Old Enough To Know Better

Old Enough To Know Better
Vicki Lewis Thompson

When twenty-year-old PR exec Kasey Braddock accepts her coworkers' dare to hit on the gorgeous new landscaper, she's excited. Finally here's her chance to prove to her friends–and herself–that she's woman enough to entice a man and leave him drooling. After all, she's old enough to know what she wants–and she wants Sam Ashton…badly.And Sam is more than willing to be wanted. The chemistry between them is powerful, explosive. Still, there's something vaguely familiar about Kasey, something Sam can't put his finger on–although he's dying to get his hands all over her…. But he's not worried. He fully intends to enjoy uncovering all Kasey's secrets, one by one. But will the truth be too hot for him to handle?

“I want more nights like last night,” Sam said

He knew he was probably a sucker for trying to nurture something that had “short-term fling” written all over it, but Kasey had turned him inside out in the space of twenty-four hours.

Heat flashed in her eyes. “But you’re…you’re a client.”

“I’ll stay completely out of your office. You’ll take care of the account and no one has to know that we’re having mind-blowing sex at the same time. That will be our little secret,” he promised.

Her breathing quickened. “You really won’t tell anyone?”

“No one. We’ll just get together to discuss the PR campaign and have great sex, and no one will be the wiser.” Although that wasn’t the way he would have preferred it, Sam could tell the concept excited her. Now, if only his suggestion was convincing enough to get her back into his bed. “What do you think?”

“I think you’d better take me back to the office.”

His heart sank. “That’s a no?”

She smiled. “It’s a yes. And if you don’t take me back to work immediately, I might jump you right here….”

Dear Reader,

Whoops, I blinked and twenty years went by! How is that possible? It seems like only yesterday that I sold my first Temptation novel. Back when I was just a child. I guess that cliché about time flying when you're having fun must be true, because I’m having so much fun that time hasn’t merely flown by—it’s traveled at the speed of light!

And the fact remains, no matter how I flip the calendar around, that my first book, Mingled Hearts, Temptation #9, came out in May 1984. Writing for Temptation was a good thing then, and it’s an even better thing now.

So consider this book you’re holding as the official beginning of my next twenty years. Happy birthday, Temptation!

Warmly,

Vicki Lewis Thompson

Old Enough to Know Better

Vicki Lewis Thompson

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

The book is dedicated with gratitude to all the Temptation editors who for twenty years have helped make my books the best they can be, with special affection and thanks to Claire Gerus, Margaret Carney, Lisa Boyes, Susan Till, Birgit Davis-Todd and, of course, Brenda Chin.

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

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

1

“HOTTIE ALERT!”

Kasey Braddock glanced up. While the two guys in the office made remarks about female chauvinists, all the women hurried to where Gretchen Davies, a gutsy woman with a great laugh, had her nose pressed to the glass of the second-floor window. Moans of appreciation sounded in chorus.

Deciding from everyone’s reaction that the view was worth checking out, Kasey punched the save button on her computer and walked toward the window. She’d been working on a PR campaign for a lingerie shop that wanted to shift its image—more Victoria’s Secret, less Frederick’s of Hollywood.

Hours of careful research on the subject of lace teddies and thong underwear had reminded her that she’d been seriously neglecting the goal she’d set for herself: to become the woman she’d always wanted to be. Sure, she’d worked on her appearance but she had yet to launch her personal campaign to act as sexy as she now looked. The nerd that still lurked inside seemed to be giving orders to the babe she’d become on the outside. Maybe ogling a fine example of Phoenix manhood would jump-start the new Kasey.

“Okay, my turn.” She approached the cluster of five women blocking her view. “Two of you aren’t eligible, anyway, so give a single girl a break.”

“I was only saving you a good spot.” Brandy Larson’s fiancé, Eric Lassiter, was out of the office on an appointment, and she looked suitably guilty as she moved aside to make room for Kasey. “Try not to drool on the window,” she murmured.

“Hey, Brandy, I’m telling Eric.” Ed Finley leaned on the watercooler and observed the commotion.

“Don’t go being a tattletale, Ed.” Kasey gave him a warning glance, hoping he wasn’t serious.

“Aw, I’m just kidding, Kase.” Ed flashed her a peace sign.

“Glad to hear it.” Kasey held her own in this boisterous office, but she wondered if that would still be the case if everyone knew she was only twenty. She’d finished college at eighteen. After thoroughly evaluating all the PR firms in the Valley, she’d targeted Beckworth, landing the job before her nineteenth birthday. Only the big boss, Mr. Arnold Beckworth himself, knew her age. She wanted to keep it that way, so she’d continue to be treated as an equal.