The Ultimate Seduction

by Janelle Denison

  Natalie leaned her head against the back of her leather seat and glanced out the passenger window of Noah's car. Absently, she took in the scenery as her mind wandered over the past two days. Ever since that evening in Noah's office when she'd seduced him, things had definitely changed between them, in a very good way. She felt closer to him, more intimately connected. He'd made love to her with his body and soul, fulfilling not only her wildest fantasies, but touching her with tenderness and the kind of intimacy she longed for, as well. And she had to admit that even he seemed more relaxed around her, less tense, and more affectionate.

  They'd spent yesterday together on what felt like a date, and she'd enjoyed every bit of her time with Noah. When she'd insisted that she needed to get out of the house for fresh air and stimulating activity or she'd go mad, he'd hadn't refused her request or tried to tell her she needed more rest. He took her to a movie, a romantic comedy that made them both laugh out loud, and they'd grabbed an early dinner at a restaurant before returning home.

  She'd gone upstairs to change for bed while Noah headed into his office to put together files and paperwork and make last-minute calls in preparation for his trip today. All she remembered was crawling beneath the covers, determined to wait for Noah so they could make love again, only to fall asleep and wake up in the middle of the night snuggled in his arms. She'd felt so content and secure, that just being cocooned in his warmth and scent had been enough for her. By the time she'd woken from a sound, dreamless sleep in the morning, Noah was already showered, changed and had breakfast waiting for her.

  Now, the following morning, Natalie still wore a satisfied smile on her face as Noah drove her to Cole's to spend the day with Melodie while he was out of town until later that afternoon. When she'd casually asked him where, exactly, he was going, he'd evaded the issue with, "It's a private, confidential matter." She'd respected the answer as part of his job as a private investigator.

  "Here we are," Noah said, his deep, smooth voice penetrating her thoughts.

  She glanced out the windshield at Cole's residence, taking in the two-story house, circular drive and immaculate landscaping, none of which she recognized.

  She sighed. "I hate to ask this, but have I been here before?"

  He shut down the engine and hesitated, seemingly distracted, then replied, "A few times."

  "I'm sure it'll come as no surprise to you that the place doesn't look at all familiar," she said wryly, and when he opened his mouth to reply, she beat him to the punch. "I know, I know, give it time and it'll come to me."

  A sexy grin eased across his mouth. "It's good to know you're retaining some things, after all." He winked at her.

  She made a face at him for his teasing remark. "Ha-ha. Very funny, wise guy."

  They exited the car, and Noah tucked her hand in his as they headed up the walkway to the house. Her arm bumped against something solid at the waistband of his jeans beneath his untucked shirt, and she knew immediately what she'd discovered.

  "You're wearing your gun." Her voice was as startled as she felt. "Is this a dangerous case you're investigating?"

  He stopped under the awning covering the front porch and cupped her jaw in his big hands, his eyes warm and reassuring as they latched onto hers. "Every case is potentially dangerous. I always wear my gun when I'm out on assignment, and sometimes when instinct tells me to. I even wore the holster yesterday when we went to the movie and dinner."

  Surprise curled through her. "You did?"

  He nodded. "Yep. You were snuggling up to my right side, so that's probably why you didn't feel it, but it was definitely there." After letting go of her face, he rang the doorbell.

  Seconds later, Melodie met them at the door, and as soon as they entered she immediately gathered Natalie in an enthusiastic hug. The embrace was warm and friendly and made Natalie feel welcome and part of the family. The sense of belonging was a novel feeling-another one she didn't remember, but one she liked a whole lot.

  Melodie stepped back to give her a critical onceover. "How are you feeling?"

  "Pretty good." As they walked into the spacious living room, Natalie glanced at the man still beside her and smiled. "Noah's been taking good care of me. He's a little overbearing at times, but we're working on that."

