Sweet Seduction (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Series) (4 page)

And that was why he’d pulled back, concealing the fact
that he was thrilled to see her, hiding behind a cold exterior.

But now, in protecting himself he’d hurt a woman who
was innocent of any wrong.  Frustrated, he walked out of the house, slamming
the back door behind him, and headed across the bridge toward his writing
studio.  As he walked he mumbled under his breath.

What an irony that he’d left Long Island and moved all
the way upstate to this little town to escape the world and the women who now
saw him as an available bachelor, only to find that he’d fallen into a trap of
his own making.

He’d almost reached the end of the bridge when he
slowed and stopped.  Resting his elbows on the wooden beams he looked over into
the bubbling stream.  And he thought about Jessica.  Spontaneous and saucy
Jessica.  For seven years she’d been the other piece that made his life whole. 
She’d been his muse, encouraging him to write even during those times when he
doubted himself.  She’d been there when he made his first sale, when it hit the
New York Times Bestseller List, when he made his first million.  And when,
after six more bestsellers he’d been declared one of the world's few
billionaire authors, she’d been the one who kept him grounded, making sure the
money and fame did not derail his passion or his drive to churn out more books.

After that turning point they’d had eleven wonderful
months together.  And then disaster struck.  And it had been all his fault.

Jake shook his head and straightened.  He did not want
to think about it.  He couldn’t take the hurt.  Not right now.

He turned and finished crossing the bridge.  As he
walked toward his gallery a plan formed in his mind.  There was one thing he
knew would be guaranteed to preserve his heart and his life.  He’d be doing
Samantha a favor by drawing for this wild card.  It would hurt but it was the
only way to preserve his sanity.

CHAPTER THREE

Although Samantha was still smarting from Jake’s cold
dismissal she decided not to back out of her commitment to help him redecorate
his home.  She was a professional and she could not afford to let emotions get
in the way of her work.  Today, though, she was not so stupid as to dress in
her feminine gear.  For the benefit of Jake – or more accurately for her own
benefit – she went back to her regular work clothes.  She was make-up free and
wore no jewelry except for knob earrings and a simple gold chain.  And she’d
added one last touch.  Instead of tying her hair back she’d stuffed all of it
under a puffy newsboy cap.  Not a touch of femininity to her today.  She was
ready.

Based on what she’d seen on her last visit she’d
prepared a list of recommendations for each room along with an estimate.  Some
of the furniture was worth keeping but most of it would have to go…with Jake’s
approval, of course.  He’d also have to approve a budget for the project.  She
just hoped he could manage all the changes she was recommending, not just to
the furniture but also to the window treatments and even the wallpaper in some
of the rooms.  The project was not going to be cheap.  She was wiling to work
with him, though, maybe just doing a couple of rooms now and the rest of the
house in a few months.  She was always sensitive to the pockets of her clients
and he didn’t look like one of those who could afford a major overhaul.

Sam called ahead and let Jake know she was on her way
over with the estimates.

“That’s fine,” he said.  “I look forward to hearing
your ideas.”

He’d said the right words but his tone had not been
eager at all.  In fact, he’d sounded distant, almost as if he didn’t care
whether he got his house fixed up or not.  That did not make sense, though.  He
was the one who had called her up and requested her services.  Well, she
wouldn’t worry about it.  She dealt with all kinds of customers – the pleasant
ones and the moody ones like Jake – and none of them had ever deterred her from
doing her job.  Jake, though, was an enigma…

Well, here goes
.  Sam hopped into the
truck and headed off to the Sullivan's place.  Correction - Jake McKoy’s
place.  By the time she was done with it no one would even remember that the
old Sullivan couple had lived there.  She would recreate that house and make it
a home Jake would be proud of.

Just like last time Sam pulled into Jake’s driveway
and headed up to the porch but this time there was no skip to her steps.  All
business, she walked up to the door and rang the bell.

Within seconds Jake was at the door, his
chocolate-brown hair slightly damp as if he’d just come out of the shower.  He
was dressed casually in light blue shirt and jeans and, to Sam’s chagrin, he
looked just as delicious as the first day she’d laid eyes on him.  And that was
bad.

What she’d hoped was that by now she’d have gotten
over her attraction for him.  No such luck.  Even though he’d slammed her last
time, even though she’d vowed to be as cold as steel, her traitorous heart took
one look at him and began a happy dance.  Crap.

“Come in,” he said and, just like last time, he led
her down the hallway and to his office.

Sam stepped in behind him and was immediately struck
by how different the room looked.  The stacks of books were gone from the
chairs and from his desk, which now sat big and shiny and bare.  Except for a
framed photograph that sat to the right of the telephone.

Although she couldn’t immediately see the picture in
the frame, for some reason Sam’s heart tightened.  Slowly, she approached the
chair and as she sank into it she got a full view of the cause of her sudden
distress.  She found herself staring at the photograph of a startlingly
beautiful blonde woman smiling lovingly into the camera.

Sam felt like she’d been slapped across the forehead
with a two-by-four.  His wife.  Holy heavens, the man was married.

Reeling with disappointment she sank back into the
chair, clutching the folder she’d brought with her, glad for something to hold
on to.  She swallowed as she struggled to regain her composure then, drawing in
a deep breath, she forced a bright smile.  “Your wife,” she said in a falsely
cheerful voice as she tore her eyes from the photograph and looked at Jake.

Say no.  Please say no
.  She held her breath as
she watched unreadable emotions flash across his face. 
Oh God, make him say
it’s his
sister
.

Jake lifted his head and looked at her and in his eyes
was a world of sadness.  “Yes,” he said, his voice low and lifeless.  “My
wife.”

