Knowing

Natalie Dane is struggling. Against the advice of friends and family, she embraced selling real estate, a career that's gone nowhere fast. In fact, the owners of her agency have issued an ultimatum: sell the McAdoo House or clear out your office. The problem? The structure in question is over one-hundred-years old, seriously run down, and, according to potential buyers, has an odd feel to it. Enter Simon Grayson, a man with questionable experience in haunted houses and talents no sensible person should trust. Worse, he's clearly oblivious to Nat's figure flaws, an attitude that flatters as much as alarms her. Focused on saving her career and struggling with low self-esteem, she has used her busy days as an excuse to avoid men. Simon, with his easy smile and blatant compliments, could easily break down her emotional barriers. She knows she'd be smart to avoid him. But times are hard, and Natalie is desperate--so desperate that she hires the guy in spite of his charm and good look.

Can Simon work his magic not only on the house, but on the woman trying to sell it? And what will happen when the job is done and it's time for him to ride his Harley into the sunset?

I couldn't deny that. "Will you come back inside? I'm dying to find out what vibe I'll get in the sex room now that I've opened myself up to the possibility."

"Sex room?"

"You know. The room with the bed."

"Ah."

"I should be able to feel something in there, don't you think?"

He considered my question for a couple of seconds. "I'll make sure you do."

Laughing, I grabbed his hand and led him inside and straight up the stairs to the second floor. I peeked into the first room we came to. "Is this it?"

"Next one."

"Ah." Now he had me saying it. I walked farther down the shadowy hall, keeping a hand on the wall since I could barely see to put one foot in front of the other. Simon stayed so close behind me that my braid got caught in one of the buttons on the blue chambray shirt he wore untucked over his plain white tee. We stood at the doorway to the sex room while he untangled me, a process that ended with us very, very close. "Thanks."

Though I couldn't see his face all that well, he must've been able to see me. At any rate, he didn't miss when he brushed his mouth lightly over mine.

Mmm. Feeling positively dreamy, I stepped into the room. "Bed was in the very middle, huh?"

"Smack dab."

"That would be about here."

"Yep. Close your eyes."

"Why? I can't see shit now."

"Close 'em, Nat."

I did.

Simon stepped behind me as he had in the hall, this time taking care to flip my braid to the front of my shoulder. He bent his head to trail his lips over my neck, starting just below my ear and working down to the pulse pounding in my neck. My knees quivered.

"I can't concentrate."

Simon huffed his exasperation. "Fine." He backed a few paces. "What do you feel now?"

"I think you're going to have to go all the way into the hall."

"Because?"

"All I feel is you."