur is tempting her to mix business and pleasure with a passion that soon melts her resolve. However, when secrets from Jason’s past threaten both their futures and their lives, is Abby ready to gamble everything on love—the biggest game-changer of all?

She shook her head. “I can’t risk it.”

“What?”

“Anything more than a personal relationship with you.” She shook her head again. “I mean professional.”

He grinned, pleased she was flustered. “You were right the first time.”

“No, I wasn’t. I can help you, but not if you’re going to play games.”

His grin fell. “I’m not playing games.”

“What happens if you’re disappointed?”

He frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“What if I let you kiss me right now and it’s awful?”

“It won’t be.”

“Will you stop working with me?” she continued. “Or will that satisfy your curiosity enough to let you realize that—”

Jason didn’t hear the rest of her words. Only one important thing echoed in his mind. “You’re going to let me kiss you?”

Abby threw up her hands. “Were you listening to a word I said? I said there are con—”

She didn’t get to finish before his mouth covered hers. Abby felt herself sinking into sweet ecstasy as his mouth claimed hers and he crushed her body to him. His demanding lips caressed hers, his large hands exploring the hollows of her back. She now knew—not just imagined—what he felt like. He fumbled behind her, opened the door to an empty room and pulled her inside.

DARA GIRARD

fell in love with storytelling at an early age. Her romance writing career happened by chance when she discovered the power of a happy ending. She is an award-winning author whose novels are known for their sense of humor, interesting plot twists and witty dialogue. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spring mornings and autumn afternoons, French pastries, dancing to the latest hits and long drives.

Dara loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at contactdara@daragirard.com or P.O Box 10345, Silver Spring, MD 20914.

Her Tender Touch

Dara Girard

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dear Reader,

“I saw a woman in a kimono and she was completely naked underneath. When she bent over, it was just wrong….”

I heard this comment in a news clip featuring an etiquette coach and knew what career I wanted for Abby Baylor. A career rife with story potential got me thinking: What if a corporate etiquette coach is hired by a man with a traumatic past and a terrible temper? Enter Jason Ward.

However, Jason isn’t the only one with a lesson to learn. For all his ruthlessness and rude ways, he had a tender side I didn’t expect. And Abby had a harder edge that surprised me.

Fortunately, in spite of their ups and downs, the holiday season adds a nice touch to their roller-coaster romance.

Enjoy,

Dara Girard

To my rock (you know who you are) and my support. Thanks!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Dear Reader

Dedication

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

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Copyright

Chapter 1

Her hands were going where they didn’t belong, but they’d been doing that all evening. Jason Ward did his best to move away, but if he moved any farther, he’d fall out of his seat.

“I love a man who knows what he wants,” Stephanie Armstrong said, as she purred loudly. She reminded him of a hungry feline ready for mating season. She was an attractive older woman whose husband was a possible key investor. Jason’s partner, Dennis Collins, had put him in charge of keeping her entertained for the evening, but she only had one thing on her mind. And this wasn’t the first time. He didn’t know why the wives seemed to be drawn to him. Dennis laughed and said that, along with his good looks, he had a raw, hungry ambition their husbands lacked that sparked their interest. For a brief moment Jason thought of how he’d had to kiss up to many of them over the years, when he’d been younger and just starting out. He didn’t mind the perks that came with getting a lucrative business deal, but right now he wasn’t in the mood. He seized her wrist as it came too close to his manhood. His eyes met hers, and he saw them light up.

“I can make sure my husband gives you everything you want.” She bent forward, giving him a clear view of her ample cleavage.

He shoved her hand away. “I’m not that desperate. Excuse me.” Jason began to push his chair away. She extended her jeweled hand and placed it firmly on his forearm.

“You don’t want to make me unhappy,” she said in a low warning voice.

Jason took a napkin that was lying nearby and scribbled down a number, then handed it to her.

She grinned. “That’s more like it.”

He stood and left. Dennis saw him heading for the door and walked over to him. “Did I just see you give your phone number to that Armstrong woman?”

“No. I gave her a number, but it wasn’t mine. It’s for an escort service.”

“Does she know that?”

“She’ll find out when she calls them.”

Dennis swore. “Couldn’t you just flirt with her a little bit? I’m the brains and you’re the—”

“The what? The stud?”

“No, I’m just saying that you need to be a little more suave in your approach to people like that...”

“Who treat me like a boy toy or some kind of sex slave they’ve purchased for their private use?”

“She’s an attractive woman.”

“Just like all the others,” Jason said, bored. “You know my policy. I don’t sleep with wives.”

“No one is asking you to sleep with her.”

“You weren’t at the table—her hands were saying a lot.”

“We need this deal.”

Jason knew that. He and Dennis, his best friend, were partners in a software development firm they had created several years earlier. Due to major cost overruns they had incurred developing innovative cyber-security software they had recently launched, they had discovered that their chief financial officer had been embezzling some of the funds. He had hired his girlfriend as his bookkeeper—only at the time he didn’t let anyone know she was his girlfriend—who had fixed the books. Now the company was facing bankruptcy, but he and Dennis were the only ones who knew. To rectify what had happened, they had invited several key investors and speculators to a “wine-and-dine” weekend at a fancy golf retreat that cost them a fortune; but they were willing to spare no expense to get back on track. They had dismissed the CFO but desperately wanted to keep any knowledge of what had happened a secret, and had agreed not to file any criminal charges as long as he signed a nondisclosure agreement.

But somehow a rumor was spreading that the company was facing financial difficulty, and the two of them had decided they needed to make sure the investors were not nervous and felt secure with the direction the company was going. In order to avoid bankruptcy, Jason had recently forged a high-risk venture, which he hadn’t revealed to the board of directors yet, with hopes it would come through in time.

Jason looked around him and swore. What was he doing? He was tired of “entertaining” wives and significant others, just to get a couple of bucks. He never wanted to be like his investors. They wore their fine tailored suits along with their weak ethics and kissed up to him when it suited them, but he knew they’d drop him in an instant. It was all just business. He knew he was in a shark-infested ocean and needed to make sure to keep his teeth sharpened.

“You know, man, you make people nervous,” Dennis said.

“Are you still referring to Mrs. Armstrong?”

“No. I mean, people in general.”

Jason shrugged. “So what?”

“One day, someone may want to teach you a lesson.”

Jason tugged on the cuff of his jacket. “I’m already well schooled.”

“The company is in trouble. Bankruptcy is not something to toy around with.”

“I know why we’re here. Remember, I helped build this company with you, and I won’t see it fail.” He walked away.

* * *

Dennis watched him go and sighed. He was wrong. He wasn’t just the brains—Jason was, too, but no one would know it by the way he acted. He had the body of a wrestler and the brash manners of a street fighter. It wasn’t just his intimidating build that put people on edge; he had a certain disdain—especially for individuals he could tell were only after the bottom line, no matter the cost—which he didn’t mind showing. His eyes cut through them. What had once been an asset, his ability to fearlessly face whatever problem they had, was now a liability to the growth of the company. And Dennis knew the board was thinking of removing him.

“The man’s a damn gorilla,” one stockholder said. He could get away with saying such things in public since he was one of the biggest shareholders.

“He’s jeopardizing the image of the company.”

“He’s also made this company rich,” another said, one of the few who still believed in Jason. “He’s the reason SENTEL, Incorporated is in existence.”

