When there was a soft knock at his office door he glanced at the wall clock. Inwardly he groaned. Even though he needed a new accountant, he’d been hoping the last interviewee wouldn’t show up today. His mother had talked him into interviewing one of her friend’s granddaughters. If she was anything like the last woman his mom had recommended—he fought off a shudder.
“Come in,” he barked. Better get this over with.
The door creaked open and for a moment, he forgot to breathe. This could not be the woman here to interview.
A pretty redhead took a couple tentative steps inside. Her ivory cheeks were flushed a delectable shade of pink. “Hi, I’m Carly Kendall. I hope I’m not late.”
Somehow he found his voice. “You’re right on time.” Instinctively he stood and motioned for her to sit across the desk. Now he wished he’d taken a few minutes to straighten up.
She wore a respectable dark blue pencil skirt and button-down blouse, but the effect on her was ‘naughty librarian’. Which was the last thing he should be thinking about. The shape of her perfectly rounded breasts pressed against her top and all he could think about doing was unbuttoning it and peeling it open slowly, inch by inch, as her delectable body was revealed to him.
What the fuck was wrong with him? He mentally shook himself, needing to get his shit together.
He wasn’t some horny fucking adolescent, but something about her scent was making him crazy. It was unusual, like a spring rain and a hint of raspberries— Crap, she was saying something.
“I appreciate you taking the time to interview me. I wasn’t sure if you had it so here’s my résumé.” She slid it across the desk as she spoke.
“Why don’t you tell me a little about yourself and why you want to work here?” There, he got out a coherent sentence. He deserved a freaking medal for being able to talk when she was staring at him with those big blue eyes, begging him to do all sorts of bad things. Damn, he could practically feel his canines extending. As a werewolf, he’d learned to control his urges as a pup. For some reason, his primal instinct was overruling all those ingrained rules. When she nervously moistened her lips he realized he was staring a little too hard.
Nick quickly glanced at her résumé. “Finance?” Good for him. Another word. He looked up again.
A real smile touched her shiny pink, oh-so-kissable lips. “Yes. After college I started working at…”
Oh shit. Shit, shit, shit! He’d always had a thing for redheads. Funny that he’d never dated one, but especially not a human one. And now his living, breathing fantasy wanted to work for him. She wasn’t glamorous or exotic—or a shifter—but she was exactly his type. Something he hadn’t realized he even had until she’d walked through the door of his office. Adorable freckles splattered her nose and cheeks, giving her an innocent quality he usually detested.
He wanted a woman with experience. Too bad his dick had other plans. It had taken one look at sexy Ms. Kendall and gone on red alert. What the fuck was wrong with him? He’d been in her presence sixty seconds and he felt like one of his barbaric ancestors, ready to take her back to his cave and claim her. Hell, maybe his ancestors had been on to something because that sounded like a damn good idea.
Acknowledgments
It’s time to thank the usual crowd. Kari Walker, Carolyn Crane and Joan Turner, thank you ladies so much for all your insight with this story. I’m also grateful to Jaycee of Sweet ‘N Spicy Designs for her wonderful design work. To my assistant, Sarah, thank you for all the behind-the-scenes stuff that you do. And as always, a big thanks to my family for putting up with my schedule.
Savannah Stuart Complete Booklist
Miami Scorcher Series
Unleashed Temptation
Worth the Risk
Power Unleashed
Dangerous Craving
Desire Unleashed
Crescent Moon Series
Taming the Alpha
Claiming His Mate
Tempting His Mate
Saving His Mate
To Catch His Mate
Futuristic Romance
Heated Mating
Claiming Her Warriors
Claimed by the Warrior
Contemporary Romance
Adrianna’s Cowboy
Dangerous Deception
Everything to Lose
Tempting Alibi
Tempting Target
Tempting Trouble
Katie Reus Complete Booklist
Red Stone Security Series
No One to Trust
Danger Next Door
Fatal Deception
Miami, Mistletoe & Murder
His to Protect
Breaking Her Rules
Protecting His Witness
Sinful Seduction
Under His Protection
Deadly Fallout
Sworn to Protect
The Serafina: Sin City Series
First Surrender
Sensual Surrender
Sweetest Surrender
Dangerous Surrender
Deadly Ops Series
Bound to Danger
Chasing Danger (novella)
Shattered Duty
Edge of Danger
A Covert Affair
Non-series Romantic Suspense
Running From the Past
Dangerous Secrets
Killer Secrets
Deadly Obsession
Danger in Paradise
His Secret Past
Retribution
Paranormal Romance
Destined Mate
Protector’s Mate
A Jaguar’s Kiss
Tempting the Jaguar
Enemy Mine
Heart of the Jaguar
Moon Shifter Series
Alpha Instinct
Lover’s Instinct (novella)
Primal Possession
Mating Instinct
His Untamed Desire (novella)
Avenger’s Heat
Hunter Reborn
Protective Instinct (novella)
Darkness Series
Darkness Awakened
Taste of Darkness
Beyond the Darkness
About the Author
Savannah Stuart is the pseudonym of New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katie Reus. Under this name she writes slightly hotter romance than her mainstream books. Her stories still have a touch of intrigue, suspense, or the paranormal and the one thing she always includes is a happy ending. She lives in the South with her very own real life hero. In addition to writing (and reading of course!) she loves traveling with her husband. For more information about Savannah please visit her website at: www.savannahstuartauthor.com. If you would like to be notified of future releases, please join her Katie Reus newsletter. Direct link: http://eepurl.com/jEABv
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Epilogue
Thank You for Reading
Sneak Peek—HEATED MATING
Sneak Peek—UNLEASHED TEMPTATION
Acknowledgments
Complete Booklist
About the Author