Taste Me

Mia’s respect for Julian increased. She didn’t need actual feelings complicating the matter, but there they were.

Nikki made a choking sound. “Ick, how sappy! I’m forgetting that Jules tried to mislead us about the article. But I’ll show him.” She clicked off the recorder. “I believe you’d make a fabulous feature article, Mia. My brother might interfere, but somehow, someway, I’m going to get us both into Hard Candy.”

She shoved the recorder into her pack and stood, throwing out her chin. “Julian can go suck a lemon drop.”

The image made Mia smile, especially since she already knew what Julian tasted like when flavored with candy.

She rose, shaking her head. “I’m not so sure that’s smart, Nikki.”

“You said you could use the publicity.”

“Sure. But I don’t want to cause trouble—”

“You don’t?” Nikki looked astonished, as if the thought of keeping peace had never occurred to her. “Oh, come on! Julian is just begging for trouble.”

“He’s powerful,” Mia said. Could hire me and fire me a hundred times over.

“But kind.”

“Arrogant.” And deserves to be hoisted on his own petard.

“Not cruel, though.”

“He’s also dangerously attractive.” You can say that again.

“Pah.” Nikki’s eyes narrowed. “You can resist.”

Someone has to, Mia thought. But why me?

“You won’t have to do anything but keep your mouth closed,” Nikki said. “I’ll turn in the background info to Julian like an obedient little airhead, and he’ll think I’m none the wiser that the fashion spread—if there really is one—was meant for Hard Candy. Meanwhile, I’ll get started on an article. I can pitch it to the magazine even if Julian doesn’t follow through. If you hear from him, play dumb. Remember, it’s possible that he’s only interested in getting into your—” Nikki’s lashes dropped to Mia’s lower half “—painter’s pants.”

“So it’s true that he’s had a lot of…relationships?” Mia said, even though she was slightly uncomfortable talking about Julian’s love life with his sister. Nikki didn’t seem bothered at all—she was as open as a book of the Kama Sutra.

“I don’t get to actually see him in operation because he’s discreet, but the way I hear it, he’s so smooth, most girls slide into bed without a struggle. Then they slide right out just as fast.”

“He doesn’t ever get serious?”

“Not as far as I know.” Nikki shrugged. “He never brings them home to meet family. I’m not sure why, except that he’s a stickler for doing things the right way, especially since he got put in charge of the family business. Maybe none of the women are good enough to make the cut?”

Mia was intrigued. And somewhat intimidated. She wanted to know more, but the butler returned, carrying a tray with tall glasses of Perrier on the rocks.

Nikki met him halfway into the room. “A tall cool one,” she said, sassily eyeing the reserved butler.

He nodded. “As requested, miss.”

The young woman picked up the glass, tilted her head back and drank down the entire contents, her long, elegant neck showing each big swallow. She plunked the glass back on the tray with a click of ice cubes.

“See ya, Mia.” Nikki let out a girlish giggle, snatched the lime slice off the edge of the glass and sashayed out the door with her lips puckered into a moue around it.

For a moment, Mia sympathized with Julian for being stuck trying to control such a handful. Even the stony butler looked dazed by the spectacle that was Nikki Silk.

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