An Indecent Proposal(9)

“Relax.” Jude laughed. “Tonight isn’t just any night. It’s your big night.”

No idea what she meant by that, and I certainly didn’t want to know.

By five to seven, I was more nervous than I cared to admit. I hadn’t been on a date in forever. Come to think of it, it had been more than two years. It wasn’t from a lack of requests and interest, but more that I was a busy person. There had been college and my search for work, which took up most of my time now.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea. I don’t even have time for Chase,” I muttered. His name rolled off my tongue so naturally, it was almost scary. Like it belonged there, with all the implications a sexy male name brought with it.

There, I had said it. He sounded sexy as hell and even looked the part. And we were going to spend time together.

This isn’t a date, Hanson.

Damn right it wasn’t. We were talking a business proposition. A job—if he was half civilized and up for playing the doting fiancé bull. Unfortunately, the knowledge that he was an actor probably desperate to be hired wasn’t helping in taking the edge off.

“Hey.” Jude snapped her fingers in my face again. I flinched and shot her a WTF look. She glared at me, but there was something strange about her. She was laughing at me, I realized.

Damn it!

Jude knew I was nervous, and she enjoyed every torture-filled second. My cheeks caught fire. I could feel the onset of a blush crawling all over my face and neck, and spreading down to my chest.

To my chagrin, the bell rang and Jude jumped up, dashing for the door before I could stop her.

“Wait. No, Jude.” My voice came out all croaky and weak. My heart began to beat so hard I might just be on the verge of having a heart attack. Voices carried over from the hall. Then the tinkle of laughter. Turning toward the open door, I strained to listen. The voices were muffled, but from Jude’s eager chatter, I could tell she was delighted and made no secret of it.

Oh, my god.

Any moment, I’d have to face him. I turned my head left and right, pondering whether I should maybe climb out the window and just leave. I could always pretend later that I had to pick up some milk and forgot all about the meeting.

“Laurie!” Jude yelled. I flinched and jumped back at the prospect of having been caught eavesdropping. Two pairs of footsteps thumped down the hall. I froze to the spot. She couldn’t possibly have asked him—

In they stepped.

I stared in horror at Jude’s toned body and then at the brown-haired guy towering behind her, and for a moment the entire situation began to play in slow motion before my eyes. Jude said something, but all I could do was stare at the guy behind her as I broke out in a sweat.

Fuckety hot!

That was all my mind could come up with, even though my monosyllabic and simplistic description of him couldn’t possibly do him justice.

He was stunning.

I should have been more articulate, but only six words came to my mind straight away.

Unbelievably stalkable. Fuckably sexy. Simply tastylicious.

He was so hot he couldn’t possibly be real. Perfect in every way, with dark brown hair framing a masculine face with a straight nose, and the kind of bedroom eyes that invited you to gaze into them right before you screamed his name as you came over and over again.

Hell, I wanted to scream his name, and he was probably not even that good. I mean, anyone who was physically that flawless must have an ego the size of the White House. The guy’s impossibly blue eyes turned on me, and an amused flicker appeared in them. He stepped around June with a wicked smile on his lips. My heart dropped in my panties.

Holy cow.

He was smiling at me—as if knowing I was attracted to him. That was the last thing I wanted. I forced myself to look away from this impossible beauty, only for my gaze to settle on his chest. Unfortunately, my hormones didn’t seem to care much just how unfortunate and awkward the entire situation was.

I wanted to run. I wanted to hide. But all I could do was stay glued to the spot while staring at the way his shirt seemed to emphasize the strong muscles in his arms and draw attention to his flat abdomen and strong thighs. I wondered if they were as hard as they looked.

“Laurie, this is Chase,” Jude said, pointing at him. Did I detect a hint of amusement in her voice? And if so, why was everyone laughing at me? Was it that obvious that I was terrified of being alone with this man?

I wanted to say something clever—something that would show him he hadn’t turned me into a half-wit—yet. But all I managed was a weak smile. I even found myself holding out my hand, then flinching as he leapt forward and grabbed it in his. I almost shrank back at how warm his skin was.