So Into You (13 page)

However, buyer or cold-air hunter
notwithstanding, it was certainly people he'd have to meet, greet and schmooze.
None of which he particularly enjoyed. He cursed his top salesman for going on
vacation and followed that up with a mumbled imprecation aimed at his father
for guilting him into covering the gap.

He steeled himself to look welcoming
at the table, knowing the newcomers would be prowling the first floor right
about now and then would follow the oak staircase to the main living area where
he'd say hello and begin the '
let me tell you about this wonderful place and
why you should think about buying it'
spiel. It was a routine process he'd
repeated more than a few times that day.

But anything routine about this
visitor flew out the window when she walked quietly up the stairs and paused at
the top, looking around. One hand rested on the newel post and the other
gripped a large leather folder she carried tucked beneath her arm.

When she finally saw Jeff her lips
parted, and he swore he could hear her sharp gasp. That was a millisecond
before he made one of his own.

"
Gaby.
" The word
escaped on a breath.

"
Jeff?
" She blinked
at him.

Holy fucking crap. There she was. In
the flesh. In the very luscious flesh.
Gabriella Rossini
.

The one that got away
.

Book Three—FULL SERVICE

by

S.L. Carpenter

Excerpt

"I'm telling you, this food is
the bomb."

Rachel sat with a puzzled, amazed
look on her face. "I've never seen anyone eat tacos like that
before."

Of course her mind was wondering if
that thick tongue of his ate everything like that. If so she was a dead woman.
But she'd at least go with a smile on her face.

"If it's worth eating, it's
worth savoring every bite."

His wicked grin made her smile.
"Oh really?"

"It's one of my weaknesses.
Just being honest."

Rachel let out a deep sigh and
crossed her legs. "I don't want to seem forward or some kind of slut,
Tyler, but my reasons for asking you out were kinda selfish. I haven't had a
good relationship in a long time and I'm really tired of waiting for Mr. Right
to come along and find me. I'm looking for Mr. Right Now."

She paused wanting to see his
reaction to what she was saying.

"Go on," he nodded.

"You seem like a nice guy.
Working a steady job, and yeah, you're pretty damn hot." She felt herself
blush and a flash of heat trickled through her body. "Those uniforms don't
do you justice."

"Why thank you." He
paused. "What are you looking for, Rachel?"

"Truthfully? I guess I'm tired
of hearing about all those amazing encounters and all the unbelievable romantic
stuff in books and movies. I thought I'd take control and be an aggressive
woman. Just go grab me some beefcake and—well—fuck him and let it go. A one
night stand."

"So I'm your beefcake? You're
just gonna use me, screw me and kick me to the curb?"

"I don't know Tyler. This isn't
really me. I'm not like that. Deep down, I'm a romantic but I just want to feel
like those others sometimes."

"Well, I'm okay with it if it's
what you want. I've never been used for sex like that before, but I'd be
willing to take one for the team. It's a sacrifice, of course…"

Watch for FULL SERVICE—available
December 2012

Until then, Happy Reading from S.L.
Carpenter and Sahara Kelly

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