Nobody said no to body language like that
Tyler also knew that nobody said no to a woman who looked and smelled, sounded and felt like Jenna.
He needed to stop this. He needed to let her down easy. She was the subject of his investigation, for goodness sakes.
Tyler? she breathed. She closed her eyes and leaned into him.
He clenched his hands into fists, trying to get the right words, the right phrases to form in his mind. But they didnt. There was no way out of this without kissing her. Just a taste, he promised himself.
Aw, hell. Tyler gently pressed his lips against hers, but promised he wouldnt pucker.
Jenna wound her arms around him, her soft body cradling his tightly.
A roar started in his ears and quickly overwhelmed his brain. Forget puckering, his lips parted. She tasted of sweet wine and summer sunshine.
Damn.
Dear Reader,
I love a hero with a secret. I particularly love a hero who has to choose between his secret and his principles. Add to that a sexy heroine who tempts him to compromise both, and youve got Tyler Reeves, private investigator, a man going quietly insane while he watches the one woman in the world he cant possibly touch.
Growing up in Vancouver, Canada, I often drove with my family across the border to visit Seattle. With its towering hotels, exciting shopping and extraordinarily beautiful scenery, it remains one of my favorite cities. The last time I visited, my good friend Jane Porter drove me along the winding lakeshore roads to view the magnificent homes set between cedar forests and the rocky shore. This laid-back luxury was the inspiration for the Quayside hotel, the fictional setting for Next to Nothing!
I had a great time writing this story. I hope you enjoy the atmosphere of the West Coast.
Best wishes,
Barbara Dunlop
Books by Barbara Dunlop
HARLEQUIN TEMPTATION
848FOREVER JAKE
HARLEQUIN DUETS
54BTHE MOUNTIE STEALS A WIFE
Next to Nothing!
Barbara Dunlop
www.millsandboon.co.uk
For my editor, Kathryn Lye.
Thank you for your advice and encouragement,
and most of all for your unfailing patience.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Epilogue
1
HE STILL OUT THERE? Jenna McBride watched as her business partner, Candice Hammond, crossed in front of the waterfall fountain in the hospitals new atrium lobby.
Short guy? asked Candice, her high heels clicking on the freshly finished sienna tile floor. Balding. Doesnt know polyester is dead? She spoke loudly enough to be heard above the rushing water.
Thats him. Jenna snapped her pencil into the clasp at the top of her Canna Interiors clipboard. The closed-for-construction lobby was nearly empty now that most of the workers had left for the day. Where on earth did Brandon find that guy?
Jennas partner in Canna Interiors arched her perfect eyebrows, her dark lips curving up in a half smile that revealed the dimple in her left cheek. One-nine-hundred aging gumshoe?
Jenna shook her head and raked her auburn, shoulder-length hair back from her forehead. She was hot from working all day, and a fine sheen of sweat dampened her hairline.
I cant believe hes still trying. Shed finally broken off her engagement to Brandon four months ago. Then shed moved from Boston to Seattle to put some distance between them.
You always did live in denial, said Candice as she settled on the bench facing the fountain, crossing one stocking-clad leg over the other. Ol Brandons like the Energizer Bunny.
Not in bed, scoffed Jenna, surprising herself with the moment of pithy honesty.
Candices eyes lit up with newfound admiration and humor. She sat slightly forward. Youve come a long way, baby.
Because I no longer think the sun rises and sets on Brandon Rice? Jenna took a seat at the opposite end of the bench, curling one denim-covered calf beneath the opposite leg and setting her clipboard down next to her purse.
It was embarrassing to realize shed been taken in so easily, and for such a long time. Naive and gullible. Book smart and life stupid. That was Jenna.
Because you can finally admit he was a loser in bed, said Candice, gazing at the water as it foamed against the natural rocks and sculpted mortar. Her short, chic hair curled against the collar of her jacket.
It was kind of hard to tell in the thick of things, said Jenna. She eased off her loafers, wiggling her toes.
The high ceiling fans sent a light breeze wafting down, but the mid-June sunshine had warmed the atrium.
Candice fought a smirk.
Its not like Id done any comparison shopping, Jenna added. I was barely twenty-two when we met.
She was twenty-six now. And, thanks to Candice, she had a second chance on life. A chance that didnt include becoming Mrs. Brandon Riceproperly behaved trophy wife. Or was that properly behaved lap dog? Hard to know for sure.
You dont need vast personal experience to know three minutes is pathetic, said Candice, giving her head a shake and rattling her silver earrings. You just need the public library. She cocked her head, contemplating the newly finished fountain. You think the whale is too much?
The whale is perfect, said Jenna, turning her attention to the brightly painted stone sculpture spouting beneath the waterfall, which was surrounded by tropical plants.
Forget uptight, three-minute Brandon, the kids were going to love that whale. The hospital board had asked for something with child-appeal when theyd given Canna Interiors the contract to decorate the pediatric lobby. Other than that, Candice and Jenna had been given a pretty free hand in the conceptual designs.
Jenna was proud of the results.
A collection of jumbo African animals adorned one corner. They were made of durable acrylic, and perfectly suited to climbing. Comfortable furniture groupings and lush plants dotted the high, glass-ceilinged room, and the carpet was a maze of brightly colored pathways twisting among cute, brown monkeys.
A week, maybe two at the most, and it would be ready to open. They were on time and on budget. And, on the strength of this projects success, theyd been invited to submit designs to the public library.
A design invitation wasnt a guarantee, but Jenna was finally beginning to feel optimistic about the future. After Candice had helped her see Brandon for the control freak he was, theyd moved clear across the country and pumped their life savings into a new interior design firm.
Though Jennas financial contribution was much lower than her friends, Candice had insisted they become equal partners. Jenna was determined to work day and night to prove her friends faith was justified.
