Free Fiance by Fate by Jennifer Shirk Page A

it would have been nice to know ahead of time. I’m not knocking it, if that’s how you are. After all, different strokes for different folks.”
    The way Jack’s eyebrows lifted in challenge told her he was deliberately baiting her, but she couldn’t let it go. Her anxiety was through the roof and now mixed with her temper, it made for a bad combination.
    Without hesitation, she grabbed him by his Herculean shoulders and pulled him in. “How’s this for different strokes,” she fumed, then planted her mouth directly on top of his.
    Ha! She had taken him by surprise, all right. His jaw tensed and his arms froze at his sides. She’d show him who the prude was in this fake relationship. She pressed harder, parted her lips, and gave him everything she had.
    It didn’t take more than a second for Jack to respond. His hands came up to the sides of her face, holding her steady as he took control of the kiss. There was a dreamy intimacy between their mouths now. His tongue touched hers, then moved, sliding slowly and easily inside her mouth. Seconds went by and— Oh. My . The man could kiss. She had been prepared for that, but not how surprisingly gentle his lips were. She was powerless to resist, and with a small sigh, she settled further into them.
    This is crazy. She was crazy—and in way further over her head than she’d realized. She clung to him, kissing him back, wanting him. Her instinctive response to him was overwhelming. Once again Jack surprised her. For a man who seemed to pride himself on no-nonsense actions in business, he sure took his time when it came to exploring a woman’s mouth. Blindly, her lips continued to follow his, and all thoughts of who she was kissing and even why flew out the window. She could barely remember her own name.
    Until she heard it called a short distance away. “Sabrina?”
    Her sanity returned, and she pulled away from Jack. Struggling to regain her breath, she closed her eyes, but not before she caught the troubled expression tattooed on Jack’s face.
    Well. Good.
    “ Sabrina ,” the voice said again.
    She blinked up. David stood a foot in front of her. The sight of his annoyed face quickly cut through Jack’s kiss-induced haze and brought her mind back to clear working order.
    Oh no. How long has David been standing there?
    Blood pounded in her temples. She tried to look pleasantly surprised, but she would have settled for just plain pleasant. Her feelings were bouncing all over the place, and she forgot how she was supposed to act.
    David’s gaze swung to Jack, eyeing him up and down as he spoke. “I’ve been trying to get your attention, Sabrina. I saw you and wanted to come over and say hello. Obviously, your attention was elsewhere.”
    Sabrina observed David with interest. He carefully straightened his already perfect tie and twice ran a hand through his fine blond hair. Both things she knew he did when his temper was stirred. However, she didn’t know if she should be doing cartwheels about that or calling it a night.
    She licked her lips and involuntarily shivered when she still tasted Jack. “I—”
    “Yes, she was occupied,” Jack interrupted. He threw an arm around her as if to drive his point home and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze.
    She swallowed hard. “Uh, David,” she began again carefully, “this is…this is…”
    What was wrong with her brain?
    Jack stuck out a large hand. “Jack Brenner.”
    David seemed reluctant but eventually shook his hand. “Brenner?” His already marked frown went farther downhill. “Are you related to the Brenner of Brenner Capital, where Sabrina works?”
    “Yes, that’s my father.”
    David gave Jack a long, inscrutable look, then turned his back to give Sabrina his full attention. “Darling, may I have a word with you for a moment?”
    She blinked. Darling?
    Sabrina wished she had ordered a drink now. David was out with another woman, she had kissed another man, yet she was still “Darling”? She