“I’m trying to think how I can best show my appreciation, Lucy.”
At Judd’s obvious interest, Lucy felt bolder than ever. She shot him what she hoped was a sexy look from where she lay on the floor. “You can’t do it from up there.”
He knelt down. “How about from here?”
“I think you’ll have to come closer.”
In a blink he was only inches away from her, effectively pinning her to the floor. She could feel the heat radiating from his body, and she could even smell the subtle scent of soap and shampoo, mingled with his own unique scent that made her dizzy and giddy all at the same time.
“I should tell you, as a rule I don’t sleep with guests at the ranch.”
The breath went out of Lucy’s lungs. “I’m the exception?” she whispered.
“You’re my weakness.”
He leaned closer, his hands sliding around her waist. He kissed her, creating swirling, tingling sensations all through her.
She could only hold on to him for dear life and pray that she’d always remember how this felt, because Judd had surely ruined her for anyone else.
Dear Reader,
I’m thrilled to introduce to you my first book for Harlequin Temptation, Some Like It Sizzling. Writing for Harlequin is a dream come true for me. Ever since I was a preteen girl sneaking my mother’s romance novels off the shelves to read, I’ve loved the kind of stories I now have the opportunity to write.
The idea for this story came to me one sizzling-hot summer day when I let my mind wander. Maybe it was the heat, but suddenly I found myself wondering what might happen if a woman came home to find a gorgeous stranger handcuffed to her bed. How would she react? Who would this stranger be, and how would he have ended up on her bed?
Oh, the possibilities! My imagination ran wild, and I ended up with Lucy and Judd’s story. These two lovers quickly worked their way into my heart and took on lives of their own with their sexy antics at the Fantasy Ranch. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did, and I hope their romance turns your cold January into a sizzling one!
I would love to hear what you think of the story. You can write to me at Harlequin Enterprises Ltd., 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 3K9, Canada or visit my Web site at www.jamiesobrato.com.
Sincerely,
Jamie Sobrato
Some Like It Sizzling
Jamie Sobrato
To my wonderful husband, Rich Sobrato. Without your unflagging optimism and encouragement, I never would have fulfilled my dream of becoming an author. I owe you a lifetime of steamy love scenes.
Contents
Prologue
“…SO THEN I took off my dress and hopped into the fountain.”
Lucy Connors leaned forward in her chair, hanging on her friend’s every word, unable to resist the lure of Claire Elliot’s tale. “What did he do?”
“He took off his shoes, jumped in—” Claire paused, stirring cream into her coffee “—and we made wild passionate love right there in the middle of the park.”
She had a more exciting love life than Lucy could ever hope to have. Handsome men, scandalous rendezvous, extravagant weekend-long dates—Claire was a walking nighttime soap opera. Even her blazing red hair suggested a wildness that Lucy’s mousy brown mop couldn’t hope to match.
At least Lucy had her fantasies…She closed her eyes for a brief moment and imagined herself, wet and splashing in a park water fountain late at night with a gorgeous stranger. Of course, her gorgeous stranger would be wearing a Stetson, and he’d be tugging off a pair of cowboy boots and a faded pair of jeans to hop into the fountain with her.
Mmm…
Then reality came crashing in. She hadn’t gotten within five feet of a man fit for a fantasy since the last time the UPS guy came to her door and had her sign for a delivery. Lucy’s eyes popped open and she glared at the remains of her salad.
Claire frowned and reached across the table to take Lucy’s hand. “Oh, sweetie, don’t feel bad. You’ll be having wild passionate sex again soon.”
“Again?” Her past sex life could have been better described with words like “predictable” and “safe”—never wild, and rarely passionate.
Claire gasped. “Don’t tell me you’ve never had—”
“Not wild and passionate. No.”
“Not even once?”
“Do fantasies count?”
“You’re worse off than I thought. You need to let loose! You’ve got this hot fantasy life and you’ve never once acted on it.”
Lucy glanced around, hoping no one had overheard. She lowered her voice to say, “It’s not that I haven’t tried. But after you-know-who giggled when I did my striptease for him…”
Claire rolled her eyes. “He was a pig.”
Nodding in agreement, Lucy gazed out the window next to their table and watched wilting business people hurrying to and from their cars in the oppressive Phoenix heat. Was there a single man in this entire city who could be happy with plain, boring, old her?
Their waiter appeared at the table. “Should I bring dessert now?” he asked Claire.
“Yes, please.”
“Dessert? I’m too stuffed for dessert.”
Claire dismissed her protest with the wave of a French-manicured hand, and the waiter cleared their lunch plates and left.
When, moments later, the entire staff of the restaurant converged on their table singing “Happy Birthday,” Lucy understood. Their waiter