The Seduction Game Read Online Free Page A

unwanted attention.”
    “I’m not drinking alone, as you put it. I happen to be waiting for someone, but even if I wasn’t, I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself without having to manhandle a handicapped man. He was so drunk he couldn’t even stand straight.”
    “That handicapped man was well over six feet and outweighed me by thirty pounds.” He ran a hand through his raven hair. “Look, I was only trying to help you. It is customary to say thank you in these circumstances.”
    She had the grace to feel ashamed. “Thank you.”
    With as much calm as she could muster, she left him.
    It was almost ten past seven and Adam Tyler would be making his exalted entrance soon. She fumed with indignation. He didn’t possess any manners at all! It was rude and inconsiderate of him to keep a lady waiting. At that moment, she didn’t know who irritated her more, the stranger or the insensitive Adam Tyler.
    * * * *
    Adam strode to the bar and downed his scotch. What the hell was the matter with him? He’d gone out with many women. Gorgeous women. Women most men fantasized about. So why was he mulling over that little spitfire?
    He felt his gut knot as he recalled the gold firelight dancing behind her eyes and how he had resisted the urge to… to what ? He couldn’t decide if he wanted to shake her or kiss her. No other woman had ever gotten under his skin, especially after only one minute of meeting her, and he felt more than a little disturbed by it.
    He noticed a woman wearing a tight black mini skirt staring at him from her bar stool a few feet away. He let his gaze glide over her long, smooth legs, her pert breasts straining against her thin white cotton blouse, up to her face. She wore a provocative expression. He knew instantly where she wanted to end up at the end of the night: in his bed. His lips curled sardonically.
    Any other time in his life he would have smiled at her, talked to her, hell, maybe even taken her back to his penthouse and made love to her all night, but all he could see in front of him was a rather ordinary-looking woman with glasses, whose thorny disposition told him she had more brewing under her than met the eye.
    He flicked a sharp glance at his watch. Kate Moore had better be here, he thought irritably as he strode from the bar.
    * * * *
    Kate marched up to the maitre d’ and asked him how much longer she would have to wait. He smiled and said her table was ready. Kate’s spirits lifted.
    She was about to follow him into the dining room when a small tap on her shoulder stopped her.
    “Excuse me. Doctor Moore?”
    Kate’s stomach dropped to the floor. This was all she needed to end a perfectly lovely evening. She turned around and faced a woman in her fifties who smiled profusely. Beside her stood a short, weary-looking man with a camera slung around his neck. A fan, Kate thought with resignation.
    “It is you! I can’t tell you enough how much I loved your last book,” the woman gushed, grabbing the short man by the arm. “Harry, look. It’s a celebrity.”
    Kate smiled politely. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.” She hastened toward the maitre d’ who was standing patiently to the side, holding two menus.
    “May I have your autograph, Dr. Moore?”
    “Of course.” She panicked as she hurried to open her purse. What explanation could she give Adam Tyler if he arrived at that moment and saw her handing out autographs?
    “My sewing circle back home isn’t going to believe this,” the woman said loudly as Kate ripped a page from her daily journal and scribbled a warm wishes note. “Why, you practically saved Kitty’s marriage back home. And Sue Ellen’s not the same since she gave herself that makeover. She’s going to need an extra line on her telephone just to keep up with all the men calling her and all.”
    “I’m glad I could help.” Kate scribbled quickly. “What’s your name?”
    “Martha. Martha Jenkins. Imagine,” the woman said, louder still, “I’ll