OPERATION BABE-MAGNET / OPERATION BEAUTY

by Kristin Gabriel

  That's when he'd suggested they go to his apartment. She'd agreed, and even let him retrieve his shirt and shoes from his gym locker.

  His hand shook slightly as he turned the key in the lock, then swung the door open. His head had been roaring ever since he'd taken that hit in the jaw. Or maybe it had started before that. As soon as he'd seen Lauren staring up at him with that killer smile of hers.

  What he couldn't figure out was why was she smiling? She knew his secret. He'd seen the look on her face when Philomena had told her the whole sordid story. Had she convinced herself it wasn't true?

  That thought cooled Sam's blood more than the brisk walk from the gym had done. It was bad enough to have to reveal his shortcomings when he was playing Philomena. He wasn't looking forward to repeating the experience.

  "Nice place," Lauren said, following him inside.

  The apartment was cool and dark. Sam walked into the living room and switched on a table lamp, glad he'd picked up the place. "It's a little dusty."

  "Makes me feel at home." Then she proved it to him by walking up to him and rumpling his hair with her fingers at the same time she leaned into him for a kiss.

  Sam sighed into her mouth, all his good intentions of keeping his distance melting away at the taste of her. He wrapped his arms around her slender waist and pulled her closer, his pulse pounding in his veins.

  Her hands slid down his chest to his waist, her fingers tugging his shirt out of his sweatpants. She slid her hands underneath to explore his bare skin.

  Sam was powerless to stop her. He'd thought of a thousand reasons not to let this happen on the walk over here. But now they all jumbled together in his mind until he couldn't enunciate even one of them.

  She tugged his shirt up over his head. It fell soundlessly to the floor as her hands slipped inside the waistband of his sweatpants.

  He jerked slightly and she pulled away, a concerned frown crinkling her brow. "I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?"

  Her fingertips lightly brushed the swollen side of his jaw, which he could tell without looking in a mirror was starting to bruise.

  He captured her hand in his own. "No. You didn't hurt me."

  But he might hurt her if he let this go on a moment longer. He took a step back from her to regain his equilibrium, but found himself unable to let go of her hand. "I'm not the man you think I am."

  "Because you can't read?"

  He winced at her bluntness. The memory of his mother's disgust rolled over him. He'd been running from it his whole life. It was time he face it. Faced who he really was. "Yes. I'm a twenty-seven-year-old man who can't read a newspaper. Or work on a crossword puzzle." His voice caught as he looked into her beautiful eyes. "Or write a love note to the woman I adore."

  "So?"

  He blinked at her nonchalance. Did it really not matter to her? Did she really still want him—flaws and all? The fear that she'd regret it later made him grab her shoulders and speak more harshly than he intended. "So what the hell are you doing here with me? You deserve better, Lauren. Much better."

  Her eyes flashed. "Do you think this is easy for me?"

  He dropped his hands. "Of course not. And I appreciate the fact that you're trying to pretend it doesn't matter."

  "I'm not talking about you," she said, shoving her hand against his chest. "In case you didn't know, I'm not the kind of girl to waltz into a gym and try to seduce a man in front of perfect strangers. It took every ounce of courage I had. And do you know why I did it?"

  He shook his head, too surprised by the passion in her voice to speak.

  "I did it because I admired you so much."

  His jaw sagged. "But…"

  "Let me finish." She took a deep breath. "When Philomena told me you couldn't read, I found it hard to believe. You're one of the most intelligent, creative men I've ever met. So I got one of my college professors to pull a few strings and access your transcript at Carthage. For some reason, they never forwarded it to your new school in Pittsburgh."

  He knew the reason—his mother.

  "According to the records, you were diagnosed as dyslexic when you were eleven."

  He stilled. "What?"

  "They tested you at that private elementary school and diagnosed you with a learning disability called dyslexia."

  "I've heard of it," he said, his head spinning. Why hadn't his mother told him his problem had a name?

