Thank Christ no one knew that Cassie King was her “stage” name, and that her real name was Cassandra Kingston aka the-previously-married Cassandra Preston. Apart from the dinner parties he held for his clients, he was damn glad now he’d kept Cassie away from anything else to do with his job. No one should recognize her voice as that of his ex-wife. Even the promo picture he’d seen on the station website didn’t really look like the old Cassie from their marriage. She’d colored her hair and made it more blonde, and she wore it in a different style now.
At least he hoped no one recognized her.
And prayed.
Robert and Margo Thorpe-Ashton would be horrified. It would give Robert in particular, the ammunition to stop the wedding. Robert already suspected him of wanting to marry their daughter for the money, and while Steve had never professed to be a saint, there were some things he’d told Alicia that Robert didn’t know. A slight twisting of the truth. Thankfully this latest development with Cassie wasn’t something the older man would easily connect to him.
Yet.
If he did… if he realized his future son-in-law’s ex-wife and her “dirty” little show could be publicly associated with the Thorpe-Ashton name, then Robert would find a way to get Alicia to call off the marriage.
Of that he was certain.
CHAPTER TWO
The buzz of the doorbell drew Zac up through layers of sleep and he flicked on the lamp, flooding the bedroom with light. He looked at the clock. Terrific. Adam hadn’t mentioned anything about midnight callers to his Downtown Chicago penthouse.
Where was Adam anyway? Probably snoring his head off in his bedroom. So let him answer the door. It was his apartment.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
Throwing back the covers, Zac swore under his breath and pushed himself out of bed. This had better be an emergency, he decided, throwing on a towel bathrobe over his boxer shorts and striding through the living room. If not, there was going to be one for the person on the other end of that buzzer.
Flinging open the door, he looked straight into the beautiful eyes of the lovely Cassie King. He blinked to make sure he wasn’t seeing things.
Or dreaming.
Oh baby.
If this was a dream it was exactly the sort he liked, he mused, letting his gaze slide over the halo of vibrant blonde hair framing her face. Elegant brows set-off a pair of eyes that could scorch a man with either anger or desire. Her straight nose spanned down to a mouth he itched to trace with the pad of his finger. Her temptingly curved chin arched down the long column of her throat.
Just then her gaze flicked down through his open bathrobe, to his bare chest, to his boxer shorts then up again, just like her hand would stroke him if she were so inclined. “You’d better have Velcro on those boxers, buddy,” she quipped throatily, as she passed by him into the apartment.
Heat washed through his body, but he managed a bemused laugh and shut the door behind her. “You take your chances when you come in here.”
She stopped in the middle of Adam’s living room and twirled to face him, her gorgeous figure hugged by the tight top and short skirt, and so bloody sexy it could easily send a man reaching for his Playboy.
“I like to live dangerously,” she said, a slight flush inching up her throat that he found very interesting.
Before a certain part of his body could start rising like a phoenix, considering he really hadn’t been with a woman in a while, he headed across to the bar to get a glass of ice water.
“In case you’re wondering,” she said, behind him, “the concierge let me in. He listens to my show.”
So, the concierge was a sucker for her pretty face too. It didn’t surprise him. What did surprise him was her coming here so late. He’d expected to see her tomorrow sometime. This woman was certainly turning out to be the unexpected. He liked that. “You do realize the time?”
She winced. “Yes, and I’m sorry. I was going to wait until morning, but then I panicked and thought you might go out before I could catch you.”
“I don’t usually go sightseeing before first light,” he joked, pouring the water into a glass. His own chances of getting back to sleep were nil now anyway. The minute he shut his eyes he’d be imagining her tossing and turning between the sheets. Naked, of course. With a sweet feminine scent rising up from her body…
Just then, there was a noise behind them. Zac looked past her and saw Adam standing in the other doorway in his pajama bottoms. To the left of him, the floor-to-ceiling windows showcased the night lights of the North Michigan Avenue skyline.
“I heard someone talking,” Adam muttered, his eyes half-closed as he sleepily scratched his blond head.
Which was better than scratching other body parts, Zac mused. “Go back to bed, Adam.”
Adam blinked. “What?”
“I can handle this.”
Like a snake sensing prey, Adam’s antenna seemed to sense a beautiful woman in his apartment. As if someone had clicked their fingers in front of his face, he came wide awake.
And sent her a sexy, admiring look. “Hi, I’m Adam.”
She smiled back. “Cassie.”
“You’re here to see me, I hope.”
“Nope, she’s here to see me,” Zac said pointedly.
Only, Adam didn’t take the hint. He jerked his head toward Zac. “Hey, you don’t want to see him,” he told Cassie with a lingering grin. “He’s one of those foreigners. He can’t be trusted.”
She nodded, as if she totally agreed and Zac felt like he was losing ground here. If anyone couldn’t be trusted it was Adam. Not with a woman anyway. “Adam, go back to bed before you catch a chill.”
