Lauren straddled Adam’s lap, setting the plate of food on the table

She’d dreamed of this. The dream still clung as she faced him, his eyes brimming with hot interest.

She hadn’t been mistaken. He wanted her. He was her secret admirer.

Lauren squeezed off a bite of egg. Cupping one hand to catch the sauce, she held it to his lips.

His gaze never left hers as he chewed slowly. “Eggs Benedict has never tasted this good.”

Spatters of sauce dotted her hand, but before she could wipe them, he brought her hand to his lips. “Allow me.” With deft strokes, he licked the drips.

Her heart quickened with every stroke of his tongue, filling her with desire. “You have a bit…” She leaned forward to skim her lips along the corner of his mouth. She flicked her tongue to capture the sauce.

He angled his head and pressed his mouth to hers. Time stood still as he opened to her. Her breasts pressed against his chest. She shifted on his lap, stirring that part of him that had filled her dream with pleasure. Heat spiraled through her. He skimmed his hands up her sides, as his tongue stroked hers with an intensity that sparked a hunger she had never known.

Adam pulled back slightly. “Lauren, I really want you.”

Dear Reader,

It’s a thrill for me to be able to share my stories with you. I love the latitude Blaze gives writers and readers in exploring the hotter side of romance. Thanks to all of you who have helped to grow this line. I hope it’ll be with us for a very long time.

I brainstorm using a technique I’ve stolen from Orville Redenbacher. I gather together all my ideas, then sift through them until I’m left with only the biggest kernels. The premise of a headstrong workaholic seducing her laid-back best friend when she mistakes him for her secret admirer was one such kernel. Add in an erotic cookbook and we have Blaze magic.

When Lauren Bryant lets friends and family—and perhaps her own secret desires—convince her that her best friend, Adam Morely, is the man behind the anonymous romantic gifts she’s receiving, she decides to take their relationship to the next level. Adam, on the hunt for a serious relationship for the first time in his life, finds her too tempting to resist. Once he tastes Lauren’s forbidden fruit, he embarks on a mission to steer her toward hearth and home, a place she hasn’t visited since their days of playing house together.

I hope you enjoy their journey toward compromise. It was certainly a pleasure to write.

Happy reading,

Dorie Graham

P.S.—Don’t forget to check out www.tryblaze.com!

Tempting Adam
Dorie Graham

MILLS & BOON

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To my girls,

Jessie, Lauren and Lindsey,

for loving me and sacrificing their “special times,”

even though they might not have understood

their mother’s strange obsession.

I love you.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

1

“I NEED A WIFE.”

Lauren Bryant tore her attention from the advertising contract she’d been studying. Putting aside her worries over her company’s solvency, she focused on Adam Morely, her best friend. She smiled, drawing comfort from his familiar presence.

Then his words registered. She cocked her head. “Excuse me?”

He dropped neatly into the chair facing her desk. Long hours outdoors had burnished his dark hair and etched premature crow’s-feet beside his gray eyes. An earnest light glittered in those eyes. “I said, I need a wife.”

Trying to shake off the inexplicable sense of panic that swept over her, she quipped, “Don’t we all?”

“I’m serious. Taxes are killing me. It just doesn’t pay to be single. Besides…” He shrugged. “I need…more out of life.”

“More?” She set down her pen and raised her eyebrows in disbelief.

Exasperating man.

“This from the guy who has it all—a successful business, a gorgeous new home and a different woman for every day of the week?” she said.

He straightened, a deep groove forming between his eyebrows. “You’re exaggerating.”

“Okay, a different woman for every month. Same thing.”

“Exactly.”

She continued to stare, anger filling her. How dare he not be satisfied? She’d give anything for half his success.

“They’re all the same. One relationship after the other. Meaningless. Empty.”

“So, you’re tired of mindless sex.”

“I’d like a relationship that carries a little weight. Like what you and I have, only with the sex thrown in.”

“I see.”

For some ridiculous reason his words triggered outrage in her. Not that she’d ever thought of him in a sexual manner. From the time Adam’s family had moved in next door to hers some twenty years ago, the two of them had shared an uncommon bond. With his parents’ constant absences, she and Adam had grown up together, conquering their quiet neighborhood in Roswell, Georgia, a suburb of metro-Atlanta.

He drew a quick breath. “Not that there’s anything wrong with what we have. It’s special, no doubt, but, well…it isn’t like we get naked together.”

“True.”

With an effort, she reined in her irrational emotions. Why was she getting upset? They had a great relationship. It was comfortable, convenient. But, no, they’d definitely never been naked together, not unless she counted that time when they were very young.

“You don’t have to get married to have a meaningful relationship,” she said.

“But if I find the right woman, I’ll want to hang on to her.”

“Sure.” Her stomach tightened.

Needing a distraction, she glanced down at the contract. “Look, I’m going to have to break our lunch date. I have to get this deal finalized, then we’re meeting with the Bennett Bagel people.”

She allowed herself the smallest glimmer of hope. “They’re thinking maybe some local TV exposure will help the opening of their new sandwich shops. I’ve already scoped this new actor who spreads mayo like it’s foreplay.”

His gaze narrowed on her. “Only you could make hawking bagels a sensual experience.”

“Food is always sensual. Besides, you know it’s not me. Entice Advertising does it. Elliot’s the one with all that creative talent. We’d go belly-up without him.”

Adam nodded toward a vase on her desk filled with a rainbow bouquet of condoms. “Need spice, think Entice.”

“That’s it.”

She quirked her mouth to one side. Her partner’s preference for other men hadn’t hindered their fledgling agency in earning a reputation for using sex better than anyone else to sell their odd range of clients and products to the general population. In fact, Elliot came up with all the provocative campaigns, while Lauren spent her energies rounding up clients, keeping the books straight and feeling a little like an impostor for not being the sexy siren others assumed her to be.

“So, can I take a rain check on lunch?” she asked.

“Sure, I just thought you might have some quick advice.”

“Quick advice?”

She rose, then moved around to lean stiffly against the desk. Did they really have to pursue this strange new idea of his? He couldn’t have thought this through.

“This is another case of your impulsiveness, isn’t it?” she asked.

He pursed his lips. “I am not impulsive.”

“Oh? Who was it who hopped a flight to Hawaii for just the weekend last month? Who bought that huge house? Who got a tattoo on his—”

“You promised not to ever mention that—”

“All on the spur of the moment? Who was that? Oh, yes, it was you.”

“Okay, so maybe I have an impulsive moment from time to time.”

She stared at him.

“And maybe I hadn’t thought about having a wife before I said that, but I still mean it. I do need a wife. Sometimes, when you know something, you just know it.”

That funny feeling churned again in her stomach. It swirled around inside her, sending unexplainable anxiety racing through her. With an effort, she curved her mouth into a grin. “Let me get this straight. You want my advice on how you should go about finding a candidate for a wife?”

“Yes.”

“A wife? You’re serious?” Her grin stiffened. To her dismay, the anxiety swelled. Nervous laughter spilled from her.

After a moment, she straightened. “I’m sorry.”

She bit her lip and swiped at her eyes. She’d been under way too much pressure lately. That was it. She was displacing her worry over her business’s finances. It did not bother her that Adam wanted a wife.

“Look, given my track record, I can understand your amusement, but you help me with this, and I’ll do something for you…I’ll owe you big time.”

“And I’ll collect.”

After drawing a calming breath, she faced him. “But didn’t we have this conversation when you were ready to buy your car, then your house, then all the furniture to go in it?”

“What’s wrong with that? I value your opinion. And in return you got those hydrangeas, a fine lesson in negotiating price—”

“Ha! Who do you think negotiates all the deals around here?”

“And that new fountain in your backyard.”

“Hey, if I do this, it’s going to cost a lot more than that fountain.”

“Fine.”

“I’ll have to think about it. But don’t expect me to come cheap for this kind of thing.”

“An eye for an eye.”

“Right. Not that I’m looking for a relationship. I don’t have the time.”

“No, you don’t.” He regarded her a moment.

She steeled herself. He’d been very vocal of late in criticizing her work ethic, but he continued, “So, where do we start?”

“Well, this isn’t like those other times.”

“It’s not so different. You know my tastes.”

“Yes, Adam, but don’t you see what you’re doing?”

The muscles of his shoulders rippled in a half shrug.

“This is not another acquisition of personal property.” She spread her arms in appeal. “It isn’t like you can shop for a serious relationship at the mall.”

“Well, of course I’m not looking to buy a wife.”

“Good.” She cocked her head as another thought occurred to her. “What will all your women friends say?”