“And he’ll be the reason it fails if we’re not careful.”

Dennis looked over and saw Jason arguing with Mr. Hansen, one of the key members of the board of directors. He gripped his hand into a fist and then released it. He wanted the company for himself. It was time. He no longer wanted to be overshadowed by Jason’s brilliance or crass behavior. They’d risen higher than they’d both imagined, but Dennis felt that Jason was now a risk to that dream. Dennis hadn’t grown up on the streets of Baltimore the way Jason had, but he’d tolerated Jason’s rough ways because he made him money.

Now his usefulness was coming to an end. With the release of the new software, and the profits that would follow, Dennis felt ready to rule on his own. But he wished Gwen Duggin were here. She was the one person who knew Jason. How he thought, and why he acted the way he did. After her death, Jason had buried himself in work and buried the man he used to be. Dennis had little interest in resurrecting that man. He just wanted to find a way to remove his old friend so that he could be free of him forever.

Stephanie approached him. “You said he was a sure thing.” Annoyance and hurt were clear in her voice.

“I was wrong,” Dennis said, guessing from her tone that she had called the number Jason had given her.

“I don’t like being made a fool of.” She moved in closer to him, and he could smell the wine on her breath.

“Neither do I.”

She arched a perfectly trimmed brow. “So we have a common enemy?”

“It looks that way.” Dennis took a sip of his wine. “I want him gone and you want him punished, but there’s not much we can do. I don’t want the company to suffer.”

“The company doesn’t have to. I think I know a way.”

“I’m listening.”

“It could be risky, and he might not fall for it.”

“He trusts me, and that’s all you need to know.”

“Good, then I know of a plan that will get him put out of the way for a long time.”

As he listened to Stephanie’s scheme, Dennis’s smile widened.

One year later

A cold March wind blew past like a desolate breath as Jason stared at a man he’d once considered a friend. The two stood in the parking lot outside their office after a long day. “What do you mean I’m out?”

“The board voted, and we’re replacing you.”

“But I built this company.”

“And we thank you for it. But you’re a liability now.”

“I can fight this. It will be a cold day in hell before I—”

“You’re lucky this is all that’s happening. Mrs. Armstrong accused you of assaulting her.”

“What? You know I didn’t touch her.”

“It’s her word against yours. Who do you think they’ll believe? That’s the problem with you, Jason. You think it’s all about honesty and integrity, but in business it’s about image and getting people to believe you. You know how to make money, but not everyone respects you.”

Before he could reply, Jason saw them. Several men, looking very serious, wearing what looked like identical dark suits, came up to him. “Mr. Jason Ward, you’re under arrest for fraud.”

“What?” He stared at them, unable to process what was happening.

“I’ll get you a good lawyer,” Dennis said as the officers led him away.

But no lawyer could help. Dennis had skillfully turned everything Jason had done over the past year to save the company into “questionable dealings,” including the high-risk venture he had discussed with Dennis and the company lawyers, to see if the idea, though risky, was viable. They had concurred that, although the approach appeared a little shady, he was on the right side of the law. Now he’d been charged with an obscure fraud violation he never knew even existed. In an instant, his image was shattered, and he knew that, although he couldn’t prove it, he was being prosecuted because of jealously and false accusation, and that Dennis and Mrs. Stephanie Armstrong were behind it.

Initially, he fought the charges long and hard, but soon discovered how difficult it was dealing with the federal government. The evidence presented was stacked up against him, and without the company’s wealth to back him, his lawyer told him that he wouldn’t be able to win and that he should make a deal. He did and was convicted, in spite of his willingness to work with the government and the fact that he had no prior record, and was sentenced to fourteen months in a federal penitentiary.

The fall of Caesar. The last person he’d trusted had betrayed him. But betrayal and disappointment were nothing new to him. He had gone through a lot growing up in the foster care system in Baltimore. His adoptive mom had given him a chance, once he’d aged out of the system. He had no memory of his real parents. As a child he just remembered going from one home to the next and having to take care of himself.

His adoptive mom, Beatrice Ward, had made a difference in his life. She saw what others didn’t. At eighteen, he’d given up on having a real family of his own; then she’d come along. He remembered now that she never liked his best friend, Dennis, when he’d introduced him to her. Dennis’s parents had briefly fostered Jason, and they’d struck up a lifetime friendship. At least that’s what he thought. After graduating from high school, he’d earned a degree in industrial engineering while Dennis got an MBA, and the two friends decided to build a company together. Work had been his saving grace after Gwen died.

He still couldn’t stand being alone or quiet with his thoughts, but prison had forced him to face himself. To face the harsh description of the man the prosecuting attorney had portrayed in court, saying he was a brute, ruthless, a reckless man. He would lay down his sword. There was nothing more to fight for. Everything that had mattered to him had been taken away. He couldn’t even face his mother and refused to see her when she came to visit. He wanted to disappear. That was until he heard she was ill, and he knew he had to be there for her. That’s when the old fire in him returned. He became a model prisoner, and with the help of a new attorney, he served only nine of the fourteen-month sentence.

Eventually the ruling was overturned, but the damage had been done. The nine months he spent being locked up had been like living in a nightmare, and he just wanted to get on with his life. While the TV cameras and news reporters had been there when he’d entered the prison, no one was there when he came out. Only a small news article was placed on the last page of the major local newspaper. He was still a wealthy man, at least on paper, but he had enormous legal fees, and his reputation was now in ruins.

Jason spent the next six months making sure his mother, who had been diagnosed with a slow-growing uterine cancer, got the care she needed. She was the most important person in his life, and although he hadn’t allowed her to see him while he was in prison, she had kept sending a steady stream of note cards, one a week, which he had saved and dutifully secured in his home safe, taking time to read them every now and then.

During some of those long hours alone in his cell, he’d remembered all of her sacrifices. How much she gave up, so that he could have the life he now led.

He spent hours taking her to and from her chemotherapy appointments and hired a private-duty nurse to stay with her when he couldn’t, to help her during her recovery period. After she finished the series of grueling treatments, they got the good news they both hoped for: her cancer was officially in remission. Jason then focused on rebuilding his life.

He decided to go into a business that was totally opposite of what he had done before, that wouldn’t care much about his past history. He purchased a chain of time-share resorts that was in foreclosure. He would rise again and prove that he was a man of integrity. To get the business off the ground, Jason needed a partner or at least one or two investors, but no one would partner with him. He tried to convince himself that he didn’t need them, he’d be fine on his own, but he knew that wasn’t true. He needed partners and millions of dollars if this new venture was to succeed.

* * *

Red velvet. Abby’s mouth watered, but it wasn’t the cake on her plate that made her drool, or the hot August sun—it was the man she saw stepping out of a silver Lexus. He was tall, and cool like a glass of ice-cold water, the sun seeking him with its rays. He pushed up his sunglasses. She hadn’t had such a visceral reaction to a man since her divorce. Maybe the reason why he’d claimed her interest was because this man seemed the complete opposite of her ex, who always worried about what others thought of him. She could tell by the way this man held himself that he didn’t care who looked at him, and plenty of people did. He had a cool, disinterested air, and was dressed casually in a form-fitted sweater and jeans. He looked like a man of finesse. Tempting, massive and beautiful. The kind of man who could inspire poetry. Abby sighed. He was probably taken and just a fantasy for her. For a brief moment, she imagined herself sitting at a fancy dining table opposite him, holding up a fork with succulent oysters to his full, beautiful lips, the steam from a cup of hot chocolate sitting between them pushing back a cold winter day.

