A lesson in chemistry...
Back in college, Mia Hayes had a secret crush on fellow student Daniel Keegan, who was an obnoxious stuffed shirt. But she fantasized about turning Mr. Uptight into Mr. Hot Sex. Now Mia owns a successful event-planning business, and at a bachelor party shes organized, she runs into Mr. Uptight himself. And shes determined to show overly serious college professor Daniel how to loosen up a little...
Imagine Mias surprise when she learns that Daniel has a deliciously wicked sideone that makes her knees weak with lust. It turns out Daniel is a whole lot more than she ever dreamed. But tempting the professor might have been the riskiest thing Mia has ever done. Because in their case, opposites dont just attract...they combust.
I fantasized about you once or twice...
What kind of fantasies? Daniels voice was silky, coaxing.
The air between them crackled. How would he react if she grabbed the lapels of his jacket and pulled him in for a kiss?
Flirting lesson number one, she said lightly. If a woman admits youve starred in her fantasies, shes probably interested.
His mouth curved in a sensual smile. Probably?
Gaze can be a good indication of desire, she murmured.
And if shes looking at my lips like she wants to taste them?
She gave in to impulse and traced his bottom lip with her finger. He shuddered out a breath, warm on her skin.
Her own breathing was unsteady as she slid her hand down his chest. Go with your instincts.
Dear Reader,
I love opposites attract stories. The chemistry between two people with different viewpoints and personalities can be incredibleif they can stop driving each other crazy long enough to explore it.
When Mia Hayes and Daniel Keegan first met in college, he thought she was a confrontational attention-seeker...who also happened to be distractingly gorgeous. And she thought he was a disapproving know-it-all...who would be unbelievably sexy if he ever figured out how to cut loose.
Years later, when Daniel runs into Mia at his best friends bachelor party, the attraction between them is stronger than ever. The resulting affair is blazing hot, but is it only a short-term fling? Or can they embrace each others differences well enough to fit into each others lives?
I hope Mia and Daniels story heats up your winter, and Id love to hear from you! Join me on Twitter, @TanyaMichaels, or at Facebook.com/authortanyamichaels to chat about books, TV, travel, family and sassy house pets.
Happy reading,
Tanya
Tempting the Best Man
Tanya Michaels
www.millsandboon.co.uk
TANYA MICHAELS, a New York Times bestselling author and five-time RITA® Award nominee, has been writing love stories since middle-school algebra classwhich probably explains her math grades. Her books, praised for their poignancy and humor, have received awards from readers and reviewers alike. Tanya is an active member of Romance Writers of America and a frequent public speaker. She lives outside Atlanta with her very supportive husband, two highly imaginative kids and a bichon frise who thinks shes the center of the universe.
Contents
Cover
Back Cover Text
Introduction
Dear Reader
Title Page
About the Author
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Extract
Copyright
1
SO WHATS NEW with you?
It was the third variation of that question Daniel Keegan had heard in the last fifteen minutes. Hed always dreaded parties where he had to make small talk with strangers, but tonight was proving that catching up with former acquaintances could be just as awkward.
Daniel sipped his beer, stalling. Um... Very articulate for a man with a PhD. He could share the story of how hed proposed a few weeks ago. It had seemed romantic to pop the question at the stroke of midnight on New Years.
Wouldve been a lot more romantic if Felicity had said yes. Shed blurted out a panicked no and fled his parents lavish party.
Or Daniel could discuss how he was being considered for tenure at the universitynever mind that he was up against three very qualified candidates all competing for the same vacated spot. Professional triumph would ease the sting of getting dumped, but even with tenure, hed still be the underachiever in the Keegan family. His older brother was hoping to be the next governor of Georgia.
Fortunately, the opening trombone notes of a classic striptease score interrupted conversation. Men eagerly turned toward the makeshift stage. The chandeliers in the rented ballroom dimmed even further as a spotlight appeared. Leaning against a column toward the back, Daniel tried to look enthusiastic, but part of him would rather be at home in his Buckhead condo, grading papers. Youre the best man. Participation in the bachelor party is mandatory. Hell, he was just lucky Eli hadnt asked him to plan it.
Tonights location-hopping partydinner followed by a private burlesque show before winding down at a jazz clubhad been part of a package deal with the same event planning service that was managing Elis wedding next Saturday. The company had even provided a luxury bus and chauffeur.
A voluptuous redhead in a rhinestone-studded mesh bodysuit sauntered onto the stage, asking where the lucky groom-to-be was and making jokes about the honeymoon. From there, she progressed to audience participation, gathering bits of trivia about Elis past. The spotlight followed her to the guest of honor, where she sat in Elis lap and serenaded him with an improvised song about his favorite childhood stuffed animal and the day he got his drivers license. Her lyrics were met with laughter and applause, but the guests really went wild when she introduced the next acta pair of dancers with large feather fans and teasing smiles.
Get you another? A petite blonde waitress, wearing not much more than the women on stage, nodded at the microbrew in Daniels hand.
Oh, no thanks. Hed been nursing the same beer since arriving, and it was only half-finished. Party animal. Im trying to set the record for how long it takes to finish a single drink.
Designated driver?