  Because she'd been too worried about the reflection on the Kane family name.

  The school must have called her after conducting the test. That's when they'd suggested Sam take special classes to help him overcome his problem.

  I can't believe any son of mine belongs in special ed. I told them it was a mistake. It just has to be! Her strident words rang in his head as clearly as if he'd heard them only yesterday instead of all those years ago.

  "It's not too late, Sam," Lauren said softly. "You can still learn to read. If you want to."

  He swallowed. "If I want to? Of course, I want to! Don't you think I've tried?"

  She placed one hand gently on his chest. "They're developing new techniques for overcoming dyslexia all the time. All you need is someone to teach you how to do them. If anyone can do it, I know that you can."

  "How can you be so sure?"

  She took a deep breath. "Because the man I love can do anything."

  He stared at her, his heart hammering so hard in his chest he was certain she could see it. "You love me?"

  "Yes," she breathed. "And just so you know, saying it out loud is the most difficult thing I've ever done. You might have a learning disability, but I think I have some sort of love disability. I've been so scared of letting myself get close to a man again. But I don't want to push myself on you, Sam. If you don't want me…"

  He stopped her words with a kiss, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. Then he lifted his head just far enough to look into her eyes. "I want you. I want you so much, Lauren."

  Her eyes widened. "Really?"

  He scooped her up in to his arms. "Really."

  She circled her arms around his neck as he carried her into his bedroom. He might not be able to read a book, but he could read a woman. And Lauren was apprehensive. Probably worried that she'd disappoint him. He couldn't wait to prove her wrong.

  Lauren's pulse skyrocketed when Sam kicked his bedroom door shut behind them. She'd almost reached the point of no return and panic was setting in. It had been so long since she'd made love. What if she'd forgotten how to please a man? What if she'd never known in the first place?

  When they reached the foot of the bed, he slid her down the length of his body and she could feel the warmth of his bare chest through her silk blouse.

  "I think one of us is overdressed," he said huskily.

  She glanced at the two large windows, the sun streaming through to illuminate every crease and flaw on her body. "Maybe we should close the curtains."

  "We're on the tenth floor." He moved a step closer to her. "Nobody can see us."

  She swallowed convulsively as his fingers reached for the buttons of her blouse. He popped them open one by one, not saying a word. His silence made her nervous. Then her blouse fell open and her cheeks flamed when she saw him looking at her lacy white bra. It was Ladybug Lingerie's top-of-the-line bra. A new model named the Seductress.

  He leaned forward and kissed the top of her breast, the gentle touch of his lips sending a tingle through her body.

  "You are so beautiful," he murmured, his lips skimming over her breast.

  She took a shaky breath as he slid one strap of her bra off her shoulder. "You don't have to say that."

  He slid off the other strap. "Yes. I do."

  She closed her eyes as he kissed her again, easing her panic. Her head tipped back as his tips traveled the length of her throat. The next moment, she realized her bra was on the floor and Sam was gently palming her breast in his hand. His fingers stroked and teased, drawing a moan from deep within her.

 
; "So beautiful," he breathed, kneeling to kiss the tip of one breast. When his tongue stroked her nipple, her knees buckled and she fell onto the bed. He followed her there, determined to satisfy his craving.

  She lay on his bed as he lavished attention on her breasts with his hands and his mouth, making time stand still. Lauren had never felt so cherished. Or so loved.

  Her hands ruffled through his hair, then she pulled him up to her, kissing him with all the desire and passion that had lain dormant inside of her for so long. This time he was the one who moaned, his body telling her that he wanted her as much as she wanted him.

  His languid kisses became more heated, his fingers fumbling with the button at the waist of her skirt. She helped him unfasten it, then watched him slowly pull it down the length of her legs. She saw his eyes widen when he glimpsed her crotchless panties.

  "Did I ever tell you how much I like your job?" he said huskily.

  She smiled, then leaned up to loosen the drawstring on his sweatpants. "Did I ever tell you that I've been imagining you naked since the day we met?"

