Chapter One (30 page)

139

Jaci Burton/
Wild, Wicked & Wanton
/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

“This place is packed,” she whispered over Blair’s

“I feel so used,” Rand drawled. “I hope she uses me shoulder as they arrived at their table and grabbed chairs.

again like that.”

Blair nodded and turned to her. “You’re still the most

“Me too,” Seth said. “Nothing like being used as a sex beautiful woman in the room.”

object by a gorgeous woman. You ladies should write a book Callie snorted. “Please. You in your red dress and those about it. I’m sure more research will be required.”

shoes I wouldn’t dare wear. And Abby with that tight, skimpy Callie shook her head. “Honestly.”

little black number. Girl, the two of you put me to shame.”

“Well now that’s an interesting topic.”

“Honey, I’d kill for your skin,” Abby said next to her.

Oh, God. Jack. Callie scrunched her eyes closed, not

“That sweet honey color. So perfect. If I wasn’t heterosexual sure if she ever wanted to turn around. But she did. She stood I’d be all over you.”

and turned, her heart stopping at her first close up look at a tux-Callie tilted her head back and laughed.

clad Jack, who looked utterly delectable in black and white.

Seth leaned across Abby and said, “If you two are His tanned skin against the white collar made her mouth water.

planning some girl-on-girl action, I’m sure Rand and I would

“Jack! What a surprise to see you here.”

love to watch.”

“I hope I’m not interrupting,” he said, taking her hand

“Seth!” Abby said, feigning shock, but was laughing, between both of his. “I thought I spotted you from across the too.

room and wanted to say hello.”

Rand leaned past Blair on the other side. “It’ll take me

“I’m glad you did. Please, let me introduce you to my less than a half hour to go buy a video camera.”

friends.”

“Asshole,” Blair said, shaking her head. But her lips She made the introductions, then invited Jack to sit with curled upward. “Men are such pigs.”

them, certain he’d beg off so he could hang with the collection

“That’s why you love us,” Rand said, kissing her neck.

of beauties currently shooting daggers in her direction. Much to Blair giggled.

her surprise, he pulled up the chair Blair vacated by scooting Callie was so damn happy for both her friends.

over.

Someday she’d find that kind of happiness again.

“I’d love to join you,” he said, sliding his beer onto the Maybe.

white clothed table.

“So, where’s the hot guy you’re supposed to meet up

“Are you sure? It looks like there’s a horde of angry with tonight?” Rand asked. “Hope you get as lucky in your bet women over there.”

as Blair did with hers.”

Jack looked over his shoulder. “Oh. Them. They’re just Callie gasped. “You told him?”

interested in marrying my wallet. The single Silverwood Blair shrugged. “Of course I did. Abby told Seth.”

socialites are out in force tonight and looking for any eligible bachelor.”

140

Jaci Burton/
Wild, Wicked & Wanton
/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

Callie smiled. “Well, that would be you, wouldn’t it?”

of Oklahoma and in Texas, Denver, Kansas and we’re

“Yeah, but I’m not interested in them. You look branching out into Louisiana, Missouri and Illinois.”

gorgeous.”

She raised her brows. “Impressive. So, you’re How could he not be interested in them? But she growing.”

beamed under his praise. “Thank you. A lot more made up than He nodded. “Yeah, opening up a few branch offices in my typical coffee shop look.”

some of the other states.”

“I don’t know. You look beautiful there, too.”

“Any chance you’ll be relocating?” She hoped not.

Holy shit, he was good at this complimenting thing. She

“No way. I’m firmly entrenched here.”

hadn’t had a man pay attention to her in far too long. And such

“Good.” Dammit, why did she say that.

a fine looking man like Jack, too. Was she drooling? This was

“Well, thanks for the compliment, darlin’. I’d miss just unreal. He was sitting at their table, signaling the waiter to seeing you every morning, too.”

bring a bottle of champagne, chatting away with Rand and

“You’d just miss my coffee.”

