Susanna Carr – Outrageously Yours (страница 1)
He’s just the guy to ruin her reputation...
With a high-profile job opportunity on the line, Claire Miller must go from squeaky-clean wallflower to wild party girl in just one week. To do that, she needs the help of Jason Strong, her favorite client—and secret crush. He’s sexy, a notorious bachelor and just the guy to destroy this good girl’s rep.
Only Claire didn’t count on Jason’s spontaneous streak, or that his brand of improvising could turn their strictly professional relationship into something intensely personal—and incredibly hot. Now she has to trust him with her future, her body and her deepest secrets. And hope that by week’s end, she’ll have him out of her system without breaking her heart...
“You can’t go out like that after having pretend sex with me.”
“It looks like I haven’t touched you,” he continued. “You need to be more wrinkled.”
“And you should have lipstick on you.” Her lips tingled as she felt Jason’s intent gaze. “Should I put it on your mouth or on your collar?”
His eyes darkened. “Anywhere you think a man should be kissed.”
Claire’s breath caught in her throat. She wanted to kiss him all over. Drag her mouth down his chest and twirl her tongue against him.
“Maybe I should just kiss you.”
She saw his Adam’s apple bob. “Maybe you should,” he said huskily.
She brazenly claimed his lips just like she did in her fantasies. Jason greedily matched her fervor and bunched her dress in his fists. Claire’s gasp echoed in the small room when he grabbed her hips and lifted her. She clutched his shoulders as she wrapped her legs around his waist.
He claimed her mouth with his. There was no finesse, only raw hunger. And she wanted more...
I have always adored stories about makeovers and transformations. It probably started with my first fairy tale and continued on with glamorous Hollywood musicals. While I find a hero’s transformation entertaining, I prefer watching the heroine step out of the shadows, find the confidence to show her true self and grab the spotlight that was meant for her.
In Outrageously Yours, Claire has difficulty bringing attention to herself. Hiding in the crowd is the safest and most comfortable route. She knows that the harsh glare of the spotlight can expose her flaws and weaknesses. But she soon discovers that if she wants to live out her dreams and get the man who stars in her wildest fantasies, being outrageous is the only option to take.
Enjoy!
Susanna Carr
Outrageously Yours
Susanna Carr
SUSANNA CARR has been an avid romance reader since she read her first Mills & Boon book at the age of ten. Although romance novels were not allowed in her home, she always managed to sneak one in from the local library or from her twin sister’s secret stash.
After attending college and receiving a degree in English literature, Susanna pursued a romance-writing career. She has written sexy contemporary romances for several publishers and her work has been honored with awards for contemporary and sensual romance.
Susanna lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family. When she isn’t writing she enjoys reading romance and connecting with readers online. Visit her website at susannacarr.com.
To my editor, Adrienne Macintosh, for shaping the original idea of this story into something even better.
Contents
Dear Reader
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CLAIRE MILLER’S CHEST tightened with anticipation as she turned her car into the parking lot. “Stop it,” she muttered. “He’s your best friend’s brother. A client. Nothing more.”
Her body wasn’t listening. It never did when Jason Strong was involved. The town’s golden boy now operated his family’s wine bar and tasting room. He was also the star of her wildest fantasies—and her wicked thoughts had become more frequent since they’d started working together. It was getting embarrassing.
The one fantasy that kept replaying in her head was inconveniently set in his office. During more than one of their meetings, Claire’s mind had drifted and she had imagined sweeping her arm across his desk and tossing everything to the floor. She would then lay Jason on the desk and rip open his shirt before she licked a path down his rock-hard abs.
He, of course, would then not be able to keep his hands off her. It was her fantasy, after all. In her dream, the man was overwhelmed with desire and stripped her bare before she straddled his hips and rode him hard. Yet somehow the fantasy ended with her bent over the desk as he took her from behind, the piece of furniture creaking in protest from his powerful thrusts and Claire encouraging him with delighted moans.
That was one of her tamer fantasies, but it kept looping in her head every time she visited him at work. It was worse when they actually met in his office. Last week she had been in there with him for a brainstorming session and she’d gotten so caught up in the fantasy that she actually pushed a pile of folders off his desk.
Claire felt her face turn red at the memory. After that, she’d made a point of meeting away from his office.
Still, her pulse skipped when she saw the sign for Mountain Creek Wine Cellars.
She grabbed her messenger bag and hopped out of her car. Realizing that she was a little too eager to see Jason again, Claire stumbled to a stop and took a deep breath. The September air held the scent of turning leaves and chimney smoke. The familiar aroma of fall did nothing to calm her. If anything, it made her think of Jason sprawled on top of her next to a roaring fireplace.
Claire frowned when she noticed yet another winery shop had opened up across the street. She recognized the name and shook her head. No wonder Jason had asked her to drop by. Tasting rooms were a big business and she was Jason’s secret weapon.
As she strode to the entrance of Mountain Creek, she spotted a few of her neighbors sitting on the patio and enjoying the rare Pacific Northwest sunshine. She waved and they saluted her with their wineglasses. As she walked past them, she heard one of the women ask the others, “Who was that?”
Claire sighed as weariness settled in her chest but she didn’t turn around. She was used to that response. It was the disadvantage of always flying under the radar. Claire kept walking so she didn’t have to hear how the others would answer. From experience she already knew: they’d say she looked familiar but none of them would be able to place her.
Which should make her happy; she had cultivated her anonymity since high school. She’d grown up in the small and rural town of Woodinville but her former classmates would be hard-pressed to describe her as anything other than “nice” and “sweet.”
Claire was good at marketing her clients and one day she would work on marketing herself. But for now, it was better if she worked in the shadows and behind the scenes. It was safer. No one looked at her too closely or sensed the tension that resided in her every moment. She had hidden it well.
She stepped across the threshold of Mountain Creek Wine Cellars and was immediately aware of the casual and lively energy. The dark wood floors and red walls seemed almost too modern for the sleepy town. The wine bar was on the first floor and a large spiral staircase that wrapped around a huge wine rack led customers upstairs to the tasting rooms. There were windows everywhere, offering magnificent views of the mountain and evergreen forests. Instead of being stuffy and pretentious as some wine bars could be, she found Mountain Creek Wine Cellars warm and welcoming.
There were a few customers sitting at the dark wooden tables, enjoying the start of happy hour. Claire saw Jason walk out of the kitchen with a tray of appetizers. Her breath hitched in her throat as she studied him.