This chemist was like none she’d ever met. He was tall and big, much more so than she’d thought from the pictures. She watched with fascination as he shrugged out of his white lab coat. His black, golf shirt—hanging the right way off his body—showed off thick, sinewy muscles in his wide back bunching with each smooth motion. Shoulders as broad as they come led to arms that were thick and defined and strong. He possessed a narrow waist and hips. Hunny could see the curve of a healthy bottom leading down to strong thighs and calves she could sense even in his loose-fitting pants. He turned toward her, sensing her presence, and she could see the power in his chest. Just a quick, unconscious contracting of the muscles there that drew her eyes and dried her throat.

Hunny swallowed. She hadn’t seen a body like that in a long, long time. She hadn’t had such a powerful physical reaction to a man in such a long…long…well, never. The body was perfect, but she hesitated before looking at a face she’d only seen in pictures. However, Hunny had never been a coward. Slowly, her eyes traveled up and up until she absently pressed a hand to her chest.

Huntington didn’t know if she had ever seen someone so delicious looking and so…so… damn. His skin was dark chocolate, smooth, and shining with a young, healthy glow. He had high, proud cheekbones and a straight, firm nose. His jaw was strong and square. His chin was just as adamant. His lips were full, and they looked soft and warm and ready to kiss. And his eyes—Good Lord, they had not left her since he came in—his eyes were the deepest brown, black even, and mesmerizing with their almond shape. They were warm eyes that held amusement and intelligence and just a hint of something else that was more than a little intimidating. They were talking to her, and Hunny didn’t know if she was ready for what they were saying. She took a step back. The amusement in his brown orbs kicked up a notch, and Hunny swallowed. The man looked like an angel and a devil at once.

Hunny had to look away for a moment. Her throat was dry and her insides felt like they were all stirred up. She needed to clear her head so she took a deep breath then—pure accident—cast her gaze back his way. His arms crossed over his chest as he leaned back against the counter. He smiled a brief, appraising smile that gave Hunny a glimpse of incredibly straight, white teeth, with the barest hint of a gap between the front two. Goodness, even that was sexy. And, as if that wasn’t enough, the chemist started to speak. His voice was heavy and hot like a caress. It was familiar and… she realized what he’d said and her eyes widened, “Hello, Honeybee.”

She knew immediately why he’d chosen that silly moniker. Her butter-colored skin, sand-colored hair, and light brown eyes were frequently enough commented on. But, only her mother had ever called Honeybee. Most people shortened Huntington to Hunny, not Honeybee. She didn’t like the name or the liquid warmth that had pooled inside her at the sound of it rolling off his tongue.

It was going to be pretty damn hard to get through this first meeting if he was going to keep heating her up with those scandalous gazes. And she couldn’t for the life of her figure out why. Why was this gorgeous man so obviously attracted to her? Sure she was attractive enough—she’d have to be slow not to know that—but this guy dated models. Unless it was the chase, or maybe he was one of the guys who was just into quantity. Huntington found herself frowning. She was not looking forward to the next couple of days working in close quarters with this coffee-complected Adonis.

For a moment, she considered leaving. Maybe her best bet would be to leave the laboratory, find Gina, and tell her she could present the work they’d done earlier that day. She would call Arthur and tell him…tell him… Well she didn’t know what she would tell him. All she knew was, she couldn’t work with Kevin Carter. She had to be realistic. This man was dangerous to every part of her person. He held her career in the balance, and he was making her body go haywire while she needed all of her mental energy to land this troublesome contract. She didn’t know if she could do it.

Quickly, with as much composure as she could muster, she explained, “I’m sorry, were you expecting me?” She pushed out her hand and stepped forward. “I’m—”

“Huntington Lewis, of course.”

“Yes,” Hunny answered nearly embarrassed by the breathy sound of her own voice. “Huntington Lewis.”

“I’ve really been looking forward to meeting you,” he stated clasping her hand. For a moment, she couldn’t look away from his face. He was so masculine and beautiful… That’s when she realized she should be shaking his hand back.

“Shall we go to my office?”

Huntington nodded. She started toward the door and turned to leave. However, when she hazarded a glance behind her, she found that Adonis—Carter—hadn’t budged. He was still standing by the counter and now he was sporting a full-on, devastating grin with one eyebrow cocked up at her. That couldn’t bode well.

Hunny frowned, and he motioned her towards another door she hadn’t noticed earlier. She changed her direction and went through the door as held it for her.

Once inside, she paused. It was the most sumptuous office she’d ever seen. She’d expected something dark, gray, or black. Something cold and uninviting. Something industrial and manly. She couldn’t have been more surprised. It was bright and cheery with beautiful hardwood flooring—Was that redwood? Wasn’t it endangered or something?—shined to perfection. There were large red, gold, and copper paintings on three walls. There were two over-large sofas, both covered in durable, crisp white canvas with bright yellow leather cushions artfully arranged on them. A polished wood inlay coffee table tied the sitting area together and coordinated with Kevin’s desk. Huge and hulking, it was situated in the corner between two windows. A large flat monitor occupied the center of the desk. Somewhere, there was probably a keyboard and mouse; however, she certainly couldn’t see them. The desk, a beautiful polished creation uncontested mess.

Kevin Carter went around and sat down. Huntington watched as he started to stack papers and pamphlet galleys and folders together to sit them on the floor behind him. Thankfully, this encounter seemed to be moving toward a less provocative path.

“Drawers,” he said to her almost apologetically. “I wanted a desk with drawers, but this one doesn’t have any. I had to decide which I wanted more.”

 

 

 

 

Available December 2009

About The Prescription Playboy

Huntington Lewis, a smart, sexy, PR phenom, is trying to land the account of her life with pharmaceutical company Med Solutions. When the devastatingly attractive CEO, Kevin Carter, makes an enemy of a very important FDA inspector, Huntington flies to the rescue the playboy chemist.

With suspicious expiration dates and a poor image with the 36-55 female demographic, Kevin is sinking fast. All of Huntington's skills are needed as the duo battle their way to love, in spite of the paparazzi, old flames, focus groups.

Available Lyrical Press December 21 2009

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