“You’ll all have to get used to the idea. I’ve made up my mind.”

He settled back in his chair, the look of resolve she knew all too well settling over his features. “On the serious relationship anyway. I’m not going to jump into marriage, though that’s the ultimate goal.”

Drawing up straight, she shoved aside her nervousness. Of course she’d help him. He’d never let her down before. Hadn’t he rushed over last week when she’d been up late working and found a half-live mole her housemate’s cat had dragged in? He’d disposed of the poor creature without uttering a single complaint, even though she’d wakened him from a sound sleep.

Adam was a great guy. The best. He deserved whatever happiness he could grab. “Okay, then my advice is to go about this with one thing in mind.”

“What?”

“Romance her.”

His eyebrows arched.

“When you find the right woman, woo her.”

He folded his arms across his chest.

“Roses, Godiva chocolate, perfume—”

“Diamonds, chartered vacations?”

“Yes. You’ve got the idea.”

“Right. You want me to buy a wife.”

This was what she got for offering her advice? “No. That’s not what I’m saying.”

A quick rap sounded on the door. Elliot Star leaned around the doorjamb. He swept a hand over his graying curls. “Oh, hello, Adam.”

Adam shifted, not quite meeting the man’s admiring gaze. “Elliot.”

Lauren could never have gone into business without Elliot’s help. After one too many prima donna fits over his need for artistic license, he’d been fired from one of Atlanta’s premier ad agencies. Ever ready to champion a new cause, Lauren had left that same agency, plotting with him to try it on their own. The man was a genius. Giving him free creative reign had put Entice Advertising on the map in just under two years.

Elliot sighed and shifted his gaze to Lauren. “Those proofs are back. You ready to talk bagels?”

“Sure.” She gave Adam’s shoulder a quick squeeze. “Sorry about lunch. I’ll make it up somehow.”

“Yeah? How about tonight? I’ve got a taste for that Cajun meat loaf you make so well.”

Surprise welled up inside her. “You want me to cook?”

“It isn’t like you don’t know how. You’re one of the best cooks in Georgia.”

“Now you’re exaggerating.”

Adam simply raised his chin and leveled his gaze on her.

“But I haven’t cooked—”

“Since you started this agency. It’s way past time. I postponed a meeting and traveled across town just for you to blow me off.”

His mouth curved into the smile she’d never been able to resist. “Besides, I’ll bring the ice cream.”

She glanced sideways at Elliot, who shrugged. Throwing her hands in the air, she gave in. “Okay, but it’d better be chocolate.”

“You’ve got it.”

With a slow nod Adam rose to his full height. Lauren let her gaze travel over all six foot three of him. His career in landscaping had left him sculpted and tanned. Even though he now spent most of his time supervising his own independent contracting company, he never turned his back on physical labor.

And it showed. Adam would have no trouble finding a wife.

Her heart thumped dully as she scooped a file from her desk. She didn’t want to think about Adam with a wife right now. “Great. We’ll finish this discussion then.”

“Can’t wait.”

She paused at the door, throwing one last glance at him. He emanated quiet strength and power. It was what people noticed most about him, though he seemed unaware of it.

Sunlight slanted through the office window, highlighting the angular planes of his face. She shivered. She knew no other face better than his, yet somehow it seemed she’d never really seen him before. Like when viewing a hologram, where a slight shift brought a new picture into view, her perspective of him altered in that moment. With his eyes shining and his wide lips curved in that playful tilt, she could almost see what all the women who had chased him must have seen.

“Well, goodbye,” she said, hoping he missed the funny catch in her voice.

He nodded as he turned his attention to the ringing cell phone he extracted from a holder on his belt.

Drawing a deep breath, she hurried after Elliot. Her pulse thudded and a thought she hardly let herself acknowledge whispered through her consciousness.

What would it be like to get naked together?

THE SUN SLIPPED below the horizon, casting long shadows across the porch as Lauren headed up the steps to her town house—a quaint brick-front featuring a small but private backyard. Balancing her mail, keys and bulging briefcase, she kneed open the door.

The scent of roses enveloped her as she dropped her load on an antique bench in the entry. She turned, inhaling the heavenly aroma, then stopped. A tall vase stood on the table gracing the opposite wall of the tiny foyer. Roses with delicate white petals crowded the vase, spilling over the sides.

An envy-filled sigh escaped her. Kamira Davies, her housemate, always dated the most considerate men. She’d received more flowers in the six months since she’d moved in than Lauren had received in her entire life.

“Lauren?”

Kamira emerged from the kitchen, her dark waves captured in a loose braid. Her green, almond-shaped eyes glittered with amusement as she wiped her hands on a dish towel. Nala, her silver tabby, glanced up from her spot by the window. “Beautiful, aren’t they?” Kamira asked, scratching the cat behind the ears.

“Gorgeous.” Lauren tore her gaze from the blooms. “Things are going well with Greg, then?”

“They’re okay, but these aren’t from Greg.”

“You’re seeing someone else?” Lauren asked, surprised.

“No. No. They’re not for me. They’re yours.”

“Mine?”

“That’s what the card says.” Kamira plucked a small envelope from beside the vase, and handed it to Lauren.

Frowning, Lauren scanned her name on the front, then read the neat writing on the enclosed card.

I send you a cream-white rosebud

With a flush upon its petal tips;

For the love that is purest and sweetest

Has a kiss of desire on the lips.

—John Boyle O’Reilly (1844–1890)

She glanced up at her friend. “Love that is purest and sweetest?”

“I’ve never heard anything so romantic.”

“It doesn’t say who they’re from.”

“You don’t know?”

“Who do I know who would have the class to do such a thing? Besides Elliot, who obviously didn’t send them. It can’t be Todd. I haven’t heard from him in months, and roses, not to mention any pure, sweet love, were never his style.”

Her two-year relationship with software guru Todd Jeffries had ended some nine weeks ago, when he’d left the country to share his expertise with a company in Japan. He hadn’t understood why she wouldn’t chuck her job to go with him.

She turned to Kamira. “Are you sure they delivered them to the right address?”

“Definitely. Sure you aren’t keeping secrets?”

“I have no life. You know that.”

“Ah…then there’s only one thing it could be.”

“What’s that?”

Kamira squeezed her arm. “You, dear, have a secret admirer.”

SHE’S KEEPING SECRETS. Adam frowned later that evening as Lauren pulled her meat loaf from the oven, a mysterious smile curving her lips. She’d never kept anything from him before. What could it be? Steam rose around them, filling the kitchen with the spicy scent.

Beside her, he inhaled deeply, his worry easing with the distraction. If she ever realized how easily she could control him with the promise of her home cooking, he’d be in big trouble.

“Ah, I knew you still had it in you.” His gaze fell hungrily on the delicacy. “It’s a rare treat. You’ve been holding out on me.”

With a shake of her head, she set the pan on the stove. “You know I’ve been busy.” She cast him a sideways glance. “And I’m not getting into another argument about my long work hours. I’m doing something productive and worthwhile with my life. Nights like this will have to remain rare treats.”

“I can help you round up more business. Then you could hire an assistant to help out.”

“I appreciate the few clients you’ve referred. And I’ll certainly follow up on every lead you send my way, but you know how I feel about you trying to fix all my problems.”

“It doesn’t hurt you to accept a little help now and then.”

“And I have and I thank you. But I’m a big girl. This is my agency and it’s my responsibility to generate the business. You can’t do everything for me.”

Adam popped the top on a beer he’d pulled from the refrigerator. He handed the drink to her, before grabbing another for himself. He let the conversation drop. They’d discussed her work habits too many times already. Not that he’d quit doing what he could to round up clients for her. He ran into so many people while playing tennis and golf, that it wasn’t an effort to scrape up a referral or two. He just didn’t have to tell her what he was doing.

He took a sip and let his thoughts drift. Funny how the moment he’d said he needed a wife, he’d known it was true. Yes, this was what he wanted. A home-cooked meal and someone to share it with. Sipping wine at the local bistro just didn’t cut it anymore.

Not that Lauren spent her evenings casually sipping wine, unless she was courting a new client. Then there was nothing casual about it. The woman spent way too much time with her nose to the grindstone. Maybe she’d eventually come to realize that work did not make the world go round.

He saluted her with his can, too relaxed to argue with her. Maybe she would enjoy this off night enough to begin wanting a personal life for herself again. “It doesn’t get better than this.”

She raised her beer in return. “Another big account or two would help.” After taking a long swallow, she continued, “But I have to admit spending time in the kitchen wasn’t so bad.”

