Heat (28 page)

Istvahn waited a few moments and then followed.

“See, see!” Mallory whispered.

“Stay out of it,” Max said and guided her in the opposite direction.

“She looked smoking hot!”

“I don’t ogle other women when I’m with you.”

“Good answer.” Mallory glanced at her phone. “I’ve got a few messages. Want to grab dinner somewhere?”

“I don’t feel like going out. Let’s eat up in my room while I pack.”

“I’ll meet you up there. But don’t start packing yet. I’m going to win this bet.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it.” He kissed her. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” Mallory said, suddenly breathless again.

“See you.”

Mallory caught sight of Colleen in one of the boardrooms. She tapped on the door to get her attention. Colleen looked up from her computer.

“Oh, sorry,” Mallory said. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Colleen looked at her watch. “That’s all right. I have an appointment in half an hour.”

“Why aren’t you working in your office?”

She closed her laptop with a frown. “I’m avoiding someone. What have you been up to?”

“Uh …”

“Never mind,” Colleen smirked. “Where is Wonder Boy?”

“He went upstairs. I wanted to check my messages.”

“Don’t let me stop you.” The first call was from their mother.

“Oh jeez, listen to this,” Mallory said and put it on speaker.

“Mallory, you haven’t called me in weeks. What is going on? Your father and I are worried about you. We think you should go into hiding. Like the Witness Protection Program. You could come back to Nevada and get lost in the crowds of people. I’m sure the casinos are hiring.”

“I always thought you’d make a good blackjack dealer,” Colleen deadpanned.

“I can’t count that fast,” Mallory said and put the phone to her ear to listen to her next message. It was work, begging her to come back early tomorrow.
Delete
. The next message was from David. She listened to it and her throat caught. Glancing at Colleen, she started the message over and put it on speakerphone.

“Hey, Mallory. This is goodbye. I feel numb. I feel ashamed. And I am in so much pain all I want to do is snort a line and fade away on the bliss. But I’m going into rehab instead, in another state. I won’t be back. Ever. I know you’ve moved on. I’m not happy for you. You were a part of my life that I don’t even remember anymore. I don’t think I was ever happy with you.”

“Asshole,” Colleen bit off.

“So, have a nice life. Maybe in a few years we can get together for a few beers. We could meet up in Vegas or something.”

“What’s with Vegas tonight?” Colleen said.

“I am sorry I hit you. That’s not me. I hope you can forgive me. ’Bye.”

“It’s always about him,” Colleen said, standing up and moving over to her. “Are you okay?”

Mallory nodded. “I am. I really am.” There was the sound of a door closing in her head.

“That’s a nice rock on your finger.” Colleen twisted Mallory’s hand to get a better look at it. “Is that what I think it is?”

“Yeah. It’s going to be a long engagement, though.”

“Let’s celebrate,” Colleen said, hugging her sister. “A nice big dinner.”

“No more champagne. I need to eat something first.”

“Lobsters and steak sound good?”

“Throw in a twice-baked potato and asparagus and I’m all yours.”

“You’re not my type, but I think I can scrounge that up. Let me make reservations. How does eight o’clock sound?” Colleen typed instructions into her phone.

“Let’s invite Istvahn and Nefertiti, too.”

“She’s out today.”

“She just got back. She’s in the office.”

“That was quick,” Colleen said. “I told her to take the day off. Maybe she’s going out to dinner with the sergeant.”

“I don’t think so. Let’s go ask her in person,” Mallory said, batting Colleen’s phone.

“Fine. I should dock my laptop to recharge it anyway.” Colleen gathered up her things and they walked back to her office. “So when’s the wedding?”

“He just proposed a half hour ago.”

“If you have it here, I’ll give you a good deal if you let me use pictures to promote the wedding package I’m thinking of putting together.”

“Are you serious?”

“I’m even thinking of getting ordained so I can perform the ceremonies myself.”

“I’m trying to picture it and I’m getting a naughty nun outfit caught in my head. I need brain bleach.”

“Don’t blame me for your perverted thoughts.” Colleen pushed open the door of her office. Nefertiti and Istvahn were leaning up against Nefertiti’s desk, kissing as if breathing weren’t an option. Her arms were wrapped around his broad chest under his jacket. Istvahn’s hands were tangled in her hair. He opened one eye when they walked in.

“Son of a bitch,” Colleen said.

“She looks great up there,” Mallory said, holding Max’s hand. They were hidden in the crowd, watching the ribbon-cutting ceremony on the Spencer Dubois Women’s Center. It was named after Max’s mom and David and Chrissie’s.

“Her feet must be killing her in those stilettos. You could puncture someone’s lung with one of those heels,” he said.

“I don’t think that’s what they meant by killer shoes.”

Max grinned. “I don’t know—the daggers she’s glaring at Chase Fairwood would be lethal if he noticed.”

The football player was also up on the dais, waving to the crowd and occasionally squatting down to sign a ball or an autograph.

“It’s not like she could have refused his donation,” Mallory said. “It was almost enough to staff us for a year.”

“At least she doesn’t have to worry that he’s after her money.”

“I wonder what he
is
after.”

“What do you think?” Max hugged her into his side.

