Turn the page for a sneak peek at the next book in Linda Francis Lee's Sexy series Simply Sexy
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On sale November 2004 There were some men a smart girl just knew to steer clear of. Ben Prescott was one of them. Julia had met him a month ago. He was Chloe's new brother-in-law, and Chloe wasn't lying when she said that Julia and Ben hadn't gotten along since the day they met. Which made Julia wonder about herself since she had knowingly invited the hard-chiseled, narrow-hipped, smooth-talkin bad boy to stay with her. Sitting in her father's study attempting to work, Julia was barely aware of the doorbell when it rang. It didn't occur to her to get up and answer. When it rang a second time, she called out. "Zelda, sugar, can you get the door?" But the minute the words were out of her mouth, she remembered. Three days ago she'd had to let the last of the Boudreaux staff go. And to make it worse, she'd had to say goodbye to the one person who had held on the longest, remained the truest, had been completely devoted by taking pay cut after pay cut. No one would have believed how much the housekeeper had meant to Julia. But given Philippe Boudreaux's revolving door policy regarding women, girlfriends, and dates since Julia's mother had died nearly two decades ago, Zelda had been like a sweet, wonderful great aunt of constancy. But now Zelda was gone, yet another of the many changes that had occurred in Julia's life since her father's death. She refused to think about the dwindling number of relatives she possessed or the fact that her pseudo-family of Kate and Chloe was marrying off faster than she could buy wedding gifts. She pushed away from the broad sprawling desk with its cavernous leg area where she used to curl up and sleep while she waited for her father to come home when she was a child. Memoriesâthe kind that filled the mind and made the heart twist and eyes burn. She missed her father, every single day. But just as she had said about Ben Prescott, she was no weak daisy either, and she wasn't about to let this setback in her life slow her downâmuch less ruin her. Taking a deep breath, she dashed away the threat of tears. She took comfort in the knowledge that after selling KTEX TV, the house in the mountains, her father's assorted antique cars, all of his stocks and bonds, plus most of her jewelry, she'd been able to pay off her father's debt and had enough left over for one, maybe two months worth of bills. As much as she hated the thought, she knew she'd have to sell the house. But every realtor she spoke with told her that putting a house on the market just before the holidays was a sure fire way to announce desperation. And desperation meant lower offers. If she could hold out for a few more months, make it into spring, she was guaranteed a better price. So she would wait. Which meant she had to find a way to make a livingâand that meant she needed to prove she could create and produce content for KTEX. She strode to the front door, wearing her favorite white wrap around blouse and bright green leopard print jeans. Her heels were high, her toe nails painted hot pink. A reminder of her once pampered rich girl's life. No more $500 pants for her. Cocking her head, she waited a second as the thought sunk in. "Nope," she said to herself, "still doesn't bother me." Which was odd, since she thought she'd miss the money, miss owning the station. Miss her old life. But all she missed was her father. She had left her long dark hair loose, hanging straight nearly to the small of her back. One day she'd have to cut it. She couldn't wear her hair long forever. But at twenty-seven, she wasn't yet ready to cut away her youth. The doorbell rang a third time just as she pulled open the front door. Chloe and Sterling stood on the front steps. Sterling's strong jaw ticked with impatience, Chloe halted mid-search as she rummaged in her purse for a key. But it was Ben, as always, who commanded her attention. He leaned against the red brick half wall that lined the three steps leading to the front door, looking like he didn't have a care in the world. He also seemed about as happy at this turn of events as she was. His heated gaze slid over her, one dark brow rising in quiet assessment when he got a good look at her pants. As much as the man didn't like her, he looked like he wouldn't mind stripping the Escada leopard jeans off of her and slamming hard and deep. A tingle of sensation raced through her at the thought. It had been way too long since she'd had sex. "I thought you forgot we were coming," Chloe said, forcing a smile. "Heavens no, sugar. Just forgot I no longer had anyone to answer the door," she answered