His gaze traveled over Kamira’s mini jungle of plants that softened the white cabinets and the tan and white–striped walls. Lauren stood framed by the stove and the assortment of pots and pans brimming with the side dishes she’d taken such pleasure in creating, even though she rarely indulged in her old pastime anymore. Her face radiated contentment.

Again, that mysterious smile flickered across her lips.

Was it the mere act of cooking that had brought on that glow, or was she really hiding something?

“So, how’s everything going?” he asked.

“Great. Finalized that deal with the car wash.”

“I didn’t mean with work.”

A soft pink flushed her cheeks. “What makes you ask?”

“I don’t know. There’s something…different about you tonight.” When was the last time he’d seen her blush? He shifted, trying to pinpoint exactly what was different about her.

She busied herself with transferring food into serving dishes. “Did you notice the roses on your way in?”

He glanced through the kitchen’s archway toward the foyer. A bunch of white roses filled a vase on a table near the door. “So, who sent you roses?”

Her eyes brightened and her lips curved into a smile. “Don’t know. Kamira thinks I have a secret admirer.”

“Ah, this wouldn’t have anything to do with that talk we had earlier?” He couldn’t keep the slight annoyance from his voice as he helped her move the dishes to the drop-leaf table.

“No. You think I’d anonymously send myself flowers, just to prove a point to you?”

He laughed, perplexed. “Of course not.” Why was he annoyed? “It’s just a strange coincidence, don’t you think?”

“I’m as surprised as you are.”

“And you have no idea who sent them?”

“No, but I have to admit it’s very flattering. Which brings us back to our earlier conversation. Romancing the woman of your choice is definitely the way to go.”

She cocked her head. “I hadn’t thought about it in exactly these terms, but the whole secret-admirer thing does add a nice touch.”

He made a deliberate effort to relax his jaw. So Lauren had a secret admirer. She’d had a fair number of men in her life, and that had never bothered him before. Wasn’t this what he’d been pestering her about over the past months—encouraging her to find a life outside of work?

She was a phenomenal woman, a flower among thorns. With her golden beauty and welcoming way, she was bound to draw masculine attention. Her allure lay not only in the deep green of her eyes and the generous swell of her hips and breasts—though those were enticement enough—but also in the patience and love she extended to all lucky enough to fall into her life.

Adam had always considered himself fortunate in that respect. Though his parents had never seen their way to spending more than a two-week span in his presence, Lauren had remained steadfast by his side for well over twenty years.

“You need to be careful, though,” he said. “He could be anyone.”

“Don’t go getting all protective on me, Adam. Whoever sent those roses is the sensitive type. I can’t imagine he’d be dangerous.”

“At least he’s not ostentatious in his gift giving. I hate gift buying for its pure material value.”

She turned toward him, her hands planted on her hips. “I never meant it that way.”

Waving his hand in a gesture of peace, he continued, “In this case, the value is on the thought, since the sender remains anonymous.”

“Well, it does build a sense of expectation, which is kind of nice. Of course, we could be making a mountain out of a molehill. This could be an isolated incident.”

Adam appraised her a moment. In the soft light of the kitchen, with her cheeks flushed and her eyes glowing, Lauren was one hell of an attractive woman—a desirable woman.

As he’d done so many times in the past, he stifled the thought. Somehow it just seemed wrong to think of her in that way. She was like a sister to him. She’d surely be horrified to know he harbored a fantasy—or two—about her.

“Somehow, I don’t think so,” he said. “And eventually, he’s going to make himself known. Otherwise, what’s the point?”

A sound of exasperation escaped her. “The point is the anticipation, the thrill, the romance.”

That irrational annoyance rose again in him. “The point is, this guy wants to get you in bed.”

“That’s not fair. You don’t even know him—”

“He’s a guy. What else is there to know?”

“Well, you’re a guy.”

“And you think I’ve never thought of you in that way?”

Her eyes widened. Silence hung over them. Adam gritted his teeth. Why had he blurted that out?

The front door slammed a moment before Kamira breezed into the kitchen, her cat at her heels. “You didn’t tell me you were making your meat loaf.”

“We’re just getting started.” He pulled out a chair for her.

Lauren retrieved another plate from the cabinet. And you think I’ve never thought of you in that way? Adam’s words rang through her mind. Well, he was a guy. She should have expected this…but somehow, it was so…surprising.

She set the plate before Kamira, then sat beside her, purposely avoiding looking at Adam as he took his place on her other side. The weight of his gaze bored down on her.

“I thought you were at the clinic,” she said to Kamira, a nurse at the women’s center.

Kamira heaped large portions of the meal onto her plate. “Mmm. I just dropped off the tile samples. I’ll be happy when this new section is ready. I swear, there’s a baby boom going on. We need the space for all our new patients.”

“The women’s center is expanding?” Adam asked. He hadn’t made a move toward any of the dishes.

“Didn’t Lauren tell you? She’s been volunteering down there. She helped knock down the wall between our offices and the empty space next door. Boy, can she swing a sledgehammer.”

“Patterson, the building’s owner,” Lauren added for Adam’s benefit, though she still refused to look at him, “wanted to give me the first swing, but I had this fear the roof would tumble down on us, so he went first.”

“Ha, but we all got into it after a while.” Kamira smiled.

Keeping her attention on the bowl of whipped potatoes, Lauren bobbed her head. “Very cathartic. I got all my aggression out.”

Kamira’s eyes rounded. “I’ll tell you who else looked good swinging a hammer. Patterson’s son. If that boy was five years older, I’d drop Greg in a heartbeat.”

“Mark?” Lauren chuckled, then stopped. She’d filled half her plate with potatoes. “I think he’s Rusty’s age.”

She smiled, thinking of her younger brother. He’d taken off to work the oil rigs in Texas after graduating from the University of Georgia last year. It’d been harder to let him go than she’d thought, having felt responsible for him for so long.

“Of course, he dropped me a line a while back that he was dating an older woman. Mark’s young, but you’d better be careful. You just never know,” she said.

“He’s a very mature twenty-two, and is well read in all the classics.” The one dimple in Kamira’s left cheek flashed as she grinned. “He’d be a great cause—so much to teach that young, open mind. But Greg’s safe. I’m no cradle robber.”

“I’ve got a cause for you.” Heat filled Lauren’s cheeks as she glanced at Adam, then back at Kamira. “Help me find Adam a new lady friend.”

Maybe Kamira would take over the task for her. Somehow, playing matchmaker for him held little appeal.

“What?” Straightening, Kamira turned to Adam. “Since when are you having trouble finding women?”

“Since he wants to get serious with one,” Lauren answered for him.

Kamira’s mouth spread slowly into a wide smile. “Adam, you’re wanting to settle down?”

“If I find the right woman.”

“Wow. That’s so sweet.”

Lauren picked at her potatoes. “He wants a new best friend he can have sex with.”

The words tumbled out, surprising her. The heat in her cheeks intensified. She glanced at Adam.

He blinked, then his mouth quirked to one side. “Friendship and mutual respect like we have are vital to any relationship.”

“And where did you read that?” Eyebrows raised, Kamira nodded toward his empty plate. “What’s wrong? Not hungry?”

“Starved, actually.” With great relish, he piled food on his plate, then consumed several bites.

Lauren pursed her lips and poked again at her potatoes. How could he drop such a bomb, then stuff his face as if nothing had happened?

Because nothing had happened. Evidently, any sexual thoughts he’d had of her hadn’t been strong enough for him to act on.

A feeling of foreboding stole over her. He’d always been there for her, with his brawn when she needed it, and with his broad shoulders during times of crisis, like when her father had died thirteen years ago. Would he still be there if he found a wife?

A small sigh rose in her chest. She was losing her best friend. Once he found a woman to give him all Lauren did and more, he would no longer need his old buddy. She’d be superfluous.

Adam reached across the table and squeezed her fingertips. “We’re as good as family. It isn’t like you’ll be getting rid of me.” As usual, he’d read her mind.

“No. Of course not. And if you do marry it’ll be like gaining a sister for me,” she said through stiff lips.

“Right.” Apparently satisfied, he picked up his fork and again dug into his meal.

Kamira sat back in her chair, her expression puzzled. She turned to Adam. “Tell me, do you have a plan for finding this woman?”

“I thought I’d just open myself to the possibility and see what happened.”

A speculative light glimmered in her eyes. “Hmm, I see. That’s good, being open.”

“I told him when he found the right woman he should romance her.”

Kamira beamed. “Excellent idea. What do you think, Adam? Are you up for the romantic approach?”