Abby saw him enter the restaurant and sit down at a table. She cupped her chin in her hand, watching his every move. Then he pulled out and answered his cell phone, and she saw his face change. It wasn’t a pretty expression. It was scary. His voice was low—a rumbling murmur, but she heard every word. He used a string of swear words. Her fantasy of him quickly disappeared. She’d never heard a man be so foul. He’d be better to never open his mouth again, she thought. Abby quickly finished her dessert, paid the bill, then left. So much for her fantasy man.

* * *

Jason Ward was in a rage. He’d just received a phone call from a builder at one of the resort sites where renovations were being done. He’d called to let Jason know that a worker had been seriously injured because of a foolish oversight. Jason hated incompetence, and the fact that a man’s family would have to suffer as a consequence of a stupid supervisor made his blood boil. If he could do everything himself, he would, but he needed to work with others. He would have the supervisor removed.

He was finishing his rant when his mother entered the restaurant, walked up to his table, snatched the phone out of his hand and closed it. She was in town visiting, enjoying one of her favorite pastimes, shopping, and spending time with a close gentleman friend of hers who lived nearby. Whenever she came into town, she stayed in an exclusive one-bedroom condo Jason had bought for her several years ago. It was conveniently located close to everything, including the hospital when she needed it, and she could easily use the underground metro rail to go places. This morning, the two of them had planned to meet for lunch.

Jason stared up at her, surprised. “I wasn’t done yet.”

“You’ve got to stop doing that.” Beatrice pulled out a chair and sat down.

“My business?”

“Cursing. People are looking at you.”

“I don’t care. Do you know—”

“I don’t care. This is why no one will work with you.”

“I don’t need anyone. See what happened last time?”

“You can’t do this new venture on your own, and you know it. And bullying people won’t help you either. You need to develop a new reputation if you want to rebuild your business. How can you hire the best when they don’t want to work with you?”

Jason sighed. “What do you expect me to do?”

“I’m glad you asked. A friend of mine told me about this.” She pushed a colorful brochure in his direction. While Jason looked the brochure over, Beatrice Ward placed her usual order, soup and salad. It was a tradition of theirs to have a mother-son luncheon when his schedule allowed. She always enjoyed the time they were able to spend together.

“What is it?” Jason asked, frowning.

“It’s a flyer for an image consultant. If you want to remake your business, you need to remake your image.”

“I don’t have the time.”

“It won’t take long, and do you really want to get more phone calls like the one you just had? If you want your business to grow in the direction you want, you need to learn some business etiquette. Your temper, especially your swearing, and your lack of tact will—”

“What do you expect me to do? Handle an incompetent supervisor with kid gloves?”

“No, but first you’ll learn not to interrupt someone when they’re speaking.”

“Okay,” he agreed.

“And what if you make an employee so angry he tries to do something to your property?”

“You mean like set it on fire?” Jason laughed. He loved his mother, but sometimes she worried too much.

“Yes. You never know what someone will do when they get angry.”

Yes, he did. He’d never shared with his mother his suspicion that Dennis and Mrs. Armstrong were the ones behind him getting kicked out of his company and behind his imprisonment.

And he didn’t plan to. He decided to just shrug, brushing the thought away.

* * *

Two weeks later, Jason was more concerned about his mom’s scheduled doctor’s visit. He sat in the waiting room while she got some blood work done. To keep his mind off things, Jason went to one of the vending machines and made a selection, ready for a nice sugar rush. When the candy dropped, he picked up the packet of chocolate raisins and turned, ready to head back down the hall. He stopped when he saw a little boy, about four years old, standing near the wall, crying. No one else seemed to notice him as they rushed past. Jason waited a few moments to see if someone would stop, but no one did. He silently swore. He had to be careful—he wasn’t always good with kids—but he had to find out what was wrong. He walked over to the child and knelt down to his level. “Are you lost?”

The little boy put two fingers in his mouth and stared at him.

Jason repeated his question in Spanish.

The little boy continued to stare at him, but his tears dried up.

Jason repeated the question in French.

The little boy blinked and started to suck his thumb.

Jason sighed and shrugged. “Sorry, that’s all I know,” he said in English. “Mama? Do you know where she is? Or papa?”

He nodded.

“Oh, so you’re not lost?”

He shook his head.

If he wasn’t lost, where was his guardian? He was too young to be on his own. “My name is Mr. Ward. Who did you come here with?” Jason said, softening his voice even more.

“Mama.”

“Okay, and where is she?”

The little boy pointed vaguely down the hall.

“Well, you should be with her. She must be worried about you. Do you want me to take you to her?”

The child shook his head.

“Why are you crying?” He almost regretted asking. It was a hospital after all; perhaps someone he cared about was sick, or worse, had died.

The child looked at the chocolate-covered raisins in Jason’s hand.

“Do you want some candy?”

The child stopped crying and nodded.

“You know, you shouldn’t be talking to strangers.”

He nodded but kept staring at the candy.

Jason sighed. “Okay, I’ll give you one, then I’m taking you back to your mom.”

He poured some candy out and started to hand it to him when he felt something hard strike the side of his face. It hit him with such force he fell over, candy scattering on the ground.

“You pervert!” a woman screamed. “Get away from my son.”

Jason sat up and glared at her. “I thought he was lost.”

“And you thought it was a good idea to give him candy?”

Jason surged to his feet. “You shouldn’t have left him alone in the first place. What’s wrong with you? You think I’d sit here giving him candy if I had something else in mind? I could have snatched him in seconds.”

Her eyes widened, and she picked up her son and backed away from him.

“You’re completely irresponsible leaving a young child like him alone for so long.”

Tears appeared in the woman’s eyes. “You have no right to talk to me like that. You don’t know the stress I’ve been under and—”

“I don’t care.”

A guard approached them. “Ma’am, is this man bothering you?”

“Yes, he was trying to take my son.”

The guard touched Jason’s arm. “Sir—”

“I wasn’t doing any such thing,” he said in a low growl. “The little boy was lost, and I was just giving him some candy. I was about to take him to find his mother when this crazy woman hit me over the head with her purse and accused me of trying to steal her child!”

The woman swallowed hard, having the grace to look embarrassed. “He’s right. Excuse me.” She hurried away with her child.

Jason sighed, then touched the side of his face where she’d struck him. His hand came back with blood. What the hell was she carrying in her purse? Damn, he should have left the kid alone. He had just been trying to help, and she thought he had other ideas. Why did people always think the worst of him?

“What happened to you?” his mother asked when she saw him in the waiting room.

“Oh, nothing. I wasn’t looking where I was going and walked into a wall,” Jason lied.

“It’s because you’re working too much, not looking where you’re going. If Gwen—” She stopped.

Were here, he said silently, finishing the sentence she couldn’t.

He still missed her, even though it had been over a decade, especially at times like this when he worried about his mother. Gwen had made him feel less alone. Connected to the world in some way. He thought of the dreams they’d made for the future. Dreams that wouldn’t come true. He thought of her when he’d come up with the idea for the resort—he could picture her smiling and telling him how smart he was.

