The Seduction Game (2 page)

Lindsay frowned as she chewed her pizza. “I wish you didn’t have to be so famous. I wish you were a normal aunt.”

Kate laughed. “Normal? I never thought I was
ab
normal.”

“Mom says,” Lindsay continued with her mouth full, “you’re too famous, that’s why you can’t find a decent man to marry.” Kate nearly choked on her Coke. “I heard her telling Gran you should concentrate more on your fern…feminini wel…feminine wales, than your head. She said if you paid more attention to your own love life than everyone else’s, you wouldn’t be miserable. Aunt Kate, what’s a feminine wales?”

“That’s feminine wiles, honey.” She pushed her plate away. Suddenly she had no appetite. “And it’s something I would never resort to.”

How could Gail have said that? And what was all this nonsense about her being miserable? She wasn’t miserable. Just because she didn’t have a man in her life didn’t mean—

“Are you going to answer that, Aunt Kate?”

“Hm?”

Lindsay grinned. “Your purse is ringing.”

“Smarty pants.” She retrieved her cell from her purse. “Doctor Moore here.”

“Sis! I’m back!”

Relief coursed through her veins. Thank God Barbara was back from her vacation. She tried to detect any censure or displeasure in her younger sister’s voice, but found none. “How was it?”

“Fab! Ben and I loved Greece.” Barbara sighed dramatically. “Too bad we only stayed a month…but enough about me,” she added with flourish. “How’s the reigning queen of self-help books? I just picked up the paper from the airport. Wow, forty-three weeks on the best sellers list. Isn’t it exciting?”

Kate handed Lindsay a napkin. “You have a glob of sauce on your chin, honey,” she murmured. “Yes. It’s very exciting. I’m glad my books are making an impact.”

“Impact? You’re making it sound like a fender bender. You’re like the messiah to single women everywhere who are looking for Mr. Right. Who’s got sauce on their chin? A date?”

“Lindsay. We’re at the mall.” A dart of unease gave her pause. “Er…Barb, did you get a chance to listen to your voice mail at home yet?”

“No. We’re headed there now. Why?”

For the first time Kate was getting cold feet. What she was going to do with Adam Tyler was in no way immoral or bad, she reiterated silently for the hundredth time. “I…I left you a message last night. Call me when you get it.”

“Can’t you tell me now what it is?”

“No. And listen to your message alone. Don’t let Ben hear it.”

“You know you’re beginning to worry me, sis.”

Kate laughed, but it sounded nervous even to her ears. “Don’t worry.”

She said goodbye to Barbara and slipped her cellphone back in her purse. Lindsay was giving her a curious look.

“Are you in trouble, Aunt Kate?”

“You, my dear,” she said as she reached across the table and ruffled her niece’s blond curls, “have got to stop eavesdropping on adult conversations. How was the pizza, by the way?”

“Yummy. Can I have another piece?”

“Can you handle it?”

Lindsay nodded eagerly. “Yes. I want to grow up big like you and mommy. Aunt Barbara’s too skinny.”

Kate didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Barbara has to be thin, honey. Models can’t afford extra weight on their bodies because the clothes they wear wouldn’t look perfect on them.”

“Did she bring me something back from vacation?”

Kate smiled. “I’m sure she did, sweetie. Now let’s get your second slice, and then go to Toyland for your Nintendo DS.”

An hour later she dropped off a contented Lindsay and went to her own home, a house she had purchased in the quiet suburbs that was conveniently six blocks from her practice, a two-story building she shared with a dentist and a chiropractor.

Her life would have been complete if Simon hadn’t—

She struggled to keep the thoughts from forming, but it was hard. He had been creeping back into her mind lately, ever since she started her latest book,
Nice Girls. Bad Girls.
An In-depth Look at What Men Really Want
, and more than once she had spent a sleepless night thinking about what ifs.

There were no what ifs for her, she thought. He had made his choice by betraying her and there was no point rehashing one of the worst moments of her life. Her mouth tensed as she recalled the shock of seeing Simon naked, straddled by Miranda Payne, their bodies drenched in sweat, their movements rough and quick, his guttural moan of climax. She’d fled the apartment before she’d vomited. One month later, she’d seen a wedding picture of them in the society page.