His shoulders shifted. “Could be. Real romance should be more than just blatant gift giving, though.”

“Blatant gift giving?” Kamira asked.

“I want a woman who’ll want me for who I am, not what I can give her. It isn’t my style to make a big display over buying gifts for a woman.”

Lauren rose to carry her dishes to the sink. “I only meant you should try to make her feel special. Gifts are just a part of that.”

With measured movements, Adam followed her to scrape the spare remains of his meal into the disposal. “Okay, I can see that.”

“So, have we got ice cream for dessert?” Kamira left the table to pillage the freezer. “Death by Chocolate, my fave. Why don’t I dish some up, and we’ll eat it on the deck.”

“Just a little for me,” Lauren said.

“Adam…” Kamira ushered him toward the sliding door that led to the deck. “Can you light the citronella torch? We’ll be right out.”

“Sure. Make mine two scoops?”

“You’ve got it.” With a smile, she slid the door shut behind him. Then she turned to Lauren, her eyes shining.

“You know the mosquitoes don’t seem to notice that torch, Kamira. What are you up to?” Bending low, Lauren rummaged through a drawer for the ice-cream scooper.

“When did you and Adam have this conversation?”

“About his settling down?”

“About his wanting to have a serious sexual relationship involving friendship and mutual respect.”

“Around lunchtime.”

“And you suggested he woo the woman of his choice?”

“I hardly think his tactic of wham, bam, thank you ma’am will work toward establishing anything long-term.”

“Don’t you find it interesting that he’s opening himself to the possibility, but that he isn’t actively searching for this woman?”

Lauren shrugged. “He’s not going to find her in his usual haunts. Do you see a woman like that patronizing Charlie’s Corner Bar?”

“Of course not. But what about the fact that you received those roses anonymously after your conversation?”

“What does that have to do with Adam? There’s still the chance Todd sent them.”

And you think I’ve never thought of you in that way?

“Todd, the man you’re no longer seeing? The man who gave you a new calculator for your two-year anniversary?”

“Point taken, but I still don’t see how Adam figures.” Blood rushed through Lauren’s ears.

And you think I’ve never thought of you in that way?

Kamira glanced out the window to where he’d anchored the torch into its stand. “I’ve always had a feeling about you two. I just think it’s odd—the timing, the fact that he’s against what he calls blatant gift giving. Seems he would be the anonymous type.”

Lauren’s breath caught. “Tell me you’re not suggesting what I think you are.”

“Don’t you see? It makes sense. He isn’t looking for a woman, because he’s already found one. You.”

2

“ARE YOU NUTS?” Lauren stared at her housemate.

“Don’t you see? It all adds up.”

“I hardly think a couple of random coincidences add up to anything.”

Kamira took the forgotten scooper from Lauren’s hand, then dished up the ice cream. “Let’s ask him.”

“No!”

“Why not?”

“Do you know how insane that sounds? He’ll have us locked up.”

After handing Lauren one of the bowls, Kamira carried the other two toward the sliding glass door. “What are you afraid of?”

“I’m not afraid. I just don’t see any point in pursuing this line of thought. Okay?”

With a heavy sigh, Kamira nodded. “Think about it, though.”

Lauren opened the door, shaking her head. The torch glowed and night insects chirped and whirred around them. Above, stars glittered in the darkening sky. Adam sat at the patio table that dominated one end of the deck.

She perched on a chair beside him. “It’s nice out here.”

Thanking Kamira, he took the bowl, then savored a bite of ice cream. “It’s these simple things that make life worthwhile—a hearty meal, pleasant environment and good friends.”

“Yes, good friends.” Lauren cocked her head at Kamira, sending her a smug I-told-you-so grin.

“He sounds like a commercial,” Kamira laughed.

Adam grinned. “Lauren’s cooking makes me want to endorse the good times.”

Reaching over, he clasped Lauren’s hand. “You are a remarkable cook. I hope the woman I marry knows her way around the kitchen.”

Lauren’s grin faltered as the warmth of his hand enveloped hers. She wiggled her fingers in an effort to free herself from his grip, but he didn’t seem to notice. Instead, he carried her hand to his lips for a quick kiss.

“Now that you’ve gotten rid of Jeffries, maybe you should find a real man.” He released her.

Kamira leaned forward. “You could both be open to a serious relationship.”

Lauren stared at her, speechless. How could she say such a thing?

“Right.” Adam swatted away a mosquito. “We learned to swim, ride bikes and drive together. Why not learn about love together?”

He dropped his hand to Lauren’s knee. “You’ve worked so hard, Lauren. You deserve a little happiness.”

Her gaze swept from his hand to Kamira, who waved her spoon enthusiastically. “She sure does.”

Heat crept up Lauren’s neck and along her knee beneath his hand. He gave her leg a squeeze, then busied himself again with his dessert. What was wrong with her? He’d touched her a million times in the past and she’d never thought twice about it. Kamira’s wild speculations had her reading more into his friendly gestures than was there.

Of course Adam wasn’t her secret admirer.

“So, Adam…” Kamira licked a drip of chocolate off her spoon. “Tell us what kind of woman you’re looking for. Maybe we can help. I see a lot of women in the course of the day.”

He pushed his bowl away, then sat back, gazing into the distance. “I think for a substantial relationship, I want a substantial woman. Substantial in spirit and body, too. Not a big woman, necessarily, but one with a little more meat on her bones.”

Lauren raised her eyebrows. “You mean you’re done with all those ultrathin model types?”

He grinned. “Well, I wouldn’t object, as long as she didn’t mind getting pregnant.”

His head bobbed as he continued to stare into the night, as though the woman of his dreams might materialize if he looked hard enough. “I’ll want some kids along the way.”

“Hold on,” Lauren blurted. “I thought you were going to wait awhile before jumping into marriage. Now you’re talking babies?”

The thought sent a wave of shock through her. Adam with a wife was one thing, but with a baby? She couldn’t quite bend her mind around the idea.

“C’mon, you know I like kids.”

“No, I don’t. When have I ever seen you with kids? I can’t even picture it.”

He cocked his head and laughed. Though she’d heard that laugh countless times before, for some reason it wrapped around her and sent gooseflesh skittering up her arms.

“Come to think of it, I guess you haven’t.” He shrugged. “I liked us when we were kids. Don’t ask why, I just know I want kids, a bunch of them.”

“A bunch?” Lauren blinked at him. To think she’d thought she’d known him all these years.

“Well, we’ll start with a couple, then see.”

Frowning, she turned to Kamira, but her housemate grinned broadly. “I can see Adam as a dad.”

Lauren gaped at her, then rounded on him. “What do you know about caring for kids? They’re lots of work. You’ve got to feed them, and play with them, and…and feed them.”

“I’ll read up on it. Hopefully my wife will know a little about all that.”

“Read up on it? They don’t come with manuals, you know.” She folded her arms. “You can’t just decide all of a sudden that you want a wife and kids.”

“Why not? I told you I wanted more in life. And that’s what I want…eventually, anyway,” he said.

His smile faded and he shifted in his seat. “She’ll have to be the stay-at-home kind of mom, though. None of that palming the kids off on the neighbors.”

Lauren stared at him a moment, a mixture of surprise and compassion swirling through her. “Adam, your parents didn’t palm you off on us.”

“Sure they did.”

She straightened. His parents had traveled a lot. He’d probably spent more time at her house growing up than at his own, but she’d never known this had bothered him. Having Adam around had always been a way of life.

Needing to soothe him, she touched his arm. “Good thing for me they did, then. Who else would I have whomped all those times in Crazy Eights?”

“I was the Crazy Eights champ. Your memory’s flawed.” The corners of his mouth lifted in an easy grin.

“Well, maybe…” She again had that feeling of a shifting hologram. Adam the Dependable morphed into Adam the Sexy.

An unprecedented wave of desire rippled through her. She swallowed. As with his laugh, it was as if she’d never before experienced the charm of that grin. Sure he’d used it to cajole her into giving him his way hundreds of times before, but never had the mere curve of his mouth sent her pulse speeding.

Damn Kamira and her imagination. Damn this new Adam. His pupils dilated and he tilted his head. Did he feel it, too?

Lauren blinked, hoping the old Adam would slide back into view, but the new Adam remained, exuding sensuality. How had she not noticed before?

“I’ll get that.” Kamira stood, bowls in hand, her gaze intent on Lauren.

The wall phone in the kitchen pealed. By the look on her housemate’s face it wasn’t the first ring. “No. I’ll get it. I’m sure it’s Elliot. I’m supposed to have that marketing plan done.”