“She would want you to be happy,” his mother said.

He wondered if that was even possible anymore. He’d stopped being happy after her death. Partly out of guilt, but mostly despair. His business had been his life, and that had been taken from him just as she had.

Beatrice handed him the brochure again. “You need this. You have to change. You can’t use fear as a factor to get respect.”

He didn’t want anyone to think he was easy. He demanded respect. He’d worked hard for it. As a kid, he’d been the small one who’d gotten bullied in school. He was the kid whose best friend got shot during a robbery at a gas station. He was the kid who used to be terrified he’d never escape the violence around him. But he wasn’t a kid anymore, and he remembered the initial look in the young mother’s eyes—it wasn’t respect, it was fear. He didn’t want to be feared anymore.

Jason reluctantly looked over the brochure and sighed. His mother was right. He was in a totally new field, and without partners like Dennis to be his good manners, he needed to re-create himself.

Chapter 2

She was all sugar and spice and arsenic. Judith Watson was a spiny woman and the head of the personal makeover division of Finishing Touches, Inc.

“What do you mean by that?” she asked, touching her chest in dismay as she stared at Abby. The two women sat in the main sitting area that separated their offices.

“I know you’ve been stealing my clients,” Abby said, keeping her voice measured. She knew Judith was a snake, and she’d do her best to charm the truth out of her. “I’m sure it wasn’t on purpose,” she said, although she knew otherwise.

“I’m so hurt. I don’t know why you would think that, much less accuse me.”

“Several of my friends recommended people they know, and I wondered why none of them had come to my office or made an appointment. So I decided to do some sleuthing of my own, and discovered that at least three individuals did come to the office, but, somehow they were convinced to use your services over mine.” Abby knew it had been a bad idea to share the office space with Judith in the first place but had had no other choice.

At first, things had seemed perfect. The office was in a prime location, with excellent traffic and access to ample parking. As a corporate etiquette consultant, Abby knew location was critical, and for the potential clients she was seeking, they would need to be able to get to her office easily. And the price was right. The building was part of an incubation program, designed to help new entrepreneurial ventures. But Abby couldn’t afford on her own the only office that was available; it was too big. The former owner of Finishing Touches, Inc.—FTI—a company that specialized in image makeovers, had a large office with a small suite off to the side, and when Abby had seen the sign to sublet the small office, she had been thrilled.

Initially the arrangement had worked. Abby had gotten on well with the former owner, an older woman who’d given her tips about the business even though they each had a different focus, and they’d networked together. Abby worked with corporate business professionals because she had helped her ex-husband create a multimillion-dollar enterprise and learned a lot working with him. She had met him directly out of high school and fallen head-over-heels in love. He’d promised her the sun and the moon, and convinced her that she didn’t need to go to college; he’d make enough money to take care of her. She’d lived a Cinderella dream, and had enjoyed her charmed life. And while she’d worked long hours, she saw it as her duty as his wife to help and support him.

They had traveled the globe and met with millionaires and successful business entrepreneurs. Since her divorce five years ago, and after unsuccessfully looking for work, she decided to go into business for herself and use the skills she had developed. Her client list was growing, but not fast enough to cover her business and living expenses. Unfortunately for her, she’d signed a prenuptial she eventually regretted. If she divorced she would get no alimony, and the property was not to be shared—leaving her with just her wardrobe and the money she had in her personal account. She’d decided that this time she’d make sure she got paid for what she’d done for free in her marriage. She’d made her husband a success, and he’d repaid her by falling for his acupuncturist—and she had ended up with nothing.

Abby was determined she wouldn’t be bitter. Instead, she’d get her revenge. She’d make all those CEOs, COOs, CFOs pay for the knowledge she had, to help them develop the polish and right image the business culture demanded.

But then things began to go wrong. Very wrong. Judith wormed her way into being hired by Finishing Touches, Inc., eventually convincing the older woman that she could take over the tasks the former owner no longer wanted to do.

Abby had accepted the change, although it rankled her having to see Judith every day. A year later, the older woman suddenly retired. Unlike Abby, Judith focused solely on the superficial outer aspect of a person’s image, with no depth. But since she desperately needed the space, Abby didn’t care how Judith did things. She’d hoped to move out within another year since her division had been doing well, until recently.

That’s when she discovered that Judith had been stealing clients from her. “I’m really hurt that you would accuse me of doing these things,” Judith said.

Abby flashed a cool grin. “I know since Mrs. Frazier left that you’ve wanted this place to yourself. So I’ve decided I’m going to make that happen.”

“You’re leaving?”

“Yes.”

“But you can’t do that,” she said.

Abby stared at her, amazed by her passion. “Of course I can.”

Judith quickly gathered herself together. “I mean, we have an agreement.”

“That’s coming up for renewal.”

“You don’t need to be hasty about this. I’m sure there’s just been a misunderstanding somewhere.”

My first misunderstanding was that you were a decent human being. “No.”

“Abby, dear, I would hate for something small like this to break up the relationship we have. This is an excellent location and—”

“You’ll do well.” Abby was in no mood to listen to any more of Judith’s lies. She knew she was crafty, but to deliberately steal her clients? That was a new low, even for her.

“It was an accident. I wouldn’t have done that to you. You know how much I—”

“Cut it out. I hate when you do that,” Abby said in a tone that let Judith know she was on to her.

“Why don’t we start over? I have a couple of clients I haven’t been able to get to yet due to my busy schedule.”

“We have different clients. I don’t do personal image makeovers. You know I strictly work with business professionals. I’ll leave by the end of the year,” Abby said, then left and went into her office.

* * *

Judith watched her go with growing panic. Abby couldn’t leave. She couldn’t afford the space by herself, but she didn’t want to tell her that. Yes, she had been misleading several of Abby’s clients because, for some reason, things had slowed down and she wasn’t bringing in the amount of money she needed, and she had gotten desperate. She had to save face. Damn, she hadn’t thought she’d catch on so quickly. After Mrs. Frazier had left, the business hadn’t been doing well, and there was more interest coming to Abby. It didn’t make sense. Why did anyone need corporate etiquette over personal image makeovers? Besides, she didn’t see that much of a difference in what they did, and, fortunately, neither had the clients who’d come in for consultation. Since they shared the same office and computer system, it hadn’t been hard to access the main data system and change schedules.

Abby always acted so superior. Judith knew she was prettier, but Abby had a striking beauty that always got a second look. Judith was irritated that although Abby couldn’t afford her own office space, she acted as if she could buy the building if she wanted to. That had always annoyed her, but now she had to convince her to stay. When the phone rang she brushed her problems aside and put on her voice. “Finishing Touches, Judith Watson speaking.”

“How full is your client list?” a woman asked in a brusque tone.

“I never turn away business,” Judith said as pleasantly as she could.

The woman sighed. “You may want to with this one. He needs a major makeover, and might be difficult to work with.”

Judith lifted her brows, intrigued. “What do you mean by that?”

“He needs help fast, but I’m not sure he’s convinced yet.”

“And you are?”

“His mother. He’s a little rough around the edges, but he’s a good man and I don’t want to set him up for failure if you’re not up for it.”

Judith thought back to one torturous client she had dealt with. He’d caused her to lose twenty pounds over six months, and refused to pay her at the end because he did not feel that she had met his standard.

