The Seduction Game Read online

  Now, standing on the porch of her house, she squeezed her eyes to stop the bitter flow of tears. Miranda Payne was everything Kate was not. Beautiful, sexy, desirable, and as unabashedly bad as they came.

  As Kate jabbed her keys in the door she heard a peal of tires as someone slammed their brakes behind her. She frowned, spinning around. This was a residential street. Who was driving like a madman?

  Barbara slammed the door to her canary yellow convertible and marched up the walkway, her pretty features set in stern lines.

  “Let’s go inside so you can make us a pot of coffee. And then I’d like to hear about all this nonsense about a seduction game!”

  Chapter 2

  Kate had decided to purchase her home the moment she’d walked into it. She loved the large living room, the high stucco ceilings, the large bay windows. And every time she came home she always felt a calming release as she took in the soft earth tones, the open space, the leafy green plants.

  Now, with her younger sister trailing behind, she felt only tension.

  “Barb, I really don’t have time to explain everything to you. I need to get ready for my date.”

  “Then we don’t have much time to sort out this business about a seduction game, do we?”

  Kate winced. “I wish you wouldn’t use that term.”

  Barbara dumped her purse on the couch and turned around to face Kate. “What do you call it when you’re planning to masquerade as two different women, a sweet natured schoolteacher and a sexy vixen, to see which persona a man will be more interested in?”

  “Coming from an established psychologist who’s already written a string of bestsellers on relationships, I would call it research. Undercover research, if you will.” Kate was beginning to lose patience. She didn’t need her sister adding fuel to her own doubts. “I thought you’d be supportive. You love all my other books.”

  Barbara folded her arms across her chest, her silky pale blonde hair resting over one shoulder, and Kate silently admired her younger sister. She couldn’t help it. Even in a pink T-shirt and faded, snug jeans, Barbara still managed to look like she was ready to saunter down a runway.

  Kate didn’t want to think about her own appearance. Mall shopping with Lindsay meant comfortable clothing like the loose pair of tan pants, brown flats, and beige top she wore. Hardly the radiant image Barbara displayed. Kate felt dowdy and self-consciously brought a hand up to her secured hair.

  “Yes. I do love your other books, but there was no cloak and dagger stuff going on with them. Did it ever occur to you Adam Tyler might find out what’s going on?”

  “That’s irrelevant since he’ll never find out.” She caught the skeptical look on her sister’s face and stiffened. “Look, I’m a competent psychologist who specializes in human behavior. Give me some credit. Do you really think I’m going into this with my eyes closed?” Yes, you are, a nagging voice said in her head. She ignored it. “I may have a few kinks to work out, like when I can spring my bad girl persona on him, but I do know what I’m doing.”

  Barbara wasn’t budging. “Okay, convince me and I won’t tell Mom or Gail about this.”

  Kate gasped. “You wouldn’t! Don’t you dare tell them what I’m doing.”

  “I said convince me.”

  Kate sighed wearily. “Okay, but first I have to show you something.” She took Adam’s ad out of her purse and handed it to Barbara. “Here. Read it and tell me he’s not perfect for my research.”

  Barbara read it, slowly sinking on the couch. She raised a startled gaze to Kate. “I don’t believe it. He said tired of bad girls, wants to meet a nice girl. Your new book’s title. They’re the same.” She lowered her gaze to the ad. “What a coincidence.”

  “Yes, and it will also prove the results from all the research I’ve amassed the past few months. Meeting him as a nice girl and then a bad girl is Phase Four of my research.”

  Barbara still appeared dazed as she glanced up at her sister. “Phase what?”