with typical candor. Sterling appeared a tad uncomfortable about that since he was the one who had bought the station from her. But Julia knew he had given her more than a fair price for KTEX, and had offered her a job to boot. He might be a cutthroat corporate raider, but when it came to Chloe, he turned into a knight in shining armor. Now Julia just needed to prove to everyone and herself that she deserved what had been offered. A job. "Come in," she said, stepping aside. Sterling reached down to pick up a thick canvas duffle bag. "I can do that, Sterling," Ben stated through gritted teeth. "Damn it, Ben, the doctor said you can't lift anything. That is unless you want to end up back in the hospital." That shut the grumbler up. Sterling and Chloe headed inside. Ben pushed away from the low wall and started to follow. "I'm happy you're here," she said, trying to mean it. There went that dark brow again, rising, the gesture appearing all the more sinister given the thin scar that slashed the brow in half. More than once since she'd met him, she had wondered how he hadn't lost an eye. She pulled a beauty queen smile for him as he strode past her, his gait stiff, making her wonder how high up on the thigh he'd been hit. Lost in thoughts of thighs more than wounds, she stood there staring out into the front yard, not moving. She heard him grunt when he got inside, showing just how much of a rugged, unmannered heathen he truly was. She bet he was great in bed. Damn. She shook the image from her head and stared to turn away, but a utility truck parked across the street caught her attention. For a second she thought the driver was holding a camera. "I can imagine how happy you are to see me," Ben said. His voice was so close that she whirled around. He was right behind her. "Oh," she squeaked. She, Julia Boudreaux, tormentor of all deliciously bad men, squeaked. She couldn't believe it. She couldn't believe how Ben Prescott could turn her into someone she was notâa squeaking schoolgirl. And she wasn't, she told herself firmly. She ate men like him for breakfast, then spit them out in time for dinner. But what really unsettled her was how he looked now that she was standing so close. Beneath the icy exterior was a man who was trying very hard to act like he wasn't hurt. Her heart kind of leaped with unaccustomed worry. Maybe she'd been a little hasty in offering him a place to stay. If he really wasn't okay, she didn't know the first thing about taking care of anyone, much less a man who had been shot. Worse news, however, was something else she noticed. He smelled like a hot, sexy man. And she should know. She was an expert on hot, sexy men. But this was a specimen that her internal radar warned her against. Letting her guard down around this man spelled nothing but dark storms and turbulent seas. With her father's sudden death, and now her life turned upside down, she was managing, yes, but the last thing she needed was more bad weather. "Do I make you nervous, cupcake?" he asked. Cupcake, she mouthed silently with an incredulous shake of her head. The corner of his mouth crooked up. On any other man it would have passed for a sign of amusement. But Ben Prescott didn't look amused. Good. "Nervous? Me?" she asked innocently. She bit her lip and looked at him through lowered lashes. "Not at all. Though I wonder if I make you nervous . .. beefcake." That wiped the non-humorous grin off his too handsome face. There, she felt better already. She had regained her footing. "Shall we go inside?" she asked. She didn't wait for an answer. She took one last glance across the street, found the utility man out of his truck fast at work with tools and wires, relieving her that it wasn't anything weird after all. Smiling, she swept past Ben like a queen at court. Or at least she tried. He caught her arm, grimaced when she jarred him, though he quickly pulled his features into a hard, implacable mask. God forbid this caveman show an ounce of pain. "Just so we understand each other," he began, "I have no interest in staying with you, but I'm not going to be responsible for Sterling and Chloe canceling their honeymoon." "Oh, darn," she pouted prettily. "I'm heartbroken. I thought you were about to rip off that leather jacket to reveal a tuxedo, whip out a bouquet of wild pink roses, and then propose." She stamped her foot. "Damn." "Funny." "Do you think?" For reasons she couldn't imagine, his eyes suddenly sparked with humor. "What I think is that you're the only woman I know who'd rather have wild pink roses than the standard red." "I'm anything but standard, beefcake, which you should know by now." She flipped her hair over her shoulder, then leaned close and