“If you’re interested, he’ll pay well. Money’s not a factor.”

Yes, she needed the money, but not at this rate. Besides, she preferred working with women more than men, and if his own mother thought he was difficult, Judith knew her time with him would probably be miserable. Why did Abby have to threaten to leave? Abby? Hmm. “Okay, is he in business, by any chance?”

“Yes, he runs his own company and has just started a new venture.”

“And his name?”

“Are you interested in taking him on?”

“No, but I know someone I can refer him to. A colleague I work with here in the same office. You can rest assured that I’ll be very discreet.”

“His name is Jason Ward.”

“One moment, please. I have another call.” Judith put the woman on hold, then quickly did an online search for Jason Ward. She saw that he’d been booted from his former company several years ago and had spent time in prison. She gave a low whistle. “I’ll make an appointment for tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. Will that work?”

“I’ll let him know.” The woman disconnected.

Judith hung up the phone and couldn’t help a smile. She did a little dance in her office, then smoothed down her hair and clothes and walked over to Abby’s suite.

“I don’t want any hard feelings between us,” Judith said, entering and taking a seat.

‘“I don’t have any feelings at all,” Abby said, not looking up from what she was doing.

Judith fought not to grit her teeth. “I just got a new client, who I thought of referring to you, but if you’re not interested...” She began to stand.

“I didn’t say that.”

Judith leaned back, trying not to look too satisfied. She’d gloat later. “He’s very wealthy and starting a brand-new business. I know that’s your area. If you think you can handle him.”

“I can handle anyone.”

“Don’t be overconfident.”

Abby narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean? I’m good at what I do.”

“He may be too much for you. I hear he can be a bit of a bully.”

“I can turn a tiger into a pussycat. Who is he?”

“Jason Ward.”

Judith watched her with interest. She could almost see Abby’s mind working and trying to place him. To her delight, she didn’t. “So, why does he need you?”

“As I said, he’s starting a new business, and while I can help him with his image, I thought you might be a better match, since you’re into corporate business and stuff. Besides, he’s offering a lot of money.”

“How much?”

Judith threw out a ballpark figure, just to get Abby interested.

“That’s a lot of money to pass up. And that’s not like you.”

“I’ll take the case if you want. I’m only telling you this as a show of good faith. I really hate you thinking that I was doing something so unethical, such as stealing clients from you. I mean, we are family and—”

“Fine,” Abby cut in, not wanting to talk about the tumultuous relationship she shared with her sister.

“Good, I’ll give him your number, but only on one condition.”

“What?”

“You’ll stay. If you can change Jason Ward in six weeks, I’ll cover the cost for your office suite for the next six months.” Judith knew it was a gamble since she wouldn’t be able to afford it, but she was already convinced Abby wouldn’t succeed.

“Okay.”

Judith smiled and held up a finger to indicate that she wasn’t finished. “But if you don’t succeed in changing him within six weeks, you’ll sign for another two years.” Judith knew she had baited Abby. Abby hated to pass up a challenge. “So, you’ll make sure he’s scandal-free and the darling of the business world by the end of six weeks?”

“You can count on it.”

* * *

Abby knew the snake was up to something, but she didn’t care. Jason Ward would be a coup for her. After Judith left, she looked him up on her computer and then gripped her hands into fists when his handsome face came on the screen. That Jason Ward! He would be a nightmare. The man who refused to wear suits, who only wore two colors, who cursed with a fluency that would make a sailor blush. Uncouth, uncultured and undeniably intriguing. A man who kept his private life guarded. And a man who reminded her of someone. Oh, no...the man from the restaurant!

Abby stood and kicked a chair in frustration. Outside, a late October wind brushed past her window. Judith had set her up for failure. But the fact that he was seeking help meant that he wanted a change, and in spite of herself, she was confident she could help him. Besides, a referral from him would open doors she could only imagine. Her unorthodox methods may be just what he needed. Abby could already see herself affording a new apartment and car. She wanted to regain the life she’d lost after her divorce, and Jason Ward was the key.

Chapter 3

As Jason rode the elevator, he kept asking himself why he had allowed his mother to make the appointment. She had reminded him that it was time for him to work on his professional demeanor.

“You have to get a handle on your temper,” she had said to him when he’d changed his mind about the consultation. She had been trying to help him rein in his temper since the day she had adopted him. “I wish there was a man in the house to show you how to behave sometimes.” Jason had resented her insinuation that he needed a man to show him how to be one. But he knew he needed help.

Sure, he could make money, but SENTEL was the second business he had lost. He remembered the recycling business he’d started with a friend during high school. It had done well, financially, but his temper and mood swings had caused them to break up. He started SENTEL, Inc. after the tragic loss of his girlfriend, Gwen, and had had that stolen from him. Although the members of the board listed his personality as a reason for his dismissal, he knew there was more. In addition to his temper, he knew he also lacked tact. But he hadn’t been tactless with that Armstrong woman.

While Dennis had no objection to crossing the line with married women, that was one boundary Jason would not violate. He respected his mother too much. He enjoyed women, all sorts of women, but hated the ones who felt entitled to whatever they wanted, at whatever cost.

He had found relationships with people in general to be confusing at times, which was why, when he’d had to complete hours for community service in order to graduate from high school, he’d volunteered to work with animals. They didn’t need him to be anything other than himself. When he said “sit,” they understood, unlike the Mrs. Armstrongs of the world who lived by their own rules.

Jason stepped off the elevator and walked to the office directly in front of him and entered, then stopped when he saw the woman sitting there. He hoped she wasn’t the one. He didn’t like her smile; he didn’t trust her. He’d learned early that there were few women he could—or would—trust.

“Hello,” she said, stretching out her hand. “You must be Jason Ward.”

“Yes,” he said, seeing her wince when he shook her hand, even as her smile remained. He found it too wide; her body was too close. He could see her sizing him up—calculating the price of his clothes. She’d be disappointed. If this was Abby Baylor, he’d do the initial consultation and then find someone else.

“Would you like some coffee?” she asked, gesturing to a seat.

He sat. “No, I’m fine. Thanks, Ms. Baylor.”

“Oh, no, that’s not me.”

Before she could explain further, the other office door opened and another woman walked out. Now, she was a vision. She was tall, brown-skinned, with shoulder-length black hair, and elegantly dressed in a fitted sheath dress that showed off all her curves. She didn’t smile at him or step close. He liked her immediately.

“Jason Ward?” she asked in a curt manner.

He stood. “Yes.”

She held out her hand. “I’m Abby Baylor.”

He shook her hand. “A pleasure.”

She winced and rubbed her hand. “Not with a handshake like that. Are you trying to break my fingers? Never mind, we’ll work on that later.” She turned to her office. “Please, follow me.”

She didn’t have to ask twice. He’d have no problem following her anywhere. He liked the view from the back of her as much as from the front.

* * *

Abby walked into her room, trying to get her heart to stop racing. She’d tried to imagine what Jason Ward would be like, but nothing had prepared her for the man she met up close. A man who was both terrifying and mesmerizing. She knew him by reputation. He made news for his ruthless dealings and temper. But strangely, he didn’t frighten her, although he should have. She was struck by his dark, cutting gaze. He topped six-four, had a remarkable build and looked like a man who could carry tree trunks—or better yet, a helpless woman over his shoulder. She’d wanted a challenge, and she knew he would be one.