  He stood up and quickly shed his sweatpants and the boxer shorts underneath. "You don't have to imagine anymore."

  Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of him. One thing was perfectly clear—she had a lousy imagination. None of her fantasies had come close to the magnificence of Sam Kane in all his naked glory.

  He turned to open the drawer of his nightstand, drawing out a square, foil packet and ripping it open. The next moment he was beside her on the bed again, the length of his hard body pressed against her.

  Lauren closed her eyes, relishing the sensation of skin-to-skin contact. His hand slid over her hip, branding her with its warmth. Then he leaned closer to capture her mouth with his own, his tongue slipping inside.

  She fell onto her back, Sam following her, touching her everywhere. She could feel a heart pounding against her chest, but wasn't certain if it was hers or his. Then he deepened the kiss and it simply didn't matter any more.

  Lauren became lost in the passion of their kisses, amazed at how perfectly they fit together. Then he was inside of her and she couldn't think about anything except the waves of desire lapping at her body. She held on to his broad shoulders as he rocked above her, his steady, insistent rhythm urging her to a place she hadn't been for far too long.

  Then a tidal wave of feeling caught her unaware, breaking the tension that had been building up inside of her. A primal cry erupted from her throat, the wave carrying her into the oblivion of ecstasy. Sam called out her name above her, caught in the same dizzying whirlpool of pleasure.

  When she finally came to herself again, he was in her arms, his body heavy on top of her. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his neck, kissing the tender skin she found there.

  Neither one of them said anything for several long moments, their heavy breathing the only sound that filled the air. Then Sam rolled over on the bed, taking her with him so that she lay on top of him.

  But instead of seeing a satisfied smile on his handsome face, she was taken back by his serious expression. "Is something wrong?"

  He hesitated just long enough to make her nervous. "I've never said this to a woman before…"

  A latent twinge of insecurity caught her deep in the chest. Making love to Sam had been the most incredible experience of her life, but maybe he didn't feel the same way. Despite her impulse to silence him with a kiss, she took a deep breath and prepared for the worse. She wasn't going to run scared anymore. "Go ahead. You can tell me."

  Sam looked into her eyes. "I think I'm falling in with love with you, Lauren McBride."

  * * *

  14

  « ^ »

  Lauren felt a little dizzy at hearing Sam's declaration of love. She propped herself up on her elbow and trickled her fingers through the hair on his chest. "Say it again."

  He gazed sleepily at her. "I love you."

  "A girl could get used to hearing that."

  "Good. Because I intend to say it often." He moved closer to her. "I love you, Lauren."

  She leaned down to kiss him, one hand cradling his jaw. She felt the scrape of whiskers against her palm, then his body shifted against her and she knew he wanted her again. They made slow, lazy love as long shadows stretched across the bedroom floor.

  "You don't know what you do to me," Sam breathed, as he lay heavily on top of her.

  "Maybe it's not me," she teased. "Maybe it's this new Seductress bra I was wearing. It just arrived today."

  He leaned down to kiss her. "It's you. It's definitely you."

  She smiled against his mouth, sheer joy pulsing through her body.

  Then he rolled to his side and brushed a tendril of hair off her brow. "I think we should stay in bed all day."

  She glanced at the alarm clock on the night table. "I'd love to, but I have a class in twenty minutes."

  He kissed her again and almost succeeded in changing her mind about leaving him. But she forced herself to leave his bed. He folded his arms behind his head and watched her as she reached for the Seductress bra.

  "I'm not sure you should wear that to class," he teased. "It's sure to cause an unfair disadvantage to all those poor male students who won't be able to take their eyes off of you."

  She tossed the bra to him. "Okay. I won't wear it."

  He caught it, then half sat up in bed. "Hey, I was just kidding."

  "I know, but this is a day for me to be a little daring." She pulled her blouse on, then reached for her skirt. "Besides, no one will be able to tell."

  "I beg to differ," he said, his gaze trailing over her body.

