Bared to You

“Drink me.”
Gideon’s
business card was nestled in the cushioning
tissue paper.
As I studied the gift, I found it very apt. Since
meeting Gideon I’d felt like I’d fallen down the
rabbit hole into a fascinating and seductive world
where few of the known rules applied. I was in
uncharted territory that was both exciting and
scary.
I glanced at Cary, who eyed the bottle
dubiously.
“Cheers.” I pried the cork out and drank the
contents without thinking twice about it. It tasted
like sickly sweet cough syrup. My stomach
quivered in distaste for a moment, and then
heated. I wiped my mouth with the back of my
hand and shoved the cork back into the empty
bottle.
“What was that?” Cary asked.
“From the burn, it’s hair of the dog.”
His nose wrinkled. “Effective but unpleasant.”
And it was working. I already felt a little
steadier.
Cary picked up the box and dug out Gideon’s
card. He flipped it over; then held it out to me. On
the back Gideon had written, “
Call me
” in bold
slashing penmanship and jotted down a number.
I took the card, curling my hand around it. His
gift was proof that he was thinking about me. His
tenacity and focus was seductive. And flattering.

---

There was no denying I was in trouble where
Gideon was concerned. I craved the way I felt
when he touched me, and I loved the way he
responded when I touched him back. When I tried
to think of what I 
wouldn’t
agree to do to have his
hands on me again, I couldn’t come up with much.
When Cary tried to hand me the phone, I shook
my head. “Not yet. I need a clear head when
dealing with him and I’m still fuzzy.”
“You two seemed cozy last night. He’s definitely
into you.”
“I’m definitely into him.” Curling into the corner
of the couch, I pressed my cheek into the cushion
and hugged my legs to my chest. “We’re going to
hang out, get to know each other, have casual-but-
physically-intense 
sex, 
and 
be 
otherwise
completely 
independent. 
No 
strings, 
no
expectations, no responsibilities.”
Cary hit a button on his netbook and the printer
on the other side of the room started spitting out
pages. Then he snapped the computer closed,
set it on the coffee table, and gave me all his
attention. “Maybe it’ll turn into something serious.”
“Maybe not
,
” I scoffed.
“Cynic.”
“I’m not looking for happily-ever-after, Cary,
especially not with a mega-mogul like Cross. I’ve
seen what it’s like for my mom being connected to
powerful men. It’s a full-time job with a part-time
companion. Money keeps Mom happy, but it
wouldn’t be enough for me.”
My dad had loved my mom. He’d asked her to
marry him and share his life. She’d turned him
down because he didn’t have the hefty portfolio
and sizeable bank account she required in a
husband. Love wasn’t a requisite for marriage in
Monica Stanton’s opinion and since her sultry-
eyed, breathy-voiced beauty was irresistible to

---

eyed, breathy-voiced beauty was irresistible to
most men, she’d never had to settle for less than
whatever she wanted. Unfortunately she hadn’t
wanted my dad for the long haul.
Glancing at the clock, I saw it was ten thirty. “I
guess I should get ready.”
“I love spa day with your mom.” Cary smiled and
it chased the lingering shadows on my mood
away. “I feel like a god when we’re done.”
“Me, too. Of the goddess persuasion.”
We were so eager to be off that we went
downstairs to meet the car rather than wait for the
front desk to call up.
The doorman smiled as we stepped outside—
me in heeled sandals and a maxi dress, and Cary
in hip-hugging jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt.
“Good morning, Miss Tramell. Mr. Taylor. Will
you need a cab today?”
“No thanks, Paul. We’re expecting a car.” Cary
grinned. “It’s spa day at Perrini’s!”
“Ah, Perrini’s Day Spa.” Paul gave a sage nod.
“I bought my wife a gift certificate for our
anniversary. She enjoyed it so much I plan to
make it a tradition.”
“You did good, Paul,” I said. “Pampering a
woman never goes out of style.”
A black town car pulled up with Clancy at the
wheel. Paul opened the rear door for us and we
climbed in, squealing when we found a box of
Knipschildt’s Chocopologie on the seat. Waving
at Paul, we settled back and dug in, taking tiny
nibbles of the truffles that were worth savoring
slowly.
Clancy drove us straight to Perrini’s, where the
relaxation began from the moment one walked in
the door. Crossing the entrance threshold was like
taking a vacation on the far side of the world.
Every arched doorway was framed by lushly

---

vibrant striped silks, while jeweled pillows
decorated elegant chaises and oversized
armchairs.
Birds chirped from suspended gilded cages
and potted plants filled every corner with lush
fronds. Small decorative fountains added the
sounds 
of 
running 
water, 
while 
stringed
instrumental music was piped into the room via
cleverly hidden speakers. The air was redolent
with a mix of exotic spices and fragrances,
making me feel like I’d stepped into Arabian
Nights.
It was