Without a backward glance she hurried inside.

ADAM PULLED INTO his driveway. His house loomed above him, dark against the blackness of the night. Why had he bought the monstrosity?

His footsteps rapped against the hardwood floor as he entered. He flicked on a light and the great room he’d once so admired stretched before him, still and devoid of life. He dropped into a leather chair set by the tiled fireplace.

“Honey, I’m home.” The words echoed through the structure.

He leaned back his head and closed his eyes. The silence pressed in all around him. He used to think he wanted peace and quiet.

He’d have stayed longer at Lauren’s, but she had her usual work she’d brought home. Besides, she’d seemed tense tonight. He could have sworn she’d breathed a sigh of relief when he’d hugged her goodbye. Sure, she’d come clean on the secret-admirer thing, but something else was bothering her.

She was keeping secrets.

Dinner had been enjoyable, as usual, in spite of his slip of the tongue. But something had changed when she’d come out on the deck. She had acted even more uncomfortable, or distressed somehow.

Moments from the evening drifted through his mind. Had he imagined it, or had she… Words escaped him. His stomach tightened. If he didn’t know better, he’d say she had reacted to his touch earlier. They’d danced together, even wrestled each other, but never before had there been…what? A feeling? An awareness?

And you think I’ve never thought of you in that way?

Was that what had rattled her? Surely she knew he’d never act on such passing instincts. Lauren was like a sister to him. Yet, the possibility tugged at the corner of his mind. Something new, something different had shone in her eyes when he had smiled at her earlier. The moment swept over him, her gaze soft, dreamy, the first rings of the phone going unheeded.

Could it be she wasn’t upset by his admission, that instead, she was intrigued?

“You’re losing it, Morely. Losing it.”

Even if Lauren was suddenly thinking of him in other than brotherly terms, she certainly wasn’t supporting his plans to settle down. She had sounded decidedly disappointed in his new scheme.

Couldn’t she understand he needed the warmth and energy that filled her house, made it a home? He missed all the evenings he’d spent with her there, playing poker, finishing some project she’d half started, knowing he’d pitch in to help, or just talking till the wee hours.

But that had been before she’d started the agency.

His gaze took in the oversize couch and matching chairs in warm plaids she’d helped him choose. She had a nice touch, had even managed to bring some of her essence into these rooms, though not enough to capture the same homey feeling of her town house. Furniture alone would not make this house a home.

People—warm bodies would help. A wife and kids really weren’t a bad idea. He hadn’t actually thought much about having either, until today. Actually, he’d told Lauren he needed a wife more to get her attention, but the idea had sounded right even as he’d said it. The patter of little feet, the smells of dinner cooking and the warm greeting of a wife, happy to see him after a long day’s work, held an intoxicating appeal when faced with the emptiness of his house.

He drew a deep breath. He had to face facts. Without Lauren, he didn’t have much of a life. Though she’d been too busy to notice, it’d been months since he’d taken a woman on a date. He couldn’t work up the stomach for it. Lauren was right. Meaningless sex wasn’t all it used to be.

He had to make something more of his life.

Exhaling, he rose. He plodded to the sprawling master bedroom. It was a shame she was so wrapped up in her work that she couldn’t see that she, too, was missing out. Having her life revolve around her agency might sustain her at the moment, but once she got her business on an even keel and learned to work smart, not hard, she’d realize what he’d just begun to know over the past year.

Work did not make the world go round.

As a contractual landscaper, he’d found more work over the years than he could handle on his own. With a full crew at his disposal, he spent much of his time meeting with landscape architects, implementing construction plans on site and inspecting projects. Sure, his work fulfilled him to an extent, but it wasn’t enough.

He stripped down to his Skivvies, then stretched out on his king-size bed, made up in the green and maroon linens Lauren had handpicked for him. At least she’d squeezed time into her schedule to help him shop. He couldn’t have done it on his own.

She’d been invaluable in choosing this house, too. Perhaps it wasn’t such a monstrosity, after all. Not only did it offer the flexibility needed to accommodate his plans, its market value had already increased by a tidy sum. She knew how to pick them. Now, all he had to do was get her to turn her energies toward finding him a wife. No one knew him better than she did. If anyone could find the right woman for him, Lauren was the one.

Unless, of course, she had thoughts of filling the position herself.

LAUREN TURNED from her computer as Elliot breezed into her office the next morning. With a grand gesture, he deposited a thick stack of flyers on her desk. “For Bennett’s mass mailing.”

Stifling a yawn, she glanced over the stack. “Too bad we couldn’t afford to have them folded.”

“You need a hand?”

“No.” She waved him on. “Go appease that atrocious director. He’s called twice and wants nothing to do with me. If Bennett wasn’t so adamant about using him on the commercials, I’d tell him to take a hike.”

“Ah, but if Mr. Bennett wishes to pay for a special caterer to stroke said director’s ego, where’s the harm?”

A dry laugh worked its way up her throat. “You know the money comes out of our pocket first, Elliot.” She cocked her head. “We’re cutting it close on this one.”

He waved a dismissive hand. “You know I can’t clutter my brain with those worries. Aren’t we in the black?”

“Yes, we’re in the black. Just not as much as I’d like to see us, but we’ll survive.”

She sighed. Lately, their funds seemed to be going out faster than they’d been coming in, but with the two small jobs she’d picked up that morning, they’d survive until Bennett paid them. Thank goodness Bennett’s bend toward extravagance blended with Elliot’s elaborate campaign ideas. As long as she could keep them afloat in the interim, the Bennett account offered the hope of a tidy profit.

Elliot helped himself to coffee, while she stirred creamer into hers. “We picked up two new clients this morning, and Nancy with Magic Cleaners called to say she thought the ad was simply decadent. She’s cutting us a check today.”

“Good. That’s great.” He gestured toward the door. “I’m going to get on that caterer.”

Steam curled from her mug moments later as she sat, stretching in a wide yawn. She’d hardly slept last night. It was Adam’s fault. What made him think he qualified as husband material, not to mention father material? He’d never had a relationship that had lasted more than a few months. What was he thinking?

After a fortifying gulp of caffeine, she grabbed her phone and punched in his number. She drummed her fingers, waiting for him to answer.

“Top of the morning. Adam Morely here.”

“What’re you so chipper about?”

“Lauren, could you hold a sec? Let me finish this other call.”

“Sure.”

A short pause followed.

“Entice Advertising, they’re at 500 Sun View—”

“Adam? You’ve still got me. Who are you giving my address to?”

“Damn. Hold on.”

Curiosity filled her as silence hummed across the line. Who was he talking to? A florist? No. She shook her head. She couldn’t let Kamira’s wild imaginings get to her.

“Lauren?”

A slight shiver ran through her at the sound of his voice. She shook it off. “What was that about?”

“Um…it was nothing.”

She straightened. “Come on, Adam, you were giving out my address.”

“Oh…yeah, well, I wasn’t going to say anything in case it didn’t work out.”

Her heart thudded. “What didn’t work out?”

“Just a referral.”

“Referral?” A twinge of disappointment pierced her. “Oh.”

“I met this guy who has a carpet-cleaning service. He needs help getting the word out, so I gave him your name. No big deal. Just this one referral.”

She drew a deep breath. “Great. Thanks. As long as you’re not out trying to round up business for us when you should be working on your own stuff.”

“No, ma’am. I take care of my business, too, while I’m soaking up the sun.”

“Okay, like I said before, we’ll take all the business we can get then.”

“Sure. Hey, do yourself a favor and get outside today. It’s incredible out. The sun is shining, the breeze is light. Perfect for a walk on the greens.”

She stiffened. “Don’t tell me I’m sitting here with three hundred or so flyers to fold and you’re playing golf.”

“I’m networking, love.”

“Adam, watch this,” a feminine voice called in the background.

“Who’s that?” Lauren asked.

“Gloria. She’s practicing her swing.” He whistled softly. “That’s a beauty.”

Irritation grated through Lauren. What on earth had she been worried about? Adam hadn’t changed. “The swing, or the girl?”

“Both, actually.”

“I knew you couldn’t be serious about all that settling-down talk.”

“I am serious.”

“Shall we?” the woman called to him.

“Lauren, I’ll call you later. We’re getting ready to tee off. Maybe we can get together again for dinner tonight. I’ve got to go.”

“Wait—”

He hung up. She stared at the phone a moment, then blew out a breath. What was she upset about? He was the same old Adam. All was right in the world.

Relief flowed over her. She had just been imagining the glimmer of awareness between them last night. She should have known not to let her housemate’s crazy ideas get to her.

