Bachelor By Design: Bachelor By Design / Too Hot For Comfort

2

CHLOE SILENTLY COUNTED to ten while Trace Callahan stared at her chest. Cursed with genes that made all the D’Onofrio women well-endowed, she was used to men paying avid attention to her physical assets and ignoring the fact that she was a savvy, intelligent woman. But this one seemed worse than usual.

She impatiently cleared her throat to get his attention. It worked. He looked up at her, his eyes slightly glazed. For the first time she noticed their unusual color—a deep, dark blue like polished sapphires. If she put any stock in physical appearance, she’d have to admit Trace Callahan was handsome. All right, just plain gorgeous with that square jaw, aquiline nose, and close-cropped dark hair. She couldn’t help but notice how well the rest of him looked either, his biceps and broad shoulders clearly defined though his pine-green polo shirt.

“You’re staring,” Trace announced.

Chloe swallowed, her throat dry. “Me? You were the one who was staring.”

“I always stare at beautiful women. Especially when they suddenly appear in my dining room.” Then his eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Why exactly were you looking for me?”

She looked pointedly at the empty chair in front of her. “Aren’t you going to ask me to sit down?”

“I’d rather you answered my question first. Or maybe I can answer it for you. Madame Sophia sent you here, didn’t she?”

“She gave me your address, but…”

“I knew it,” he interjected, shaking his head in disgust. “I knew it was too good to be true.”

Chloe pulled out the chair and sat down next to him. “It?”

“I mean you,” he muttered, then heaved a long sigh. “Look, we both know why you’re here. Let’s just skip the preliminaries and get right down to it.” He leaned forward, closing the distance between them. “Kiss me.”

Her mouth fell open. She quickly closed it again before he took it as a sign of encouragement. “Are you crazy?”

“No, just efficient. Once you kiss me, we’ll both know if there’s any future for our relationship. Although I should warn you that the last woman who kissed me decided never to let another man touch her lips.”

Trace Callahan was not only a lunatic, but an incredible egomaniac. She smiled sweetly at him. “Thanks, but no thanks. I make it a habit not to kiss a man within the first five minutes of meeting him. Just one of my little idiosyncrasies.”

“Suit yourself.” He leaned back in his chair and folded his hands behind his head. “So tell me, Miss…”

“Please call me Chloe.”

“Chloe. Do you make it a habit of going door-to-door looking for romance?”

She blinked. “I think you’re confused again, Mr. Callahan….”

“Call me Trace.” He smiled at her, but there was nothing sweet about it. His expression reminded her of a lion contemplating its next meal. “I probably am confused. In fact, you’re probably just a delightful figment of my imagination. The medication is making me a little woozy.”

“Medication?” she asked, wondering why she was surprised. There had to be some logical explanation for his odd behavior.

He winced as he lifted his bare foot up in the air. That’s when she noticed he had it propped up on a padded chair on the opposite side of the table. His big toe was swathed in white gauze so thick it looked like a lightbulb. Before she could stop herself, she emitted a snort of laughter.

His jaw tightened. “Is something funny?”

“I’m sorry,” she said, dissolving into uncontrollable, not to mention undignified, giggles. She took a deep breath and struggled to contain her amusement. “Did you hurt yourself?”

He drew himself up in his chair, obviously offended by her reaction. “My toe was almost amputated by a power saw today. The injury required several stitches.”

Chloe stared at his long, lean foot in disbelief. “You mean that was the horrendous accident Ramon was so upset about? You cut your toe?”

He narrowed his eyes. “You know Ramon?”

She didn’t like his tone. “Better than anyone. He happens to be my brother.”

Trace closed his eyes. “That explains it.”

“Explains what?”

“You’re a D’Onofrio. That explains why I’ve felt uneasy ever since you walked through the door. Wherever D’Onofrios go, disaster follows.”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t you think that’s a bit of an exaggeration? Not all D’Onofrios are troublemakers.” Most of them, she admitted to herself, but not all.

“Tell that to my toe.”

“Let me see it,” she said, standing up and walking over to the chair that held his injured foot. She reached out one hand to unwrap the gauze.

“Don’t touch it!”

“I just want to take a look,” she replied, ignoring his protest.

He grabbed her wrist.

“Are you a doctor?”

“No, I’m an interior designer. And in my professional opinion, white gauze doesn’t go at all with this seat cushion. Didn’t the pharmacy have anything in lavender?”

