doesn’t it Agnes?”
“Sure does,” Agnes said, her voice sounding a little strangled.
The bot’s eyes slitted.
“Well, at least they got that much right.” Priscilla eyed his wide, hairy chest. The muscle beneath the sun-dark skin looked well developed… hard . She might be able to get past all the dark hair—the body was mighty distracting. “Let me see what my money’s buying. Take off the rest of your clothes.”
When the bot didn’t move, she huffed and reached for the leather belt. A large, hard hand closed over hers and pushed her away. She glanced up in alarm. The look on the bot’s face could have curdled milk. “Agnes? It looks angry.”
From between gritted teeth, the bot said, “ It prefers to be called he .”
Chapter Three
‡
D eclan eyed the half-dressed woman with irritation…and reluctant interest. She wasn’t any bigger than a minute, the top of her red head barely reaching his shoulder. But all the creamy, freckled skin revealed between the beige, satin strips of her underwear clothed a body with all the necessary curves. His cock agreed and stirred behind the placket of his breeches.
Then she opened her mouth again. “Agnes? Don’t you play dumb now. What the hell was in my profile?”
Although pitched lower than her previous shrieks, her voice still held an imperious note that set his teeth on edge. No wonder the woman couldn’t find a man of her own. She was a bossy little snipe.
He had the overwhelming urge to tell the woman the truth, just to get her to shut up—and give Agnes a taste of her own brand of poison. Two women couldn’t deserve each other more.
“Just the facts, boss,” Agnes said, her tone blithe. “I’m sure they added their own statistics regarding your purchasing behavior in order to come up with the right blend of male properties to suit your needs.”
“They just should have given me an order form with a checklist for my preferences. Tonio’s more my taste!” She scowled, looking him over like he was a lumbering bear rather than a man. “I’ve half a mind to send it back.”
He grunted his disapproval.
The woman gave him a startled glance. “ Him back,” the woman corrected. “I mean, who in her right mind would want something so primitive?”
Some dark primitive emotion stirred in his belly. The woman needed to learn a lesson or two in manners. “I’ve never had any complaints,” he replied, adding a silky texture to his voice.
Her gray eyes widened. Was she shocked he could do more than grunt? Then he saw a telltale flush rise from the tops of her breasts to her cheeks. He’d bet a case of Samureen Black that arousal soaked her panties.
“That’s a recommendation?” She eyed him with doubt shadowing her gaze. “It’s too late to get a replacement, isn’t it, Agnes?”
“Much too late,” Agnes muttered.
“I guess I’ll keep him,” she said, her voice sounding less than enthusiastic.
“Then what are we waiting for?” he said with exaggerated relish, his hands going for his belt.
Her eyes widened like saucers. “Wait a minute!” She held up a hand.
Declan stared. A moment ago she’d wanted him out of his clothes.
“Shouldn’t we get a few things straight first?”
He took a step toward her. “What’s to get , other than naked?” He slipped the belt from the loops of his breeches and lifted it high, his gaze holding hers as he dropped it to the floor.
With a stubborn tilt of her chin, she said, “We could start with what I’m supposed to call you other than it .”
He narrowed his eyes at the termagant. He knew a stall when he saw one. “I have a name. Declan. What’s yours?”
Her pretty, pink mouth gaped. “You don’t know my name? Why wouldn’t Playthings tell you my name? They know absolutely everything else about me.”
“To increase the realism?” Agnes whispered.
He wished like hell the older woman would show herself. He preferred to gauge the mettle of his adversaries by watching