The Man Tamer

The Man Tamer

Cindi Myers

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MILLS & BOON

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For Becci

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

1

Why Man Taming Works

Dear Man Tamer:

You are so full of it! I can’t believe you’re telling all these women they can train a man like a dog.

How could you ever believe your so-called methods would work on a real man?

A Real Man

Dear Real Man:

The Man-Taming principles work because they’re based on tried-and-true methods of Behavior Modification. Behavior modification has been used successfully for decades for everything from, yes, dog training to helping people quit smoking. And it works for helping men break the bad habits they’ve developed over the years, too. I have hundreds of letters from satisfied readers to prove it.

The Man Tamer

RACHEL WESTOVER’S second-most favorite thing in the world was chocolate-covered strawberries. Since her most favorite thing wasn’t something she could do in public, she was happy to see the strawberries prominently displayed on the buffet table at Denton Morrison’s annual brag party. The media mogul and all-around rich guy made it a point to throw a party for himself every year to celebrate his accomplishments and to show off his latest project for the press.

Rachel’s plan for the evening was to corral Denton at some point and ask him—again—about her proposal to fill the vacant slot in the afternoon local programming block of KTXK, the television station he owned. After all, as the most popular columnist in the history of Belinda magazine—another Denton Morrison holding—it was time she expanded her audience to television. Chocolate-covered strawberries were the perfect fuel to prepare her for her encounter with “Mr. Money” Morrison.

Anticipating that first luscious bite, she transferred three of the largest berries to her plate. They were the size of eggs and coated in dark chocolate. Yummmmmm.

“Have you talked to him yet? What did he say?”

Rachel looked up from the strawberries to her best friend, Moira Stapleton, who was hurrying toward her from the other end of the buffet table. “Did he say yes? Did he give you the afternoon time slot?” Moira asked as she skidded to a stop in front of Rachel. Five foot two inches, with a cloud of dark curls and Bambi eyes, Moira reminded Rachel of a nervous poodle.

“I haven’t talked to Denton yet. I’m working up the nerve.” She nodded to her plate.

Moira’s eyes widened. “Oooh, those look yummy. And fattening.” She pressed her lips together, resisting temptation. Moira lived off black coffee, water and sushi, and it showed. She wore a size zero. If she weren’t so much fun Rachel might have been tempted to snap her in two like the twig she was.

Moira rose up on tiptoe and scanned the crowd. “Have you seen David? He was supposed to meet me here.”

“I haven’t seen him, but I just got here myself.” David Brewer was an accountant at Morrison Enterprises and Moira’s erstwhile boyfriend.

“You don’t think he’s going to stand me up again, do you?” Deep worry lines formed above Moira’s nose. “He’s so absentminded. He’ll get to working on his car or watching a game and the next thing you know, he’s forgotten all about me.”

Rachel thought a man in love ought to be more considerate than that. What did it say about the depth of his feelings if replacing spark plugs or counting touch-downs could make him forget his soul mate? “Have you been trying any of my techniques?” she asked.

The worry lines deepened. “I tried, but I guess I’m not very good at discipline. I mean, he looks at me with those big brown eyes and I melt. I just want to be with him, you know?”

“I know.” Rachel patted her friend’s shoulder. “But remember, you’re the woman. It’s up to you to set the tone for the relationship. And those techniques have been proven to work. Do you still have the list?”

“Yes.” Moira opened her purse and began digging through it. She came up with a crumpled computer printout. “One, teach by example,” she read. “Two, praise good behavior. Three, distract from bad behavior. Four, substitution—replace bad behavior with something else. Five, reprimand bad behavior. Six, withhold affection until he behaves properly. Seven, punish bad behavior. Eight, restrict unwanted behavior. Nine, reward good behavior, and ten, acceptance—a last resort.” She looked up at Rachel. “Maybe I’m at number ten. I mean, you can’t really change people, can you?”

“Behavior modification isn’t about changing him,” Rachel said. “Only the way he acts.”

“Isn’t that the same thing?”