“We have a lot of work to do. I can already list three things we need to work on. Take a seat.”

“Is this how you greet all your new clients?” he said, still standing.

“Why? Should I be a little gentler?”

He lifted a brow but didn’t reply.

Score one for her, Abby thought with a small thrill of delight. She’d put on her cool demeanor on purpose and wanted to see how he would react. To her amazement he didn’t, but she wouldn’t underestimate him. She could imagine his mind working on another strategy, so she had to take control first. She held out her hand. “Let’s start again. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Abby Baylor.”

Jason shook her hand, his grip strong. “A pleasure.”

She flexed her fingers. “Yes, we’ll definitely have to work on that.” She sat down. “Now tell me what you want, specifically.”

Jason smiled at her as if she’d asked him something more intimate, making her skin grow warm. Although her insides trembled, she held his gaze. She would not let him intimidate her in spite of the fact he was suddenly making her very curious about what he wanted and if she could oblige him. In his dreams, she thought, quickly brushing the idea aside.

“I want to play well with others,” he said in a sarcastic tone, taking a seat across from her.

“And not be the bully in the sandbox?”

“Something like that.”

“May I give you a brief assessment?”

He shrugged. “You say that as if I have an option, but somehow I doubt it. Please, proceed. Tell me what’s wrong with me.”

Abby pointed to his hands. “The handshake is too hard.” She nodded at him. “And the stare too long. You haven’t blinked or moved your gaze once since I started talking. To someone else, that’s an aggressive move. Is that what you’re trying for?”

“I thought I was being attentive.”

She smiled. “No, you don’t. You don’t want to be here.”

Jason lifted a brow, but again, didn’t respond.

“How long have you been doing this?” he asked.

“Don’t ask questions you already know the answer to.”

“Why would I do that?”

“I don’t know, you tell me. You’re a meticulous man. I don’t think you’d hire someone you knew little about. My website and brochure say plenty about me, as do client testimonials, so, please, don’t waste our time.”

“I wanted to see if you’d lie.”

“You’ll have to ask me another question. Later. Right now I’m here to help you.” She stood. “We’ll start with your handshake.”

He reluctantly stood. “I see you don’t believe in chitchat.”

“Time is money.”

“I have a lot to spend.”

“The sooner we start, the sooner you’ll succeed.”

He shook his head, amused. “Do you always talk like that?”

“Like what?”

“In platitudes?”

“Doesn’t matter. Now, the handshake is important. It says a lot about you. You don’t want one that is too strong or too weak. You want a firm, assured, but quick connection. Let’s try it again.” She held out her hand. “Hello, I’m Abby Baylor.”

He took her hand in his. This time his grip was not too strong; instead it was amazingly gentle but firm. “Jason Ward.”

“That was great! Perfect. Now, look down at our hands. Do you see how nice the grip is?” She glanced up at him. “You’re not looking.”

“I prefer looking at you.”

Abby’s heart picked up its pace, and she took a deep breath to calm herself. She couldn’t afford to be attracted to him. He was a client; he couldn’t be anything more. She had to stay in control. “You have a hard time when you’re not the leader, don’t you?”

“I don’t mind you being the leader, but that doesn’t mean I have to follow all your directions.”

She pulled her hand away. “Yes, it does. Listening to me means that you trust me.”

“I don’t give away my trust easily.”

“If you want me to help you, you’ll have to learn fast.”

“I have no trouble learning fast,” he said in a low voice. “But when it comes to trust, I always take my time.”

Abby swallowed, wishing her heart would return to its normal pace. “Fine.”

“I’d like to practice the handshake again.” He moved in closer to her.

“You don’t need to. I told you, you were perfect.”

Jason flashed a wolfish grin. “I’m far from that.” He held out his hand.

“Okay, one last time. This time you do the introductions.”

He extended his hand. She took it.

“Hello, Ms. Baylor, I’m Jason Ward, and I look forward to working with you over the next several weeks.”

She knew the words to say, but they wouldn’t escape her mouth. Her throat felt dry; her face felt warm. She was in trouble. He was not only both terrifying and magnificent, he was sexy as hell. He softened his grip, making it restraining but also tender—staying on the side of decency, so she couldn’t scold him, but eliciting very indecent thoughts in her mind. Unsettling her. He made her realize how large his hand was, how hot his palm felt against hers. Abby pulled her hand away and folded her arms. He was more devious than she thought. Maybe he was getting her back for her cold greeting—whatever the reason, she couldn’t fight him on equal terms. He clearly had the advantage. But she couldn’t let him have an emotional advantage; she had to stay distant and professional.

“That was perfect,” she said in a bright voice, hoping he couldn’t see his effect on her. “You really are a fast learner.” She had learned that stroking a man’s ego always worked in her favor. She just needed him as a client, nothing else. She took a step backward.

“I am a fast learner, but you’re also a good teacher.”

“Yes, and I also know when I’m being tested. That bone-crushing handshake before was a test, wasn’t it? What were you trying to find out? Whether I’d run away or not? Whether you could frighten me? Did I pass?”

He folded his arms, and a slow smile spread across his face. “Yes.” He shrugged. “I wanted to see how desperate you were.”

“I’m not desperate.” She moved to go behind her desk, but he blocked her path.

“Eager, then,” he smoothly corrected.

“What do you mean by eager?”

He took out his cell phone and typed in a few things, then held the screen out to her. “Finishing Touches isn’t doing as well as it used to. You were right. I am meticulous and did my homework. I know a lot about you, Ms. Baylor.”

“And I obviously don’t know enough about you. I knew you were a jerk, I just didn’t realize how big.” Abby stared at the screen in humiliation, feeling exposed and ashamed. She didn’t care if he did or didn’t want to be there, but she’d at least thought he respected her. “I see,” she said coldly. She pushed past him and walked to the door.

“Where are you going?”

As far away from you as I can get. “I’m not going anywhere. You’re the one who’s leaving,” she said, although she hated the thought of failing before she’d even begun. She’d been so hopeful about this meeting. She’d imagined succeeding with him and seeing her business soar—instead he’d shown her how close to the brink she was. “You’ve made it very clear that this won’t work, and I agree with you,” she said, opening the door wider, a signal for him to leave.

“I had to do it,” Jason said in a flat, grim tone, walking toward her.

Abby stepped backward but found herself with nowhere to go and her back against the door.

Jason shoved his hands in his pockets. “I hate needing anyone. Especially for something like learning how to ‘work with people.’ I don’t see why I should have to use someone like you. I’m good at what I do. I like my life, but for some reason people seem to have a problem with the way I do things. I don’t like to depend on anyone. Finding your weak spot makes me feel fine about you knowing mine. You need me as much as I need you.”

She didn’t want it to be true, but he was right. “I demand respect,” she said. “No more tests.”

He held up his hand as though stating an oath. “Agreed.”

“I can help you learn business etiquette.” When he didn’t look convinced, she continued. “I know it may sound strange, but in the corporate world, knowing the rules is what really counts, not just making money. You need to change your business approach, because you are your business. I’m going to show you how to be strong but not rude, kind but not weak and bold but not a bully.”

“How?”

“You’ll see.” She sniffed the air. “My goodness, do you always smell this good?”

