But her body? She might as well own stock in Joy Delivered, since she’d bought so many products from them over the years. There would be no harm in one more time with the man behind those magic toys.

4

Proposal

M: On my way. Had a last minute session that ran late.

J: Better not have been with a devilishly handsome CEO of a lingerie company or something like that

M: Jealous already, Jack? I assure you, you’re the only devilishly handsome CEO I refuse to treat. If you know what I mean.

J: I do. Oh, I do. I’d like to make sure I’m the only one you refuse to treat.

M: That shouldn’t be a problem. Incidentally, do you know any devilishly handsome CEOs who sell sexy lingerie? I’m in the market for a matching pair of white lace panties and a demi-cup bra.

J: I’d like to take you lingerie shopping.

M: For the white lace panties? Or do you have something else in mind?

J: The dressing room.

J: By the way, what color panties are you wearing tonight?

M: I would expect a man such as yourself would simply find out.

J: Oh, I will, Michelle. I will.

The red ball rolled along the sand and Michelle waited, waited, waited as tension and competitive hope coiled tight inside her. The ball slowed, and she clenched her fingers into her palms, willing the ball to pass the blue one of Jack’s on the way to the small white ball. Closer, just a bit closer.

Then the red ball lazily turned once more until it nearly kissed the white one.

She raised her arms in the air victoriously, thrilled to have won this round of the lawn bowling game.

“You’re on a roll today. First, your paper is accepted. Then you crush me at bocce ball,” he said, flashing her a grin. She’d told him about the end-of-the-day email, and that had called for a celebratory round of drinks, which had then turned into a celebratory game of bocce ball, here on the makeshift court in the back of the restaurant. She was on some kind of high, and surely that had contributed to her victory. She’d called her brother, Davis, on the cab ride over to share the news, and he’d been thrilled. She’d also emailed Carla, her mentor, who’d replied with an all exclamation points email.

“It’s my lucky day,” she said, thinking it was more like a lucky night and day since it had started twenty-four hours ago when she’d met him.

Jack extended his hand as if they were gracious competitors and he was congratulating her winning game. But as he took her hand, he surprised her by tugging her in close, then planting a searing kiss on her lips. One that delivered a red-hot blast of lust right through her body, and sent all that winning glee whooshing out of her. In its place was a hot new wave of longing.