Why dont you call him? asked Candice, turning to peer enigmatically at Jenna.
Call Brandon? Jenna tucked her loose hair behind her ear, fingering the small gold stud in her lobe.
She hadnt spoken to her ex-fiancé since shed left him. In fact, it was Candice whod insisted she break all ties. Theyd burned all his letters, kept their apartment phone number unlisted and screened calls at the office.
You want me to call Brandon? Jenna repeated, having trouble with her friends about-face.
Yes. I do. Candice sat up straighter. Maybe I was wrong.
You? Wrong?
I know. Candice waved a hand in the air. Its hard to believe. But, maybe you should tell him once and for all that its over.
I told him it was over when I left, said Jenna, reaching for the pencil in her clipboard, releasing it from the spring and tapping the eraser against the top page. She really had no desire to speak to Brandon again.
You were upset then, hurt, confused. He probably thought youd calm down and come to your senses.
I did come to my senses. Thats why I left him.
Apparently Brandon needs a bit more convincing.
Jenna palmed the pencil and stood up. You know, the minute I call him, hes going to try to talk me into coming back.
Candice folded her manicured fingers together on her knee, tipping her chin in Jennas direction. Would you? she asked calmly.
No! Definitely not. Not a chance in a million. Jenna absolutely did not want to live the rest of her life in a gilded cage, letting Brandon choose her clothes, her jewelry, her hair color. Shed had a taste of freedom, and she loved it.
Well, as long as you keep hiding from him
I am not hiding. Youre the one who
Hell convince himself you still have feelings for him, Candice finished.
There are no feelings. Period. As she spoke the words, Jenna realized just how true they were. There was nothing. No hatred, no anger, no fear.
Flat line.
She hadnt been intimidated by him, maybe overawed. Brandon had been a strong-minded, confident, charismatic guest lecturer at Boston University. While Jenna had been an impressionable undergraduate, fresh from a Minnesota farm community. It was pretty easy for him to convince her that he knew bestin all things.
But those feelings were gone now. Jenna took a deep breath, inhaling the light fountain mist and the scent of the pepper trees. She was free.
Sure shed call Brandon. There was no reason not to anymore.
Think about it, Jenna. Candice interrupted her thoughts. Call him and let him know that malleable young woman doesnt exist anymore. Then hell back off and call off his troops.
Youre right, said Jenna with conviction. Candice always did give the best advice.
I am? Candice looked surprised by Jennas easy agreement.
You bet. He needs to know its over. He needs to leave me alone. We cant have rent-a-Dick-Tracy hanging around the hospital halls scaring the children.
Candice grinned as she stood up and flipped a concealed switch to turn off the waterfall. Go get im, Jenna. The whirring motor stopped, and the water dripped to a halt against the huge lava rocks, plunking to silence in the cavernous room.
Jenna nodded decisively, retrieving her tiny cell phone from the depths of her big purse. It was a serious purse, not one of those elegant little evening bags that Brandon bought her. They barely held a comb.
Using the end of the pencil, she dialed quickly.
Hopefully, someday soon, shed forget his private number and free up the brain space for something useful. She lifted the phone to her ear, and Candice gave her an encouraging grin.
Brandon picked up on the first ring.
Little wonder. The only people who knew this number were his mother, a few captains of industry, some dubious politicians and Jenna.
Rice here, he said in that unnaturally low tone that he thought made him sound three inches taller.
Its Jenna, she said, voice crisp and impersonal.
Jenna! His voice brightened and rose an octave.
Finally. Where are you sweetheart? He sounded so happy, so satisfied, so smug.
You know darn well where I am. Your hired goon is standing outside my job-site.
Candice gave her a thumbs-up.
Goon? What goon? Youre talking nonsense. His low voice was back. He was displeased. Good.
He was on the other side of the country. He could be as displeased as he wanted, and it wouldnt affect her.
Call him off, Brandon.
Jenna, he sighed, and his tone turned patronizing. Lets not start this out by arguing.
Im not arguing. Im stating a fact.
You need to calm down and listen, Jenny-Penny.
Dont call me that.
I dont know what Candice told you
This isnt about what Candice did or did not tell me.
I always knew she was a bad influence.
Jennas voice rose, and she paced in a little half circle on the cool floor. Give me some credit, Brandon. I can make up my own mind. I can make my own choices
Is it about the surgery?
Yes! She spun back to face Candice. The plastic surgery, and so much more.
Its already cancelled.
You bet your life its cancelled. So are my hair appointments and my spa membership. You might want me to have a perfect nose and sculpted abs, but that doesnt mean I
Candices eyes went wide. She made a frantic calm down motion with her hand.
Jenna paused for a breath, raking her hand once more through her hair. Her auburn haira little bright, a little gaudy, but her own natural color.
Jenna, honey, you just had to say so.
Yeah. Right. Jenna scoffed silently and shook her head. Like her opinion about her body or anything else had ever counted.
Brandon, she began again, calmer this time. Resolute. I am not the right person for you. And you are not the right person for me. Can we please leave it at that?
Candice nodded, admiration in her eyes.
So, thats it? asked Brandon, voice hardening. You finally call and its to break up?
We broke up four months ago.
You had a tantrum four months ago.
Jenna clenched her jaw. She would not rise to the bait. She was calm, in control. Call it whatever you like. Were through.
So, you think thats it? You expect me to tell my colleagues that my little fiancée up and left me? Pawn the ring? Eat the ballroom deposit?
You can tell your colleagues any damn thing you want. Jenna pressed two fingers tight against her forehead. She wondered how hed explained her absence for the past four months. But she sure wasnt going to ask him.
Brandon snorted derisively into the phone. He hated it when she swore. It wasnt ladylike.