A Girl by Any Other Name (40 page)
He smirked. “Sweetheart, I think everyone within a twenty-mile radius could see it. I’m sure the
kitchen had fire extinguishers on standby.”
“Very funny. Birthdays are not as special when you reach a certain age.”
“It’s just a number, and you don’t look forty.”
“That’s because I’m forty-three. My friend, Libby, was trying to be somewhat merciful and
stopped at forty candles.”
He motioned to the bartender and ordered a glass of wine I was pretty sure cost more than my
outfit. “You make forty-three look incredible.”
I wondered how he was so quick with every line, as if he had a script for our evening—one that
no one had bothered to give me. He was as smooth as the wine he ordered for me.
“Even if you are not, I am happy to celebrate any day when such loveliness came into the
world.”
“That’s sweet, Casanova, but how old are you?” If I was a betting woman, I would have said
mid-twenties, but surely no man that age could afford a tailored Armani suit and an outrageously
expensive bottle of Chablis.
“I’m twenty-eight. Now can we stop talking about numbers? Math was never my strong suit.”
I took a sip of the glass of heaven he’d ordered, savoring the nuances of earth and fruit. “This
has a very delicate flavor.”
“Much like yourself, I imagine.”
Damn…did he have an answer for everything?
“I believe in speaking my mind, but I assure you my goal in not to make you uncomfortable.”
“What is your goal?”
“To make you come.”
“Come where?”
He laughed in low, husky voice that made me quiver. “It was a complete sentence.”
I bit my lower lip, willing my heart to stop its crazy double beat. “You’re very cocky.”
He reached for my hand in a gentle, but firm hold. “Why don’t you come and find out…not in that
order, of course.”
I almost choked the wine, which was far too expensive to waste. “I think I should go.”
“What are your reservations? Is it the man who was making puppy dog eyes at you just now?”
It surprised me that he was observant enough to have noticed Jeff. “He’s just a friend.”
He sighed, narrowing his eyes and tightening his jaw. “It’s apparent he wants more with you. Do
you not see that?”
“Why do you care?”
He paused for a moment, sipping his drink. The golden liquid left a sheen on his lips and I had
an urgent desire to lick it off.
“I’m having trouble articulating my emotions. It’s a new feeling for me.”
“What’s that?”
“I suppose it’s a combination of jealousy and sympathy.”
“Sympathy?” I was equally as surprised by the jealousy, but I decided to keep that one to myself.
“I don’t want him to have you, but I feel sorry for him. You see, I know how the poor fellow
feels, but I have no interest in sharing you.” His openness stunned me. I wasn’t expecting him to be so
candid, but then again everything he did was a surprise.
“Do you usually do this?”
His eyes were so bright they appeared to be twinkling, and his smile was boyish, reminding me
of his age.
“Do what? Enjoy a conversation with a beautiful woman?”
“Choose a woman out of the blue to sleep with?”
“No, I don’t. I doubt you’ll believe me, but I don’t lie. Life doesn’t always give you the best
circumstances. When you see something you want, you should seize it. You fell into my arms and
since that moment, all I’ve been thinking about is how well we would fit. Maybe it’s not traditional,
but I’ve never been much for convention.”
“It was an accident.”
“I don’t believe in accidents. Either way, it was the best thing that’s happened to me in a long
time.” He finished his drink and gestured for another. The bartender was quick to provide a fresh
glass. He put his hand on my knee, rubbing it with his palm. “Julianne Brenan, I’m mesmerized by
you. I think that surprises you, but I’m not sure why. You’re sexy, intelligent and interesting.”
It was funny, I could have used the same adjectives to describe him.
“I want you in my bed tonight so I can explore every inch of you and taste your delicate flavor. If
you’re not interested, I completely understand, although I think you’d only be lying to yourself.” The
huskiness of his voice combined with that British accent was doing some crazy things to my body.
“Why is that? Because your offer is so tempting?” The question came out with more sarcasm
than I’d meant.
“You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t tempted.”
Damn, he was right.
He stood, taking out a keycard then sliding it over to me. “I’m in the penthouse suite. You’ll need
this to access the floor on the elevator. I’m not going to try to talk you into this anymore. It’s your
decision.” He leaned in closer to me, whispering in my ear, “I want to fall into you, Julianne.” He
pressed his lips against my jaw, causing an instant flush of heat to radiate through my body, followed
by dampness between my legs.
He turned to the bartender. “Jenny, please put all the lady’s drinks on my tab.”
I watched him walk away with the saunter of a confident man. I had read novels about men like
him. Hell, I was an active member of book clubs that sought out such tales. He belonged to that
special breed of men who enjoyed their partner’s pleasure as much as their own. The kind of man
who was sexually skilled in the subtleties of a woman’s body. Just the kind of man I wanted to fall
into.
About the Author
MK Schiller is a hopeless romantic in a hopelessly pragmatic world. By day, she dons a magic
cape, calculator (sometimes an abacus), and an assortment of gel pens for her work in the
world of finance. But by night, she sits by the warm glow of her computer monitor, and
conjures up handsome heart-warming heroes and the vivacious heroines they love.
A wife and mother of two loveable, but angst-ridden teenagers, she enjoys movies, gardening,
and traveling. Although she loves to write, she is a reader first and enjoys nothing more than
curling up with a good book and some tasty Italian (the food, of course!). She hopes you will
enjoy her stories and write to her.
Email:
[email protected]
MK loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author
biography at
http://www.totallybound.com
.
Also by MK Schiller
In Other Words: The Other C-Word
Totally Bound Publishing
- Table of Contents
- Legal Page
- Title Page
- Book Description
- Dedication
- Trademarks Acknowledgement
- Chapter One
- Chapter Two
- Chapter Three
- Chapter Four
- Chapter Five
- Chapter Six
- Chapter Seven
- Chapter Eight
- Chapter Nine
- Chapter Ten
- Chapter Eleven
- Chapter Twelve
- Chapter Thirteen
- Chapter Fourteen
- Chapter Fifteen
- Chapter Sixteen
- Chapter Seventeen
- Chapter Eighteen
- Chapter Nineteen
- Chapter Twenty
- Chapter Twenty-One
- Chapter Twenty-Two
- Chapter Twenty-Three
- Epilogue
- New Excerpt
- About the Author
- Totally Bound Publishing
Table of Contents
A Totally Bound Publication
A Girl by Any Other Name
ISBN # 978-1-78184-925-5
©Copyright MK Schiller 2013
Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright December 2013
Edited by Eleanor Boyall
Totally Bound Publishing
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and
should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is
purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by
printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally
Bound Publishing.
Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing.
Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or
criminal prosecution.
The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and
Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the
artwork.
Published in 2013 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln,
LN6 3QN
Warning:
This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has
a heat rating of Totally Burning and a Sexometer of 2.
What’s Her Secret?
A GIRL BY ANY OTHER NAME
MK Schiller
Everyone tells him he needs to move on, but how can a man function without his heart?