  “Phase Four. Phase One was the hundred interviews I conducted with single men ranging from ages twenty-five to forty-five. I asked them about their likes and dislikes in women and they all gravitated to the same points. They want someone soft and feminine, yet confidant and strong. They want her to be thoughtful and intelligent, well-read and insightful. And they want a woman who likes to have fun and has a good sense of humor, For lack of a better word, they want a nice girl.” She noticed the spark of interest in Barbara’s gaze and continued before she lost her. “Then I defined another type of woman to them. A woman who uses her sexuality to manipulate men, dresses provocatively, is promiscuous, and uses slinky body language,scorching eye contact, suggestive behavior, touches a lot. My definition of a bad girl. The kind of woman who wants to pleasure only herself. A taker. A huntress who sniffs out her prey, marks their weakness and attacks.

  Barbara’s eyes widened. “What did they say?”

  Kate hid a smile. “They were enticed, a few even turned on, but bottom line was they all agreed that was not the kind of woman they would spend the rest of their lives with. During Phase Two I conducted case studies of fifty successful marriages. I wanted to find out what made these couples sustain their love and remain together. It all came down to three things. Trust, respect, and communication. Phase Three was fun. I placed two fake internet ads. In the first I pretended to be a vivacious blonde looking for a good time and in the second I pretended I was a successful entrepreneur looking for Mr. Right. Within the first week, the successful woman received more responses.”

  “Okay, so why Phase Four?”

  Kate’s gaze wavered for a moment. “To implement the results in a real live experiment and give credibility to all the research I’ve amassed.”

  “What if this guy turns out to be the man you’ve waited for all your life and you lose him once he finds out what’s going on. And you can wipe that look from your face. The world may see you as a veritable pillar of strength, but I know better. At heart you’re still that little girl who thinks her prince charming is going to sweep her off her feet.”

  “I already met my Prince Charming and he turned out to be a toad, remember?” Barbara’s face filled with sympathy. Kate didn’t want anyone’s pity. She’d survived her heartbreak. “Right now the only fairy tale I’m interested in is how I’m going to look convincing as Katrina, the bad girl. That’s why I need your help. When the time is right, I’ll need you to help me look…er…sexy.”

  Barbara’s expression darkened. “It would serve you right if you do fall in love with him.”

  “Have you been listening to me at all? I’m only going to see him twice. That’s not enough time to fall in love. Besides getting involved with a patient is morally wrong, and I would never compromise my professional code of conduct.”

  Barbara frowned. “Maybe Mom and Gail are right. Maybe you should start worrying less about other people’s love lives and start concentrating more on yours.”

  “I’m single by choice and it has nothing to do with Simon. I have everything I need. My home, my practice, my writing.”

  “What will you do if he recognizes you?”

  “He won’t. I only had my picture on my first book jacket, and that was five years ago.” She glanced at her watch. It was getting late. “Barbara, please, just stop worrying. I know what I’m doing, how I’m going to do it, and when to stop. And I can guarantee you I won’t be seducing anyone tonight. I’m sorry, but I have to get ready. I’m meeting him at seven.”

  Barbara rose, grabbing her purse. “Okay. Just don’t do anything stupid.”

  * * * *

  An hour later Kate parked her car a couple of blocks from the restaurant and exhaled a nervous breath as she slammed her door. With a shaky hand she touched the loose bun at the back of her head and adjusted her glasses perched on her nose. God, she welcomed the short walk. Fresh air was just what she needed. She flicked a glance at her appearance in a store window and eyed her newly purchased floral print su
mmer dress with satisfaction. It was pretty, the kind a school teacher would wear.

  She drew in a sharp breath as a few drops of rain spattered her arms. It had been raining on and off the past couple of hours. The streets were wet, the city gutters brimming with a steady stream of water. She shielded her glasses with her hand as she ran to the curb to cross the street, praying it wouldn’t pour till she was inside.

  Just as she was about to dash across the street, a sleek, black Jaguar glided in front of her and parked, splashing her dress in the process. Mortified, Kate glanced down at the damage. How was she going to meet Adam Tyler looking like this?

  She was ready to voice her indignation the moment the driver slammed his door, but the instant he turned to face her, she felt her breath catch in her throat as she stared up at the most piercing stare she had ever encountered. He stood very tall and eyed her with irritation.