Now, standing on the porch of her house, she squeezed her eyes to stop the bitter flow of tears. Miranda Payne was everything Kate was not. Beautiful, sexy, desirable, and as unabashedly
bad
as they came.

As Kate jabbed her keys in the door she heard a peal of tires as someone slammed their brakes behind her. She frowned, spinning around. This was a residential street. Who was driving like a madman?

Barbara slammed the door to her canary yellow convertible and marched up the walkway, her pretty features set in stern lines.

“Let’s go inside so you can make us a pot of coffee. And then I’d like to hear about all this nonsense about a
seduction game
!”

Kate had decided to purchase her home the moment she’d walked into it. She loved the large living room, the high stucco ceilings, the large bay windows. And every time she came home she always felt a calming release as she took in the soft earth tones, the open space, the leafy green plants.

Now, with her younger sister trailing behind, she felt only tension.

“Barb, I really don’t have time to explain everything to you. I need to get ready for my date.”

“Then we don’t have much time to sort out this business about a seduction game, do we?”

Kate winced. “I wish you wouldn’t use that term.”

Barbara dumped her purse on the couch and turned around to face Kate. “What do you call it when you’re planning to masquerade as two different women, a sweet natured schoolteacher and a sexy vixen, to see which persona a man will be more interested in?”

“Coming from an established psychologist who’s already written a string of bestsellers on relationships, I would call it research. Undercover research, if you will.” Kate was beginning to lose patience. She didn’t need her sister adding fuel to her own doubts. “I thought you’d be supportive. You love all my other books.”

Barbara folded her arms across her chest, her silky pale blonde hair resting over one shoulder, and Kate silently admired her younger sister. She couldn’t help it. Even in a pink T-shirt and faded, snug jeans, Barbara still managed to look like she was ready to saunter down a runway.

Kate didn’t want to think about her own appearance. Mall shopping with Lindsay meant comfortable clothing like the loose pair of tan pants, brown flats, and beige top she wore. Hardly the radiant image Barbara displayed. Kate felt dowdy and self-consciously brought a hand up to her secured hair.

“Yes. I do love your other books, but there was no cloak and dagger stuff going on with them. Did it ever occur to you Adam Tyler might find out what’s going on?”

“That’s irrelevant since he’ll never find out.” She caught the skeptical look on her sister’s face and stiffened. “Look, I’m a competent psychologist who specializes in human behavior. Give me some credit. Do you really think I’m going into this with my eyes closed?”
Yes, you are
, a nagging voice said in her head. She ignored it. “I may have a few kinks to work out, like when I can spring my bad girl persona on him, but I do know what I’m doing.”

Barbara wasn’t budging. “Okay, convince me and I won’t tell Mom or Gail about this.”

Kate gasped. “You wouldn’t! Don’t you dare tell them what I’m doing.”

“I said convince me.”

Kate sighed wearily. “Okay, but first I have to show you something.” She took Adam’s ad out of her purse and handed it to Barbara. “Here. Read it and tell me he’s not perfect for my research.”

Barbara read it, slowly sinking on the couch. She raised a startled gaze to Kate. “I don’t believe it. He said tired of bad girls, wants to meet a nice girl. Your new book’s title. They’re the same.” She lowered her gaze to the ad. “What a coincidence.”

“Yes, and it will also prove the results from all the research I’ve amassed the past few months. Meeting him as a nice girl and then a bad girl is Phase Four of my research.”

Barbara still appeared dazed as she glanced up at her sister. “Phase what?”

“Phase Four. Phase One was the hundred interviews I conducted with single men ranging from ages twenty-five to forty-five. I asked them about their likes and dislikes in women and they all gravitated to the same points. They want someone soft and feminine, yet confidant and strong. They want her to be thoughtful and intelligent, well-read and insightful. And they want a woman who likes to have fun and has a good sense of humor, For lack of a better word, they want a nice girl.” She noticed the spark of interest in Barbara’s gaze and continued before she lost her. “Then I defined another type of woman to them. A woman who uses her sexuality to manipulate men, dresses provocatively, is promiscuous, and uses slinky body language,scorching eye contact, suggestive behavior, touches a lot. My definition of a bad girl. The kind of woman who wants to pleasure only herself. A taker. A huntress who sniffs out her prey, marks their weakness and attacks.

