Jaime was the epitome of sexy. A complete alpha male with a gorgeous chiseled face, smoking gray eyes, and oozing sex appeal comparable only to Ethan’s golden-boy attraction. Jaime’s skin was deeply tanned, showing much of his well-known Italian-American heritage, and he certainly had the trademark Italian lean hips accented by his thick black leather belt. He smiled and took Mandy’s somewhat limp hand. It was hard not to feel weak seeing Ethan and Jaime side by side, one half-dressed and the other in an all-black getup, both with enough masculine appeal to have a normal woman hyperventilating from uncontrollable lust.
Jaime’s touch sizzled on her skin. “Nice to meet you. Mandy, right?”
“Yes,” Mandy let out on a croak, retrieving her scalded hand. “Nice to meet you too, Mr. Battista.”
Jaime grinned and took a swig from his bottle of beer. “My father’s Mr. Battista. You, beautiful, get to call me Jaime.”
“Jaime…you got it.” Mandy replied, lip quivering.
Ethan still had his arm around Jaime’s neck. “Isn’t she gorgeous?” Ethan queried with a half-smile.
“She’s hot, Ethan. Way out of your league, man.” Jaime grinned as Ethan scowled.
Mandy couldn’t help but smile as Jaime asked her, “So what’s your poison? Anything we can offer you before you get down to work on this profligate? I hear he’s finally got himself a new stylist. Hopefully we’ll start to see some improvement.”
“That’s what I’m here for, um…Jaime. And I don’t drink when I’m working. Maybe later.”
Jaime nodded with a smile just as a slender, skimpily dressed blonde came over to drape herself around him. Mandy suddenly felt really uncomfortable since all the woman seemed to be wearing was a bikini top and cut-off jeans too miniscule to be considered a pair of shorts.
“All right,” Ethan murmured when both Jaime and the woman started kissing with no preamble. Ethan gently took hold of Mandy’s elbow as she fought down a blush from watching the impromptu lip-lock between Jaime and the brazen blonde. Looking around the room, she realized that everyone had paired off, the couples paying no attention when Ethan pulled her away from the crowded room.
“I should apologize about that,” Ethan said once the doors were closed behind them, blocking out the sounds. “They all showed up an hour ago. I told them that I had a few things to do today, but they never listen. You sure you don’t want anything to drink?”
“No thanks,” Mandy replied. It wasn’t even noon, and yet these folks were already partying. Typical rock star lifestyle, she thought with disgust. She quickly reprimanded herself for allowing such stereotypical thoughts to rise to the forefront of her mind. She was here as part of her job, and regardless of what her own personal opinions were about the kind of life he led, she had to remember that she wasn’t here to judge him – she was here to better understand him so she could do her job, especially with the upcoming tour she was still dreading.
“Are you ready to get to work then?”
Ethan’s curvy lips slanted in a humorous smile. “Ever the professional, are we?” he teased lightly. “Well, okay then. Come up to my bedroom.”
Chapter Three
On any other occasion, being invited into Ethan’s bedroom might seem like something out of a very adventurous sexual fantasy conjured up by an obsessed groupie. Mandy could only imagine just how many women would die to be in her shoes.
Well, not her. Mandy prided herself on having sense when it came to men. Ethan was hot as sin, but he wasn’t her type. Besides, he was a client. She had to ignore the fact that he was opening the doors to his sprawling bedroom suite and leading her into the sensual atmosphere that oozed sex.
Mandy also struggled to ignore the monstrous canopied bed raised on its dais that occupied the center of the room. The suite even had a Jacuzzi displayed in full view while windows ran along one entire wall, revealing a gorgeous vista of the beach beyond.
Ethan was throwing open the doors of his wardrobe. Drawing in a breath, Mandy followed him into the walk-in space. Though it was easily the size of her whole bedroom at home, it still felt claustrophobic with Ethan standing just a few inches away.
You’re not a groupie, so stop acting like one. You’re a professional. You don’t even like Ethan.
Mandy silently repeated the words to herself again and again as she tried to focus on the task at hand – browsing through Ethan’s mammoth collection of clothes, boots, jewelry, and other accessories. Just one glance and she knew it would all have to go.
“Who picked all of this out?” Mandy said with a cringe as she lifted a ruffled-front shirt in one hand and a sleeveless T-shirt in the other.