No Strings Attached

  Titles by Jaci Burton

  Wild Rider Series

  RIDING WILD

  RIDING TEMPTATION

  RIDING ON INSTINCT

  RIDING THE NIGHT

  WILD, WICKED, & WANTON

  BOUND, BRANDED, & BRAZEN

  Play-by-Play Novels

  THE PERFECT PLAY

  CHANGING THE GAME

  TAKING A SHOT

  PLAYING TO WIN

  Anthologies

  UNLACED

  (with Jasmine Haynes, Joey W. Hill, and Denise Rossetti)

  EXCLUSIVE

  (with Eden Bradley and Lisa Renee Jones)

  LACED WITH DESIRE

  (with Jasmine Haynes, Joey W. Hill, and Denise Rossetti)

  NAUTI AND WILD

  (with Lora Leigh)

  Specials

  "The Ties That Bind" from UNLACED

  "No Strings Attached" from LACED WITH DESIRE

  No Strings Attached

  Jaci Burton

  HEAT BOOKS, NEW YORK

  THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

  Published by the Penguin Group

  Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

  USA Canada UK Ireland Australia New Zealand India South Africa China Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England For more information about the Penguin Group, visit penguin.com.

  "No Strings Attached" previously appeared in Laced with Desire, published by Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  NO STRINGS ATTACHED

  A Heat Special / published by arrangement with the Jaci Burton, Inc.

  Copyright (c) 2010 by Jaci Burton.

  Excerpt from Thrown by a Curve by Jaci Burton copyright (c) 2013 by Jaci Burton, Inc.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  HEAT and the HEAT design are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  ISBN: 978-1-101-60325-3

  PUBLISHING HISTORY

  Heat Special / February 2013

  Cover photograph: "Beachside Rendezvous" (c) iStockphoto / Thinkstock.

  Cover design by Sarah Oberrender.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  ALWAYS LEARNING PEARSON

  For Charlie, the man I love being tied to. Forever.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Special Excerpt from Thrown by a Curve

  One

  Budgets and bids and the upcoming contract next year all tornadoed around Ella Hicks's head. She tapped her pencil and tuned out the Tulsa Building Industry president's speech. Business as usual at the monthly meeting, as it had been for the past five years since her husband, James, had died suddenly, leaving her the CEO and chief of everything involving Hicks Construction.

  Thank God for work, for the unending seven-day-a-week schedule that had saved her sanity after those shocking, bleak days following James's death, when she couldn't wrap her mind around how a healthy, robust thirty-year-old man could simply fall to the ground and die. Just like that. One second he'd been alive and laughing with her, and then, just like that, he was gone.

  She'd spent the last five years reliving that day, remembering the shock, the crushing pain, the thought that her life, too, was over.

  But she hadn't died with James. Because they still had a business to run, and it had fallen on her to do it. She couldn't let James down, refused to fall apart. He'd have hated that, would have wanted her to pick up and get the job done. So she had. For five years she'd worked sunup to sundown on Hicks Construction. She'd fought with the foreman and the business manager, had gone head-to-head with the workers and other owners, and had stood her ground, letting her grief out only when she came home at the end of the day, dusty, dirty and too tired to even think. Then she'd strip and turn the shower on, letting the steamy water pour over her. Only then would she allow herself to cry.

  She tapped her pencil on the paper, not even able to remember how many nights she'd sobbed uncontrollably for hours, until the water had gone cold, until she'd dried off and climbed into bed, falling into a--thankfully--dreamless slumber. And so it had gone, every day like that.

  For too damn long. She'd eventually stopped crying at night, but she still worked herself hard, just like she worked everyone at the company. There was nothing she asked them to do that she wasn't willing to do herself. Staying busy had been her lifeline, and she was grateful to have it, to have this tiny piece of James to tuck away in her heart. His name, his company.

  No. Her company now. And she'd succeeded. She'd made it work. James would be proud of her. But James was gone and it was time she found a life again.

  Though it wasn't a whole new life she was searching for. Not right now anyway. There was only one thing she needed, and she intended to get it--soon.

  "The bids for three upcoming projects should be posted at the beginning of next month."

  Ella pulled her focus to the business at hand, jotting down a few notes.

  "You aren't paying attention."

  She shifted her gaze to the man who'd whispered to her. Clayton Mansfield--Clay--owner of Mansfield Builders, one of her biggest competitors. Same age as her late husband, Clay and James had been good friends as well as rivals. They'd gone hunting and fishing together, and Clay had been nearly as devastated as she had been over James's death.

  He'd also been a very good friend to her over the past five years, had helped her with the business when she'd needed it, despite it not being in his best interest to do so. But he'd been James's friend, and she knew that was why he'd been there for her. She was grateful to have a strong shoulder to lean on, someone who knew the business end of things inside and out, because while she and James had worked side by side to build Hicks Construction, she'd focused more on the office side of things. Getting out there and getting dirty had been James's job. After his death, it had become hers. That was where Clay had helped her.