“She’s beautiful,” Sam said, the words almost choking
her.

“Yes.”  His voice was low and tense.  “She was.”

Sam sucked in her breath and her eyes widened as she
stared at Jake, noticing the tension in his face, the tightness in his jaw. 
“Was?”

He drew in his breath then let it out slowly.  “Yes. 
She passed away three years ago.”

“I’m…so sorry,” Sam whispered, feeling totally inadequate. 
And guilty.  There she’d been lusting after the man when all this time he’d
been grieving for his wife.  Obviously, he was still very much in love with
her.

“I don’t want to hold up your time,” he said, breaking
into her thoughts.  “Let’s have a look at what you’ve brought.”  His tone had
turned brusque, his face firm.

Taking his cue, Sam straightened her back and placed
her folder on the desk in front of him.  “We’ll go through this room by room,”
she said, her tone brisk, “and if you have any concerns just stop me and we’ll
discuss it.”

Sam was surprised when Jake did not raise a single
question or objection to her decoration plans.  There were some changes that
would cost more than a pretty penny and she’d been prepared to make adjustments
if he balked.  But no, he never said a word in protest.  He didn’t even raise
an eyebrow.  She left his house that day ready to shop and transform his house
into a haven.

Sam began ordering the furniture, fixtures and
materials right away and arranged for them to be delivered to the house. 
Still, with other projects on the table it was almost two weeks before she was able
to return to Jake’s place.

And when she got there she was all business.  She
still remembered that trick Jake had pulled the last time she’d visited,
placing the photo of his late wife just where she’d be sure to see it.  He was
warning her off, telling her to keep her distance.  Why else would he have done
something like that?  Somehow, he must have sensed her attraction to him and
resented it.  Could she have been that obvious?  Well, this is where it would
end.  Jake McKoy would have nothing to fear.

When he let her in she went straight to the living
room, her starting point.  The furniture had arrived and already the
transformation had begun.  She’d brought her stepladder because today she’d be
hanging the drapes and the paintings.

“Let me help you.”  Jake walked over to where she’d
placed the stepladder by the window and straightened it.

“No, thank you.”  She waved a hand at him, almost shooing
him away.  She was on the job and needed no distractions.  And if he stayed in
the room with her that was what he would be – a major source of distraction.

He looked surprised at her dismissal but then he
nodded and turned and quietly left the room.

For a moment Sam just stood there, staring at the empty
doorway through which he had departed.  She’d been happy to see him again. 
When he’d opened the door to her, her heart had given a little skip of joy. 
But she’d immediately quashed it.  And even now when he’d offered to help she’d
wanted his company, but she’d had to stay strong.  He had no interest in her. That
much was clear.  And so she would do the sensible thing and keep her distance.

Her mind made up, she gave a quick nod, turned and
climbed up the ladder.  Her first order of business was to get the old drapes
down – dust and all.  Good thing she’d brought a disposable dust mask.  It was
going to be a long and grimy day.

The hours flew by quickly and Sam was so absorbed in
her task that she was startled when she heard a knock on the door and Jake came
in, bearing a tray with a pitcher of cold lemonade and two glasses.

“How’s it going?”  he asked as he walked over and laid
the tray down on the nearby coffee table.  “Looking good.”

She’d been just about to climb back up the ladder and
had her foot on the second rung when his words stopped her.  Was he talking
about the room or her?  She whipped her head around to look at him with
narrowed eyes and, foolish girl that she was, she kept on climbing up the
ladder even though she wasn’t paying attention.

And she missed her step.

Suddenly, Sam was tumbling backward, arms flailing as
she fought desperately to grab on to something, anything to save herself from
falling.

She was in the middle of a yell when strong arms
encircled her and she was slammed against a rock-hard chest.  A shock like
lightning ripped through her, the shock of intense physical attraction, and she
gasped.

And then he was pulling her up toward him, his head
descending, his mouth claiming hers in a kiss so urgent, so commanding, that
she moaned as she clung to him.  And then as he held her close the kiss
softened then deepened until she moaned again, but this time it was from the
sheer thrill of finally being in his arms, finally tasting those lips that had
tempted her from the start.

She was kissing back, not hiding her desire, when
suddenly he froze.  To Sam’s dismay Jake pulled back and straightened, taking
her with him, then gently but firmly set her to stand on her feet.

He looked at her with tortured eyes and mumbled an
apology.  Then he turned and walked out of the room.

******

Jake strode across the bridge toward his writing
studio.  He had to get away, clear his head.  He’d had Sam in his arms, the
very thing he’d been yearning for since he’d first laid eyes on her, and then
he’d dropped her like a piece of hot coal.  What the heck must she be thinking
right now?

And what in the blazes was he doing, sending mixed
messages like some kind of insecure teenager instead of a grown man?  Pathetic.

He’d thought he could resist her.  He’d even gone so
far as to pull out Jessica’s photo.  But even with that secret weapon he’d
fallen victim to Sam’s sweet seduction.

There was just something about her that drew him out
of his shell.  She was so beautiful, not in a bombshell kind of a way as
Jessica had been, but in a soft, sincere and charming sort of way.  It was hard
to explain, but Sam had stirred something inside him that had been dormant for
a long time.

When Jessica died his flame died with her.  He could
no longer think and feel, he only existed.  His heart was locked away in a tin
box that had rusted over.  It had lost all feeling and emotion and he’d thought
nothing could loosen those rusted hinges.

And then came Samantha, fresh-faced and delicate, even
in her heaviest work clothes.  And that was when the brick wall he’d built
began to crumble.  He gave a grunt of frustration then stepped inside the
studio and slammed the door shut behind him.