Taming His Tutor (Entangled Brazen) (3 page)

“Joe Fuller?” She held out her hand.

“Yes.” He shook it. “You work for
Gloss
?”

“Nadia Dixon, sex columnist.” She nodded.

Okay. He smiled his most charming smile. “The woman in the blue dress you were with earlier, she works here too?”

“Blue dress?” Nadia’s eyebrows lifted infinitesimally.

“Yeah, hair tied up.” He was itching to let it loose. “She was watching downstairs, about an hour ago.”

“You mean Abbi.” Nadia finally offered a smile. “Our IT queen.”

“Yeah, I think I do.”
Abbi
—he liked it. She’d only ever been Abigail back in school. “Is she still here?”

Nadia’s thickly mascaraed lashes lowered as she quickly looked down his form, then she suddenly turned. “Follow me.” She didn’t wait for him to answer.

He glanced about the office as he walked. Low-level partitions, computers everywhere, a couple of big screens on the wall—one playing the E! network, the other on a cooking show where they were doing something unspeakable to a chicken carcass.

Nadia paused in her tracks and nodded to the glossy head just visible above a partition in the corner. “You need me to introduce you?”

“Thanks, but I can take it from here.”

He walked on toward Abbi, taking in what he could before she noticed him. Focused on the computer screen, she typed quickly. Busy work for a Saturday. Her desk was laden with piles of paper and general junk. A couple of feet away he stopped and read the title on the piece of paper on top of the nearest pile.

Five Ways to Get a Guy’s Attention
.

Hmmm. He took another step closer, craning his head to read something from the next pile.
Aural S
ex—Talking Dirty to Amp Up Your Sex Life
.

A couple of rubber items sent his eyebrows skyward and made him give thanks for the denim again. What was with all the “catch your man” and sex tip stuff? ’Cause while those kinds of articles were always in a woman’s glossy, did the IT queen need to read them for work? Or was her research
personal
?

Suddenly she turned, a startled expression in her eyes. “Joe?”

He did like his name on her lips. He also liked the way her blue eyes widened as she looked at him.

“Hey, Abigail,” he replied, watching her closely to read her reaction to him. “What’s with all the man-eating info?”

The color in her cheeks deepened, but her chin lifted. “I’m building an app for the magazine.”

“An app?” Amusement washed through him. This really was all for work?

Somehow, given her pole-dancing banter from this morning, he didn’t quite think so. He sure as hell didn’t want to think it was only for her boss. He wanted her to be as hungry as he’d suspected earlier. Specifically, he wanted her to be hungry for
him
.

“A value-added extra, you know,” she said primly.

“On being a man-eater?”

“I wouldn’t say a man-eater but…”

“This is all just for your job?” He lifted his eyebrows.

Please don’t let it just be for work.

That telltale color deepened in her cheeks and she didn’t speak.

Thanks be.

The once-shy Abbi Hayes wanted more from her sex life.

He could be a temporary fix. Help her over whatever sexual slump she was in. Hell, it was kind of a civil duty, because no one as beautiful as Abigail should ever doubt herself. And he had a feeling some moron had made her feel that way.

Yep. She needed him.

He just had to get her to say yes.

He smiled at her, preparing to set the game in motion. “Your colleague said you’re the IT queen.”

…

Abbi nodded jerkily, stunned he was here—she’d caught sight of his reflection in her computer screen and thought she was dreaming. “I’m the IT systems manager for the magazine, yes.” She wished her legs had the strength to let her stand, because looking all the way up at Joe Fuller was making her neck ache. But they’d lost all power the second she saw him standing there. “The app is my pet project.”

“It’s really important to you?” His smile had that wicked edge that she didn’t quite trust, but that made her melt in private places. “Helping women understand how to attract a guy?”

And how to keep him happy
. Yes.

But she wasn’t about to tell Joe Fuller she’d been accused of being boring in bed. “There’s a market for it. I think it’ll have multiple benefits.”

“Multiple.” He echoed softly and nudged one of her towering research piles with his finger. “This is real duty for the cause.”

“I like to do a good job.” She glared at him defiantly, refusing to be bewitched into brainlessness again. “I like to be the best in everything I do.”