Seth as if they were old friends and charming the panties right

“I don’t go there for the coffee, Callie.”

off Blair and Abby.

He’d casually rested his arm over the back of her chair, He’d already charmed her panties off. Had been doing the heat from his body transferring to hers, warming her from that daily for the past year and a half, even though they’d never her toes to the top of her head.

had a deep discussion about…well, anything, actually. She

“You don’t?”

knew virtually nothing about this man, other than he was tan,

“No. I go there to see you.”

with blue eyes and had the chiseled features of an aristocrat. He

“You do?”
Brilliant conversationalist, Cal
.

was tall, athletic, with broad shoulders that she longed to run

“Yeah. I do. Thought you’d figured that out by now.”

her hands over, and she’d wager he was solid muscle Well color her utterly clueless. She had no idea. What underneath that luxurious tux.

planet had she been living on?

She knew where he worked and that he was a partner in

“So am I seeing things one sided? Should I go back a law firm, but she didn’t even know what type of legal field he where I came from and leave you alone?”

worked in.

“Oh, God no!” she blurted, then felt the heat rise to her

“What kind of law do you practice?” she asked. They cheeks. “I mean, I’m flattered. Damn, Jack, I’m embarrassed as were alone at the table, since Abby and Seth were off mingling hell. I had no idea.”

and Blair and Rand were raiding the hors d’oeuvres table.

“Why?” He raised his hand and toyed with her hair,

“Corporate, mainly. Our clients are some of the biggest winding his fingers in the wild curls. Her skin tingled all over.

companies here in Silverwood, as well as throughout the state

“Is it such a big surprise that I find you attractive?”

Um, hell yes
. “We don’t exactly…mesh, you know.”

141

Jaci Burton/
Wild, Wicked & Wanton
/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

His half smile melted her. “We don’t?”

“No.”

“In what way don’t we mesh?”

“You’re a corporate lawyer. I own a coffee shop.”

“So? You could be a client of mine.”

She snorted, then covered her mouth. “Sorry. That’s just too damn funny.”

He rolled his eyes. “You’re not taking this seriously.”

“No, Jack, you’re not taking this seriously.” She half turned in her chair to face him. “We don’t travel in the same social circles. You live here at the club. I live across town in middle-classsville. I’m biracial, you’re whiter than a whiteout in a Denver snowstorm. I’m mortgaged to the hilt between my home and my business and you probably make more money in a year than I’ll earn in my entire lifetime. So don’t tell me we mesh.”

“Do you find me attractive, Callie?”

“What?”

“Answer the question. Are you attracted to me?”

Such an unfair question. “Well, yes.”

“Good. Because I’m sure as hell attracted to you. Your litany of excuses don’t mean a damn thing to me. Now let’s dance.”

142

Jaci Burton/
Wild, Wicked & Wanton
/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

“What are you thinking about?” he asked, wrapping his arm around her back and tugging her closer against his solid chest.

Yeah, he was a hardbody all right. Just as she’d suspected.

“I was thinking that I was worrying about stupid things Chapter Three

instead of just enjoying myself with one very hot looking man,” she replied, deciding to cast aside all her worries and Callie gaped at Jack, open-mouthed and honest-to-God carry out the terms of the bet, while also fulfilling herself in a in shock. He pushed back his chair and stood, holding his hand very satisfying way. She rested her hand on his shoulder, then out. She stared at his hand for a moment, then slid her palm smoothed it down his back just a little, loving the feel of his against his, feeling the light tingle of electricity pass between body under her questing palm and wishing the tux jacket them.

wasn’t in her way.

Oh yeah. Chemistry. Undeniably charged and

He glided her around the dance floor to the strains of a elemental, there was no doubt about it. They had it and it was slow melody, his body so easy to follow. He moved with the strong. Did that really mean the rest of it didn’t matter? How grace of a man comfortable in his own skin. “You dance pretty could it not, when there were so many barriers between them?

good.”

Then again, it was only the bet. And only this weekend.

“For a white guy?” he teased.