  Noah's soon-to-be sister-in-law laughed, her green eyes sparkling in pure delight. "He never used to be that way, but I guess it just takes the right woman to bring out the overprotective side in a Sommers' man." She leaned close to Natalie but didn't bother lowering her voice. "Take it from me and my experience with Cole, these boys like to be in control and tend to be a bit dominant at times. Then again, it's nice to see Noah so tied up in knots over a woman."

  Noah sent a mock scowl Melodie's way. "That's enough, Mel," he warned lightly, then turned to Natalie with a charming grin. "Don't believe a word she says about me."

  Before Natalie could reply, Cole walked into the room, his striking blue gaze checking her out in a reserved kind of way. There was no denying both brothers were incredibly handsome, but Cole was definitely the more serious of the two.

  He smiled in greeting. "I was just getting ready to take off for the office. I'm glad I got the chance to see you before I left. You look great."

  "Thanks." Absently, she touched the scab on her cheek from her cut, which she'd left uncovered for the day. "I still have a few bumps and bruises, and my memory is still fuzzy, but I can't complain because I know I could be in a lot worse shape."

  "I know you're feeling much better," Noah cut in, his tone authoritative, "But take it easy and don't overdo today."

  Natalie rolled her eyes. "Yes, sir."

  "She'll be fine, Noah." Melodie waved away his concern. "Quit worrying. I'll take good care of her while you're gone."

  Satisfied with her assurance, Noah glanced at his wristwatch. "I need to get going so I don't miss my flight. I'll be back around six tonight to pick you up." He leaned down and kissed Natalie softly on the lips, the fleeting contact over much too soon for her liking.

  "Be safe," she said, the words slipping out automatically.

  He stared at her for a long moment, his brow furrowed, then he said huskily, "You, too."

  His response seemed to hold a deeper meaning she couldn't quite grasp, one that made an odd sense of foreboding settle over her. Ridiculous, she knew, and immediately pushed the disconcerting sensation aside.

  "Come on, Cole. I'll walk you out," Noah said to his brother. "There are a few things I need to discuss with you regarding this case."

  With one last goodbye, the men left.

  "Are you ready to go?" Natalie asked Melodie.

  The other woman nodded. "Just let me grab my purse from upstairs, and we can be on our way."

  Half an hour later they were standing in a well-known bridal boutique in San Francisco, surrounded by row upon row of white, frothy gowns, pastel and jewel-toned bridesmaids dresses, and other wedding paraphernalia. The huge, one-stop store was divided into sections, covering everything from shoes, lingerie and accessories to casual and fancy evening wear.

  A young saleswoman told Melodie that they'd pull her wedding dress and let her know when the seamstress was ready for her final fitting. While the two of them waited, they browsed through the various sections of the shop and wandered into the evening-wear department.

  Melodie shuffled through a rack of outfits and pulled out a two-piece ensemble made up of black lace pants and a matching halter top. "What do you think of this?" she asked, holding it up to her curvaceous figure for Natalie to see. "I need a few new outfits for the honeymoon, and this might work for a night out on the town in the Bahamas."

  Natalie grinned, seeing the glow on the other woman's face and knowing her soon-to-be husband put it there. "I like it, and I'm sure Cole will, too."

  "I think you're right." She draped the outfit over her arm and continued looking through another rack. "Do you have something to wear to the wedding on Saturday?"

  Natalie fingered the so
ft angora knit of an off-the-shoulder sweater dress that had captured her attention, liking the way the fabric felt against her skin. She considered Melodie's question, thinking of all her clothes hanging in Noah's closet. Most of her outfits and dresses were more suited to everyday wear, nothing that was appropriate for a fancy ceremony and reception. Nothing to turn a man's head the way she wanted to turn Noah's.

  "I don't think I've bought anything for the wedding," she replied, and smiled impishly at Melodie. "This loss of memory really is the pits."

  Understanding softened Melodie's gaze. "I'm sure it is, but look on the bright side. It's a great excuse to buy yourself something fun and new. Why don't you try on a few dresses and see if you find something you like?"

  Natalie liked Melodie's way of thinking, which lightened her mood considerably. "I think I will." She plucked the sleek, sexy dress from the rack, certain the wine color would compliment her blond hair and skin tone.