Well, that was the plan going forward. She hadn’t known she was bad at
it
until Scott had been so scathing the night they’d broken up. She’d tried to please him, had thought he was happy, but apparently not.

“Of course.” He nodded. “You always did. But do you really have to be so au fait with the app
content
?” he asked. “Aren’t you just supposed to create the digital framework and information delivery system?”

Her eyes widened at his ease with the techno-patter. But she shouldn’t be surprised he knew the lingo. He was a smart man. “Of course I’m interested in the content,” she said, drumming up a quick defense. “I want what’s best for our customers.” She offered a bright smile. “I want it to be accurate, exciting, and entertaining. We’re not just competing against other women’s magazines for customer attention, but all forms of female entertainment—TV, books, blogs, movies, music—”

“But how can you be sure it’s
accurate
?” he shot back with lethal precision.

For a split second her smile died. He doubted her knowledge? Of course he did. But Abbi squared her shoulders and lifted her chin another notch higher. She wasn’t going to crumble in front of him again in some hot mess of mortification. Couldn’t she answer back with some kind of wit? What would Sasha Fox say?

In a flash it came to her.

She felt the smile of smug success spread over her face even as she slowly cooed her “Foxy” reply. “I know firsthand.”

Innuendo? Not too much—it was all in the inflection, the smile… And for once in her life she’d nailed it.

His eyes narrowed on her. “You do?”

She didn’t like the grin quirking his lips—it looked a little too amused. “Sure.”

“Because that’s yours?” He glanced at the vibrator. “That’s your ‘firsthand’?”

Ugh
. Abbi turned on her seat and quickly covered the big pink superstar with yet another article. Too late, she noticed the headline read “Bondage: A Beginner’s Guide.”

She cleared her throat and spun her chair back to face him. “I have lots of products to test.”

“You always were big on research, backing up your facts, using lots of strategies to work things out,” he said softly. “People sometimes don’t realize how creative a math genius can be.”

Oh God, she was blushing even more. Creative? She so wasn’t creative. Scott had insisted she was duller than an inflatable doll as he walked out the door.

“So you’re confident in the advice you’re giving them?” Joe asked.

“Absolutely,” she lied, her last remnants of pride helping her.

“Absolutely,” he echoed. Then he flashed his so-sexy broad smile full-beam at her. “I’d love to see that in action.” He turned and rested his hip on the edge of her desk. “You know there’s a game tonight. Why don’t you come along?”

She frowned. Come along to what game? Then it dawned on her. “The
baseball
game?” Baseball freak she wasn’t, but even she knew the San Francisco Giants were playing for the pennant. There wasn’t a ticket left in town.

“That’s the one.” He grinned. “I’ve got tickets to a corporate box—you know, drinks, snacks, and a great view.” He winked.

She had the great view in front of her already, and given that wink, he knew it. She tried to process his words: ticket, drinks…more view? Did he mean he wanted her to go with him? Like on a date or something?

No way. Surely not. Hell no…

But how was a girl supposed to think when Joe Fuller was looking that hotly at her?

“It would be the perfect venue to test your data, don’t you think?” He studied her. “You’re going to need quite some moves to distract a man from his ball game.”

Abbi blinked at his words, the way his voice had lowered. And the penny finally dropped.

This was a
dare
. This was Joe “Always Gotta Win” Fuller daring her. And she was melting quicker than a snowflake in the sun.

“I can pick you up,” Joe invited in an easy tone. “Or you can meet me at the corporate entrance, an hour before the game.”

She might have managed five seconds of flirt, but a whole evening? And somehow prove her “man-eating” abilities to this ultimate playboy?

Never gonna happen.

“Unless you’re afraid,” he taunted.

How did his words have such an effect on her? She was searing like a steak on a grill and she couldn’t turn down the strength.

“Abbi.” Joe bent down so his eyes were level with hers and spoke slowly, each word branded onto her sizzling skin. “I want you to come.”

Chapter Four

“Body language, and most of all eye contact,
makes all the difference.”

He wanted. Her. To come.