Lauren turned back to her computer and frowned. So why was she suddenly feeling…jealous?

“ELLIOT, CAN YOU SEE Adam with a wife and kids?”

Lauren leaned in the doorway of her partner’s office. She couldn’t get her mind off Adam’s comments. Why did the thought of him as a family man send trepidation racing through her?

Elliot peered up at her over his half-rim glasses. No doubt, she was interrupting a brainstorming session. A red feather boa taken from a rack of lingerie in the corner draped his shoulders.

“Adam? You mean your Adam?” he asked.

“He isn’t my—never mind. Dumb question.” She turned to leave.

“What’s bothering you, doll?”

She pivoted back toward him, her arms wrapped tightly around her stomach. “Nothing. I’m fine.”

Elliot pursed his lips. “Adam wants to settle down, and you’re afraid you’re going to lose your best friend.”

With a sigh, she sank against the door frame. “Oh, God, it’s so stupid. I really do want him to be happy. I just feel so…disturbed.”

“Let me guess. He wants you to help him find this wife.”

She gave him a wry smile.

“And she’s supposed to be some upstanding citizen willing to sacrifice all for her husband and little bambinos.”

A small grin tugged at her lips. “That’s amazing. Do you read palms, too?”

“No, doll, I just see the obvious.”

“Obvious?” She stared at him. “How can it be obvious? I’ve known the man all my life, but never saw this coming.”

Elliot shrugged. “You don’t see the two of you together.”

She stared at him, eyebrows raised.

“I suspected this all along.”

“Suspected what?”

The desk chair creaked as he shifted back. He smoothed his hand down the row of red feathers. “C’mon, Lauren, surely you have some inkling?”

Exasperation rose in her. “Of what?”

“Seems to me you’re an upstanding citizen willing to sacrifice all for your cause.”

She stared at him in disbelief.

“First Kamira, now you. I am not in the market for a husband. And kids are out of the question!” She sliced her hand through the air to emphasize her point.

Elliot laughed. “For now, at least, but were you to put your mind to it…”

“My mind is on this agency. I don’t have time for anything else. You of all people know that.”

A loud buzzing announced a visitor’s arrival in their exterior office. Lauren turned as the mail carrier entered. She moved beside him as he set a stack of mail and a package on the desk they’d use for a receptionist, if they ever acquired one.

“Hey, Frank,” she greeted the heavyset man. “We thought you’d forgotten us.”

“Oh, no, ma’am. Got a late start. Had to run the missus downtown.”

“What have you got for us today?”

He pulled on his bushy eyebrow. “Usual junk, that package, but at least no bills.”

Her gaze fell on the parcel. “What’s this?”

His shoulders shifted in a shrug. “Beats me. No return address.” He heaved his mailbag more securely on his shoulder and backed toward the door. “You have a good one.”

She nodded, her attention on the mystery package. She turned it over in her hands. It bore a printed label, addressed to her. As Frank had said, the sender hadn’t included a return address.

Whatever it was, it had a solid feel to it. Anticipation stole over her. Was it another gift from a secret admirer?

“What’s that?” Elliot’s voice sounded beside her.

She started, then chastised herself for being jumpy. “Don’t know.”

He reached around her to scoop up the mail from the desk. “So, open it.”

For just a split second, she hesitated. Then, with a sigh, she tore at the tape binding the box. She held her breath as she removed the lid. A rectangular gift lay inside, adorned in floral wrap and tied in a satin bow. She lifted it out, then peered inside the empty container. “No card.”

“Here.” Elliot stooped to pick up a folded sheet of paper that had fallen to the floor. He handed it to her.

She opened it, then silently read the typed words.

Let me lie,

let me die on thy snow-covered bosom,

I would eat of thy flesh as a delicate fruit,

I am drunk of its smell, and the scent

of thy tresses

Is a flame that devours.

—George Moore (1852–1933)

“What’s it say?” Elliot peered over her shoulder.

She clutched the note to her chest, while heat bloomed in her cheeks. “It’s private.”

He nodded toward the package in her hand. “You going to open that, or should I leave first?”

Her gaze fell to the present. “It feels like a book.” She hesitated a moment, then tore away the paper.

She drew a deep breath as she turned what was indeed a book over in her hands. Rose petals covered the front. Nestled among them stood a pair of wineglasses, candlesticks and a serving dish filled with heart-shaped pastries.

“The Lovers’ Cookbook: Essential Ingredients to Sensual Evenings,” Elliot read over her shoulder. “Now, who did you say that was from?”

“I…don’t know.”

The phone pealed. She started.

Elliot grabbed the handset. “Entice Advertising, Elliot Star here.”

Again, his gray eyebrows rose as he glanced at Lauren. “Sure, Adam, she’s right here. We’ve just been opening the mail.”

She snatched the phone from him with unsteady hands. Had Adam sent the cookbook? Did he truly harbor such a romantic heart? “Hello?”

“Hey, sunshine. I’m getting ready to cut out of here. Are we on for dinner? I thought I’d push my luck and see if I could convince you to cook up another of your decadent dinners.”

3

THE CLOCK STRUCK eleven that evening as Lauren tossed the last flyer onto the stack heaped at one end of her sofa. Her stomach rumbled. Not only had she turned down Adam’s dinner proposition in favor of working some overtime, she’d skipped the meal entirely.

After staying late at the office, she’d brought home the file on one of their new clients to complete her marketing analysis. Then she’d gone on to ready Bennett’s flyers for the morning mail. She’d meant to keep her mind too busy to jump to conclusions about her latest gift.

The plan had failed miserably.

Was Adam her secret admirer? Goose bumps prickled up her arms. She eyed the rose-covered corner of the cookbook peering from beneath the avalanche of flyers. With a shake of her head, she slid the book free.

The phone on the end table rang. Who was calling at this hour? Her heart skipped a beat as she picked up the handset. “Hello?”

“Hi, sweetie,” Delores Bryant’s voice greeted her.

“Hi, Mom. What’s up?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Not much. Just wanted to say hello, see how you were doing.”

Lauren sighed. Her mother’s voice held a note of strain. “Come on. Claire giving you a hard time about paying the bills again?” Delores had some trouble getting her housemate to cover her share of the costs.

“No, when she postdated her check for the electric bill then went out and bought a new stereo, I stood up to her like you suggested.”

“Good for you.”

“She returned the stereo and wrote me a new check.”

“Great. So what’s the problem?”

“We’ve got a new district manager.” She managed a children’s clothing store in a local mall.

“Oh? What happened to old Bernie?”

“He got transferred.”

“So, you don’t like the new guy?”

“He just rubs me the wrong way. He doesn’t like the way we do anything. So we’ve got to redo everything—the way we place orders, the way we handle customers, the way we count down the drawer.”

“Don’t you have company policies on all those things?”

“He’s not changing the policies, just the way we follow each procedure, the nitpicky stuff. He’s got his own procedures within the procedures. He’s making everyone crazy.”

“Well, at least you don’t have to deal with him on a daily basis, right?”

“I don’t know. Now that the North Point store is picking up so much business, he’s talking about setting up his office here, letting this be his home base. He thinks we have the most potential and wants to help us ‘come into our own.’”

“Well, I’m sure you’ll win him over.”

“I’m not so sure I want to. Anyway, enough about me. Why are you home on a Friday night?”

“Mom, don’t start. Besides, I could ask you the same question.”

“Let me guess. You brought work home over the weekend.”

Lauren drew a deep breath. “It’d be really nice if you, at least, would support my decision to make something of myself.”

“Honey, I do. I wish Entice Advertising great success. You know that. I just don’t want you forgetting there’s more to life.”

“Believe me, between you and Adam, I’m not likely to forget.”

“So, how’s my number-two son?”

Lauren paused, considering keeping silent about Adam’s new direction in life. “He’s been acting…different lately.”

“Really? How so?”

She frowned. “He’s talking about settling down.”

A short silence hummed across the line, then Delores said excitedly, “Oh, this is wonderful! It’s about time. I was wondering when he’d come around. He’s always kept his word and I knew he wouldn’t let us down this time. What have you two planned?”

“I don’t know what he was supposed to keep his word on, but the plan is for us to find him a wife, pretty much the same way we found his house and furniture.”

“What do you mean, find him a wife?”

“Well, a serious relationship, anyway. He’s prepared to wait awhile before jumping into marriage.”

“He wants you to help him find a woman?”

Lauren’s gaze fell to the cookbook. “You know how he values my opinion. He likes consulting with me on most of his major decisions. Even when some of those are spur-of-the-moment.”