“Very funny.”

“They say laughter is the best medicine.”

“I prefer Novocain. Unfortunately, it’s wearing off, so I’m not the best company right now. Maybe you could come back tomorrow. Or even better, next year.”

Some men just couldn’t take a joke. “I’m afraid what I have to say can’t wait until next year. It’s about Ramon. He’s very upset.”

“He’s upset? I’m the one who’s been mutilated.”

“Oh, come on. It’s just a little nick.” She gazed down at his foot. “I’ll bet if you took off all that gauze, it would hardly even be noticeable.”

A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Fine. Take it off and see for yourself.”

Surprised by his acquiescence, she leaned over the chair and carefully began unwinding the gauze. All three yards of it. While she worked, she couldn’t help but study Trace’s foot. There was something almost intimate about seeing the bare foot of a total stranger up close. His was long and lean, with a high arch. The nails were clean and cut short straight across. The top of his foot was sprinkled with short, golden-blond hairs.

“Well, what do you think?”

Chloe thought she was much too interested in this man’s foot. She forced her gaze to the toe in question. A neat row of tiny black stitches arched across the very tip. “I think you’ll make a full recovery. Of course, that’s just a layperson’s opinion.” She bit back a smile. “Have you thought about consulting a specialist?”

Trace carefully set his foot on the floor, his face set in a scowl. “No, but I do have a call into my attorney. Assault with a deadly weapon happens to be a felony.”

She straightened, her amusement fading. “You can’t be serious.”

“Obviously, you’re the one who can’t be serious, since you consider this all one big joke.”

“It’s no joke,” she agreed. “In fact, I don’t find it the least bit funny that you fired Ramon over something this—” she pointed to his toe “—inconsequential.”

“I happen to like my toe,” he said through clenched teeth. “And I’d like to keep it. Which means Ramon has to go.”

Chloe swallowed hard and willed the infamous D’Onofrio temper to stay under control.

“Just give him one more chance.”

“Why?”

Because she was terrified her brother would do something crazy if he lost this opportunity. He’d been despondent ever since his fiancée broke up with him—frustrated with his job as a waiter and life in general. He wanted a challenge. Excitement. Riches. Lately, he’d even talked about following in their father’s footsteps. Ramon might not be the best waiter, or even a mediocre carpenter, but she knew for certain he’d make one hell of a lousy jewel thief. Which meant if she didn’t do something fast, another D’Onofrio would end up behind bars.

“Well,” Trace asked, breaking into her reverie, “why should I give your brother a second chance to dismember me?”

As she stared into his deep blue eyes, her stomach suddenly went all queasy on her. Trace Callahan was too self-absorbed, too stubborn, and much too handsome to understand how much this job meant to someone as sensitive and insecure as her brother. And she’d be damned if she was going to beg.

“Why?” She tipped up her chin. “Because I can make it worth your while.”

He leaned back in his chair and gave her a slow, insolent once-over. “What exactly are you offering, Miss D’Onofrio?”

“Myself.”

TRACE TIPPED so far back in his chair, he almost toppled over. He grabbed the edge of the table and pulled himself upright. This couldn’t be happening. One moment Kimberly announces she’s joining a convent, and the next moment a voluptuous, desirable woman sails into his condo and offers herself to him.

He must be dreaming. Or hallucinating. Perhaps the trauma of his accident was finally getting to him. Although, if a minor injury induced this kind of fantasy, he was almost willing to give Ramon free access to all his power tools just to see what else might develop.

Almost.

Of course, this was no dream. Chloe D’Onofrio was sitting right in front of him. In the delectable flesh. His common sense told him he could never consent to such an agreement. His body, on the other hand, was entirely ready, willing and able.

He cleared his throat. “That’s an…intriguing proposition.”

She sat down in the empty chair. “I call it good business. Tit for tat.”

He closed his eyes, wishing she hadn’t used that particular phrase. When he opened them again, she was still there, sitting with one long, slender leg crossed over the other, her short skirt barely reaching mid-thigh. He’d never seen legs like hers before. They were true works of art. And he was a devoted connoisseur. He tore his gaze from her legs. “Are you sure you’re an interior designer?”

“Positive. And a damn good one, too. That’s the reason Madame Sophia hired me to redecorate Café Romeo.” She hesitated, then one corner of her mouth tipped up in a slow smile. “Or at least, one of the reasons.”