A flash of humor crossed Adam’s face. “You’re right. It is getting a bit icy in here.” He winked at Cassie before disappearing back down the hallway. She stood looking after him, then turned to look at Zac, a sudden suspicion in her eyes. Good grief, she didn’t think…
“Hey, no way, lady. I’ve already said I’m not gay. Neither is Adam. We’re not bi-sexual either. There’s two bedrooms back there. Adam’s sleeping in one and I’m in the other. Alone.”
Apart from the toy soldiers, that is.
“Did I say anything?” she said, eyes widening with false innocence, but he could see the relief at the back of those green eyes. And that meant she recognized the possibility she may have sex with him one day.
He groaned inwardly, resisting the urge to scoop her up in his arms and carry her off to his bed this instance. “No, but I’m sure you will.”
She shrugged her slim shoulders. “It’s my job to ask questions.”
One brow rose. “You’re a reporter?”
She pulled a face. “Well… no. I’m not trained or anything. I just sort of ended up on the show.”
He gave a short laugh. “That’s funny. So did I.”
She smiled, then as quickly she turned serious. “I need to ask you something,” she said, and they were back to them.
Pleased, he took a sip of his water before answering. “Fire away.”
The tip of her tongue snuck out to moisten lips that didn’t look in the least bit dry to him. They looked full and luscious.
“Will you come back and be on my show for the next couple of nights?”
“No.” But she could moisten his mouth with her tongue anytime she liked.
Her eyes widened but not in a hesitant way like before. She looked incredulous. “You’re not even going to think about it?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
He shrugged. “My reasons haven’t changed from a couple of hours ago.”
She shot him a withering look. “A couple of hours ago you said you’d do it.”
“Yes, but only if you had dinner with me.”
She stormed toward him at the bar, stopping a few feet away. Zac had never seen a woman with heaving breasts before, but heave they did. With outrage.
Fascinating.
“Listen, buster. I may lose my show if you
don’t do it.”
That pulled him up short.
He frowned. “Did Leon threaten to fire you for not having dinner with me?”
She made a dismissive gesture. “Of course not. Leon wouldn’t do that. We’re friends.”
“So what’s the problem?”
Her chin lifted in an oddly proud way. “Leon told me tonight that the show has a chance at being syndicated statewide. We’ve been doing extra well with the ratings, you see.”
“Hey, that’s great.” He was pleased for her.
She winced. “It would’ve been, but after your appearance tonight there’s no way our listeners won’t want more. If we don’t give it to them then ratings might fall, and that’ll be your fault.”
He felt a twinge of guilt. She had him there. He should have come clean as soon as he realized she thought he was the other guy. Only, he’d enjoyed baiting her, then flirting with her, and he didn’t think there would be any harm in having some fun. He hadn’t expected there to be quite such a reaction from the public about all their sex talk though. He should have stuck to talking about Australia.
“Listen, Zac. Whether we like it or not, the ratings lifted the roof tonight. If you don’t come back, I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to keep my job. At least if you do a couple of shows this week, it’ll give Leon time to round up some other guests from next week onward.”
The guilt increased.
She took a step closer. “What will it take to get you back for another couple of segments?” Then she held up a manicured hand. “And don’t say sex, dinner, or dancing naked on tables. As much as I want my show to succeed, I will not be blackmailed into spending more time with you than necessary.”
“So it’s not multiple choice then?”
Her mouth curved into a sweet, sweet smile. “Only if I think up how many ways I can kill you.”
He grinned. “That’s not a very nice attitude from someone who wants a favor of me.”
“Begging was never my strong point.”
“That’s a shame, if I may say so.” She opened her lovely mouth to speak, but he didn’t want to hear the death threat that was no doubt on her tongue. “Okay, Cassie. I’ll do it. But only on one condition.”
Hope then wariness flashed across her face. “Er… yes?”
For all that he wanted to go out with her, it seemed prudent to hold back about the dinner right now. He’d be happy with just seeing her again tomorrow night. For the moment he’d give her a bit of space and let her get used to him. “That you let me walk you down to your car. It’s the middle of the night and I wouldn’t forgive myself if anything happened to you.”
Her tight expression relaxed into a gorgeous smile that showed white teeth and kissable lips. “Not in those boxers, I hope?”
“I can take them off, if you like.” She only had to say the word. Of course, he’d probably hit the floor dead before that could happen. Still, he liked a good challenge.
A tinge of pink entered her cheeks. “Do you know the penalty for indecent exposure?”
“Standing naked in a corner?”
Her laughter was soft and husky. “Yeah, with a sign saying ‘pervert’ across your --”
“Chest?”
“What else?”
What else indeed.
He placed his glass on the counter. “Stay there. I’ll be right back.”
Then he strode toward the bedroom with a spring in his step – a masculine version of a spring anyway. This was the second time today he’d felt how a man should feel, with blood pumping through his veins for a woman with a smart-mouth, sexy laughter and pink cheeks.
Life was good, and getting better every minute.
