Read an Excerpt

Lydia stopped dead in her tracks as the butler and her hired escort came into view. Her jaw dropped. She felt her eyes stretching wide, then wider still.

He was standing with his feet braced apart and his hands on his lean hips. His posture drew Lydia's attention to his incredibly tight-looking butt. She'd never told anyone, but she'd always had a thing for tight butts.

His chest was completely bare, and lord, what a chest. Now she knew what Casey meant by magnificent. Bronzed, rippling with muscles, gleaming beneath the overhead chandelier as if he'd rubbed himself with oil ... As shameless as his species was, he probably had, she mused.

"Dear God."

He swung around at her muttered words, his firm, sensual mouth curving in a smile that knocked the air from her lungs as if someone had punched her in the stomach. His eyes were a beautiful hazel, outlined by thick dark lashes.

The moisture in her mouth dried up as he strode toward her, wearing that wicked, downright naughty smile. Was that smile a job requirement? She wondered.

"You must be Ms. Carmichael." He stuck out his hand, his smile widening, revealing--not surprisingly to Lydia--dazzling white teeth. "I'm Luke."