  The next few hours passed quickly, with Natalie enjoying a female camaraderie with Melodie and learning that they had a lot of common interests. While trying on outfits together, they indulged in girl talk, and Melodie had amused her with the story of how she'd snagged Cole for her very own. And when Melodie finally tried on her wedding gown and asked Natalie's opinion, she'd replied honestly that she'd never seen a more beautiful bride.

  A melancholy look entered Melodie's eyes as she explained how she'd grown up without a mother, and while her father was very dear to her, it was times like this that made being without a feminine influence in her life difficult. Natalie understood Melodie's feelings, because she still felt the loss of both of her parents, and suspected she always would.

  By the time they left the boutique midafternoon, their arms were ladened with shopping bags filled with bridal accessories and new outfits for both of them. The dress Natalie had chosen had fit perfectly, and she'd splurged on matching shoes, tasteful earrings and even new lingerie to replace her practical cotton underwear. She'd paid for all her purchases with the credit card in her purse, because she wasn't sure how much money she had in her bank account to write a check.

  "Wow, I'm famished," Melodie said after they dropped all their bags into the trunk of her car. "How about you?"

  "I could use a bite to eat." Natalie's stomach chose that moment to growl, and her eyes widened in chagrin. "I guess all that power-shopping made me work up an appetite."

  Melodie laughed. "Glad to hear it. There's a cafe on the corner. How does that sound?"

  "Perfect."

  They walked along the sidewalk to the restaurant and requested a table on the patio since it was such a warm, beautiful day. Melodie ordered a club sandwich and iced tea, and Natalie opted for a chefs salad and soda. The waitress headed back to the kitchen, and Natalie absently glanced beyond Melodie as the hostess seated a nice-looking blond-haired man a few tables away from them, who was by himself. He looked her way, met her gaze, and an arrogant smile curved the corner of his mouth.

  A sense of familiarity tugged at her subconscious, startling her. Frowning, she tried to bring the vague thought filtering through her memory into better focus, but her mind refused to cooperate. Her chest grew tight, her skin prickled, and she felt ensnared by the other man's penetrating stare.

  Shaken by the overwhelming sense of apprehension taking up residence within her, she broke eye contact and returned her attention back to her friend, keeping her gaze on Melodie's animated features.

  While they waited for their lunch to be delivered, Natalie listened as Cole's fiancee filled her in on all the wedding preparations she'd planned in the past six months. Their conversation and the glimpses she caught of the gorgeous diamond solitaire ring on Melodie's left hand reminded Natalie that she knew nothing about her own engagement or wedding plans.

  Unable to help herself, she glanced down at her own bare finger, then back up at Melodie, "Have Noah and I set a wedding date yet?"

  The other woman's eyes rounded in surprise at her question, but she quickly recovered her startled composure. "Well, uh, no, not that I'm aware of." She shifted in her chair as if the subject made her uncomfortable.

  Natalie didn't let Melodie's odd behavior stop her from learning more. "Have we been engaged long?"

  Melodie took a long drink of her iced tea before answering. "Actually, it was all very sudden-" She fiddled with her napkin, opening the folded cloth and spreading it on her lap and making a big production of doing so. "And with your recent accident I'm sure making wedding plans isn't a priority for either one of you at the moment, at least not until you're feeling better."

  Boy, now there was a statement that was all too familiar. "You sound just like Noah."

  "Noah's a smart guy," Melodie replied with a cheeky grin.

  The waitress arrived with their meals, giving Natalie a handful of seconds to analyze Melodie's answers. All her explanations had been logical, but like everything else in her life at the moment, something was off. And no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't pinpoint the source of her own discomfort and uncertainty.

  Melodie bit into her sandwich and chewed. "My lunch is incredible. How about yours?"

  Natalie recognized a change in topic when she heard one, and let it slide. "It's good."