And she? She wanted to obey. She wanted exactly that. Yeah, she
really
wanted. But all she could do was stare up at him—like she was some mindless puppet.

“I’ll meet you at the gate an hour before. Don’t be late.”

It was a full thirty seconds after he’d disappeared down the stairs before Abbi swiveled her chair 180 degrees and found Nadia peeking over her partition, her expression rapt.

“Vixen Abbi,” Nadia murmured in a temptress whisper. “He couldn’t take his eyes off you. He wants you. To come.”

At this rate, that wasn’t going to be a problem. She only had to think of his face to almost get off. Hell—could the fates finally be on her side? Give her a night to remember?

“I didn’t even answer him.” She was
that
useless.

“Words weren’t necessary.” Nadia fanned her cheeks with a wink.

Abbi giggled and then clapped her hand over her mouth as her fantasy bubble burst. Now she had a bigger problem to solve. “What do I wear to a baseball game?”

“I don’t think it matters,” Nadia said bluntly. “I think that’s a done deal.”

Oh no, it wasn’t. This was Joe Fuller; the guy would have expectations. And she had no idea. “Please, I’m serious. I need help. What to wear, what to do…”

“Don’t overthink it already.” Nadia reached over and mock-cuffed her ear. “That guy is hot for you.”

“I’ve never been to a baseball game before. Trust me, I have no idea what to wear, or do, or say…”

“Never been to a baseball game? Ever?”

Abbi shook her head.

Nadia laughed. “You are such a nerd.”

Yeah, more nerd than vixen. She needed to rebalance. If she was going after Joe Fuller—and she was—then it had to be vixen all the way. Not
boring
. This was her one chance and she wasn’t going to blow it. “You have to help me.”

Nadia thought about it. “You’re going to owe me.” She glanced down at Abbi’s desk and a calculating look entered her eyes. “I want user reviews on at least three of those personal lifestyle products by next Friday.”

Abbi would sell her soul to get the help she needed.

“Absolutely. I’ll do the lot.” She paused. “Except the clit clamp.”

…

Six hours later, Abbi nervously exited the taxi she’d taken to the park, Nadia’s condom collection burning a hole in the back pocket of the skinny black pants she had talked her into. Wet-look, butt-lifting, but with the bulk of her curves covered by a loose shirt that had the first couple of buttons undone, for that hint of what lay beneath, Nadia had reckoned the effect was casual but sexy. Most importantly, Abbi
felt
comfortable.

Or as comfortable as she was ever going to get in a mission this crazy. But she wasn’t crazy enough to run from it, as much as part of her wanted to. This was Joe Fuller. Her high school crush, all-out hottie.

And he was waiting for her.

So freaking fantastic, she had to roll with it.

She spotted him before she even opened the taxi door. It wasn’t just his height that made him stand out. It was his everything.

He stepped forward and took her hand as she straightened from the car, drawing her closer. Abbi’s lungs froze as she read his intent expression. Was he going to
kiss
her?

Heat unfurled as his lips lightly brushed her upper cheek. She inhaled in surprise and got a tantalizing whiff of citrus and soap. Too stunned, she didn’t think to turn her head, to meet his mouth with hers.

Damn. She wanted to.

“I’m so pleased you came,” he said.

Uh. If those lips had landed somewhere farther south, she really would have. That carnal ache that had been slowly building inside became indecent.

As he released her hand, he smiled—wiping Abbi’s mind cleaner than a brand-new whiteboard.

“I’ll admit you had me wondering…” he drawled.

Really? She bet he’d never been stood up in his life.

But just the mere fact that Joe Fuller wanted her here gave her a boost. He could have any woman he wanted. And right now it seemed he wanted her. Sure, he probably wasn’t going to want her for long…but she was going to play the advantage and learn something while he did.

“Come on, let’s go inside and grab a bite before the game.” He winked.

What was he planning to bite?

“You look gorgeous.” His gaze roved over her body, lingering at the open vee of her shirt.

“Thanks.” Abbi finally managed a reply. Man, she needed something stronger than a makeover and a pep talk from Nadia to get her act together. She should have preloaded with a stiff drink instead. She folded her arms across her tummy as she walked upstairs alongside him, desperately trying to get a grip on her lust. But oh yeah, she wanted him to bite her.