“Yes, dear, that’s why I always thought… Goodness, I can’t believe I’ve been wrong all along. Tell me, has your relationship changed since he decided all this?”

“Changed?” Lauren closed her eyes and dropped her head back against the sofa. She’d certainly changed. Seemed suddenly she got all hot and bothered whenever Adam was around.

“Has he indicated in any way that he might like to share this new experience with…well, with you?”

Lauren opened her mouth to protest, but Adam’s words echoed through her mind. And you think I’ve never thought of you in that way?

She sat forward. Was it possible Kamira, Elliot, and now her mother were right? “Mom, why do you ask?”

“You remember shortly before your father died. I had stayed the night at the hospital and Adam brought you and Rusty by that morning. You had that bunch of azalea blossoms and Rusty went with you to put them in water.”

“The vase I’d brought was leaking, so I had to track down a new one.”

“That’s right. While you were gone, your dad had one of his lucid moments and grasped Adam’s hand. He really recognized him for the first time in a long time. Dad was so happy about that. He told Adam how he’d always loved him like a son. I think we were all teary at that point. Anyway, that’s when Adam made that promise.”

The old ache of losing her father thudded dully in Lauren’s chest. “What promise?”

“He promised to look after you and care for you. He promised you’d never want for anything.”

Tenderness welled up inside her. Adam had been all of sixteen at the time. She swallowed past a lump in her throat.

“That’s incredibly sweet,” she said. “I wish I’d known that, but he has looked after me. We’ve always looked after each other. That’s what friends do.”

“I don’t know. Something about the way he said it…I took it to mean he intended for your relationship to one day grow into something more. Your father thought so, too. One of the last things he said was that he was sorry he’d miss seeing Adam become an official member of the family. You know, Rusty has always looked up to him, too. I think we’ve all felt that way.”

“Oh, Mom…I know how much you all love Adam. I can’t imagine how my life would have been without him. I just think that maybe you were jumping to conclusions about this.”

“But you think it may be possible?” Hope colored her mother’s voice.

It also stirred in Lauren’s heart. Could it be she wanted Adam to want her that way? “I’m not sure. Maybe…”

“Has he said anything that might insinuate he’s interested? Maybe he isn’t sure how to go about it with you.”

“It…it’s possible he’s been trying to tell me, but I’ve been afraid to listen.”

Lauren smoothed her hand across the cookbook. Her throat tightened. Surely, he didn’t mean for her to fill the role of wife and mother? If only he’d accept there was more than one kind of wife.

“Well, listen up, darling girl! You’ve got to give him a chance. I’ve always hoped the two of you would get together. I just never said anything because I wasn’t sure how you’d take it.”

“I’ll tell you what. I’ll start paying closer attention. If it looks like Adam’s interested, I’ll keep myself open to the possibility.”

“You do that, dear. I know you won’t be sorry.”

Lauren’s stomach gave a loud rumble. “I’ll talk to you soon, Mom.”

“Keep me posted, and tell Adam he should give an old woman a call every now and then.”

After hanging up, Lauren headed toward the kitchen, cookbook in hand. Was it possible? Could Adam be interested in taking their friendship to the next level? She stood for a long moment, staring at the heart-shaped pastries on the cover before opening the cookbook.

The book presented two kinds of recipes. The first were for the actual food, which contained an abundance of sauces and creams. The other recipes, which incorporated the first, displayed titles like “Sunday Morning Bubble Bath,” or “Moonlit Picnic for Two,” included explicit instructions on how best to serve each meal. Body parts tended to replace dishes, and fingers silverware.

Colored photographs showing couples “dishing up” the meals accompanied a number of the entries. Warmth filled her. Had Adam sent the book? Was this the level he wanted to take her to? She closed her eyes and imagined the two of them replacing one of the pictured couples.

With a lazy motion, Adam drizzled a honey glaze over her breasts, while she offered him a morsel of chicken. He accepted the bite from her fingertips, then bent to lick the glaze from her nipples.

Her body tensed, as sensual heat filled her. Her nipples tightened and her sex pulsed. If they became lovers, would they remain friends? Could she make love with him, risk losing his friendship forever?

A kaleidoscope of memories danced over her: a twelve-year-old Adam helping her set up her very first business, a dog-walking service; Adam standing and cheering wildly when she placed fifth in a local teen pageant; and finally, Adam holding her and keeping the world at bay after her father had died and she thought she’d break into a million pieces. He’d kept her together through it all.

Her heart swelled as realization dawned. All she had to do was convince him that he could be every bit as happy without overcomplicating his life. She could lose him to another woman, or risk losing his friendship, but if she gathered her courage she stood to gain so much more.

She was ready for the next step. She stood motionless as the possibility shimmered before her. Then she straightened, drawing her shoulders back and lifting her chin.

“There’s just one thing to do, then.”

She hugged the book to her front. The future stretched ahead of her, her path crystal clear. Since Adam seemed bent on remaining anonymous, she’d have to let him know of her interest.

She’d seduce her best friend.

ADAM’S STOMACH RUMBLED the following morning as he peered hopefully into his refrigerator. He peeled back the cover of a plastic container. “Hmm, what have we here?”

A fine covering of green coated the remains of some forgotten meal. Wrinkling his nose, he dumped the entire container into the trash.

Too bad he hadn’t talked Lauren into dinner last night. He’d settled for Chinese takeout, which had done the trick, but hadn’t stuck to his ribs the way one of her hearty meals would have. His stomach continued its protest as he scavenged his pantry to no avail.

He shoved an old can of anchovies back onto a shelf and straightened. There was only one thing to do. He’d go out for breakfast, and he’d drag Lauren along with him. Frustrating woman had probably skipped dinner last night.

Shaking his head, he grabbed his car keys. She worked way too hard. If he didn’t intervene, she’d probably waste away to nothing.

A scant fifteen minutes later, he pulled into her driveway. The maple tree in front scattered its golden leaves as he strode up her walk. He inhaled the early-morning air, crisp with the promise of fall. Bypassing the front door, he headed through a little gate to the backyard. The fountain he’d installed bubbled quietly at the center of a small flower garden. The curtains in Lauren’s bedroom window remained drawn.

“Stayed up late working, sleepyhead?” he murmured to himself as he searched the ground for a couple of pebbles.

With a practiced aim, he tossed the pebbles at her upstairs window. After the fifth throw, the curtains moved, then the window slid upward and she peered blearily down at him. “I’m sleeping.”

The sun caught her tousled hair, turning it a dazzling gold. She looked warm and rumpled and utterly attractive. A soft breeze rustled the thin fabric of her oversize T-shirt, skimming it across the swells of her breasts. He stood rooted in place, those generous curves holding him entranced, until he tore his gaze away.

“You worked late into the night, didn’t you?” He forced a note of accusation into his voice.

She spread her arms in a long, languorous stretch, again drawing his gaze to her breasts as they thrust forward in a most enticing way. The open neckline shifted, teasing him with a glimpse of her creamy shoulder.

His throat tightened. In spite of his long history of taming his libido around her, Lauren’s womanly nature proved impossible to ignore this morning. He couldn’t take his gaze from the clear outline of her erect nipples.

“Quit nagging.” She gathered the cotton shirt in her hand, pulling it up to reveal the soft curve of her belly. She rubbed it, running small circles around her navel. “Hmm…my stomach’s empty. If I don’t eat right now, I think I’ll drop. Let’s make breakfast, then you can tell me why you rousted me from my bed.”

Her bed. He stood speechless. Didn’t she realize her words, not to mention that little gesture, set his mind on a track he made a habit of avoiding? As her hand made another pass, he imagined his tongue following in its wake.

That he was having this fantasy about Lauren made it all the more intense. Forbidden.

What would it be like to make love to a woman he actually cared about? Not that he hadn’t cared for any of his previous partners, but he’d never felt the depth of attachment he felt for Lauren with any of them.

The idea invoked a strange warmth in his chest.

“Well, if we’re not going to eat, then I’m going back to sleep.” Her lower lip rounded in the sexiest pout he’d ever had the honor of witnessing.

“Uh, no. Breakfast, I mean, that’s why I came—I’m here…to take you to breakfast.”

“I don’t feel like going out.” She motioned him toward the back door. “I’ll meet you in the kitchen. We’ll see what we can cook up.”

Was he imagining that challenge in her gaze? His mind raced with the possibilities. She had been intrigued by the idea of them being more than friends. He hadn’t imagined the awareness in her eyes the other night.

He stood dazed, staring at the assortment of potted plants gathered by her back door. Then dropping to one knee, he lifted half a dozen of them before finding her door key.

