His Temptation (X Enterprises Book 4)

by Tanya Gallagher

  Seeing the photo sent tingles through her body, and the air sucked out of her lungs.

  She looked so freaking happy, so blissfully absorbed in his kiss.

  It had been a good kiss. A really good one.

  But then she dropped her eyes lower and skimmed the caption underneath the photo. Dating expert Geoffrey Carter and his latest conquest lock lips at the Sounders’ winning match.

  Oh. Her stomach sank.

  Image was everything. Avery knew it. She lived and breathed it, in her job and in her life. And she’d just gotten lumped into the same category as all the other girls who’d fallen for him. She’d spent enough time around Sophie to know exactly how stupid that made her seem.

  “Do they know that I’m not your conquest?” Avery asked. “That this whole thing started on your show?”

  Which was it—real or not real? Because the date may have been a setup, but the way the kiss felt had shifted everything for her.

  “Who cares if TMZ does? My audience has been super responsive. I’ve had a ten percent boost in downloads this week, mostly focused on your episode.”

  Good for him.

  Bad for her.

  The more people that downloaded her disastrous episode and heard her talk about her dating failures, the more vulnerable it made her position at X Enterprises.

  Avery reached for the phone with trembling fingers and turned off the speakerphone. She lifted the phone to her ear, and Geoffrey continued. “Let’s keep it up, and we’ll be in excellent shape going forward. This kind of exposure will really help me bring in more revenue from sponsors.”

  “Right, sponsors,” she repeated back. Her lips felt numb.

  This was all just a ploy for the show. That kiss—her happiness, the flowers—none of it had been real.

  Avery’s throat constricted, and her stomach knotted. She’d gotten too caught up in the adrenaline and the sugar rush, and she’d imagined a spark of something that didn’t exist. That’s what happened when she let go of the reins. She needed to get control again and figure out how to twist this in her favor, just like she’d promised Jeremy.

  She straightened her spine and reached for the notebook she’d brought with her. “So back to our partnership opportunities.” She clicked open her pen and steadied her voice. “Any ideas for date number two?”

  “Actually, yes. Mind if I take a stab at planning this one?”

  Avery sighed and clicked her pen closed. “Have at it.”

  Chapter 8

  “I can’t believe I’ve never done this before,” Avery called over her shoulder, dipping a kayak oar into Lake Union. Her kayak pulled smoothly through the water as she passed the houseboats that crowded the lake. The view from up close rather from the highway made everything seem new and fresh, and Geoff hurried to catch up with her.

  They’d taken advantage of the Indian summer weather for today’s date, and the lake water sparked in the sunlight. Despite the fact that it was late September, the air warm was enough to wear just a bathing suit, and Geoff had to admit it was a definite perk.

  Too bad the life preserver covered Avery’s whole suit now.

  “Me neither,” Geoff said. “But I figured now that I’m back in Seattle, I should play tourist for a while. Catch up on all the things I overlooked when I was here.”

  He hoped she knew that included her.

  How he’d let her slip through his fingers before when she’d been right under his nose was alarming, but he planned to make up for lost time.

  All those excuses—being older, being her best friend’s brother—seemed less important now than they had when they were younger. Geoff had told his audience all about it when he’d recorded his date wrap-up episode this past Wednesday. He just hadn’t told Avery herself yet.

  And he wouldn’t until he knew it was real for her, too.

  Avery softened a bit. “Tell me what you missed.”

  “Ah, so many things. Air without cigarette smoke—the kind that you can really fill your lungs with. Trees everywhere you look. Coffee so fresh and essential that it’s almost part of your DNA.”

  Avery laughed, and Geoff stroked his paddle faster, speeding up his kayak to bring himself beside her. Light reflected off the tiny waves in the Sound, casting a warm glow on Avery’s face. Geoff reached for the side of her boat and pulled her craft against his, holding it steady. They bobbed in the water, their boats rocking together and the sun on their shoulders.