At the top of the stairs he turned to face her, suddenly a whole lot closer than she expected him to be. “Tell me more about your man-eating app.”

“I already told you it’s not about
man-eating
.” She looked up at him, acutely aware of how exposed her neck and cleavage were given how far she had to tilt her chin to see into his eyes.

“No?” He chuckled. Slowly he looked down, then back up her body. “Are you going to show me your moves?” he asked quietly. “Can you distract a man from a ball game?”

His words, his expression slammed into her bones. Heat. Humor. Challenge.

Electricity crackled between them. A jolt of power surged into her veins as she realized she had his full attention. And she could tease a little, right? She could channel Sasha Fox again. “You tell me.”

A smile slowly creased his face. “I’m not going to make it that easy for you.” He turned and walked, pausing at the open doorway through which Abbi could hear the sounds of people talking, laughing.

His provocation struck deep in her belly. She couldn’t help following him. Game on.

“What do you expect me to do?” she asked.

He looked thoughtful. “Remind me of the aim of the app.”

“Tips on how to get a guy’s attention and keep it.” She swallowed.

“And you’ve been ensuring those tips are accurate.” His emerald eyes speared. “How’s the info working out for
you
?”

Abbi narrowed her eyes. Doubtless he thought she was desperate. Even if she was, she didn’t want him thinking it. She might be a flirt failure, but she wasn’t going to be teased by him. “It’s working wonders to expand my social life.”

“Really.” His brows lifted. “So, let’s see some app in action. Show me how all that valuable info works.”

He stood in front of her, feet planted apart, expectant.

She drew in a deep, brain-clearing breath. “First of all, I need to find a suitable target.”

His eyes widened, startled. She suppressed a smile as another trickle of confidence surged through her. Did he really think she’d try to prove her skills on him? She wasn’t
that
crazy. Not when he’d made his skepticism so clear. She turned, checking out the three-quarters-full room—mostly men. Men in supporters’ gear or polo shirts. Not as many of the plain tees like Joe’s, which she most definitely preferred.

“See anything that takes your fancy?”

She heard the unbelieving amusement in his voice. Arrogant man.

“There are a number of options,” she lied.

“Really? Where?”

She gestured vaguely to the nearest group—three guys talking together, laughing. Definitely talking baseball.

She didn’t have a hope.

“Which one?”

“Maybe the blond?”

“Hmm.” Joe sounded like he thought it was an iffy idea. “So what’s your strategy? Are you going to ask him for a bite of his hot dog?”

What was he implying there? She saw the amusement, but there was heat in his eyes as well. She liked that combination a lot.

Joe “So Freaking Sexy and He Knows It” Fuller wasn’t just arrogant, but he had unreal good looks and a huge sense of fun. And didn’t that just make him all the more attractive.

“Okay.” She turned to try again, determined not to let him see just how easy she’d be for him.

So. Mission accepted. Every article had stressed the importance of eye contact. Plus, this afternoon Nadia had explained her “no-talking, no-fail” formula for getting a person’s attention…

Hold eye contact for four seconds. Count ’em and don’t rush. Then
glance away. Glance back quick. And smile.

Abbi glanced at Joe. He was smiling. She glanced back at the room. Failure in front of Joe Fuller was
not
an option. Not when the few women in there were already scoping him out. Hell, half the men were too. Recognizing, respecting. They all sucked in their stomachs as they saw him, as if they were all suddenly preening to attract. Slightly irritated, Abbi flicked her hair back off her shoulder and walked deeper into the room.

Target, target…someone friendly, safe, approachable…

A few guys looked her way, but maintaining eye contact? She was so screwed. That’s when she noticed that Joe had moved farther into the room, well ahead of her—and now he’d turned around so he could see her face?

Hell
.

She wasn’t going to pay any attention to him. Wasn’t going to fail. She was going to find—

That guy. To the left. Not that much taller than her. She was so determined not to look at Joe, she stared at the guy instead.

One, two, three, four…

She glanced down and smiled to herself. She’d done it. Actually maintained eye contact for the magical four seconds! She glanced back up and caught the guy’s eyes. He smiled. And her smile deepened.