* * *
“G..O..O..D…evening, Chicago. Welcome to “Night Talk”. I’m Cassie King and due to popular demand, Zac is back. Yes, ladies, the yummy Zac is back and he’s a sight for sore eyes, let me tell you,” she said, slipping into her professional persona. “Now Zac, how do you feel about being asked to come back on the show?”
“Blown away.” A devilish look entered his eyes. “In fact I’m still waiting for you to help me up off the floor. Not that I’m complaining. The view down here is pretty darn good.”
She smiled, suddenly very glad to have him here. She was finding she liked sharpening her wits on him, not to mention he was easy on the eyes. And she wasn’t even going to think about the incredible way he’d looked in those boxers and bathrobe. “You’re quite the charmer, aren’t you?”
He gave a crooked grin. “As in snake?”
She pretended to be horrified. “I would never say that on-air. You have too many fans listening in.”
“How about off-air?”
“That’s different.”
He gave a throaty laugh that slowly faded. “Cassie, before we go any further I want to set the record straight with your listeners. I’m not who they think I am.” His compelling blue eyes caught her in his sight. “You thought I was a sex therapist last night and I didn’t tell you otherwise. I’m not a sex therapist and I owe you an apology.” He leaned into the microphone. “I owe all of you an apology. I’m sorry, Chicago.”
Cassie melted so fast it’s a wonder she didn’t slither off her chair. “That’s very sweet of you, Zac,” she said huskily.
He gave a theatrical sigh. “Yeah, and now everyone in Chicago knows I’m a fake.” He winked at her. “At talking about sex anyway.”
She felt ridiculously light-headed when he said the word “sex”, as if talking about it with her and doing it with her were one and the same thing.
She took a deep breath. “I’m sure our listeners will forgive you.”
“Yes, but will you?”
She blinked, taken aback by the question. It was like he had only come back here to be with her, and not just to save her skin either. “Sure I forgive you, Zac,” she said, making light of it. Then she tilted her head. “At least you’re not all talk and no…” She trailed away at the guilty look on his face.
“W.e.l.l…” he began sheepishly.
Her eyes widened. “You mean that was true about you not having sex for two years?”
He shrugged ruefully, the soft material of his black t-shirt embracing those wide shoulders. “It’s been nowhere near two years, but yeah, it’s been a while.”
She fell back in her chair. “I’m stunned.”
A slash of white teeth showed starkly against his tanned skin. “Why? You weren’t stunned last night when we discussed it on your show.”
“Last night I figured you were staying celibate for research purposes, so it all made sense.”
Those blue eyes suddenly pierced the distance between them. “And now?”
And now everything was different. Now he wasn’t some sex therapist talking about his job. Now he was a gloriously virile-looking male who had chosen not to get laid. She’d never come across a man like him before. It didn’t add up. He didn’t add up. What male would refuse sex when it was available to them? And she had no doubt it had been available to him.
Many times.
She shook her head. “It was hard to believe you were celibate anyway. Looking at you, it just didn’t seem natural that no woman had attempted to get you into her bed. You’re too good-looking.”
His eyes lit with appealing warmth. “Why, thank you, Madam,” he said, his Aussie accent sending shivers of delight down her spine.
She tried to deflect any further physical reaction by being witty. “Of course, once they got to know you for more than five minutes they’d probably want more than sex with you.” She paused deliberately. “More likely they’d want to strangle you.”
Laughter erupted from his throat. “I don’t think your listeners feel that way.”
“Unfortunately no.”
His brow rose. “Unfortunately?”
“Whoops, that’s a slip of the tongue,” she fibbed. This man needed keeping in line. He was too good-looking. Too nice. Too appealing. “You certainly hit the right chord
with them. Why is that, do you think?”
He considered her. “It isn’t only me they want to hear. It’s the both of us. I think we have a good rapport.”
She couldn’t deny it, as much as she’d like to. “Yes, that sometimes happens on-air.”
“Don’t be modest, Cassie. We have it off-air too.” He slanted her a very masculine look that made her stomach dip and slide. “And why not? You’re a very sexy lady. And I for one appreciate sexy ladies.”
Her pulse surged through her veins but she fought not to show it. Yet one look in his eyes and she knew he was aware of her reaction. “Yes, well, I’m sure there are plenty of ladies in the Windy City willing to appreciate you, Zac,” she said into the microphone. “Wink. Wink.”
He cocked his dark head to one side. “Dear Cassie, you’re talking about sex but you don’t always have to have sex to appreciate a partner, you know. There are other ways to appreciate a person.”
She’d play along with the game. He really was a very good guest to have on the show. In fact, at times she could still believe he was a sex therapist. “That’s fascinating, Zac. Tell me more.”
“Okay,” he said slowly as he appeared to think. “Hmm, let’s start with flowers. A man can send flowers to a woman just to say he cares. It doesn’t mean he wants to have sex with her.”
“Not on the first date anyway,” she quipped.
Instead of smiling, his brows drew together. “Cassie, I think you’ve been going out with the wrong men. Not all men want to fall into bed straight away. Lots of us like the thrill of the chase… or the romance first. Actually I think men are more romantic than women.”
Talking Sex Page 3
