The Playboy's Proposition (Kimani Romance) - Softcover

Daniels, Angie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0373860536 ISBN 13: 9780373860531

Publisher: Harlequin Kimani Romance, 2008

Synopsis

It's only one weekend...

Sheyna Simmons hates to lose. Unfortunately, so does her sexy, domineering boss. She and Jace Beaumont have been competing with each other since grammar school, but ever since she showed up in a skimpy maid's outfit to pay off her latest bet, she's noticed Jace can't take his eyes off her. Good thing she'd never fall for a playboy....

But when she gets in a jam at a bachelorette auction, it's Jace who agrees to pay $50,000 for a forty-eight-hour getaway with Sheyna in Vegas. And he has every intention of collecting his prize—even if getting Sheyna in his bed means he'll never want her to leave....

About this title

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Six months later

An attraction to her boss was one thing Sheyna Simmons refused to admit to.

No way. No how.

It would completely contradict all the years she'd spent telling her best friend, Brenna Gathers, she couldn't stand him. Admitting her feelings would also jeopardize the strong working relationship that had taken the last seven years to build. Yet, for some reason, as she stood on the other side of the ballroom, she couldn't remember any of those things. Maybe it had something to do with his dark sable eyes or how sexy he looked in a black tuxedo with red accessories. Or maybe, she thought with a scowl, the feelings had managed to push past her protective wall because of the gorgeous little starlet he had draped on his arm. Whatever it was, she hoped she figured it out, because being attracted to Jace Beaumont was not even an option.

Sheyna brought the fruit punch to her lips and forced her eyes over toward the gazebo, where the bride and groom were posing for a professional photographer, and smiled, glad for the distraction. Brenna Gathers Beaumont was a glorious vision in white.

Family and friends had gathered in the Princess Ballroom of the Beaumont Hotel to celebrate the wedding of Jace's brother, Jabarie Beaumont, to Sheyna's best friend, Brenna Gathers. Sheyna had served as the maid of honor while Jace had been the best man.

"I think this wedding is the event of the year!" Sheyna looked over at Brenna's aunt, Nellie Gathers, who also stood in as Sheyna's mother on occasion, and nodded. "I agree. You and Jabarie's mother did a fabulous job."

The Beaumonts had spared no expense. An elegant candlelight wedding at Mount Hope Baptist Church had been filled with their rich friends and family. Afterward, the wedding party had been escorted to the beach-front hotel in four white stretch limousines. Ice sculptures, live jazz music and an abundance of red and white roses adorned the room. Nothing less for the heir of the Beaumont Corporation.

"We did do a fabulous job, didn't we?" Nellie replied, then added with a laugh, "Now it's time to work on getting you married."

Chuckling, Sheyna leaned down toward the woman who was almost a foot shorter than her five-foot-nine-inch frame and replied, "When you find him, let me know." Smiling, her eyes traveled to the floor where the bride and groom had moved out to share their first dance as husband and wife. Sheyna watched with envy as her best friend gazed up into the eyes of the only man she had ever loved.

Sheyna heaved a heavy sigh. Sure, she would love to find Mr. Right. Although she wasn't looking, Sheyna hoped someday to fall in love with that special man she would spend the rest of her life with. Preferably, long before her biological clock started ticking. But since she wouldn't turn thirty until her next birthday, love was the last thing on her mind. Instead, she was all about having a little fun.

"I think the perfect man is standing over on the other side of the room."

Sheyna followed the direction of Ms. Nellie's eyes and drew back slightly. "You aren't talking about Jace, are you?"

"Of course I am," she replied, her chestnut eyes shining with approval. "Puhleeze," Sheyna snorted rudely. "I wouldn't marry him if he were the last man on earth."

Ms. Nellie made tsk sounds with her tounge. "Never say never."

Never was putting it mildly. Jace was a heartbreaker, and Sheyna had sense enough not to become another notch on his headboard. "Ms. Nellie, trust me. Jace is used to women falling all over him, which puts him on my uh-uh list." Besides, he was overbearing and cocky and it was because of him she kept a bottle of ibuprofen on her desk at work. Sure, Jace was handsome with dark eyes that rarely revealed his innermost feelings, but he was a love 'em and leave 'em kind of guy, which made him all wrong for her.

"Well, being good-looking and rich does sometimes cause a man's head to blow up."

"Blow up? Jace's head exploded a long time ago," Sheyna said with a chuckle, and Ms. Nellie joined in.

"We can't fault the man for having something women like."

No, she didn't fault him, but that didn't mean she liked it. Growing up, Sheyna had fallen under that type of spell more than once. She'd had her heart broken on several occasions when she had been foolish enough to think she'd found Mr. Right. She knew she was as susceptible as the next sistah, and, as a result, she'd learned to stay away from men dripping with charisma and sex appeal—such as Jace.

Sheyna couldn't resist gazing across the room again. "Ms. Nellie, Jace is nothing like Jabarie. His secretary spends more time taking messages from his women than typing his letters."

"Shame on you, starting rumors," Nellie scolded.

"It's true." As the director of human resources for the Beaumont Corporation, Jace was as aggressive as any headhunter when it came to filling key positions, which meant he was used to getting what he wanted.

Well, so was she. As the only girl raised by a father and two overly protective brothers, she'd grown up the baby with three men doting on her and giving her everything she wanted.

"Who's that on his arm?"

Sheyna glanced briefly at the nutmeg beauty by his side and snorted rudely. "His flavor of the month."

Nellie looked at Sheyna closely and started laughing. "I think I hear jealousy."

Sheyna gave her a skeptical look. "Ms. Nellie, did it ever occur to you that maybe Jace isn't my type?" There were some women who were immune to men like him.

