Also by Cassie Ryan
Ceremony of Seduction
VISION OF SEDUCTION
CASSIE RYAN
KENSINGTON BOOKS
http://www.kensingtonbooks.com
To my sister, Amy,
for being my first and biggest fan,
not to mention my unflagging cheering section.
This one’s for you, Sis…
Contents
Special Thanks
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
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Special Thanks
As with every book, the path from blank piece of paper to bound book on the shelves was a winding road that was only reached with the help of many. After all, it takes a village to produce a book…well, something like that!
First, huge and unflagging thanks to my wonderful agent, Paige Wheeler, who effortlessly traded fun and snarky e-mails with me, punctuated with encouraging phone calls. You're the best, Paige!
Thanks must also go out to my critique group, the ever-fearless and always supportive Butterscotch Martini Girls (www.butter scotchmartinigirls.com), who continue to add writing credits and pen names at an exponential rate, so you'll have to pop out to the site to see all eight of us as our various and sundry pen names and personalities.
Cheyenne McCray, you're amazing! Not only are you a writing machine, and an author I respect and look up to, but you're also a great friend. And huge thanks for the wonderful cover quote and all your encouragement!
Thanks to Audrey LaFehr, my editor, her assistant, Amanda, and the Kensington art and marketing department for all their help and support.
To my son and husband for being proud of me, and supporting me in all things!
A huge thanks to all my readers and fans who have supported the Seduction Series and have sent me great e-mails and fan mail! Please stop by and check out my newly updated Web site at www.cassieryan.com.
1
“Is a little mind-blowing, no-strings-attached sex too much to ask?”
Katelyn Hunt gripped the display case so tightly she thought the glass might shatter and rain down upon the carefully displayed crystals and pendants as she stared at him.
Rita, Katelyn’s business partner and best friend, shook her head, sending her bob of dark hair swinging. “No. I imagine every woman is entitled to a little toe-curling sex, but have you ever considered scratching that itch by actually finding a man you like and care about, rather than a one-night stand in between each case of batteries?”
Katelyn rolled her eyes at Rita’s familiar argument. “Relationships are for women who can’t function on their own.” She glared at her friend before letting her gaze slide back to the hunk who had haunted their shop for the last few days. “I don’t need a man for anything.”
“Uh-huh—what about that mind-blowing sex?” Rita closed the display case with a snap. “But you’re not even going to have that if you don’t eventually talk to the man.” She walked away and left Katelyn racking her brain for a good retort.
Damn! I hate it when she does that.
True, Katelyn had never actually met him, never even spoken to him, but he’d spent the last few days inside the store—totally oblivious to her, much to her irritation.
He bought chai tea in the coffee shop, sat in the overstuffed chairs, and spent hours reading an eclectic collection of books. In fact, the only part of the entire two floors of her new-age shop he hadn’t frequented was anywhere she happened to be working.
Or maybe it just seemed that way.
His muscled arm reached for his chai tea, which was sitting on the small oak table next to him, and Katelyn’s mouth literally watered as his long fingers closed around the cup and lifted it to his lips.
A surprised gasp slipped from her lips as a hot spurt of arousal arrowed through her, tightening her nipples and making every inch of her skin heavy with need.
What the hell is happening to me? For some reason this man made her react like a bitch in heat.
“At least he’s a paying customer.”
Katelyn jumped as Rita’s voice sounded next to her.
“Don’t sneak up on me like that!” Katelyn placed her hand over her heart, willing it to slow before it galloped out of her chest.
Rita laughed and shook her head. “I didn’t sneak anywhere. You’re just too involved in fantasizing over him to notice anything around you.” Rita hummed as she padlocked the display cases and then bumped Katelyn aside with her hip to wipe off the day’s smudges with glass cleaner and paper towels.
“What the hell are you so happy about?”
Rita’s face blossomed, and her eyes sparkled with excitement. “I think Aedan is going to ask me to marry him tonight.”
“That loser?” Katelyn grabbed her friend by the shoulders and glared at her, half tempted to shake some sense into her. “I thought you broke up?”
Rita rolled her eyes and ducked out of Katelyn’s grip. “No, you were hoping we would. Just because you’re terrified of a relationship doesn’t mean the rest of the world is, too.”
“I’m not terrified!” Katelyn’s response sounded too defensive, and she wished she would’ve taken a deep breath before answering. Rita always knew how to press her hot buttons. “I just don’t want you to get hurt. Every time you talk about him, it gives me the creeps.”
Rita’s eyes narrowed, and she pinned Katelyn with a glare. “Are you trying to tell me you’ve had a vision about him?”
“No,” Katelyn reluctantly admitted.
“Then we’re done discussing this.” Rita, back to her overly cheerful self, gave Katelyn a quick hug and then stepped back but seemed just short of performing a pirouette. “Lock up for me, okay? I know it’s my turn, but because you still need to go talk to Romeo over there, I figure you can handle it.”
Katelyn shuddered as she watched her best friend and business partner bounce out the front door. The door chimes jingled merrily behind her, but for some reason they reminded Katelyn of a death knell.
She had asked Rita thousands of times to bring Aedan into the shop. If she could just shake hands with him, it might trigger a vision and give her more insight as to what bothered her about him.
No matter what Rita