He's the One, Jane Beckenham [best new books to read TXT] 📗

chose you. You don't believe in ever lasting love or roses and the white picket fence deal."

"For others, maybe, but not me,” he agreed. “But you, Taylor, are a wedding planner; you've got to be a romantic at heart."

"I'm a businesswoman. Marriage is a good business."

"And yet, you haven't married."

Taylor shrugged, but she couldn't hide the shadow of sadness that washed across her eyes before the fall of her heavy lashes blotted it out.

"So now we get back to my commitment, or lack of it,” Cade said, drawing her from her memories.

Taylor fixed her steadfast blue eyes on him. She meant business. “Mr. Harper, I don't want commitment, either. So, we're a good match. And I have a deal for you."

Cade's eyebrows quirked upwards. “This gets more interesting by the minute. But maybe you should try Cade. It's less formal, since we'll be getting to know each other ... intimately."

* * * *

Taylor choked back a cough.

She twisted her shaking hands behind her back and linked her fingers. Her chin lifted upwards a fraction. “I understand you're looking at expanding the chain and starting up more of a boutique line of cocktail bars."

"I'm surprised you found that out. It hasn't been advertised."

"I told you, I'm a..."

"Businesswoman. Yeah. I know. Very impressive. So, what's the deal?"

"You want to expand, to expose yourself."

A burst of laughter rumbled from Cade's chest. “Sounds provocative."

"I ... didn't mean the way it sounded,” she stammered.

"I know, just teasing. Sorry, you were offering me a sweetener to this proposal of yours.” He folded his arms across his chest, which did nothing for Taylor's equilibrium as she eyed the play of his T-shirt over taut muscles.

Taylor breathed. Deeply. And again, and again, trying to remain calm. “I know promotions,” she said formally. “I'll promote your new venture, for ... ah..."

"Services rendered,” he offered.

Her lips pursed. “Something like that."

Cade pushed himself from his desk and stood in front of her. His gaze dropped to her face. He cupped her chin, thumb circling her cheek. His touch felt so soft and so gentle, she almost purred.

"I'm definitely interested. But let's get this straight. You use your promotional skills in return for my lovemaking skills?"

Taylor's breath whooshed out in a sharp exhalation. Oh, Lord. It sounded brazen and so not her. Again, she wondered what on earth was she doing?

Getting in too deep without a lifejacket, that's what.

But Cade had agreed and now she had to close the deal. “There's just one thing,” she said, aware as her body tilted forward, anticipation zinging through her veins.

"Another request?” Cade's eyes narrowed, suspicion and an almost jaundiced expectation flickering across his face. He shrugged. “Okay, shoot."

"Well...” Taylor prevaricated, unable to focus on anything but his mouth. Fear pitted in her belly, but mostly she was excited—like a child in a candy shop. She took a deep steadying breath and spoke.

"I need you to kiss me."

Chapter Two

"Easy request.” Cade's mouth quirked to one side, and Taylor found herself focusing on his dimples—again. “It'd be my pleasure."

Pleasure. Lordy. The word rolled off the tip of his tongue as if simply saying it invoked what he wanted to do to her. The thought sent a shivery heat skimming across her skin.

"Any particular type of kiss?"

Oh, hell.

"A peck on the cheek, or the full Monty?"

Double hell.

Cade's eyes narrowed, and the heat in her cheeks reached volcanic proportions. Her body hummed with expectation, senses firing on all cylinders. Barely inches from him, she searched his face. No mirth. Instead, scalding hot lust shone in Cade's eyes, promising everything.

Then his lips were on hers, and Taylor couldn't tell if she'd acted first or if he had. Just that he tasted warm and soft. And delicious.

He laced one hand through her hair and gently tugged at the pins holding it in place, tossing them aside. The soft ping as they hit the floor was inaudible compared to the roar of her heartbeat. As her hair cascaded around them in a silken veil, Cade cupped her face, the flat pad of one thumb teasing the curve of her jaw.

He moaned his pleasure. “This feels good."

Taylor's stomach clenched, nerve endings jump-starting. Her eyes closed, and she shifted closer to him, coming to rest against the apex of his long legs. She wanted more, needed to touch him and linked her hands around his neck, feeling the sinewy flex of his muscles. Her fingertips brushed against his hair—a thousand electric volts washing over every sensitive cell of her skin.

"You feel so good,” he murmured against her mouth. But Cade's husky drawl slipped between them and sliced her fantasy in two. She stilled. Her fingers arrested their exploratory dance and pushed him away. “We can't. Not here."

"We just did.” He paused. “Kiss, that is."

Taylor lifted her gaze and looked at him. How could he remain so calm and collected while she struggled for a semblance of propriety? She tugged at her clothes, but her hands shook and nothing seemed to work. She wished she were anywhere but here.

"There are people just through that door,” she said, looking over her shoulder. “Anyone could walk in."

"We could lock the door."

Taylor's blood sizzled. “You've caught me off-guard."

Cade stared down into her eyes, searching, as if he wanted to see every part of her. “What did you expect? You come waltzing into my bar with some concocted scheme and then ask for a kiss. Was it some sort of test?"

Taylor's mind raced with so many thoughts she couldn't make sense of anything. All she could focus on was the taste of Cade on her lips. She wanted to wipe it off—but it tasted far too good.

Cade drew a ragged breath, and his narrowed glare pinned her to the spot. “Damn it. You wanted to test the goods first,” he accused. He paced the small room, then abruptly turned and rested his large frame against the desk. He folded his arms across his chest. Big and powerful.

Sexy as sin, and sin suddenly seemed enticing.

"Well?"

"There has to be