“I think he’d better not break her heart or I’m going to bust his nose this time.”

“Hey now, don’t be messing with my would-be sponsor.”

“I can’t believe you’re going to ask him to model your fitness gear. Does he look like a model to you?”

Max shrugged. “All those women—including your sister—can’t be wrong. Besides, no one is remotely interested in taking a chance on a no-name designer. And I really thought I had a chance in the tourist spots.”

“Don’t let it get you down. You’ll get your shot. Just don’t put all your hopes in him. I know from experience how dangerous that is.”

“He’s not going to break my heart. And I’ve got to try.”

“Speaking of broken hearts …” Mallory nodded toward Nefertiti, who stood on the dais next to Colleen in a crisp white suit and her own pair of killer heels. Istvahn was on the ground in front of the stage with two of his men and his back firmly to the women. Wide sunglasses covered both their faces, but Mallory got the impression that Nefertiti was glaring a hole in the back of Istvahn’s head. “I know he’s doing his job, but he’s been keeping her at arm’s length.”

“I think he could have recovered from being caught smooching his co-worker, but the fact that you and Colleen bet on the outcome mortified him,” Max said.

“Think he’ll get over it?”

“I think anyone who works at Couture can handle anything. Thanks for getting my job back.”

“Don’t thank me, thank Hot Lips up there,” she said.

Mallory hollered and clapped with the rest of the crowd when her sister and Chase took the handle of the large scissors and cut the ribbon. Was she imagining it or was there a spark between them? They did look good together.

“Uh-oh, I know that look in your eyes,” Max said.

“What look?” Mallory said.

“The look that made Istvahn and Nefertiti the subject of a bet.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The mayor shook Colleen’s and Chase’s hands and took a picture for the paper. Then the press was allowed inside to take pictures. The center wouldn’t officially open until tomorrow, but she could see from the turnout that there was a lot of interest in the surrounding buildings as well.

“The neighborhood cleaned up nicely,” Max said.

“I’d say it was more the caliber of security guards Colleen hired to protect her investments. No one wants to mess with these guys. I hear they’re ex-military,” Mallory said. “But I don’t know if that’s bullshit or not.”

“With Colleen, anything is possible.”

“I’m beginning to think everything is possible.”

“What do you say we go back to Couture to celebrate?”

“I’m all for that,” she said. “Let’s hit Inferno and show them how it’s done.”

“That’s my girl. I love you so much, Mallory Bryant,” he said.

“You’d better, because I’m the one holding the flail tonight.” Mallory threw her arms around him and kissed him until the crowd started applauding them.

I’d like to thank my fabulous agent, Louise Fury, and her team of experts that saw this book from creation to final product. A big shout out to all my friends at CTRWA, the best RWA chapter in the world. And also, many thanks to my editor, Sue Grimshaw, whose suggestions made the book stronger.

Club Inferno

Heat

and coming soon

Longing

Joey Jones from Exposures
http://www.exposuremax.com/

Jamie K. Schmidt has more than thirty short stories in publication. Her romantic suspense novel
Undercover Lover
, published by Musa Publishing, is climbing up the Amazon charts.
The Queen’s Wings
, book one of the Emerging Queens series, a paranormal dragon romance, will be published by Entangled’s Edge line in 2014. Book one of her contemporary romance series,
Heat
, will be published by Random House’s Loveswept line June 2014.

An avid knitter and jewelry maker, Jamie is never bored. She can often be found with a mug of tea on the computer flanked by her chiweenie dog and fluffy white cat. You can follow her on Twitter at
@Jamiekswriter
or on her author page on Facebook. When she’s not writing or crafting, Jamie loves playing games—everything from board games to strategy card games, console and online MMORPGs.

Jamie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York at New Paltz in Secondary Education English. She’s also held various jobs as a call center manager, a Tupperware consultant, a paralegal, and finally a technical writer for a major corporation.

www.jkschmidt.com

Most people look forward to summer vacations: warm, sunny days filled with nothing but reading on the agenda. Every year, I can’t wait to lie on the beach, lounge by the pool, or relax at a picnic at the park—always with a good book in my hands. If you’re looking for some hot reads, Loveswept has some great ones this month. But I warn you—it’s going to be a fiery summer.

June brings two scorching reunion stories: Lea Griffith’s Loveswept debut,
Too Much
, an erotic romance where two lovers who have shared exquisite pain and unforgettable bliss find solace back in each other’s arms; and Serena Bell’s heartwarming
Hold On Tight
, about a young mother and a battle-scarred veteran who must decide if they can rekindle the sparks they once shared. Speaking of sparks, in Jamie Schmidt’s stylish and sexy book,
Heat
, a martial arts trainer introduces an ER doctor to a passion so intense she wants nothing more than to surrender to his touch. Then the temperature rises with the first book of Tina Leonard’s seductive new Hells Outlaws series,
Last of the Red-Hot Cowboys
, which brings passion hotter than the Texas sun. And if you’re looking for a classic romance, look no further than Iris Johansen’s steamy novel,
Wicked Jake Darcy
, where fate brings together a carefree beauty and a charismatic playboy—only to separate them all too soon.

Read on for an excerpt from