“Of course not. He’ll still be the man you love, only better.”

Moira stuffed the list back into her purse. “I don’t know. I mean, this man-taming stuff may work for some of your readers, but maybe every man doesn’t respond to this kind of thing.”

Rachel shook her head. “I don’t believe that. You just have to keep working at it.”

“No offense, but if they work so great, why are you still single?”

Rachel had heard the question so often now she didn’t even flinch. “You know why. Since my Man Tamer column became so popular, I can’t find a man who’ll risk dating me.” If she was lucky enough to find a guy who hadn’t heard of her column, after a date or two one of his friends tipped him off and he disappeared.

Not to mention so many of the men she met were so, well, bland. They were handsome, professional, with money and manners and plenty of opinions, but with no real spark. Where were the debonair, charming and sophisticated men with polish and personality?

The last guy she’d dated had even accused her of being too cool—but what did he expect when he did nothing to raise her temperature?

“Men don’t want to be tamed,” Moira said. She grinned. “They’re all afraid of you.”

“It’s just the name of my column. It doesn’t mean I go after men with a whip.”

Moira giggled. “You might try it sometime. Some guys really go for that sort of thing.” She leaned in closer and lowered her voice. “Your sister’s here.”

Rachel flinched. “Where?” Rhonda Westover MacMillan—Mrs. Harrison MacMillan—could never forget her role as big sister, which to her way of thinking gave her carte blanche to run Rachel’s life.

“Over by the door to the terrace. With that group of men.”

Of course Rhonda was with a group of men. The hairier sex had panted after her ever since she was a toddler in ruffled panties in nursery school, where she would bat her eyelashes and little boys would vie to share their afternoon animal crackers with her.

Rachel studied her sister now as she held court over five men in black suits, like some lounge singer with her backup group. Clinging close to her side was Harrison MacMillan himself, fifteen years older and many times richer than Rhonda. But of course, all that money was Rhonda’s now, and Rhonda made sure plenty of it was spent on keeping up her fabulous face and figure, not to mention endowing numerous charities and throwing lavish parties, all of which served to keep her name in the paper as one of Dallas’s most famous socialites.

Which explained what she was doing at Denton’s big shindig. The two ran in the same circles, though they weren’t exactly friends.

What would Rhonda say when little sister had her own television show? Rachel wondered. The first time a member of the public recognized Rachel before Rhonda, big sister would have to buy out Nieman Marcus to assuage her wounded ego.

Frankly, Rachel couldn’t wait.

“Are you going to go over and say hello?” Moira asked.

Rachel shrugged. “I wouldn’t want to interrupt.” Besides, Rhonda was sure to seek her out, if only to offer some bit of sisterly wisdom. Last time they’d met, Rachel had endured a lecture on the evils of cheap shoes. Never mind that they were at a backyard barbecue. Rachel had worn a pair of funky flip-flops, decorated with rhinestones and feathers. Rhonda, teetering on silver high-heeled sandals, swore her little sister was going to ruin her feet or—worse—get a reputation for being tacky. “I’m sure we’ll bump into each other sooner or later.” But not if Rachel could avoid it.

Moira was no longer listening. She was staring toward the door, her expression lightened. “There’s David. I’ll catch up with you later.”

She darted off after her man, leaving Rachel alone with her strawberries. The chocolate had softened a little on her plate, but that would make them all the more decadent.

She lifted a fat berry by the stem and shut her eyes. Her mouth closed over the treat and she took the first bite, sweet juice and velvety cocoa mingling in her mouth. She moaned a little at the positively orgasmic mix of luscious strawberry and rich, smooth chocolate.

“Excuse me, waiter,” said a masculine voice at her elbow. “I’ll have what she’s having.”

Rachel’s eyes snapped open and she stared at the man who’d interrupted her moment of indulgence. Tall and muscular, he managed to look rough-around-the-edges in spite of his tailored blue suit. His gold-streaked brown hair needed a trim and the stubble along his chiseled jaw testified to the fact that it had been a few days since he’d used a razor. He smelled of expensive aftershave and leather, an intoxicating combination even though he obviously wasn’t Rachel’s type. She preferred someone more sophisticated, less…rugged.