  “Is that why you moved back?” Avery asked. “The coffee?”

  Geoff shrugged. “I originally thought I was going to go do broadcast shows in New York, but I started to realize I wanted to do my own thing instead of being stuck working for someone else. And that meant I could be anywhere, even back home.”

  “Is that why you started your show? Because you wanted your own thing?”

  “That was a big part of it. But every day I’d walk through the streets for hours, just people-watching, you know? You can’t get that anywhere else—all those bodies crammed together. And there were so many stories to tell.”

  Avery flashed him a warm, genuine smile. “There you go again, Mr. English Major.”

  Geoff ducked his head. “Yeah, yeah. Anyway, the stories that I kept wanting to tell were about people connecting with other people. In today’s world, there are so many things shouting at you—your phone, the internet, your TV—that it’s hard to quiet down enough to hear your own voice, let alone someone else’s.”

  “And that’s where you come in.” Her voice was so quiet he could barely catch it above the waves.

  “I didn’t seek out the idea, Ave. It kind of came to me.” Geoff sighed. “And I know that makes me seem like such a player, but it really is about helping other people find those connections.”

  A wistful look crossed her face. “Yeah, I get that. Is that when you developed your super awesome three-date formula?”

  He shrugged, wary. “I guess so.”

  She gestured out at the lake. “So this still fits into your second-date philosophy, right?” Her mouth went flat. “Something full of adventure to see how you handle problems together?”

  “Yeah, something like that.”

  The way she called it out made him uneasy. During their podcast recording he’d agreed to date her, only he hadn’t expected it to be for more than the show when he said yes. But that kiss—man.

  It was easier to couch it as a stunt for the show, but it didn’t mean he felt any less strongly about her. She’d somehow managed to flip the whole way he saw her, and she wasn’t just a friend anymore, but a real prospect.

  “Are you still mad that the press called you my conquest?” he asked.

  Avery’s mouth tightened.

  Bingo.

  “You’re not, you know. A conquest.”

  She lifted a single shoulder. “Well, that’s good, I guess.”

  Fuck. “Is it?” he asked. He didn’t know which way was up. Did she want to be a conquest or did she not?

  Avery’s face scrunched. “I mean, you tell me.”

  Geoff let go of her kayak and rubbed a hand over his face. Before he thought twice about it, he grabbed his kayak paddle and dashed it into the water, sending a huge splash of lake water onto her lap.

  “What?!” Avery shrieked, sputtering. “You did not! That water is filled with gasoline and sewage and god knows what else.”

  He grinned and splashed her again.

  This time she retaliated, dipping her paddle into the water and sending a cascading splash of water down his back.

  Geoff’s body recoiled. “Damn that’s cold.”

  “Refreshing.” Avery dissolved into giggles.

  Her laughter eased the knot in Geoff’s chest. Their whole first date had done more for his mood and his business stats than he’d ever imagined. Date two was not going to go down in flames because of some questionable press.

  “I’m glad you’re amused,” he said.

  “I am.” Avery grinned at him and aimed anot
her splash his way. Then she suddenly dropped the paddle into the water.

  “What are you doing?” Geoff leaned over the side of his kayak to fish the paddle out of the water. “That’s not part of the plan.”

  Avery’s eyes were wide and surprised, and a blush stole across her face. “I may have just had a wardrobe malfunction.”

  He glanced at her life preserver. “You look okay to me.”

  “No, not the life vest.” She shook her head and laughed. “Underneath. Pretty sure the clasp on my bathing suit just gave out.”

  What he wouldn’t have given to have seen that without the life preserver on top. “Want me to see if I can fix it?” he asked.

  Avery bit her lip. “Yeah.”

  Geoff drew his boat near hers once more and balanced both paddles across his kayak while she unclipped her life preserver.

  “Here I go again, breaking the rules,” she muttered. She slid the life vest off her shoulders and pressed one hand against her chest to hold her bathing suit in place. Then she twisted to the side so he could examine her back.