He blinked. “What?”

She leaned in closer and sniffed again. “Hmm.” She leaned back and nodded. “I can already tell right away what some of your problems are. First of all, you smell amazing, but a little too much so—it’s distracting. Is it cologne or aftershave? We may have to change it. Also, I know that you don’t like wearing suits, but this present look—” she studied his khakis and the sweater he was wearing “—may be too casual for you. You’re sexy, but your clothes work against you because you’re projecting an aggressive sexiness that both attracts and repels at the same time. You have a very intimidating build and you’re very smart, brilliant in fact, but you don’t look it.”

She held up her hand. “I’m not saying you look stupid, it’s just that your mind isn’t the first thing people think about when they look at you.” It certainly wasn’t for me. “Your build and your face work against you in the business environment where they no doubt worked for you on the streets. You’ll need the right armor. You don’t hide your feelings well either. Right now I know I said something that’s made you angry. I’ll find out what later, but I shouldn’t know that. I’ll teach you how to guard your feelings.” She shoved his shoulder backward. “I’m going to remove this big chip from your shoulder and help you get the respect you want. I can see that’s what you’re hungry for. You want to prove yourself. That’s a bad thing.”

Jason lifted a brow in a silent question.

“When you want to prove something to someone else, you make that person important. By making them important, you make them matter. And if you make them matter, they own you.” She walked back to her desk and sat. “We’ll have three rules. One, you will learn to look away. It will be brief, but necessary. Two, you’ll alter your appearance, not radically but enough, and three, you will not swear. Every time you swear, you’ll give me one hundred dollars.”

He swore. “A hundred?”

She held out her hand. “You can afford it.”

He bit his lip, reached into his pocket and handed her a hundred dollar bill.

Abby carefully folded the bill and put it away. “Now, humility—”

“Is a trait I prefer not to fake.”

“Do you really want my help?”

“No, I already told you that. I really don’t want to be here. Take dogs and cats, for example. I have no problem with them. During high school I volunteered at a local veterinary clinic. I loved it. I never had to worry about hurting their feelings.”

“We’re not talking about cats and dogs. We’re talking about you being able to interact well with human beings so that you make the kind of connections you need to have a successful business.

“You mean, learn how to engage in small talk and suck up to people to get what you want and—”

“What have you heard?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re talking in vague statements—‘sucking up to people’ and ‘hurting people’s feelings.’ You don’t strike me as the kind of person who cares what people think, but when it comes to business, I’m sure you know it’s important. Something must have happened for you to be here. What’s one opinion or something someone has said that you want to change?”

He hesitated.

“Nothing you say will leave this room, but I need to know how you’re perceived so that I can help you.”

“Your description of me was pretty accurate.” He stretched his long legs and sank farther into the plush chair.

“Not accurate enough. What do people get wrong about you?”

Jason frowned. “I didn’t come here for a counseling session.”

“Are you scared to tell me?”

His gaze pierced hers. “I’m not scared.”

“Are you afraid that I’ll think the same?”

“I’m not afraid either.”

“Then, tell me. What’s stopping you? You can trust me. What are they saying about your brand?”

“My brand?”

“Yes. Say you’re a car. What are people saying about it?”

“It’s cheap, comes from a bad lot. It has a good engine but nothing else.”

“And what do you want them to say?”

“I want to be a stellar model. You know, a BMW can break down and no one will say that it’s worthless, but I’m like a...a few mistakes and I’m no good and no one expects me to be.”

“Exactly, so you have to be clever. Because you don’t have the background, you have to create an image that is incorruptible, so that people can come up with excuses for you so that they’ll look good. You’re an easy target right now. We’ll change that.”

Before ending the session, Abby gave Jason some paperwork to complete and made an appointment for him to attend the next meeting of the local Chamber of Commerce. “You are to dress in business attire, and make sure you introduce yourself to at least three people and exchange business cards. Oh, and by the way, I’ll be the keynote speaker at the event. I’ll see you next week.”

“Isn’t it customary to shake hands at the end of a meeting?” Jason asked when Abby remained seated behind her desk.

“No, and in some countries the man waits for the woman to hold out her hand first.”

He held out his hand. “Fortunately, I’m not in one of those countries.”

Abby sighed, stood and took his hand. He shook it, then brought it to his lips. “I’m sorry about the handshake,” he said, his breath warm against her skin.

Abby swallowed, fighting to keep her tone neutral instead of breathless. “You’re forgiven.”

He kissed the back of her hand, then released her. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she said, the back of her hand feeling as if it were on fire. “And don’t kiss a woman’s hand like that unless you want to get into trouble.”

Jason only grinned, his eyes making it clear that he welcomed trouble and all its consequences.

* * *

Jason got in his car, then pumped his fist in the air. Thank you, Mom. Christmas had come sooner than he’d expected. He’d never imagined that the right woman for him would show up like this. She had intrigued him from the moment he laid eyes on her. Not because she was attractive, which she was, or smart, but she wasn’t afraid of him. That was the biggest turn-on. She’d boldly met his gaze, as if challenging him to see how far he would go. The handshake was nothing. He’d had to restrain himself from pulling her closer so that he could inhale her perfume and feel her body against his. He wanted to see what she was like when she wasn’t thinking of business. He wanted to make her think of something else. He now had a new goal.

His cell phone rang. He looked down at the number and grinned. “Right on time.”

“How did it go?” Beatrice asked. “Did you scare her away?”

“She doesn’t scare easily.”

“That’s good. So you’ll give her a chance?”

I plan to give her a lot of things. “Yes. You can pat yourself on the back. You were right. She’s just what I need.”

* * *

Abby had prepared herself for a number of things. But fierce attraction hadn’t been on her list. She’d assessed him well, but she hadn’t assessed him completely. He’d constantly caught her off guard, at one moment insulting her, then complimenting her in the same breath, not giving her a chance to know which it was or how to respond. Should she be pleased or offended? He knew more about his appearance than he was letting on. She wondered if he really thought he needed her services. He obviously didn’t seem to think he needed to change.

What she hated most was how he made her heart race—that he made her notice him as a man instead of as a client. She hadn’t felt that way in a long time. His behavior was nothing new. She’d been hit on by clients before, but he was different. She wouldn’t be able to brush him aside. She briefly glanced at her hand, still feeling the sensation of his skin against hers.

He was a lot bigger than she’d expected. Gruffer, too, but she wasn’t intimidated; she could already see him transformed.

He’d surprised her with his calm manner. She’d been ready for his temper, outrage, a cool superiority. But he’d displayed none of those traits. She’d learned early on that it was best to keep her distance. Her cool demeanor kept a safe wall between herself and her clients, but Jason Ward was quickly melting it. And she couldn’t let him. Abby knew she would have to push away any preconceived notions and see what he was really about if she was going to help him.

* * *

“So, what is he like?” Judith asked Abby the next day. “I was worried about you. I could hardly concentrate. How awful was he?”

Like I’d tell you. “I really shouldn’t discuss clients.”

“I do it all the time.” There was a moment of silence. “That difficult, huh?” she said with pity.

“He’s a fast learner.”

“Is that supposed to mean something?”

“Exactly what I said.”

“You know, if you don’t feel comfortable with him, you don’t have to do this. Just admit you can’t do it. There are other clients.”

