When He Was Bad.... Jane Sullivan

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СКАЧАТЬ Hadn’t Karen warned her about that? “All I’m trying to say is—”

      “What you’re trying to say,” Nick said, leaning toward her and pulling his microphone along with him, “is that bad boys make women hot. Is that right?”

      He focused those gorgeous eyes on hers with the intensity of a laser beam, and all at once Sara felt her heart race, her face flush, her skin prickle and her palms sweat.

      She cleared her throat. “I’m merely saying they have a physical reaction when they’re with such men. One that’s…uh…hard to ignore.”

      He gave her a sinful smile that said, Yes, it is, isn’t it?

      “The truth is that good boys will date bad girls,” Sara said, “but they know who they can take home to Mom. Some women, though, will go to extremes trying to change a man who’s never going to change. For men, bad girls are flings. For women, bad boys are projects.”

      “But like it or not,” Nick said, “women want those bad boys you’re talking about. Oh, they say they don’t. They say they want men who will mind their manners and take out the trash without being told and be kind to their mothers.”

      “All very wonderful qualities.”

      “But that’s not all they want.” He gave her a tempting smile. “They want a man who’s exciting. Intriguing. Who keeps them guessing. Who changes from one day to the next and leaves them breathless in an attempt to keep up. A man with an erotic edge who makes them feel alive in a way they never have before. What they want,” he said in a voice as smooth as glass, “is a man who’s just a little…bit…dangerous.”

      Sara opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. All she could do was stare at him. It was as if the verbal part of her brain had shut down completely.

      Nick glanced at the console. “Wow. Look at that. All the lines are lit up. Better see what the folks have to say.” He punched a button. “This is Andy in Alto Linda. Hey, Andy. What’s up, man?”

      “You haven’t done the rundown yet,” Andy said. “I’m dying to hear this one.”

      Sara’s nerves tightened. The rundown? What was that?

      “Yep. You’re right, Andy. Thanks for keeping me on track. I’ll do that right away.”

      Sara looked at him questioningly.

      “My listeners want to know what you look like,” Nick said.

      Sara felt a shot of apprehension. “I don’t see the relevancy—”

      “Oh, it’s relevant to them. Believe me.”

      He kicked back in his chair, put his foot on the desk and dragged the microphone up to his mouth.

      “Okay, guys, let me tell you what I’m looking at here. “Sara Davenport is about five-six, one twenty-five. Long, silky brown hair. Gorgeous green eyes. I think they’re green, anyway. They’re hard to make out with the reflection off her glasses.”

      She pursed her lips, trying hard not to react.

      “Now, don’t worry, Sara,” Nick went on. “I’m not knocking off any points for those. Contrary to common belief…” He dropped his voice to a sexy drawl. “Men do make passes at girls who wear glasses.”

      Sara just sat there, astonished that he was saying these things in front of…good God. Ahundred thousand people?

      “And I’m thinking she’s probably…” Nick paused. “Let’s see. Thirty-two years old?”

      She couldn’t stop her eyes from narrowing.

      “Oops,” Nick said. “Got the evil eye on that. With all those letters after her name, I assumed she had to be older. Turns out she’s not old, just smart. Let’s try twenty-eight.”

      Actually, he was off by two years, but that was absolutely none of his business, and she willed herself again not to react. She didn’t want to telegraph to the women in the audience that she cared whether this man found her attractive or not.

      “Okay,” Nick said. “Twenty-eight it is.” His gaze slid down her body, lingering on her legs. “I’m guessing she’s got some really nice legs, but underneath the wool pants she’s wearing, it’s hard to tell. Now, up on top…” He eyed her breasts with such intensity that she had to resist the urge to fold her arms over her chest. “Unfortunately, she left the spandex at home today, and her buttoned-up cotton shirt kinda hinders the view.”

      “So what score do you give her?” Andy asked.

      Nick sighed. “I’m afraid I can’t go any higher than a six.”

      Sara’s eyes flew open wide. “A six?”

      She instantly clamped her mouth shut. Damn it. He’d dangled the bait and she’d snapped at it. She’d known exactly what he was up to, and still—

      “Wait a minute, Sara,” Nick said. “Let me clarify. I’m pretty darned sure there’s a ten under there somewhere, but I can’t go jumping to conclusions with the obstructed view and all. Now, if you could see your way clear to get rid of some of that cotton and wool, I might be persuaded to reevaluate.”

      For several seconds, Sara was dumbfounded into silence. Did he seriously think she’d consider such a thing, as if she was one of the strippers he was so famous for interviewing? Was she supposed to take this kind of thing lying down?

      Then, out of nowhere, she was hit with an image of taking all kinds of things from Nick Chandler while lying down.

      Oh, God. Why was her brain going there at a time like this? What was the matter with her?

      “Never mind, Sara,” Nick said. “Numbers really aren’t that important, now are they? Let’s take a few more calls.” He punched a button on the console. “I’ve got Tawny in Forest Heights on the line. Hey, Tawny. Welcome to the show.”

      “This question is for Sara,” she said.

      Sara sat up and squared her shoulders. Finally. A woman who wanted to ask a serious question. She leaned into the microphone. “Yes?”

      “I’ve never seen Nick in person,” Tawny said. “Is he as gorgeous as his picture on the Web site?”

      Sara flicked her gaze to Nick, who was wearing a smile of supreme satisfaction.

      What was she supposed to do now? If she said yes, he’d become so arrogant and unbearable that his ego would ooze right out of this studio. If she said no, her nose would grow like Pinocchio’s on steroids. There was only one way to deal with this.

      It was time to fight fire with fire.

      She took hold of her microphone. “Hi, Tawny. You want to know if Nick is as gorgeous as his picture on the Web site?”

      “Oh, yeah.”

      “Well, maybe it’s time for me to do a rundown of my own. Let me tell you what I’m looking at.”

      She СКАЧАТЬ