  One prong on the bathing suit’s plastic clasp had sheared off, leaving it useless. “Yep. Definitely busted.” Geoff grinned. “What can I say, it just couldn’t restrain your considerable…”

  “Muscles!” she shrieked.

  “That’s what I was going to say.”

  She snorted. “Right. And don’t you dare say I told you so about the suit.”

  Geoff bit back a smile. When he’d first seen her pull off her cover-up today to reveal the skimpy bikini, he’d told her, “You look great Cheese Girl. But is the suit functional?”

  She’d shot him a look. “It functions to cover my body.”

  But, clearly, it wasn’t designed to do anything more than look good. Geoff cleared his throat now. “All I was going to say is that I think I can tie the back instead.”

  “Sure,” she said like she didn’t believe him.

  Geoff reached for the skinny straps that crisscrossed under Avery’s shoulder blades and tied the ends together. As he did, his fingers brushed her sun-warmed skin, the tiny touch surprisingly sensual.

  She stilled with a small gasp, and he paused, his fingers resting on her skin.

  Oh god. This girl. What was she doing to him?

  He sucked in a deep breath and pulled away.

  Avery broke the silence. “What do you say we head back to the dock?” She glanced over her shoulder at him. “I’m ready for the next part of our lesson.”

  “What’s that?”

  She twisted her mouth and flicked her warm eyes back toward the shore. “I want you to teach me how to flirt.”

  “Are you really sure you want to do this?”

  Geoff eyed the guy behind the counter of the kayak rental stand and felt his shoulders stiffen. “Because if we’re following the premise that you and I are dating, I can’t imagine why I’d want to encourage you to flirt with someone else.”

  Avery laughed and zipped her hands over the bulky material of her life vest. “Are you jealous, Rock?”

  He rubbed a hand over his jaw and answered honestly. “Yeah, maybe.”

  “Oh.” Her eyes went wide, but she still shook her head. Her voice was tiny. “We’re following the model where you tell me what I’m doing wrong and help me get better at this whole dating thing. So this lesson is about flirting.”

  “Ave, there is nothing wrong with the way you flirt. You just need to be yourself. Stop worrying what everyone else thinks.”

  “Right now it matters that the whole world thinks I’m not a credible spokesperson for X Enterprises. So it does matter that I can do this.”

  Geoff’s eyebrows rose. “You’re not credible because you said you hadn’t been on three dates with the same person?”

  She shrugged. “Yeah, that’s part of it.”

  “Avery, anyone with two brain cells to rub together would know that your personal life and your ability to do your job are two different things.”

  She snorted out a laugh. “Yes, but in advertising, we’re always playing to the lowest common denominator. The people who don’t actually have the brain cells to rub together to make that connection.”

  “Okay, fine.” He sighed. “Let’s teach you how to flirt.”

  Avery clapped her hands together and grinned. “Thank you. Now point me in the right direction.”

  Geoff swept his eyes over her body. “For starters, the life jacket may have been necessary out on the water, but it’s hiding your killer curves right now.”

  She bit her bottom lip and looked up at him with big eyes. “Killer curves? Man, you know how to sweet talk a girl.”

  He smiled at her, forcing his voice to stay light. “I’m an expert for a reason.” He pointed at her ensemble. “Lose the jacket, Cheese.”

  She unbuckled it and slid the life jacket from her shoulders, revealing her tiny teal bathing suit. Avery’s shoulders were pink from the afternoon on the water, and the faintest highlights streaked the strands of hair that fell from the bun on top of her head.

  Geoff’s throat grew thick, and he swallowed hard. “Good. Now let your hair down.”

  She looked up at him uncertainly. “I thought you said the packaging didn’t matter.”

  “Someone who’s worth hanging around with you is going to see past the packaging, yeah. But you’re making a quick first impression here. It’s better to stack the odds.”

  Avery loosened her hair from her bun, and it fell around her shoulders in soft, damp waves. She ran her hands through the strands, fanning them around her face. She looked like one of those beachy surfer girls in an advertisement for Hawaii, and he’d take that vacation any day.

