Free Ms. Match by Jo Leigh Page A

tabloids had rarely mattered to him. It had been easier that way. It kept his world view controllable. Why mess that up now?
    “Paul?”
    He clicked on his intercom. “Yeah?”
    “Someone’s here to see you. She doesn’t wish me to give her name. She wants it to be a surprise.”
    “Send her in.”
    He straightened up, ran a hand through his hair, wondering if it could be Gwen. He felt a little surge of anticipation as he stood.
    The door opened and in walked Autumn. The small stab of disappointment knocked him back to his senses. Autumn was all soft hair, big eyes and long legs. They hadn’t spoken since that night at Nobu, and for the life of him he couldn’t recall why he’d thought that was a good idea.
    “I owe you an apology,” she said, moving toward him with a sway that would tempt a monk.
    “For what?”
    “For leaving you the other night. I was so naughty. And after all you did for me.”
    She’d reached his desk, and then she moved around it so she was just in front of his chair. She put her hands on the armrests and leaned over close enough for him to catch a whiff of the essence of sin.
    He tore his gaze away from her face just so he could appreciate the view of her breasts. They were perfect. Her low-cut dress combined with the modern wonders of the push-up bra and he stopped castigating himself about past mistakes to concentrate on mistakes he could make right now.
    “You probably have a date tonight, so I won’t keep you.” Even her breath made him hard.
    “There is no one but you.”
    She smiled. “You always say the sweetest things.”
    “Give me five minutes to make sure Tina’s gone. I’ll lock the door.”
    That wasn’t the right answer according to her tiny pout. “That sounds nice, but I was thinking…”
    He doubted that, but went along with it anyway. “About?”
    “There’s a big party tonight at the Chateau Marmont. I thought we could go together. Just you and me.”
    “And a hundred of our closest friends?”
    “It’s going to be a really good party.”
    He sighed. Autumn was Autumn. Knowing her, she’d had another escort lined up, but something had happened, so she’d turned to Paul. And, knowing her, at the end of the evening, there would be a kiss or two, maybe a little more, but even though the party was at a hotel with beds and room service there would be no sex.
    Gwen had told him how to woo Autumn, but he hadn’t believed it. If he was smart, he’d send her on her way. Go home. Read a book. Watch something on PBS.
    Autumn leaned down just far enough to run the tip of her tongue over his bottom lip.
    After the shiver that went straight to his cock died down enough for him to breathe, he said, “Do you want dinner first?”

    7
    THERE WAS SOMETHING sinful about riding in a stretch limo wearing faded jeans and an old Dodgers T-shirt. Gwen should have met Paul at the stadium, but he’d insisted on picking her up. If she’d known it was going to be in this gas guzzler, she’d have flat out refused.
    “Come on. It’s not that bad. Some people would actually enjoy this little luxury.”
    Maybe she was being too harsh. He was trying very hard to win her over, and for Paul, a limo equaled major points. “The whole day’s going to be like this, isn’t it?”
    He nodded. “Extravagance and pampering until you just can’t take another minute of it. I wouldn’t blame you at all if you broke down in tears while having to choose between the lobster and the filet mignon.”
    “I’ll be too busy watching the game. You remember. Dodgers? Baseball?”
    “Excuse me, who won the trivia contest?”
    “By one point.”
    “One point was all that was needed.”
    She had to give it up and smile. “Conceited much?”
    Paul turned more toward her. He was in his version of casual—jeans that fit him to perfection, a T-shirt that had to be a size smaller than was wise—the better to show off his shoulders and impeccable abs. He had a baseball cap on the seat across