whispered, "If you don't want to play Wedding Proposal, maybe you'd rather play Doctor. Remember that little game we played a few weeks back? If you want, I can give you another exam." She expected him to flinch, maybe even blush. Instead he tipped his head back and laughed. The sound was deep and rich and infectious, and she might have laughed along with him if she hadn't been so miffed that he was the only man she knew who never did anything that she expected. Swallowing back annoyance, she headed toward the grand living room just beyond the wall of stained glass where Sterling and Chloe waited. "Where should I put this?" Sterling asked. "I have a guest room ready. The one down the hall with the door open. Thanks." Sterling heaved the duffle over his shoulder as if it didn't weigh more than a feather and headed toward the east wing of the house. Julia turned to Chloe. "I'm so excited about your trip. I can't wait to hear all about it when you get back." "I'll keep in touch while we're gone." "No keeping in touch! This is supposed to be just the two of you. Ben and I will be fine." "Yeah, don't worry about us," Ben stated, though his voice had softened into a gruff kindness for his new sister-in-law. "You and Sterling need the time away." "I'm not worried about you twoâ" Julia and Ben snorted in unison. "It's the new station manager I'm a little worried about." "What's wrong with him?" Julia instantly wanted to know. "Nothing, I'm sure. Sterling knows him, and thinks the world of him. But, well, KTEX has been my baby for so long..." "And it's hard to let go," Julia finished for her. "Not to worry, we both love KTEX. Between Kate and me, we'll keep an eye on him. You need to worry about making new babies." Chloe flashed red. "Julia!" "Oh, don't go all prude-girl on me, Miss I-better-seduce-Sterling-so-he'll-lose-interest-in-me." The embarrassment on Chloe's face brightened even more. Ben actually chuckled. "I've heard some pretty flimsy excuses in my day, but that one takes the cake." Julia laughed. "First Kate, going all sexy on us, then you. Thank God I don't have to turn into the complete opposite of who I am. I'm already sexy, sugar." "Julia!" Ben snorted again. Julia smiled and winked. Sterling reappeared. "Julia, I appreciate you doing this. I know my brother won't be any trouble." "I'm standing right here," Ben stated from where he leaned one shoulder against the wall. He was doing a lot of leaning, Julia noticed, looking ultra cool, like a living James Dean. And not the sausage guy. "I know you're there, Ben, and I know you'll be the perfect gentleman." This time it was Ben's strong jaw that ticked. Though when he spoke he plastered a smile on his face. "Me, cause problems for the lovely Julia?" Sterling sighed. "Maybe we shouldn'tâ" Julia leaped over to Ben and hooked her arm through his with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Look at us," she chimed. Ben managed a grimace that passed for agreement. "Like two peas in a pod," she drawled, "as happy as can be." Julia smiled at him like she'd found the Holy Grail. "All right, all right," the older Prescott grumbled. "We're going. But I expect you to keep your promise, Ben." The younger Prescott scowled. "Just stay here until the end of the month," Sterling persisted. "Your apartment won't be ready until the first, and this way I don't have to worry about you." Ben's jaw cemented. "I'm not your kid brother anymore, Sterling." Sterling actually smiled at that. "Sure you are. You'll always be my kid brother. Consider this a wedding gift for Chloe and me." "I already gave you china," he grumbled. His smile widened. "I'd rather have your word." "Hell." Sterling took that for agreement, and he reached out and shook Ben's hand. "Thanks," Julia heard Sterling say softly. Julia and Chloe hugged. "Are you sure this is okay?" Chloe whispered. "Absolutely. Don't you worry about a thing. Ben and I are going to be fine. Great. Better than great." She hoped. Chloe rolled her eyes, then added with a squeeze, "I love you." "I love you, too. Now get out of here and go have an umbrella drink for me." The door closed, leaving behind a startled silence. Ben and Julia stared at the suddenly empty entry hall. "Well," Julia said. "Yep," Ben added. Then he nodded. "I'll go and ... unpack." He really didn't seem like the go-to-his-room-and-unpack sort of guy. But the less time they spent around each other, the better. "Great, I'll go to the kitchen and ... do something." She turned and headed away. She could feel his eyes on her back, the cool assessment. But she wasn't about to be intimidated. She walked away with the provocative swish of a Playboy bunny, certain she was turning his manly control to putty.