Barbara’s eyes widened. “What did they say?”

Kate hid a smile. “They were enticed, a few even turned on, but bottom line was they all agreed that was not the kind of woman they would spend the rest of their lives with. During Phase Two I conducted case studies of fifty successful marriages. I wanted to find out what made these couples sustain their love and remain together. It all came down to three things. Trust, respect, and communication. Phase Three was fun. I placed two fake internet ads. In the first I pretended to be a vivacious blonde looking for a good time and in the second I pretended I was a successful entrepreneur looking for Mr. Right. Within the first week, the successful woman received more responses.”

“Okay, so why Phase Four?”

Kate’s gaze wavered for a moment. “To implement the results in a real live experiment and give credibility to all the research I’ve amassed.”

“What if this guy turns out to be the man you’ve waited for all your life and you lose him once he finds out what’s going on. And you can wipe that look from your face. The world may see you as a veritable pillar of strength, but I know better. At heart you’re still that little girl who thinks her prince charming is going to sweep her off her feet.”

“I already met my Prince Charming and he turned out to be a toad, remember?” Barbara’s face filled with sympathy. Kate didn’t want anyone’s pity. She’d survived her heartbreak. “Right now the only fairy tale I’m interested in is how I’m going to look convincing as
Katrina, the bad girl
. That’s why I need your help. When the time is right, I’ll need you to help me look…er…sexy.”

Barbara’s expression darkened. “It would serve you right if you do fall in love with him.”

“Have you been listening to me at all? I’m only going to see him twice. That’s not enough time to fall in love. Besides getting involved with a patient is morally wrong, and I would never compromise my professional code of conduct.”

Barbara frowned. “Maybe Mom and Gail are right. Maybe you should start worrying less about other people’s love lives and start concentrating more on yours.”

“I’m single by choice and it has nothing to do with Simon. I have everything I need. My home, my practice, my writing.”

“What will you do if he recognizes you?”

“He won’t. I only had my picture on my first book jacket, and that was five years ago.” She glanced at her watch. It was getting late. “Barbara, please, just stop worrying. I know what I’m doing, how I’m going to do it, and when to stop. And I can guarantee you I won’t be seducing anyone tonight. I’m sorry, but I have to get ready. I’m meeting him at seven.”

Barbara rose, grabbing her purse. “Okay. Just don’t do anything stupid.”

* * * *

An hour later Kate parked her car a couple of blocks from the restaurant and exhaled a nervous breath as she slammed her door. With a shaky hand she touched the loose bun at the back of her head and adjusted her glasses perched on her nose. God, she welcomed the short walk. Fresh air was just what she needed. She flicked a glance at her appearance in a store window and eyed her newly purchased floral print summer dress with satisfaction. It was pretty, the kind a school teacher would wear.

She drew in a sharp breath as a few drops of rain spattered her arms. It had been raining on and off the past couple of hours. The streets were wet, the city gutters brimming with a steady stream of water. She shielded her glasses with her hand as she ran to the curb to cross the street, praying it wouldn’t pour till she was inside.

Just as she was about to dash across the street, a sleek, black Jaguar glided in front of her and parked, splashing her dress in the process. Mortified, Kate glanced down at the damage. How was she going to meet Adam Tyler looking like this?

She was ready to voice her indignation the moment the driver slammed his door, but the instant he turned to face her, she felt her breath catch in her throat as she stared up at the most piercing stare she had ever encountered. He stood very tall and eyed her with irritation.

“There are easier ways of trying to kill yourself, ma’am,” he said, his voice deep.

Kate stiffened, then frowned. “Look what you did to my dress.”

“Your dress?” He barely flicked a glance to the damage he’d caused. Instead, he kept his gaze fastened on hers, his jaw tight. “I almost ran you down and you’re worried about your dress?”

“You’re the one who wasn’t watching where you were driving. In fact, you were driving like a madman.” She caught an odd look on his face, a look she couldn’t define, but it disappeared too quickly for her to analyze it.

“And what about the jaywalking law you broke? Are you immune to such laws or were you really trying to kill yourself?” He slipped his hand beneath his navy blazer and pulled out a wallet.