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“Excuse me a moment, won’t you?” He pivoted toward the door, leaving her staring after him in dismay. Before he passed into the hallway, he paused and pinned her in place with a smoky grin. “Don’t go away.”
The encounter had banished his exhaustion and given him a reason to smile. For the first time in months his spirits returned to their normal cruising altitude. Hell, if she had that kind of effect on him, maybe he should consider hiring her as a live-in maid.
Simon turned on lights as he headed toward his front door, but what awaited him on the other side made him wish he’d ignored the intrusion. Warning sirens shrieked in his mind when he spied the woman standing in the hallway.
“Francine.”
“Hello, handsome.” His future sister-in-law snapped the compact shut and brought her emerald green eyes to bear on him. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?” Her voice vibrated with a sexy drawl that suited her lithe body and provocative expressions.
His night had gone from Goldilocks asleep in his bed to the Wicked Witch of the West making a house call. What was next? “What the hell are you doing here?”
“I’m visiting my parents. We’re celebrating Christmas this weekend because I’m spending the holidays with your family.” Wearing a glamorous chartreuse gown that drew attention to her considerable cleavage and tiny waist, Francine had dressed for a party. Or a seduction. “I’m flying to Savannah on Monday morning. Or if you want, we could drive together.”
She reached out to fiddle with his tie. He pulled it from her grasp.
“I didn’t mean Atlanta,” he snapped, amazed she’d had the guts to show up here after his response to her last email. “I meant here, in my condo. I thought you understood that I don’t want trouble with Dane.”
If she heard the warning in his tone she gave no sign. “I came to deliver your Christmas present.”
“You don
’t need to get me anything for Christmas.” Simon’s breath hissed between his clenched teeth. He certainly didn’t plan on getting anything for her. That was his brother’s job.
“But it’s already gift wrapped.” She cultivated a secretive smile and traced her neckline to draw his attention to the plump curves of her breasts. “And I put a big red bow on it. Let me in so I can unwrap it for you.”
“I’m tired and not in the mood for your games. You can give it to me in Savannah.”
She dropped her coat off her shoulders, baring her creamy skin. “It will be too late for this particular gift once we get to your parents’ house.”
At last comprehension dawned. “I suppose you’re referring to your email?” His stomach turned to stone. Disgust rose like bile and burned the back of his throat. “What possessed you to send me a picture of you wearing nothing but a bow around your neck?”
“You didn’t like it?” Her cat-crafty eyes devoured his torso from throat to groin. Without waiting for an invitation, she advanced on him. “I thought it was rather tastefully done. I know Dane enjoyed it.”
Simon stepped back to avoid contact with her. As she passed, she raked her nails across his chest. He shoved her hand aside. Her moves were so obvious he wondered why his oh-so-smart brother didn’t tire of her games.
An only child, she’d grown up the center of her parents’ world. It drove Simon crazy the way they still cosseted and spoiled her. She was accustomed to getting her own way. Tantrums or manipulation ensued when she didn’t. Simon had grown weary of her excessive neediness after dating her for two years. They probably wouldn’t have lasted that long if his brother hadn’t shown an interest in her.
“You sent us both the same email?” He launched his fingers into his hair to keep from throttling her. Damn the woman. She didn’t deserve his brother. “What were you thinking?”
Francine paced across the living room to the large floor-to-ceiling windows where thousands of lights kept the night at bay. With the stunning view of downtown Atlanta as her backdrop, she turned and pouted.
“I was thinking you used to find me irresistible.” The slightest trace of doubt entered her voice, but her pose remained that of a woman confident of her sexual impact on a man.
“I was twenty-five at the time.” Simon snorted in disgust, but her words conjured memories of their time together. She’d been gorgeous and eager to please in bed. In the beginning their relationship had been all about fun and games, and then the games stopped being fun. “In those days I found most beautiful women irresistible.”
“You loved me then. I know you did.” In a dramatic gesture that was pure Francine, she dropped her coat to the floor. “And I know I hurt you when I left you for Dane.”
“That was six years ago.” He and Dane competed over everything. Women were no exception. Old habits might be hard to break, but he drew the line here. “You’re with my brother. Why do I have to keep reminding you of that?”
“He’s never home.” The little-girl whine might work on her father and her fiancé, but Simon found her childishness a complete turnoff. Once upon a time she’d been more genuine. Before a three-year engagement with no wedding date in sight had begun to take its toll on her confidence.
Impatience lashed at him. “So you’re lonely?”
“It’s more than that.” She paced toward him, all trace of seduction dropping from her manner. “He’s gone all the time and even when he’s home he’s always working. I might as well be single again.”
Francine single again? Simon’s heart stopped. That would be bad. Very bad.
“What makes you think I’m a better bet? I travel more than Dane.”