  Melodie obviously kept her mouth filled so she didn't have to answer more questions about Natalie's engagement, and the silence prompted her to sneak another peek at the man sitting by himself. He was still watching her steadily, as if he hadn't taken his eyes off her since he'd arrived.

  Once again, a shiver rippled down her spine, and despite knowing she ought to ignore his disconcerting stare and cocky, knowing smile, her gaze kept straying back to his table. She told herself she was merely curious, but she couldn't deny that something inexplicable was drawing her attention back to him, again and again.

  "Is something wrong?" Melodie asked. "You look distressed all of a sudden."

  Natalie drew a deep breath, which did nothing to diminish the tension within her. "It's probably just me, but that guy over at the table behind you has been looking this way since he arrived." Even now, while eating his hamburger, his attention was still on her.

  Melodie dragged a French fry though a pool of ketchup and popped it into her mouth. "Is he flirting with you?"

  "No, not really." There was no real charm to his demeanor, but rather he possessed an intimidating quality that made her feel uneasy. "He's just watching me in a way that's unnerving."

  Melodie cast a quick, surreptitious glance over her shoulder to check out the guy for herself, then looked back at Natalie, her expression suddenly wary and concerned. "He's being rude. Just ignore him."

  "I've been trying to." Appetite gone, she pushed her half-eaten salad aside. "He's just so obvious."

  Melodie finished off her lunch while doing her best to distract Natalie so she'd keep her gaze off the man, though there was no denying that the guy's presence seemed to bother Melodie, too. Natalie breathed a grateful sigh of relief when he finally paid his bill and left.

  "I'm sorry," Natalie said, wondering if she'd turned neurotic since her accident. "I'm probably just tired and making more of the situation than there actually was."

  "Maybe," Melodie agreed, but there was something in her tone that made Natalie wonder what her friend had seen when she'd looked at the other man.

  They paid their own check and stood, gathering up their purses. "I need to go to the ladies' room," Natalie said, wishing she could shake the restlessness settling within her.

  "I'll go with you," Melodie said quickly, her tone insistent.

  Natalie slanted her friend a curious look. The woman was suddenly being overprotective, and while she, herself, was overwhelmed by all that had transpired, Melodie appeared just as affected-and determined not to leave her alone.

  Together they made their way through the casual restaurant to the rest room located down a long hall in the back. Natalie glanced around at the patrons, in search of the guy who'd been watching her, and f
elt ridiculous, though immensely relieved, when she didn't see him anywhere.

  They slipped into the ladies' room, and since there were only two stalls, one of which was currently taken, Natalie went first, then switched with Melodie. She washed her hands and glanced into the mirror at her reflection. At the same moment, the man's face flashed in her mind, and without warning she was overwhelmed with a feeling of claustrophobia.

  She pulled in a deep, calming breath, but her lungs constricted in her chest. She had to get out of there and into a wide-open space. "Mel, I need fresh air," she said abruptly. "I'll meet you out in the waiting area."

  Before Melodie could object, Natalie exited the rest room into the hall-and bumped into a solid male chest. The impact brought her up short, and the strap of her purse slipped down her arm and fell to the floor with a resounding thump. She didn't move, too paralyzed by the sight of the man who'd been admiring her out on the patio. Now he stood in front of her, so close she could see swirls of gold in his hazel eyes.

  He didn't move, just continued to stare at her, as if waiting for some kind of reaction. Then his gaze traveled the length of her body in a long, slow onceover, visually undressing her, making her feel dirty and exposed.

  Her stomach lurched Sickeningly, and she finally forced herself to take a huge step back, though based on his calm demeanor, she didn't know why she felt so threatened. But she couldn't ignore the instinctive warning rattling her.

  Her heart beat so hard in her chest she was surprised he didn't hear it. "I'm, uh, sorry," she stammered, her voice escaping in a croak of sound.

  He blinked lazily. "You should watch where you're going and be more careful of your surroundings," he drawled.

  A sense of familiarity flashed in her mind, startling her. Trying to grasp onto a semblance of sanity, she searched his features, trying to latch onto something tangible, and failed. "Do I know you?"