Seconds later, he stood in her kitchen. His gaze fell on the table where they’d eaten so recently. It suddenly seemed small, intimate. Her footsteps padded down the carpeted stairs. His pulse raced.

He turned to face her as she entered, still wearing the oversize T-shirt. Rather than conceal her, its loose fit accented her curves with every movement. His gaze traveled below the hemline, down the tantalizing length of her legs. Apparently, she wasn’t wearing much else.

He’d seen her in various states of undress before, but he’d never reacted like this, not even when they’d gone swimming at their hideout by the lake and she’d worn that skimpy bikini of hers. What was different now?

She moved toward him, a smile playing across her lips. Her gaze drifted over him, sending his hormones tripping. She was different. He hadn’t been imagining it the other night. One thing he’d become very adept at over the years was reading the signals. As she closed in on him this morning, she was throwing out all kinds of signals.

Open-armed, she stood before him. “I need a hug. You’re right. I stayed up too late.”

She slid into his embrace, as she had done throughout the years, but her arms slipped tighter around his neck and she lingered long enough to imprint her body on his. A bolt of lust pierced him. Then she breezed away as though nothing unusual had passed between them.

He exhaled as she moved to the refrigerator. Maybe he was imagining it all. Without taking his gaze from her, he settled at the table. He’d follow her lead. What he’d do if she took him down the same path as his wayward mind he wasn’t sure, but the temptation of her forbidden fruit might prove more than he could resist.

“How about eggs Benedict?” She glanced back at him as she bent low over the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. The T-shirt rode up the back of her legs. Satiny, cream-colored panties teased him, hinting at the treasure guarded by her thighs.

A small groan escaped him.

Her eyebrows furrowed. She rubbed one hand over her hip, further exposing the sight of her covered mons for his view. “No? Maybe French toast, then?”

Somehow, he managed to move his gaze to her face. “Whatever you want, Lauren.”

The glow in her eyes intensified. “Eggs Benedict, then. I have a taste for something familiar but new.”

His throat constricted, so he nodded his agreement, then closed his eyes as she finished rummaging through the fridge. He drew deep breaths and tried to relax the tightening in his groin. This was Lauren, familiar, yes, but definitely new and exciting this morning.

Once he had his libido under control, he stirred himself to make coffee. Perhaps the task would busy his mind. She stood at the counter, whisking sauce in a bowl, and he leaned around her to reach the filters she kept in an overhead cabinet. He took advantage of the moment, fumbling with the filters, while he inhaled her warm scent. She smelled clean and earthy, without the trace of perfumes or soap.

“Excuse me,” he said as he pulled a filter from the stack and bumped against her.

“No problem.” Her gaze traveled over him again, and that same intriguing smile played at her lips.

Once he got the coffee brewing he took his seat, trying to relax as she prepared their meal, her gaze drifting to him on occasion. She hummed softly to herself, and he savored the sight of her hips’ gentle sway. Mouthwatering scents filled the air as the coffee gurgled and Canadian bacon sizzled on the stove.

“Taste.” She scooped sauce from a ladle with her finger, then held it to his lips.

He met her gaze, his throat tightening. By the glint in her eyes, they were definitely charting new territory here. His rational side reeled from surprise, but his adventurous side refused to quell its curiosity.

He drew her finger into his mouth, laving the sauce from her skin. She withdrew her finger, then dipped it again into the ladle.

This time, she took it into her own mouth, closing her eyes as she slowly withdrew it. “Mmm, it’s hollandaise, with a twist. I put a secret something in it, something I got from my new recipe book.”

“It’s decadent.”

Her eyes sparkled. “According to the recipe, the real secret is in how you eat the meal.”

With deft movements, she spooned the sauce over one plate, covering the layers of English muffin, Canadian bacon and eggs. Her teeth worried her bottom lip as she returned with the dish to his side, but her eyes remained bright. “You see, in this particular cookbook, they recommend sharing.”

“I like to share.”

Blood rushed through his ears. Was this really happening? She stood so close that he couldn’t resist the urge to slide his hand along the back of her thigh.

Her eyes widened slightly, and her breath stirred her lovely bosom, but she made no attempt to pull away. “Well, then, it says we should start like this.”

Lauren drew a deep breath. Excitement flowed through her. Balancing the plate, she straddled his lap. She’d dreamed of this last night. The dream still clung to her as she faced this flesh-and-blood Adam, his eyes brimming with interest.

She hadn’t been mistaken. He wanted her. Adam was her secret admirer.

“This is all rather sudden, but so far I heartily approve of this new cookbook.”

“Of course you do.” She gave him a pointed look.

“Silverware seems to be an option,” she murmured, pinching off a bite of the eggs. After setting the plate aside, she faced him again. Cupping her other hand to catch the dripping sauce, she held the morsel to his lips.

His gaze never left hers as he took the bite, then chewed slowly. “Eggs Benedict has never tasted this good.”

Lifting her hand to her own mouth, he urged, “Taste.”

She drew her fingers into her mouth, savoring the creamy taste and the shiver of awareness passing between them. Spatters of the sauce dotted her other hand, as well. “I forgot napkins.”

Before she could move away he took her hand, bringing it to his lips. “Allow me.” With deft strokes, he licked the drips of hollandaise from her palm.

Her heart quickened with each stroke of his tongue, filling her with confidence. “And you have a bit of sauce…”

Every nerve in her body stood alert as she leaned forward to skim her lips along the corner of his mouth. She flicked her tongue over the dab of hollandaise.

He angled his head. For one heart-rending moment, their breaths mingled, expectation hovering over them. Then he pressed his mouth to hers. Time stood still as he opened to her. The tang of the sauce melted from his tongue to hers.

Her breasts pressed against his chest. She shifted on his lap, stirring that part of him that had filled her dream with pleasure. Heat spiraled through her. He skimmed his hands up her sides as his tongue stroked hers with an intensity that sparked a hunger she had never known.

She broke the kiss, pulling back to gaze at him as she drew deep breaths. His pupils had dilated and his eyes glowed with sexual hunger. His lips beckoned, lush and inviting.

With a small groan, she leaned back into him, mating her mouth once more to his. She shifted again, giving him better access as his hands slid up over her rib cage. Desire burned in her as his thumbs traced the lower swells of her breasts, then found their taut buds. He teased them until she squirmed against him, pressing her cleft to his hardness.

She drew back, her breasts heaving. Then her gaze fell on the clock mounted on the wall behind him. Alarm raced up her spine. “Oh my God.”

He cupped her bottom and pressed her closer. “I know. Why haven’t we done this before? It’s incredible.”

All that work on those flyers, and she was already behind schedule. “Yes, no, I mean…it’s eleven-thirty. I have to go.”

“Go?”

Her gaze swerved back to him. “The post office closes in half an hour. I should have mailed those flyers yesterday.”

“Flyers?”

“I’ve got to get dressed. I’m so sorry.”

She pressed a quick peck to his cheek, scrambled off of him, then dashed toward the stairs. If she skipped her shower, she might make it in time.

“Wait!” His chair scraped the floor as he bolted after her.

A wave of guilt stopped her on the bottom stair. She pivoted to face him. “Adam—”

“Do I have an overactive imagination, or did we just get hot and heavy in there?” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.

Her traitorous body melted against him. “Um, yes, we got hot and heavy in there.”

His eyes rounded in disbelief. “And…you’re leaving?”

Frustration billowed inside her. “I have to.”

“No, you don’t.”

“I do. We’ve planned this whole campaign to tie in with the TV ads. Timing is everything. They should have gone out yesterday.”

“Okay. I’ll drive you. We’ll pop those in the mail, then come back here and…pick up where we left off.”

She cupped his cheek. “I wish we could, but I promised Kamira I’d help at the clinic today. She’s probably leaving Greg’s now to come get me.”

His eyebrows drew together. “You’re not running away because you regret that we—”

“No.” She traced her finger along his lower lip. “No. I had hoped we would…you know.”

He tipped up her chin. “Are you sure?”

She nodded and he ran his lips lightly across hers. “Then we will. Tonight.”

“Yes.” Her heart thudded. “Tonight.”

“I’ll see what I can rustle up at the grocery store, then I’ll pick you up from the clinic.”

Anticipation thrummed in her veins. “Yes.”

“Now, go take care of all your distractions. Tonight you’re all mine.”

“Yes.” She gasped. “Ohmygosh, I have to hurry.” She turned, then fled up the stairs.

“Oh, and Lauren,” Adam called. “Don’t forget that cookbook.”

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