“Aunt Sophie hired you?” he asked, reeling with this latest revelation. He’d been after his aunt for weeks to hire an interior designer so he could consult with him on some of the remodeling plans for the café. Only the him turned out to be a her. And even worse, a D’Onofrio.

She nodded and opened that sensual mouth, but he interrupted her before she had a chance to elaborate.

“Wait a minute,” he said, as the rest of her words finally sank in. “What do you mean, one of the reasons? What other possible reason could there be?”

She arched one delicate brow. “You don’t know?”

A heavy, sinking sensation filled him, but he didn’t even want to consider that possibility. So he lied through his teeth. “No, I don’t have the faintest idea.”

She leaned toward him, her pink tongue darting out to moisten her lips. “No idea at all?”

He shook his head, his throat dry. If he didn’t know better, he’d think she was purposely tormenting him. But Chloe could have no idea of the effect she was having on him. Trace had always prided himself on maintaining the upper hand in all his relationships—especially the romantic ones. Perhaps Kimberly had resigned herself to life in a convent because he’d been too good at hiding his feelings.

She settled back in her chair. “You’re aware that your aunt reads coffee grounds?”

He sighed. “Unfortunately, yes.”

“What you don’t know is that she read my coffee grounds—and yours.” Her brown eyes flicked over him. “For some inexplicable reason, she thinks we’d be a perfect match.”

He groaned low in his throat as she confirmed his worst fears. “Impossible.”

“I quite agree.” She tucked an errant chestnut curl behind her ear. “Madame Sophia didn’t want to tell me about it at first, because she believes romance should take its natural course. But then…” Her voice trailed off.

He looked at her. “But then…what?”

“But then she saw how upset I was after I’d heard you’d fired Ramon. I believe I might have even called you a few unsavory names in the heat of the moment.”

“Such as?”

She blinked innocently at him. “I’m sure I don’t remember.”

He was sure she did, but he let her continue her story.

“Of course, that made Madame Sophia worry that I’d be prejudiced against you before we even met,” Chloe explained. “So she told me about the reading and how we’re destined to be together, and that fighting against destiny only makes the journey harder.”

He set his jaw. “I’m not planning on going anywhere.”

“Your aunt seems like a very determined woman.”

Determined was an understatement. She might not literally be able to move mountains, but she’d definitely caused a few avalanches in her time. If she was set on bringing Trace and this D’Onofrio woman together…He suppressed a shiver. He didn’t even want to think about the consequences.

Of course that same wily determination had saved his butt more than a few times. And one time in particular. If it wasn’t for Sophie, Trace might not even be here right now, ready to turn down Chloe D’Onofrio’s incredibly tempting offer.

She seemed nice enough, for a D’Onofrio. But it was appallingly obvious that she was completely wrong for him. He frowned up at her, mentally listing all her flaws. A sassy mouth. A killer body. A classically beautiful face. A quick temper, judging by the sparks he’d seen in her big brown eyes. And worst of all, a brother named Ramon.

He sat back in his chair with a sigh. No, Chloe wouldn’t even make it as a runner-up on his list for the perfect wife.

“Well, what do you say?” she asked. “Do we have a deal?”

Despite her obvious flaws, he found it harder to turn her down than he’d expected. “I’m flattered, Miss D’Onofrio….”

“Call me Chloe,” she reminded him.

“Chloe,” he echoed, mentally adding another flaw to the already long list. She had an annoying tendency to interrupt him when he was speaking. “I’m flattered, Chloe, by your very generous offer. I admire your loyalty to your brother and the lengths you’re willing to go to help him. But I’m afraid I can’t…”

“I’d do anything for Ramon,” she said, interrupting him once again. “Family is very important to me.”

“Me, too,” he muttered. Family loyalty rated very high on his list of wifely requirements. He’d seen firsthand how betrayal could tear a family apart. But one plus didn’t make up for all the glaring minuses that still tipped the scales against her.

“How important?”

He blinked. “What?”

“Exactly how important is your family to you?”

“What does that have to do with your offer to sleep with me?”

She stared at him. Then the corners of her mouth quivered until she couldn’t contain herself any longer and burst out laughing. “Sleep with you?”

He scowled, wondering what was so damn funny. “Yes. In exchange for hiring back your brother.”