Of course, right now rugged didn’t sound so bad. She was a woman who hadn’t had a serious relationship in fourteen months, two weeks and three days. But who was counting?

“Don’t let me stop you,” the man said in a definite Aussie drawl. “I’m quite enjoyin’ the show.”

Rachel managed to swallow the rest of the bite of strawberry and looked for somewhere to stash her plate for safekeeping. Whether it was the warmth of the room, or the heat that had swept through her upon locking eyes with the gorgeous Neanderthal in front of her, chocolate had melted all over her fingers and was running down her hand. “Where are the napkins?” she asked.

“Don’t see any,” the hunk said, not bothering to look around. His blue eyes telegraphed his amusement at the whole situation.

“There have to be napkins somewhere!” She looked around, frantic. The chocolate was in danger of dripping either onto her white silk dress or the white Berber carpeting. But of course there wasn’t so much as a cocktail square anywhere in sight.

She was debating wiping her hands on the white linen tablecloth when the hunk spoke up again. “Might be I can help.”

Before Rachel could protest, he took hold of her wrist and brought her fingers to his mouth. As she gaped at him, he began licking the chocolate from her fingers.

She froze at the first touch of his tongue and stared at him, heart pounding. Was this guy for real? They didn’t even know each other and he was taking these kinds of liberties. Worse, as his tongue caressed her skin she began to feel weak in the knees and seriously turned on.

How pathetic was it that a total stranger could make her this hot? Granted, he was a gorgeous specimen who practically oozed testosterone, but if she hadn’t been so socially deprived of late surely she would have told him where to get off instead of melting into a puddle at his feet like this.

In the meantime he kept licking the chocolate from her fingers. Hot velvety tongue gliding over sensitive nerve endings, sending sparks of sensation traveling through her until her whole body practically quivered. She wanted to steady herself with her free hand on his broad, muscular shoulder, but she was powerless to do anything but breathe hard.

When all the chocolate was gone he released her and they stood staring at each other. He looked almost as dazed as she felt, and as his gaze continued to bore into her she became aware of a warm flush washing over her cheeks. Here was a man who had definitely raised her temperature—too much. She had important business to think about this evening. She couldn’t afford to be distracted by a good-looking stranger—no matter how lust-worthy.

“I—I can’t believe you did that,” she stammered, tearing her eyes away from him and attempting to regain her composure.

“Must be the champagne.” He took a step back and raked a hand through his hair, only succeeding in adding to his sexy, just-rolled-out-of-bed look. “Where’s a decent beer when you need one?”

Rachel eyed the plate of strawberries, wondering if she dared risk finishing them. She really needed chocolate about now. Maybe when Mr. Gorgeous left…. “I think there’s a keg in the corner,” she said.

He made a face. “Not that American piss. I mean a real beer.”

The conviction in his voice almost made her laugh. “Let me guess—you mean an Australian beer.”

“Accent gave me away, did it?” He grinned. His middle upper tooth was slightly crooked, as if it had been knocked loose at some point and never quite fixed in place. Rachel’s stomach fluttered. Since when had crooked teeth been sexy? Obviously, since now.

“Who are you?” she asked. Despite the suit, he didn’t remotely resemble the usual cadre of executives associated with Denton Morrison.

“Name’s Garret Kelly.” He offered his hand. A large, warm hand that engulfed hers. His grin widened. “Oops, feels like I missed a spot.” He held up her hand for inspection. “There it is, right by your thumb.”

Before she could protest, he bent his head low and drew her thumb into his mouth. This time, she did brace herself with a hand to his shoulder. She was dimly aware she was losing it badly—losing her dignity and focus and all those things she prided herself on. But she couldn’t seem to help it. Brash, brawny Garret Kelly—and his amazing tongue—had positively bewitched her.

He was doing more incredible things to her with his tongue when an all too familiar voice boomed in her ear. “I’m glad you two are getting to know each other, but do you think you could contain yourselves until you’re alone?”