Nope, just really boring. It was something Sean Clark, head of the university kinesiology department, heckled him about once a week. Sean was the poster child for impulsive funwhich was why Eli hadnt asked him to be the best man. Sean was the kind of guy who would lose the rings. Or miss the wedding entirely because hed skipped town with a hot bridesmaid.
Im sure thats not true, the waitress protested. She gave him a slow once-over and a mischievous smile. You look like you would be very exciting under the right circumstances.
Maybe youre right, he agreed politely. Maybe Ill surprise myself. Liar. It had been drilled into him from birth that he had a family name and image to protect; hed repressed his wild side for so long it probably didnt exist anymore.
Another lie. Daniel knew damn well he had a rebellious streak buried deep down. But after so many years censoring himself, if he ever gave in to it, how would he regain his self-control?
Ill be sure to check back with you later, the waitress promised. I like surprises.
As she moved on toward the tables clustered in front, Eli Wallace appeared, clapping Daniel on the shoulder. Did I see you flirting with the cute waitress? His approving smile gleamed white against his dark skin. Progress!
Just a bit of friendly conversation.
At least I can trust you not to get too friendly. Elis smile vanished. My dumb-ass cousin Terrence got a little handsy with the bartender. I questioned whether to even invite him tonight, but since both of his brothers were coming... Help me keep an eye on him? If he gets too obnoxious, we pour him into a cab and send his ass home.
Remind me, which ones Terrence? Daniel and Eli had gone to high school together before ending up as professors at the same university years later; Daniel had met many of the mans relatives in passing, but only knew Elis parents well.
Eli pointed across the room to a man in a disheveled suit whistling at the dancers from his seat.
Ill keep an eye out, Daniel promised.
Thanks, man. If youll excuse me, I should mingleand keep some distance between me and the performers. If anyone else ends up in my lap, Bex will kick my ass.
Rebekah was tiny compared to Elis six-foot-five but the surgical resident was fierce. Yeah, probably best not to piss off a woman with regular access to scalpels and bone cutters.
Eli laughed, but his amusement gave way to sincerity. All I want to do is make her happy.
You will. You guys are great together. Daniel almost winced at the unintentional irony; Eli had said the same to him when Daniel was psyching himself up to propose to Felicity.
Sympathy flashed in Elis gaze, and Daniel waved his friend away. Go. Youve got other guests to talk to.
Making good on his agreement to watch Terrence, Daniel glanced in the mans direction a few minutes later, but his gaze snagged on the second waitress working the room. She had her back to him, her black hair swishing across her bare shoulders in a straight, shiny fall that reminded him of someone he hadnt thought of in almost a decade. Mia Hayes. In college, shed had hair like that, but streaked with turquoise.
Trying not to ogle, he resisted the urge to compare the waitresss body to Mias. Déjà vu aside, they couldnt be the same woman. Mia had been in the MBA program. With her intelligence and aggressive nature, shed probably taken over a company by now. Or a small country. Seeing people from his past tonight had simply triggered a sense of nostalgia.
Still, details about Mia came rushing back with startling clarity. The flaming feather tattoo on the back of her neck, her lush curves, her husky laugh. Her utter disdain for him. Daniel had made a woefully bad first impression, and shed been unforgiving. The few times theyd been forced to work together in class had only made the situation worse.
Putting aside the past, he checked again on Elis cousin, who was now stumbling toward the mens room. Free to watch the show, Daniel turned to the stage. A tall woman was asking for volunteers. She and another performer with great comic timing did a parody of a magic act, full of tricks that failed and innuendo-laden explanations.
It wasnt long before his undisciplined gaze scanned the crowd for the dark-haired waitress bustling between thirsty guests and the bar. He still hadnt caught a clear look at her face, but her curves were evident even in the dim lighting. Black shorts cupped a generous ass, and although she was probably only average height, the seamed fishnet stockings she wore with sparkly stilettos made her legs appear endless. Anxious to see the purple brocade corset she wore from the front, he considered walking to the bar just to cross her path.
Dont be sleazy. Let the woman do her job.
But then he saw Terrence approach her on unsteady feet. Daniel bolted toward them as Elis cousin gripped her elbow. Everyone elses attention was on the stage. As Daniel got closer, he heard the man remark in slurred speech on how cold she must be in her outfit and offer a vulgar suggestion of how he could keep her warm.
If my choices were you or frostbite, the woman said in a low, dont-fuck-with-me tone, Id happily freeze to death. Now let go of me before I knee you so hard your dentist will be giving you your next prostate exam.
Daniel was struck by shock and recognition. Mia?
2
NO WAY. THAT DEEP, rich voice slid up Mias spine like a caress and she whirled around, temporarily forgetting the dipshit shed been about to neuter. Finding herself eye to V with the unbuttoned collar of a black suit shirt, she lifted her gaze to a chiseled face that had only grown more arresting in the last decade. Her breath caught. TaDaniel? Shed almost called him Tall, Dark and Disapproving, her private nickname for him in college.
Glad you remember. He gave her an uncharacteristically warm smile before his expression hardened as he glanced past her to the guy whod finally released her arm. You are taking a cab home. Immediately.
What the hell business is it of yours? The man thrust out his chin belligerently. I dont even know you. And
Daniel took a step forward, his silvery eyes glittering with menace. Would you like to step outside where we can get to know each other better?