He stepped forward. “You looking forward to the game?”

“Yeah.” She nodded. “Thanks.”

She wasn’t going to clock Joe’s reaction.
Not
going to look over at him. She was maintaining eye contact with the new guy, who wasn’t too tall and intimidating. And she was relaxing and smiling because she’d won.

“You’re a regular supporter?” he asked.

“Uh, no.” She laughed a little self-consciously. “Actually, it’s my first time.” Ugh. Brainless, unintended innuendo.

“No way.” His smile broadened and he stepped closer still. “Then we’d better make sure you have a really good time. My name’s Pete.” He held out his hand.

“Abbi.” She took it.

“Great to meet you, Abbi.” He held on a little too long, a touch too tight, too. That was a good thing, right? Except she didn’t like the feel of it.

“You too.” She nodded and pulled her hand back. “So you’re a regular?”

“Absolutely,” he laughed.

Jeez, she was actually getting somewhere. Nadia’s no-failure tip had been right. Except—now what?

“You here with friends?” he asked.

“Yeah, at the bar.” She stumbled over an explanation. Should have thought of that first.

“Leaving you free to talk to me.”

“It would seem so.” She racked her brain for something to say. “You’re a big Giants fan?”

Duh, given the club shirt and cap and the fact that he’d already told her he was a regular supporter, that’d be a yes.

“Sure am.” He moved. “You’re gonna be cheering for my team tonight, right?”

Uh. Though the room was filling up, Pete was now standing just a little too close. She could smell his aftershave. It was good of him to think of personal hygiene, but it was a little strong. It wasn’t as nice as the freshly showered, soapy smell of—

“Abbi?” Joe slung his arm along her shoulders. “You need a drink?”

Startled, she jumped. His hand tightened, pulling her closer.

“I’m Joe.” He nodded at Pete. “Lost track of my special guest there for a minute.”

Could he be any less subtle? And could she be any more stupidly relieved? But she sent Pete an apologetic smile.

“Yeah, well, you wouldn’t want her to get lost given it’s her first time,” Pete answered, his expression souring.

“No, I wouldn’t,” Joe replied, his smile more a baring of teeth.

“I better go find my guys.” Pete stepped back.

“Enjoy the game,” Joe called after the guy as he disappeared into the crowd.

“What was that?” Indignant, mostly with herself, Abbi turned toward Joe, trying to ignore the fact that the movement brought her too close to him. There was that fresh soap scent and as for the wall of heat? The
solid
wall?

“What?”

Oh, now he looked all innocent?

Abbi shook her head. “You just cock-blocked me.”

“I—
what
?” He laughed—but it was a surprisingly humorless sound.

“You did. You scared him off.” She lifted her hand and gave his chest an ineffectual shove. “I was getting somewhere.”

Joe’s innocent facade suddenly sharpened, his smile falling to reveal a set look about his mouth. “Only because you didn’t stop staring at the guy.”

“He didn’t seem to mind.” She lifted her chin and tried to take a step back but found she couldn’t. When had Joe’s arm tightened to prison strength?

“Of course he didn’t,” Joe half snorted. Keeping her close, he turned and walked them out of the room into the quieter corridor.

“I really was doing okay.” Not that she wanted to do any better, mind. But that wasn’t the point.

Joe shook his head. “No trying to run before you can walk.”

“Pardon?” She bridled, but was glad to get out of the crowded, wicked-hot room.

Joe walked her farther along and then into a doorway on the opposite side of the corridor. Abbi frowned as she took in the small room.

“You were making it too easy for him.”

“Too easy?” Her jaw dropped and she whirled back to face Joe, who was now leaning against the door he’d just shut. A burst of anger sizzled in her veins. “Maybe I wanted easy.”

Fire flashed in his green eyes.

“Maybe all I wanted was to touch first base,” she said rashly. “You can’t hit a home run without rounding first base.”

“No?” He reached out in a swift movement, his hands descending on her waist and he tugged her toward him. “Let’s talk first base, shall we?” His eyes locked on her lips. “I don’t see first base as exciting.”