  He nudged her with his elbow. "Late night?"

  She smothered a snort. "Hardly. Just trying to stay awake through the droning."

  Clay nodded, stretching out his jean-clad legs under the table. "Next time we vote on a president for our council, we need to make sure they can talk, and talk fast."

  "Agreed."

  He shifted again, folded his arms over his middle. He'd rolled up his shirtsleeves, and she glimpsed dark hair over tanned skin. And muscle. A lot of muscle.

  Stop. Do not look. She never looked. Okay, she did. What breathing woman wouldn't? At six-five or so, Clay was imposing. And he was model gorgeous, with sea blue eyes, coal black hair and a body that spoke of a man who really worked for a living. And his mouth--she'd always been drawn to his mouth. Full bottom lip that she'd thought of often lately...though she shouldn't. Wouldn't. Not with Clay.

  Which was why this new...project...was so imperative. She'd been thinking of Clay...of that...a lot.

  "That should wrap th
ings up, unless there's any new business?"

  Ella held her breath, praying no one would speak up. They'd been in this meeting for two hours and her ass was numb. She had things to do, plans to make.

  Fortunately, they adjourned. Ella pushed back her chair and resisted the urge to rub her butt.

  "Finally."

  Ella nodded. "Thanks for letting us use your conference room."

  He shrugged. "No big deal. Easier on me. Now I can get back to work." He winked, and she felt butterflies in her stomach. Ugh. Things between her and Clay had always been easy. She'd never felt anything for him. Ever. Of course there'd always been James, and then there'd been mind-numbing grief. She hadn't felt anything...for anyone.

  But now she was starting to feel again, the grief for her husband diminished to one of aching loss. She'd reconciled it, come to grips with the realization that James had died, not her. It was time to start living again. With that in mind...

  "Is Tish in today?"

  Clay arched a brow. "Yeah. Should be at her desk. Why?"

  "She has a condo in Hawaii she told me about."

  "You going on vacation? Finally?"

  She offered up a bright smile. "Yes. Finally. And I'm going to take Tish up on her offer to let me use her condo. She said it's right on the beach."

  "It's a nice condo complex. I've got a place there myself."

  "Do you? So it's worth the trip?"

  He nodded. "Definitely worth the trip. When are you going?"

  "Next week. We're on the tail end of a few projects, and since it's not quite spring here yet, I have a month or so before the new ones start up."

  "Perfect timing. Hawaii is great this time of year."

  "So I've heard."

  "Taking anyone with you?"

  She shook her head. "No. Going alone."

  He leaned against the conference table. "That's no fun."

  "Oh, believe me. I intend to have a lot of fun once I get there."

  "Yeah? How so?"

  Her body heated at the thought. Or maybe it was just standing so close to Clay. She took a step back and grinned. "Can't tell you everything, you know. I'm off to find Tish. See you soon." She waved to him and hurried down the hall toward his offices.

  She intended to make these plans and make them fast, before she changed her mind.

  Tish smiled at her as she approached. "How was the meeting?"

  "Mind-numbingly dull. So do you have the reservations?"

  Tish nodded. "All set. You sure you want to do this alone?"

  "Yes. Of course. I'm ready."

  "Are you? Are you sure?"

  Tish had been one of her closest friends in the industry. She'd actually started working as a clerk for Ella and James, until Clay had recognized her talents and lured her away to work as his assistant.

  Ella remembered how pissed James had been over that. He and Clay had had words. Serious words. But Clay had told him it was business.

  She'd hated losing Tish, mainly because they'd worked together in the office and gotten close. That hadn't changed after Tish went to work for Clay. They got together for lunch once a week, and hung out whenever Ella wasn't busy with James.

  After James's death, Tish had been her rock. Ten years older than Ella, Tish had lost her husband, John, to cancer. She knew how it felt to lose the man of your dreams, the other half of yourself. And Ella had leaned on Tish--hard. Tish had strong shoulders and had weathered a lot of crying on Ella's part. She hadn't said a word, either--until Ella had been ready to talk about it.

  She loved Tish like a sister.

  So she expected Tish to look out for her, even now, five years later. "I'm sure. I think."

  Tish laughed. "That's what I thought. Hey, if nothing else, you'll get some rest, a great tan and you'll come back relaxed. You work too hard."

  "I need to work hard."

  "No, you don't. Not anymore. It's okay to let your guard down. It's been five years, Ella. Let go."

  "I'm trying. That's what this trip is all about."

  Tish shook her head. "I don't know why you need to go all the way to Hawaii to get laid, but whatever."

  Ella pulled up a chair in front of Tish's desk and leaned forward. "You know exactly why I have to go all the way to Hawaii. Who do I know here? Who do I associate with? All the men in the industry. Do you think I'm going to..." She cast a quick glance around the room. "Do you think I'm going to have sex with any of them?"