But none like Jason Ward, Abby thought. She couldn’t wait to see him again. Because he was a challenge, nothing else. She’d seen his magnetism, and she would use it to keep a distance. She’d seen where her words bothered him; when she’d mentioned that women found him attractive, his gaze had gone hard. She’d have to figure out why. She was very curious. What was the key to unlocking the man behind the armor?

“I’ll be fine,” she said, but she already knew that was a lie.

Chapter 4

Jason stared at his reflection in the full-length mirror. It had been a long time since he’d cared about how he looked, but Abby had changed his mind. He wasn’t into wearing a double-breasted suit or matching finely crafted leather shoes. The casual merino wool slacks and pressed silk shirt and tie would have to do. He wanted to make sure he made the right impression.

Unfortunately, things didn’t quite turn out the way he wanted. The Chamber of Commerce meeting was being held in one of the main office buildings downtown, and due to a major water break, traffic had to be rerouted. Although he had left with plenty of time to spare, deciding to take himself instead of using his driver, Jason found himself walking into the meeting forty-five minutes late. Abby was just finishing her presentation when he entered, and did not acknowledge him. She closed her speech and took a seat up front. Jason sat patiently through the next two presenters, then when everyone was dismissed to spend the rest of the time networking, he hastily made his way over to where Abby was sitting.

“Sorry I was late,” he said. “There was a major water problem and parking was limited and...”

“That doesn’t matter now. Just shake hands and be nice.” She turned to leave.

“I’m sorry I missed your presentation.”

“I told you it doesn’t matter.”

“But you’re angry.”

She folded her arms. “I’m disappointed. Would you have been late if you had an appointment with the president?”

“What?” Jason paused, wondering what she was up to. “If you had been the president, I hope your secret service men would have made arrangements for your guests to be escorted through the mess outside, so they wouldn’t have...”

Abby glanced around the room. “All of these other people made it on time. You know why? Because they checked before they left, and added enough time, so they would make it. Isn’t that right, Mr. Brant?” She turned and spoke to a slimy-looking gentleman standing just behind her.

“It sure is. I checked my phone and GPS to make sure I’d get here on time. I wasn’t going to miss your presentation for nothing,” he said, his eyes raking over Abby’s body in a way that made Jason grit his teeth.

Look, but don’t touch, Jason thought, sizing the man up just in case he had to make himself clear.

When Jason didn’t reply, the other man continued. “A fine woman like her deserves to be the focus of a man’s attention. Isn’t that right, Abby?”

Abby laughed a little nervously, but Jason could tell she felt uncomfortable. “Mr. Brant, that’s not—”

“I mean, if I could get just a few minutes alone with...”

Jason’s temper snapped. That was as much as he could take. “I need to see you outside for a moment.”

“Jason, it’s okay.”

“Now.” His gaze never left the man.

Abby grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the door. “Jason, I have to talk to you.”

He glared at the man, then let her lead him outside. “What?” he asked, once they were in the hall.

“Congratulations. You have just failed your first test.”

“Test? I thought we weren’t doing tests anymore.”

“You can’t, but I can. I’m the teacher, remember?”

He rested a hand against the wall behind her. “Yes, I remember.”

“Nicholas Brant is a dear friend of mine.”

“You mean what happened in there was an act?” he asked, doing his best to rein in his temper.

“Yes,” Abby said in a clipped tone. “I wanted to see what you would do. How you would respond.”

“How was I supposed to respond?”

“With more tact. Not so aggressive. You looked like you wanted to slug him.”

“I did.” He sighed, hating that he’d disappointed her when today had meant so much to him. He’d wanted to make a good impression, but he kept failing. First, missing her presentation and now, this. “I didn’t like how he was treating you.”

“And that’s not the problem,” Abby said, softening her tone, as though he were a wayward child she wanted to correct. “You could have just led me away.” She smiled briefly. “However, the look you gave him was eloquent enough.”

He drummed his fingers against the wall with irritation. “That sounds like something from out of a textbook, not real life. What would you have done if you were me?”

She paused. “If I were you?”

“Yes. What would you have done if you saw a beautiful woman you were attracted to being disrespected by another man?”

Abby opened her mouth to say something, then closed it and shook her head. “That’s not a fair question.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s hypothetical. What really happened in there was about a man who was embarrassed about being late, who was annoyed that he had to come here in the first place and who wanted to handle his frustration by throwing some punches.”

Jason narrowed his gaze. “I thought you knew me better than that.”

Abby licked her lips. “I do.”

He watched the motion with interest, wishing he could moisten them some more for her. “Then why would you discount the fact that I’m attracted to you?”

“How you feel about me is not the issue here.”

“How come?”

Abby licked her lips again. He groaned inwardly, wishing she’d stop doing that. “Do I make you nervous?”

“You make me angry.”

He sighed, wanting so badly to kiss her, he had to grip his hand into a fist. “I’m sorry I missed your presentation,” he said with sincerity. “I won’t do that next time.”

“Don’t worry, there won’t be a next time. Right now you need to focus on smiling and shaking hands.”

He caught and held her gaze. “The only hand I want to hold is yours.”

“Jason.”

His gaze dropped to her lips. He wanted to do more than hold her hand. “Don’t pretend you don’t feel it, too.” He met her eyes, seeing the sizzling awareness in her gaze that mirrored his. “From the first moment, I knew you were the one.”

She shook her head. “I can’t risk it.”

“What?”

“Anything more than a personal relationship with you.” She shook her head again. “I mean professional.”

He grinned, pleased she was flustered. “You were right the first time.”

“No, I wasn’t. I can help you, but not if you’re going to play games.”

His grin fell. “I’m not playing games.”

“What happens if you’re disappointed?”

He frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“What if I let you kiss me right now and it’s awful?”

“It won’t be.”

“Will you stop working with me?” she continued. “Or will that satisfy your curiosity enough to let you realize that—”

Jason didn’t hear the rest of her words. Only one important thing echoed in his mind. “You’re going to let me kiss you?”

Abby threw up her hands. “Were you listening to a word I said? I said there are con—”

* * *

She didn’t get to finish before his mouth covered hers. Abby felt herself sinking into sweet ecstasy as his mouth claimed hers, and he crushed her body to him. His demanding lips caressed hers, his large hands exploring the hollows of her back. He was hard and hot, sending her senses reeling. In his arms she no longer felt like a cold day, but like a hot summer night. She now knew—not just imagined—what he felt like.

He fumbled behind her, opened the door to an empty room and pulled her inside. Jason was delicious, like double fudge chocolate, and although he could be misunderstood, she felt she knew him more than any man she’d ever met. When she heard him groan, then suck in his breath in surprise, she pulled away and noticed her hand had dipped dangerously below his belt. He was clearly aroused. She shoved him away, horrified by her behavior. “I am so sorry,” she said, coming to her senses with a painful thud.

“Don’t be,” Jason said quickly. “It’s nice to know you’re as eager as I am.”

He could be casual about it, but she couldn’t. “No, that was wrong, and I sincerely apologize. I promise it won’t happen again,” she said, breathless but fighting for composure.

“You’re joking, right?”

“I made a mistake.”

“No, you didn’t. Let me treat you to dinner.”

“I can’t,” Abby said, sounding miserable to her own ears. “I feel awful, you’re my client and I—”

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