"Well, you're obviously his type because here he comes."

The song changed to Jagged Edge's "Walked Out of Heaven," and her stomach quivered and turned as she watched Jace move across the dance floor in her direction. He moved toward her with a grace that caused heat to travel down between her thighs. Jace had that determined look in his eyes and she felt her heart rate increase in immediate expectation. Suddenly, Sheyna wanted to storm out of the hotel and keep running until she was far away from him and the feelings he stirred at the pit of her stomach. For goodness' sake, they were friends and being attracted to a friend was not allowed.

As Jace drew closer, Sheyna could feel his aura even from where she stood. Get a grip! She scowled, then self-consciously reached up and smoothed her short tapered hair. Okay, so she wasn't even going to try to pretend he wasn't fine. Uh-uh. Jace was definitely eye candy. Tall, with wide shoulders and a body that made a woman stand and pay attention.

"Hello, Ms. Nellie," he greeted, then moved in to kiss the older woman gently on her smooth caramel cheek.

"Hello, Jace. You look so handsome today. I hope you came over here to ask Sheyna to dance?"

Her head snapped around to glare at Ms. Nellie. "I sure did," he said with a smile, then shifted his gaze to Sheyna. "May I have this dance?"

Sheyna looked over at him then rolled her eyes. "Why aren't you over there dancing with Ms. Boob Job?"

"Because I'm asking you," he retorted. Deciding not to wait for a response that wasn't coming, he grabbed her hand and led her out onto the dance floor.

At the center of the floor, Jace rested his hand at the small of her back and pulled her close then moved to the beat of the music. "See, that wasn't so bad," he muttered near her ear. Pulling back slightly, he gazed down with a gleam in his sable eyes that made her want to do something she was certain she would regret later.

"Just be quiet and dance," she mumbled angrily, then wrapped her arms around his neck. His cologne filled her senses, and she smiled. She had bought the subtle blend for him for Christmas last year. She'd known it would be perfect. Obviously, Jace agreed because he'd been wearing it ever since.

Glancing over his shoulder, Sheyna spotted his date standing near the ice sculpture with her hands planted at her hips, looking directly at them. She didn't look happy. Good.

Jace moved his hand across her back. Sheyna's skin tingled and caused her nipples to harden beneath the strapless red dress.

"Where's Jaime?" he asked.

Jace was one of the few people Sheyna could be totally honest with. "I dumped him last week when he suddenly remembered he was married."

"Ouch!" he replied, while she laughed bitterly. "I didn't like him anyway." Sheyna pulled back, and before she could retort, Jace cut in. "Hey, he didn't deserve you. Sheyna, hell, the last three dudes didn't, either. Face it, your taste in men sucks."

She lifted her chin. "And yours doesn't?"

His eyes danced with mischief. "I don't date men." Her lips turned downward. "You know what I mean." Shrugging, he pulled her close and the hair at her nape moved beneath the whisper of his breath and another sensation stirred in her abdomen. "It really doesn't matter. None of them ever make it past the three-week mark."

"Oh, yes, how could I forget," she mumbled. Jace ended relationships before there could be any emotional attachment.

"Poor Jace. He has it so hard," she singsonged. "How much time does Ms. Boobs have left?"

"Her name is Carren Clark and she's a columnist for the Sheraton Beach Tribune."

"I didn't ask you for her résumé. I asked how much time she had left."

"A week," he replied around a sigh.

"Pity."

"Why?"

"I think your mama likes this one," she said as she watched Jessica Beaumont standing beside the beauty, engaging her in a conversation.

"That's because Carren's grandmother is a good friend of hers."

"Oh, of course," she muttered, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

His mother was one tough cookie. Her scheming had and did everything she could to sabotage the couple. Luckily, she came around and, in the end, welcomed Brenna to the family with open arms.

"You know good and well I've never cared what my mother thought of my dates."

Sheyna leaned back and barked, "Liar. If we were dating your mother would have a cow."

"Why don't we try it and find out?" he said, with that familiar challenge in his eyes.

That dark gaze roamed over her face and lowered to her mouth and still lower over her bare shoulders. Jace was studying her like a man interested in a woman. She shivered and turned away, not wanting him to see so deeply inside her. "I've got better things to do with my time."

"Why are you shivering?" he probed.

She snorted rudely. "Because it's a little chilly in here." Jace chuckled and his breath on her skin sent goose bumps down her arm. "I thought maybe I had that kind of effect on you."

"In your dreams," she snapped. The song ended and she pulled away from his grasp. "Now, go play with your little girlfriend." She turned and moved over to mingle with some of the other guests while she waited for her heart rate to return to normal.

An hour later, the bride and groom were getting ready to leave. Sheyna moved through the crowd in search of Brenna and found her standing to the far right. She walked over to say goodbye and hugged her best friend.

"Thanks for everything." Tears sparkled in Brenna's hazel eyes.

"Girl, you know it ain't nothing I won't do for you. Have fun in Aruba."

"I plan on it. I'll see you in two weeks."

Sheyna grabbed a small bottle and as the couple left she joined in the fun of blowing bubbles at the newlyweds, then she watched as they climbed into one of the limousines and headed to the airport. As soon as the car was out of sight she went ahead and said her goodbyes then moved to the coat check to retrieve her wrap.

"Leaving already?"

Swinging around, her lips turned in a wide smile for Jaden Beaumont.

"Yeah, it's been a long weekend."

His long locks brushed the shoulders of his tuxedo as he moved to help her with her wrap.

"When are you heading back to California?" she asked.

"The day after tomorrow."

She nodded knowingly. The youngest of the Beaumont brothers was probably anxious to return home.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harlequin Kimani Romance
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0373860536
• ISBN 13: 9780373860531
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288