Why the hell did she care if there were barriers? It wasn’t like She snickered. “Wasn’t even going to go there.”

she was looking for a relationship with him. She was supposed

“You didn’t have to. I knew what you were thinking.”

to fuck him. And judging from the spark between them and the If he knew what she was thinking, they wouldn’t be way he was looking at her right now, she could virtually dancing. What she was thinking was how he’d look stripped guarantee that was going to happen.

out of that tux and naked, his cock hard and him coming after
So quit worrying about all those things you have no
her. She was ready to spread her legs. Her pussy was damp, her
business worrying about, and start flirting your ass off woman
.

nipples tingling and she thanked the style of the dress for She was hot for some good fucking, and for the love of God, allowing her to be turned on without him knowing it.

she knew Jack would be the one to give it to her. One

“Hungry?” he asked.

absolutely insane weekend where she could act the part of the She damn near choked. Yeah, she was hungry. “Not wanton, free spirited woman and fuck her brains out. Oh, it had really. You?”

been so, so long. She needed this.

“Not at all. But this place is packed. How about some fresh air?”

143

Jaci Burton/
Wild, Wicked & Wanton
/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

“I’d love to get away from this crowd.”

“Me either. I hate these events. Only reason I go is

“Good. Let’s take a walk outside. I’ll show you the because I’m on the board and required to be here.”

grounds.” He tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and led Walking with him, her arm in his, was so easy. She her through the throng of dancers and onto the carpet.

thought it would be uncomfortable, but it wasn’t. They strolled They were met with a wall of gorgeous women, arms through the gardens and Jack led them to a secluded bench in crossed, breasts nearly spilling over the tops of their designer front of a flowing fountain.

dresses, and all looking mightily pissed off.

“Let’s sit and talk for awhile,” he suggested, taking a

“Jack, we’ve been waiting for you,” one luscious seat and pulling her down next to him.

brunette said, affecting a pout that just screamed
come with me
The night sky was clear, a light breeze cooling the
and a blow job is in your future
.

oppressive heat of the day. It was perfect here. And no one else

“Yes, Jack, you left us so abruptly,” a blonde said, was around, giving them complete privacy.

batting her eyelashes. Those lashes had to be fake. No one had

“We never get to talk at your shop,” he said, shifting so lashes that long or thick. Then again, judging from the looks of he was facing her. “This is my chance to get to know you her boobs, nose and chin,
fake
seemed to fit her. Didn’t women better.”

wear their real parts anymore?

And her chance to get to know him, too. “I’m glad we

“Sorry, ladies, but my date is here and I couldn’t have a few minutes alone. I’ve been wanting to learn more possibly tear myself away from her.”

about you.” Funny, she found herself shy around him now.

His date? She was his date? Since when?

Then again, why wouldn’t she be? How long had it been since Jack smiled and brushed past the scary looking front she’d been alone with a man? And the last man she’d been line. Callie gulped back the dry lump in her throat, happy she alone with had been her husband, the one and only man she’d had him there to run interference.

ever dated. It wasn’t like she had tons of experience with men.

Despite the warmth outside, she sucked in a breath of Fantasies, yes. Wild, wanton, out of control fantasies. But air as Jack pushed through the double doors and into the reality? In that she was lacking.

gardens. She’d never been more relieved to make an escape He smiled. “I’ll tell you everything you want to know.

from a party, since between her own nervousness and the

“I’m thirty-five, born and raised here in Silverwood. My family beauty brigade she’d felt like she was suffocating.

are farmers, uneducated, but always wanted the best for me. I

“Better?” he asked, leading them through the maze of went to college and law school on a scholarship and whatever high hedges.

student loans I could get my hands on, and have been working

“Definitely. Thank you. I’m not much for large for the same law firm since graduation. I have zero social crowds.”

life—correction—have had zero social life for the past nine 144

Jaci Burton/
Wild, Wicked & Wanton
/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

years since I’ve been climbing my way up the ladder to This time she squeezed his hands. “Hey, it’s okay.