Rachel jerked her hand from Garret’s grasp and jumped back, bumping into the buffet table, china and crystal chiming. “Mr. Morrison! This isn’t what you think!”

With his shaved head, single gold earring and suit tailored to hide his paunch, Denton Morrison resembled a genie turned corporate kingpin. Now he was grinning like a genie wacked out on fairy dust. “I think it’s perfect!” he chortled. “The press will love it.”

Rachel’s stomach sank to somewhere around her knees. Not a good sign that Denton was so gleeful. The only thing the billionaire liked better than money was publicity. She didn’t want to think what kind of angle he’d play with her and this Aussie Adonis. She glanced at the plate of strawberries longingly. What she wouldn’t give for another chocolate fix—alone.

Garret kept a grin fixed on his face while stifling a groan. He could blame his impulsive behavior on the champagne, but he’d only had one glass. Part of the credit had to go to the sheila in front of him. If she could be that passionate about a strawberry, imagine what she’d be like in bed.

What could he say? He was a man who had a great appreciation for the female sex. Particularly females with long tanned legs and abundant blond hair and curves in all the right places. Women who tasted of chocolate and smelled of expensive perfume, whose skin slid like satin against his mouth.

He shifted his stance, an inconvenient hard-on making him glad he’d worn fuller-cut trousers.

He glanced at the woman again and noticed the worried look she was shooting at Denton. She was exactly the kind of woman Denton went for, he realized with a frown. He hoped this one wasn’t another of Denton’s trophies, though since she was at his party, odds were she was. She certainly looked guilty enough over being caught with him.

“Rachel Westover and Wild Man Kelly—why didn’t I think of it before?” Denton slapped Garret on the back. The billionaire was grinning like a manic clown. Garret’s bullshit meter was pegged all the way to the right. What was Denton up to?

“Wild Man Kelly?” The woman—Rachel—had regained her poise and now studied him with a new skepticism in her green eyes. Garret’s frown deepened. He detested the nickname Denton had saddled him with, but it had already caught on with the press, so he was trying to learn to live with it.

“You’re looking at the star player on the new Dallas Devils lacrosse team,” Denton announced, slapping Garret on the back again.

Garret glared at Denton. Try that one more time, mate….

“Lacrosse?” Rachel looked puzzled.

“Indoor lacrosse,” Denton said. “Fastest growing sport in the country. The speed and high scoring of basketball, the rough stuff and athleticism of hockey.”

“And your newest acquisition,” Rachel said.

“Lacrosse is going to be big in Dallas,” Denton said. “And Wild Man is going to help make it that way. He was number one in scoring last year, number one in assists and number one in time in the penalty box. He’s a wild man! The fans love him, and so does the press.”

Garret wished he’d lay off. Denton made him sound like some kind of degenerate. “How do you know Denton?” he asked Rachel.

“She works for me,” Denton said before Rachel could answer. “I tell you, the two of you meeting is just perfect.”

Perfect for what? Garret wondered

“Speaking of the press,” Rachel put her hand on Denton’s arm. “I wonder if I might have a few words with you—alone.” She shot a look at Garret.

No one ever said he couldn’t take a hint. He nodded to Rachel. “Pleasure meeting you, Miss Westover.”

“I’m sure you two will be seeing each other again soon,” Denton said.

“Oh, no doubt of that.” Garret could still taste the chocolate on his tongue, still feel the satin of her skin against his mouth. He had every intention of looking her up again when they could be alone and really get to know one another.

TEACH BY EXAMPLE, praise good behavior, distract…substitute…reprimand…withhold…punish…restrict…reward…accept. Rachel’s advice played over and over in Moira’s head like a bad radio jingle. By the time she reached David she was sure the smile she gave him was strained. “Hi, sweetie,” she said, standing on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “I’m glad you made it.”

“Yeah, well, I figured I’d better put in an appearance.”

