clenched.
Pint-sized. Delicate. She couldn't be more than five feet, two inches tall, maybe five-three with those heels. Her shapely legs were sexily encased in sheer black hose, the rest of her curves accentuated by the soft lines of her silky dress. His body hardened with desire. Was she wearing a garter belt, too?
Surprise jolted through him when one of the reporters pointed to his office. The woman shook her glorious blonde hair and headed his way. Her skin reminded him of peaches and cream. Her hair looked as if it had been kissed by sunlight, streaked with gold and brown and light shades of blonde. It had to be natural. Lord help him. His search for a serious relationship might have to be put on hold for a while.
Gabe sat down, hiding himself behind his desk. Damn, his hormones were raging like a teenager's. Arousal thrummed through his lower body and would be difficult to disguise if he stood.
The woman tapped on his door and poked her slender angelic face in. It would be impolite not to stand, so he stood, but kept himself situated behind the desk.
"Mind if I come in?" Her soft southern drawl sent heat searing through his veins.
Although her voice sounded familiar, and for a minute, Gabe had the uncanny feeling he knew this woman. He took another look at her and groaned. There was no way he could have met this beauty before and not remember.
He offered his hand and tried to speak but lost himself in her luminous eyes. They were a startling shade of blue. No, not blue. Violet. To his surprise, her slender hand trembled when she placed it in his.
* * *
Casey placed her hand into Gabe's annoyed when her traitorous body shivered with desire.
Play the game, Casey. Don't let him affect you. You're supposed to drive him wild, not the other way around.
But the images in last night's dreams popped into her mind making her dizzy with the sensations they stirred. Maybe revenge wasn't such a good idea. It might backfire in her face.
In an attempt to halt her provocative thoughts, she glanced down, spotting the newspaper lying open on Gabe's desk. Several copies of the article lay in view. Reality slapped her in the face.
Forcing a smile, she prayed she wasn't going to make a fool out of herself. What if he didn't find her attractive?
"I read your article this morning. I suppose you could say that's the reason I came." Her soft, seductive voice sounded foreign to her own ears.
Gabe smiled and motioned toward a chair. "It has gotten a lot of attention. Please sit down, Ms...."
"We'll get to names later, sugar. I wanted you to know how much I enjoyed your work. You certainly have a way with words." At least in the newspaper. Casey gritted her teeth, forcing her smile to remain intact. Last night, you certainly didn't.
Gabe grinned, obviously pleased at her compliment. His broad shoulders rose in a shrug, and he leaned back in his chair, offering Casey a good view of his massive frame. Dressed in a crisp white shirt and navy slacks, he looked more handsome than she remembered.
Obviously, he dresses differently for work.
Then her gaze strayed to a drawing on his desk. The cartoon was labeled The Perfect Wife and featured a cartoon sketch of a well-endowed woman dressed in a teddy greeting her husband at the door. Casey's hackles rose even more. No wonder he'd been so disillusioned when he'd seen her in her robe. "So, that's what you expected from your date?"
Gabe grinned sheepishly as he shoved the cartoon in his desk. "Uh, no. That was just a gag the guys passed around. One of the reporters was getting married so... well, you know." He shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
Casey gave him a saccharine sweet smile.
"Um... about the article. It was a new kind of piece for me," he rattled, obviously trying to distract her. "I must admit I had fun with it."
Casey jerked her gaze from his chest and tried to concentrate on his words, then stroked the silky fabric of her dress and crossed her legs. Intentionally making