  Tish leaned back in her chair. "I think there's some mighty fine men in this business. Open your eyes. Take your pick. Don't you see how they look at you?"

  She shook her head. "No. I don't pay any attention. These men all knew James. I want a stranger."

  "Bleh. That's not good. You don't know what you'll get."

  "Laid, Tish. I'll get laid. I'll have phenomenal sex, get it out of my system, and I'll come home relaxed and ready to go back to work without the added distraction of..."

  "Being horny?"

  Ella laughed. "Yes."

  "I think it would be a lot easier to scratch that itch with someone you know."

  "Oh, hell no. That's the last thing I want. Trust me, this is the best way."

  Tish sighed. "If you say so. The condo is booked for you. Have a good time. And for God's sake, be careful."

  "I will." She stood and walked around the desk and threw her arms around Tish. "I love you."

  "I love you, too." Tish waved her off. "Now, get out of here before I get all mushy and ruin my makeup."

  Ella laughed, excitement pouring through her. "Okay."

  She turned to walk away, but Tish stopped her with a, "Hey."

  Ella pivoted. "What?"

  "We need to go shopping. You can't wear dusty blue jeans, work shirts and boots on Waikiki beach."

  Clay waited until Ella had left the offices. Then he came out of one of the workrooms and stopped at Tish's desk.

  "She taking the condo?"

  His assistant shifted her gaze away from her computer and over to him. "How do you know about that?"

  "She told me."

  "Oh. Well, then, yes."

  "When is she going?"

  Tish regarded him with a suspicious glare.

  "I'm concerned about her, Tish. You know how it is. How we all are."

  Tish nodded. "I know. Me, too. She leaves Sunday. She'll be there a week."

  "She's really going alone?"

  "So she says."

  "I'm not sure I like that."

  Tish laughed. "I'm pretty sure it's none of your business."

  He smirked. "Probably not. But when has that ever stopped me?"

  "Never."

  His smile widened. "What does my calendar look like for the next week and a half?"

  She brought up the calendar on the computer. "A couple meetings. Nothing major."

  "Move them. And book my condo for Sunday."

  Tish shook her head. "For a week, I suppose?"

  "Yeah."

  "Ella isn't going to like this."

  "Ella has nothing to do with it. I'm going deep-sea fishing."

  Tish snorted. "Sure you are."

  "And if I happen to run into Ella while I'm there, I can make sure she's okay."

  "Ella does a fine job taking care of herself."

  "I know she does. But just in case..."

  Tish's fingers flew over the keyboard. "I sure hope you know what you're doing."

  So did he. He didn't do impulsive things like this. Ever. And he'd been hands off Ella...always. But after James's sudden death, and the way it had taken its toll on her, he'd stepped in as James's best friend and found himself...looking after her. In an unofficial capacity, of course. Strictly business related. He didn't go to her house. He didn't see to her personal welfare. He never saw her at all other than at business functions. On the job. Nothing personal between them at all. Ella had family and friends for that. She had them to lean on during the bad times. He'd just been there to help her out with the business.

 
This wasn't business.

  So why the hell was he going to Hawaii?

  Two

  The condo was amazing. The oceanfront room was open and airy with white tile floors, pale bamboo and wicker furniture with glass tabletops. And the view took her breath away. Miniature palms waved to her in greeting as she stepped out on the balcony and got her first clear look at the ocean.

  Wow. Just...wow. She took a deep breath and inhaled the tangy ocean air.

  She'd been in Hawaii for all of an hour and she was already madly in love with the place. How did people ever leave? She wanted to plop down on the chaise, put her feet up, stare at the never-ending miles of clear blue water and just do...nothing. Quite possibly for the rest of her life. Okay, maybe she'd add a pina colada. Other than that, she couldn't think of one other thing she'd need to be happy.

  Sex.

  Oh, right. That was why she was here, wasn't it? Though she could get used to a life without sex if she could live in a place this nice. It was so peaceful watching the waves as they raced to the shore, listening to the sounds of people below, and yet she remained detached from it all, an observer.

  And that was her problem, had been her problem for too long now. She'd been detached, observing. Not participating. Which meant no more sitting around watching the world go by. It was time to join the party.

  She grabbed the suitcase she'd dropped at the front door and headed to the bedroom, her jaw dropping.

  Clay had been very good to Tish when he'd given her this condo. The bedroom was lush, with a king-sized bed and a lazily twirling ceiling fan overhead. There was no television--really, who needs TV in paradise? The double doors gave way to another stunning view of the beach and the ocean.

  The bathroom had a double vanity, a shower built for two and a Jacuzzi tub. It was huge and every woman's dream. Ella could use one of those at home after a muscle-bruising day. There was even a small kitchen in case she wanted to cook instead of eat out every night.

  She'd be content to never leave her room. Except she had to get out. It was unlikely some hot stud had heard about her arrival and was about to knock on her door to offer up his services.

  She laughed at that, tossed her suitcase on the bed and opened it up, still awed by all the color she saw in there.