Free Captivate, book I of the Love & Lust by Amy Miles

attention back to him over her shoulder. His smile… Oh, if only he would stop smirking at her like he knows exactly what she’s doing!
    All she wants to do is get his clothes and go back to her hotel so she can take a hot bubble bath to soak her cares away. And maybe drown herself in a good chick flick. Tears and chocolate make everything better.
    Slade grabs her arm and pulls her abruptly to a stop as she steps forward to cross the street. She’s heading for H&M, sure they’ll be able to find something suitable for him there. “What?”
    “I didn’t mean to offend you.” His hair blows wildly about his forehead as a gale whips down the street. Ashlyn huddles deeper into her coat. “I was just really nervous about the shoot. I wasn’t exactly at the peak of my form that day.”
    “That I could tell,” she says and pulls her arm out from his grasp. She tries not to think of how strong his grip is, or how nice his apology feels. The fact that he even thinks to give her one takes her by surprise and leaves her oddly unsettled.
    Her plan of action for the day was to race through a couple of stores and talk as little as possible. She figured if she didn’t get to know him, she could forget him easier, but catching him from the corner of her eye as she looks for oncoming traffic, she knows that hope was dashed the moment he arrived. Slade Collins isn’t the sort of guy you can just forget.
    When he steps up beside her, she can see that he’s still waiting for a response. “You got the job so you have nothing to worry about now.”
    “Yeah, about that…” He starts but cries out as he is slammed from the back and knocks into Ashlyn. They tumble back into the wall, his weight crushing her.
    “Get off me!” She shoves against his chest but finds him to be an immovable wall of solid muscle.
    “I’m trying.” Slade pushes back off the brick and Ashlyn sucks in a breath. His hand grasps her elbow as she fights to regain her balance. “Sorry about that. Guess someone was in a manic rush.”
    “Don’t worry about it.” She gingerly rubs her stinging elbows where the brick chaffed her through her coat. “Being pushed around seems to be my new M.O.”
    Slade snickers and gently releases her arm. “Probably something you should work on, huh?”
    Ashlyn smiles and averts her gaze. Cocky, rude, and yet sensitive all wrapped into a very confusing bundle. That sounds like the makeup for a perfect disaster if she’s not careful.
    “What were you saying?” she asks, brushing loose strands back from her face. Her hair has begun to fall out of its haphazard bun, but she can’t find any way of fixing it without being painfully obvious. Sliding her hand up the back of her neck, she tugs at the hair tie and lets her loosely curled strands just fall down by her face. She prays she doesn’t have a massive crease going along the back of her head as she tucks her hair behind her ears.
    “I was wondering why I got the job.”
    “Oh.” Ashlyn blows out a breath, suddenly wishing she hadn’t reminded him. “Um, well, you got the job because you look like Tamsin’s character. With a new wardrobe, a slightly messier hairstyle, and a bit of work on your manners, I think you can pull it off.”
    A slow smile spreads along his lips. “So you think I’m the right guy for the part?”
    Ashlyn chews on her lower lip, not the least bit comfortable with answering that question. “I think you have potential,” she hesitantly admits. “Just do me a favor and don’t screw this up. I’ve… we’ve put way too much time and effort into this marketing plan for you to waltz in and tear it all to pieces.”
    Slade’s confident smile falters slightly. His eyes narrow as he leans over her just enough to make her feel intimidated. “You don’t like me very much, do you?”
    “Can’t say that I know you well enough to make that decision.” She chews on her lower lip, wishing her voice wouldn’t waver so much and give her