“You look great,” she said, brushing a bit of lint from the shoulder of his sport coat. The fabric stretched across his muscular body. Though not too tall, he still had the stocky build of the football lineman he’d been in high school. A little heavier around the middle, but still very attractive, she thought.

He accepted a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and started across the floor toward the buffet table, Moira in his wake. “Let’s grab some food and mingle a little, then we can bug out. The Stars drop puck at eight. I’d like to at least get home in time for the second period.”

Hockey. Moira rolled her eyes. Lately, David’s idea of a hot date was an evening on the sofa watching sports. They could cuddle during commercials, but otherwise interruptions were not welcome.

At the buffet, David filled a plate with food while Moira tried to figure out which of Rachel’s principles to use. She’d already praised him for showing up. Distraction?

“I thought maybe tonight we could do something different,” she said. “There’s a new club over in Deep Elum. The band is supposed to be great. I know you like discovering new music.”

“Yeah, but not on a hockey night.” He scowled at her. “You know me better than that.”

Did she? When they’d first started dating, David had been a fun, attentive companion. He could always make her laugh with his dumb jokes, and he’d proved to be a sensitive lover. But lately he’d taken her for granted. As if he’d grown so comfortable in her presence he no longer had to make any effort to improve their relationship.

“Hey, is that Garret Kelly?”

“Who?” She looked up to find David pointing across the room. “Where?”

“The big guy over there by the keg. That is him. Let’s go meet him.” He grabbed her hand and tugged her across the room.

“Who is Garret Kelly?” she protested, dragged along like a dinghy towed by a yacht.

“Only the best indoor lacrosse player in the country. Led the league in goals last year when he was with the Denver Mammoth.”

Sports again. Moira groaned.

They reached the group by the keg. “Hey, I’m Dave Brewer.” Dave stuck out his hand. “I’m a big fan of yours.”

“Pleased t’ meet you, Dave.” Garret turned his smile on Moira. “And who is this lovely lady?”

Moira stood straighter and resisted smoothing her hair. Talk about a gentleman….

“That’s Moira,” Dave said. He scarcely glanced at her before turning his attention once more to Kelly. “I heard the Dallas Devils signed you. That’s terrific. I can’t wait to see you play.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” Garret said. He smiled at Moira again. He had a nice smile. Sexy even, if you liked the big, brawny type. “Moira, do you know everyone here?” he asked.

She shook her head. None of the people in the circle looked familiar to her.

“These are some of the other players on the team. This chap on my left is Bud Mayhew. Next to him is our goalie Tate Maguire and his wife Leslie. Then Guy Clifford, Slate Williams and Peter Rutherford. And of course you know Dave.”

Right. Dave who was all but ignoring her. The others smiled and murmured hello.

“Love those shoes,” Leslie Maguire said. “You’ll have to tell me some good places to shop around here.”

“Don’t do it, I beg you,” her husband said. “I’m already reduced to one little section of the closet.”

“There’s always the spare bedroom,” Leslie said meaningfully.

“Fine, shop all you want,” Tate conceded. “Just don’t make me go with you.”

“I know what you mean.” David inserted himself in the conversation once more. “Moira’s always after me to take her to the mall. Why women think men would be interested in that kind of thing is beyond me.”

Moira frowned at him. She almost never asked David to go shopping with her. In fact, she could think of nothing worse than having a whining man tagging along while she was trying on shoes. She turned to Leslie once more. “I’d love to go shopping with you one day,” she said. “And you should meet my friend Rachel. She’s about your size and has great taste in clothes.”

“Rachel Westover?” Garret Kelly froze in the act of raising a beer to his lips. “You know her?”

“Sure. She’s my best friend.” Moira braced herself for yet another comment about Rachel’s man taming column.

“Just met her tonight. Over by the buffet table.” He took a sip of beer. “Interesting woman.”

“Yes, Rachel is very…interesting.” And she must have made quite an impression on Garret Kelly. Moira subtly checked him out. Nice suit, but no tie. Definitely the rugged, athletic type. Definitely not Rachel’s preferred sort of date, but there was something to be said for a man’s man.