“This is too much,” she said, her laughter finally subsiding. She took a deep breath to compose herself. “Just what kind of woman do you think I am?”

“I…I…”

“And what kind of man would even consider using a woman that way?”

This had gone far enough. “I think you misunderstood me. I had no—”

“You know,” she interjected, “I’ve met some male chauvinists before, but I didn’t realize men like you still existed.”

“If you’d just let me get a word in edgewise,” he said between clenched teeth, “you’d find out I had absolutely no intention of taking you up on your offer.”

But instead of mollifying her, his words actually seemed to offend her. Sparks lit her eyes. “So not only did you believe I was willing to prostitute myself, you have the nerve to sit there and tell me you’re not the least bit interested!”

“I never said that,” Trace growled. “I’m very interested. I’m so interested I can barely sit up straight. In fact, if you’d like me to prove it to you, I’ll be more than happy to oblige.”

“That won’t be necessary,” she said primly. “Because I’m definitely not interested. Now, may we please return to the subject at hand?”

He was both disappointed and confused. “What subject?”

She settled back in her chair, visibly calmer now. As much as he hated to admit it, she was just as appealing to him in the heat of anger. Maybe even more so. A rosy blush stained her creamy cheeks. Her brown eyes sparkled. His own blood raced in anticipation of what she might say or do next.

“Family loyalty,” she replied evenly. “Ramon is the only reason I showed up here tonight.”

He stifled a groan. Ramon. Why did she have to remind him? Although, perhaps it was a good thing she had, considering the directions his thoughts had taken just a scant moment ago. She was a D’Onofrio. Which meant she was off-limits.

She tilted her head to one side as she studied him. “So are you interested in my proposition?”

He scowled. “Maybe you’d better explain exactly what you mean by proposition.”

“Fine. I’ll talk slowly this time so you understand.” She leaned forward. “If you’ll hire my brother back, I’ll pretend to like you.”

“Be still my heart,” he said dryly. “Thanks, but no thanks.”

She arched a brow. “I thought you said family loyalty is important to you. Are you really willing to disappoint your aunt? She was almost in tears when she heard my tirade against you.”

“Tirade? I thought you just called me a couple of names.”

“Among other things.” She cleared her throat. “The point is, she has her heart set on bringing the two of us together. Are you willing to break it?”

Chloe couldn’t have hit her mark better if she’d drawn a bull’s-eye on his chest. The last thing he wanted to do was disappoint his aunt. He owed her. Big-time. Still, he couldn’t marry the wrong woman just to make his aunt happy. He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Chloe,” he said with a long sigh. “It just wouldn’t work out between us.”

“Of course not.” She rolled her eyes. “That goes without saying. But if we pretend to give it a go, your aunt will eventually see the writing in the coffee grounds. She’ll realize we’re completely wrong for each other.”

“You can say that again.”

“We’re completely wrong for each other.”

He frowned at her. “That was just a figure of speech.”

“I know. I just wanted to repeat it, in case you once again fall under the delusion that I want to sleep with you.”

Her words pricked him more than he wanted to admit. “Not a problem.”

“So do we have a deal?”

His common sense told him to turn her down and turn her out of his condominium. But his love for his aunt overrode his better judgment. “Yes.”

“Good. I’ll tell Ramon that he can start work again first thing in the morning.” She stood and held out her hand. “Shall we shake on it?”

Trace complied, surprised by the strength of her grip. “Give me a chance to call my insurance agent first. I want to up my workman’s comp to the max. Not to mention my life insurance.” Then he stood up to follow her, momentarily forgetting about his sore toe. “Wait a minute. What about us?”

She turned around. “Us?”

“We should probably go out on a date or two just to make this look real.” He limped toward her. “I’m free Friday evening.”

She shrugged. “All right. The sooner we can convince your aunt we’re completely wrong for each other, the better. Shall we meet at Café Romeo?”

“I’ll pick you up at your place,” he said firmly. “This is supposed to be like a real date, remember? We can go to dinner first, then stop at Café Romeo for a cappuccino later.”

“Fine.” She pulled a business card out of her purse and handed it to him. “My home address and telephone number are on my card.” Then she turned and headed toward the door. “Do you want me to make reservations? I know a great Mexican restaurant.”

“I hate Mexican food,” he said, limping after her.

“How about Japanese?”

He grimaced. “Please tell me you’re not serious.”

She sighed. “All right, what would you like to eat?”