  “There are easier ways of trying to kill yourself, ma’am,” he said, his voice deep.

  Kate stiffened, then frowned. “Look what you did to my dress.”

  “Your dress?” He barely flicked a glance to the damage he’d caused. Instead, he kept his gaze fastened on hers, his jaw tight. “I almost ran you down and you’re worried about your dress?”

  “You’re the one who wasn’t watching where you were driving. In fact, you were driving like a madman.” She caught an odd look on his face, a look she couldn’t define, but it disappeared too quickly for her to analyze it.

  “And what about the jaywalking law you broke? Are you immune to such laws or were you really trying to kill yourself?” He slipped his hand beneath his navy blazer and pulled out a wallet.

  “Here.” He offered her a few bills. “Take this. It will pay for the cleaner.”

  She eyed the money with distaste. “And how will that solve my problem?” she asked with disdain. “Do you know of any cleaner in the vicinity who can have my dress cleaned and pressed in two minutes? Not to mention have a robe handy since I’ll have nothing else to wear in the process?” She drew in a steady breath. “I don’t need anything from you,” she said, more calmly. “You’ve done quite enough.” And with that, she skirted around him and made her way across the street to Ricardo’s.

  Flustered, she stepped beneath the restaurant’s red and gold awning, her dress heavy and damp around her legs. She reached for the brass handle of the door, but a large hand beat her to it and a deep voice offered a curt, “Allow me” above her head. Kate stiffened.

  It was him.

  He stood behind her, slightly brushing her back as he went for the door. She felt a heat of awareness and stiffened.

  “Thank you,” she said stiffly and slipped into the restaurant.

  She headed for the ladies room, but a tingling in her back made her stop and turn around. The handsome stranger stood at the entrance, his flint-like gaze regarding her with an intensity that brought an involuntary flush to her cheeks. She promptly turned away.

  In the bathroom, she snatched a huge wad of paper towels and, as best as she could, dried the hem of her dress. Nervous about her impending date with Adam Tyler, and flustered from her encounter with the handsome stranger, she inhaled shakily and inspected her face in the mirror. She looked flushed and bright-eyed.

  She left the bathroom in a hurry.

  The maitre d’ informed her that her table wasn’t ready and she bit back her disappointment.

  “It will be at least a fifteen minute wait, Ma’am. You may wait in this line or you may take advantage of the cocktail lounge through those doors.”

  She offered him a polite smile and opted for the cocktail lounge. At least she would be able to calm her fluttering nerves with a Cosmopolitan before she met Adam. Kate checked her watch. It was five to seven.

  She sat at a vacant booth and surveyed the room.

  Dana hadn’t given Kate a description of her brother, but if sibling similarities had any part in it, Kate figured Adam had Dana’s striking red hair.

  Three men in the lounge had red hair, but the first one was with a woman, the second one was the bartender, and the third one, she noted wryly, was holding another man’s hand.

  She tensed her mouth as she took her journal from her purse and wrote: Male specimen late for date with nice girl persona. She underlined the words “nice girl” twice.

  She looked at the entrance and her breath caught as she saw the handsome stranger stride to the bar. He moved with grace and ease, his confidence unmistakable. She couldn’t help but feel curious about him. Whom was he dining with? In her mind’s eye, she conjured up a picture of a voluptuous blonde with pouty lips and sky blue eyes.

  This man radiated a male energy that filled the room and tainted her cheeks pink. And judging from the other women’s reactions, she wasn’t the only one who felt it.

  He swung around with a drink in his hand, slowly raising it to his lips, when his dark gaze collided with hers and his hand stilled in midair.

  Their gazes locked.

  She drew back sharply and jostled her Cosmopolitan, spilling some of it over the polished surface of the table. Her face burned. She snapped open her purse and grabbed a couple of tissues. The last thing she needed was him to think she was interested in him. He had enough attention from the other women in the room without her having to add to it.

  Kate mopped up the spill, stealing another glance at him. His gaze was fastened on her and his expression was clearly amused. Kate bristled.