  “Now what?”

  “Physical contact is good because it shows your interest. When you talk to him, go for little innocent touches here and there. A hand on the arm, whatever.”

  Avery nodded.

  “And laugh a lot. Guys love to feel like we’re hilarious.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I’ll bet you do.”

  “No, hear me out. Our natural instinct is to want to impress you, and since most dudes are unlikely to flaunt their bankroll the first time you meet, an appreciation for their humor goes far.”

  Avery dropped her hands to her hips, accentuating her waist. Geoff forced his eyes away from her bellybutton and back to her face. She gave a half-twirl. “Am I ready, O Dating Guru?”

  “Yeah, Cheese. You look good.”

  She gave him a satisfied smile and strode toward the rental counter. “Wish me luck.”

  The words stuck in his throat.

  Geoff watched Avery’s ass in her tiny bikini bottom, the sight a small consolation prize. She reached the counter and pointed toward their two kayaks. Then she leaned forward, touching the rental guy’s forearm, and laughed.

  This was a bad idea.

  Geoff looked away, his hands fisting at his sides. Across the water, a few seagulls wheeled in the sunlight, calling to each other. He kept his gaze on them until Avery’s footsteps shook the dock once more.

  He turned to face her, and from her grin, he knew she’d done well.

  “Got a number,” she crowed. She nudged his shoulder with hers. “Told him you were my brother, and it was smooth sailing from there.”

  “Great,” he ground out.

  She sucked in a quick breath. “Are you mad at me?”

  “Are you going to use that number?”

  Avery’s face transformed with uncertainty. “No, probably not.”

  He nodded. It did make him feel a little better, but he’d be damned if he told her that. He moved his gaze away from her face. It was easier not to look at her. “Ave, I was wrong about what’s sexy, okay?”

  “But I got a number.”

  “Any guy with two eyes to see is going to give you his number. Hell, a blind guy would give you his number just from the way your voice sounds like a girl in a beer commercial. And yeah, part of being sexy is the combination of all those things I
just suggested. But it’s more than that, too. Sexy is owning exactly who you are. The other stuff is surface, Avery. Your heart is sexy. Your laugh is sexy. You are sexy whether or not you try.”

  Her hand landed on his arm, and heat shot through him. “Sorry, Geoff. I was getting a little carried away there.”

  “It’s okay.” He shrugged it off. This was what they’d both signed up for.

  “It’s not.” Her voice softened, vulnerable. “The date I want to be on is this one, in case I didn’t make that clear.”

  Geoff turned and brought his eyes to hers. “Are you sure, Cheese Girl?”

  She cracked a grin. “I’m sure, Rock.”

  “In that case, would you like to practice flirting with me back at my place?”

  Her mouth dropped open. “Ummm…”

  He laughed. “You’re in a bathing suit, and I’ve got a hot tub.” He started walking down the dock and felt a burst of pride as she hurried to follow him. “Take that as you will.”

  Chapter 9

  Avery settled against the wall of Geoff’s hot tub and sighed. The hot tub was out on Geoff’s balcony, overlooking Capitol Hill and downtown beyond that, and below her, the city teemed with people. It was sunset now, and the lights in all the buildings had started to show up against the darkening sky like sparkles.

  “How did I not notice this the first time I was here?” she asked.

  The jets sent a steady stream of warm water against her lower back and shoulders and brought a rush of bubbles to the surface of the hot tub. She could feel her face flush from the heat, and she let her muscles relax. With the flirting experiment successfully conducted, she’d pulled her hair back into a bun, and now the water tugged a few errant strands loose from the grip of her ponytail holder.

  “You were too busy talking about sex toys.” Geoff’s grin reached into her stomach and made it flutter.

  She tilted her head and smiled at him. “Must be.” She had to raise her voice above the noise of the jets, and rumbling of the motor spread into her chest.