  She turned and searched for her shoes before he enticed her back into his bed.

  He lay back against the pillows. "Can I make dinner for you tonight?"

  "Depends," she said, finding her shoes tucked under the bed. "Are you as good a cook as Philomena?"

  He didn't say anything for a long moment. "You could say we learned to cook together."

  "Then it's a date." She leaned down to kiss him. "I'll be here at seven."

  "I'll be waiting."

  She headed out of the bedroom, then turned at the door. "Oh, one more thing."

  "Yes?"

  "Don't bother to dress for dinner." He flashed a grin. "I won't."

  Sam woke from his nap slowly, looking around his bedroom in confusion. Then he saw the Seductress bra laying on top of the quilt and the events of the afternoon all came back to him one delicious rush. He'd made love to Lauren. And they had been even more incredible together than he'd imagined.

  He smiled, picking up the Seductress bra by one lacy strap. This was the reason he'd been sent on this odd mission in the first place. The reason he'd met the love of his life.

  Made of spandex and lace, it didn't look all that special. Although when he'd seen Lauren in it, he'd been half-mad with desire for her. But he couldn't give the credit to the bra. It was the woman who wore it.

  He tossed the bra aside, then breathed a long sigh as he lay back on his pillow. It could work between them. He could make it work. All he had to do was keep playing Philomena for another three weeks. Once Lauren's promotion was secured, he'd send his cousin away for good.

  The deception still bothered him, but what choice did he have? Lauren needed Philomena to complete the Ladybug training program. If she knew the truth, Sam was certain her pride and integrity wouldn't allow her to let the charade continue. She'd lose everything—because of him.

  Sam couldn't let that happen.

  A knock at the door made him groan under his breath. He was tempted to pretend he wasn't home, but the thought that it might be Travis standing outside his door made him lumber out of bed and search his closet for his blue terry cloth robe. Then he remembered that he'd taken it over to Lauren's apartment for Philomena to wear.

  The knock sounded louder and more insistent as Sam gathered the clothes he'd left scattered over the carpet. "I'm coming," he shouted.

&
nbsp; A few moments later, he walked into the living room, slid the chain off the lock, then opened the door. A messenger stood on the other side.

  "Sam T. Kane?" the messenger asked, holding a small white envelope in his hand.

  "I'm him." Sam reached for the envelope.

  The messenger handed it to him, then waited, his hand still outstretched.

  Sam patted the empty pockets of his jeans. "Hang on a minute." He turned toward the end table, where he kept an ashtray full of loose change. After tipping the messenger, he closed the door and studied the plain white envelope, turning it over in his hand.

  Then he sat down on the arm of the sofa and tore open the seal. He knew as soon as he pulled out the familiar game card that it was from his grandfather.

  He could make out a few of the words printed on the card, but not enough for it to make sense. He'd either have to find someone to read it for him … or put an end to the game once and for all.

  Sam paced back and forth across the floor in his grandfather's luxurious private office at the Kane Corporation. Amos was in the building, according to his secretary, but all her intercom pages had gone unanswered. Sam checked his watch, wondering how much longer he should wait. Especially since he had a special dinner to prepare for Lauren.

  "Well, this is certainly a surprise." Amos stood in the doorway to the office, wearing a lime-green blazer and green plaid slacks.

  Sam breathed a sigh of relief. "Didn't your secretary tell you I was in here?"

  "Sally was away from her desk." Amos closed the door behind him, then folded his arms across his chest and studied his grandson. "Something's different about you, Sam. But I can't quite put my finger on it."

  I'm madly in love. But Sam wasn't ready to tell his grandfather about Lauren yet. Not until he settled the unfinished business between them. "I came here to tell you I'm quitting the game."

  Amos walked over to his leather office chair and sat down, folding his hands over his potbelly. "Are you sure that's a wise decision? You've only got five days left before your gig is up. You'd be throwing away your share of the company—worth well over a million dollars."