  “Saw you staring at me, little lady. I figured you liked what you saw.”

  She stiffened, and turned towards the sound of the slurred voice. A man who had clearly had too much to drink stared offensively at her breasts.

  “Bradshaw. Jason Bradshaw’s the name. And you’re?”

  “Not interested,” she replied coolly.

  “All I want is a little company. Was I wrong? Too good for me?”

  Kate’s gaze flew to the entrance. Thankfully no one had arrived bearing Dana’s striking blue eyes and red hair, and she hoped no one would until she fended off this man. The last thing she wanted was a scene as Adam Tyler strolled in.

  “I’m sorry, but I’m waiting for someone. Excuse me.” She grabbed her purse and slid across her booth to stand.

  He planted his body in front of her, blocking her exit. “What’s the hurry, doll?”

  “I believe the lady said she was waiting for someone,” a deep, familiar voice said.

  Kate stiffened as she looked over the drunk’s shoulder. She stared up into the grim face of the dark-eyed stranger.

  The inebriated man took a step forward. “And I believe you’re butting in, Mister.”

  “If it’s trouble you’re looking for, perhaps you should look elsewhere instead of bothering a helpless woman.”

  Helpless? Kate felt a spark of indignation and narrowed her gaze to the stranger’s face. “Who are you call—”

  “Her, helpless? Naw,” the drunk cut in. “I think she’s a tigress in disguise.”

  She was about to speak, but the stranger intervened, his tone laced with menace. “You can make this easy for yourself or hard. It’s your call, Mister.”

  Kate glanced from one man to the other, watching them silently sizing each other up. She would have had a far better chance warding off the drunk using her logic and common sense rather than antagonizing him with the thinly veiled threats coming from the stranger. Not to mention the scene she would have avoided, but the stranger had deftly taken care of that, too. She only had to glance around the room and notice most eyes were on them.

  “You want a piece of the action, eh? Funny, she doesn’t look like the regular girls,” the drunk said. “I didn’t know she was a hook—”

  “I think you need some air.” The stranger grabbed him by the collar and dragged him to the doors.

  Kate groaned under her breath. This wasn’t good. It wouldn’t do for Adam Tyler to stroll in at this moment when everyone was directing their attention to her. Her dismay turned to ire.

>   But her anger wasn’t directed at the drunken man. Her anger was directed at the stranger who not only had an ego the size of Manhattan, but a me Tarzan, you Jane complex as well.

  “Are you all right?” the stranger asked once he returned.

  “I appreciate what you tried to do, but it wasn’t necessary. That man posed nothing more dangerous than acute rudeness.”

  His concern was replaced with a dark frown. What had he expected? That she’d fall into his arms in a heap of tears, sobbing her gratitude? And why was he just standing there, staring at her as though she had magically sprouted another head?

  “From my vantage point, you looked like you needed some assistance, Miss.”

  “I was hardly in any danger. Besides, he wasn’t going to do anything in a room full of people.”

  Those people were now going about their business as though nothing had happened. At least she wasn’t the center of attention anymore.

  “Regardless, you can’t be too careful, Miss. A woman drinking alone in a bar may draw some unwanted attention.”

  “I’m not drinking alone, as you put it. I happen to be waiting for someone, but even if I wasn’t, I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself without having to manhandle a handicapped man. He was so drunk he couldn’t even stand straight.”

  “That handicapped man was well over six feet and outweighed me by thirty pounds.” He ran a hand through his raven hair. “Look, I was only trying to help you. It is customary to say thank you in these circumstances.”

  She had the grace to feel ashamed. “Thank you.”

  With as much calm as she could muster, she left him.

  It was almost ten past seven and Adam Tyler would be making his exalted entrance soon. She fumed with indignation. He didn’t possess any manners at all! It was rude and inconsiderate of him to keep a lady waiting. At that moment, she didn’t know who irritated her more, the stranger or the insensitive Adam Tyler.