Hypnotic Seduction (The Seduction Series)
Read Hypnotic Seduction (The Seduction Series) Online
Authors: Laurie Kellogg,L. L. Kellogg
Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® Finalist
by
L. L. Kellogg
“Hypnotic Seduction
is
a fun, sexy romantic comedy. Enjoy LL Kellogg's engaging and steamy contemporary romance
!"
Bella Andre, international bestselling author of
I Only Have Eyes for You
“Five thumbs up!
Hypnotic Seduction
is a funny, ugly-duckling love story for readers who enjoy red-hot romantic comedy with lots of sizzle.”
M.J. Fredrick, award-winning author of
Midnight Sun
Hypnotic Seduction
By L.L. Kellogg
Digital Edition
ISBN-13: 978-1-938618-04-8
Copyright 2012 Laurie Kellogg
This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations. Thank you for respecting this author’s hard work.
Disclaimer
This novel is a work of fiction. Any references to real people, events, establishments, organizations, or locations
are used
only to provide authenticity and are used factiously. All other characters, places, incidents, and dialogue are products of the author’s imagination and
should not be construed
as real. Any resemblance between the novel’s characters and setting and actual individuals or places is completely coincidental. All inaccuracies or mistakes are the author’s fault and accidental. The author apologizes for any factual discrepancies or typographical errors. If you find any, please contact the author so she can correct them for future copies.
Read an Excerpt of A Little Bit of Déjà Vu
Dedicated to my two wonderful children
Thank you for your encouragement, even though my racy stories embarrass you a little. May this book boost your inheritance beyond your
dreams.
I love you both more than I can ever show you.
So many people have contributed to my writing career. In addition to Romance Writers of America® and its generous members who helped me learn to use the talent I was blessed with, I’d also like to thank my:
Husband, children, and extended family who’ve given me more support than any writer could hope for
Critique partner who never lets me get away with anything and is honest enough to tell me when my work is pure
dreck
Beta-readers and good friends
Fellow members of my local RWA chapters
And last but not least, all of my Golden Heart® sisters—especially the Rubies!
Hypnotic Seduction
ex-fi•
an•cé n. 1. A man no longer engaged. 2. Lying, cheating scum. 3. Rat-bastard philanderer.
Note: Also see worm, maggot, or ex-boss
.
Hannah Oliver’s gut instincts had saved her well-padded tush more times than she could count. So when an ominous little voice whispered it was a bad idea to stop for Chinese takeout, she listened. She ignored her craving for a hot, crispy egg roll and drove straight home from the office.
“
Yes, yes, YESSS
!”
Hannah stalled inside the threshold to her one-bedroom garden apartment on the outskirts of Princeton, New Jersey. On the opposite side of her living room’s thin wall, the headboard pounded in a frenzied, staccato beat.
“Faster, please!”
She rolled her eyes, releasing a weary sigh. It was only six o’clock, for crying out loud.
When she’d taken a roommate so she could save for her upcoming wedding, Gina and she had made a firm pact to keep their sexual encounters at their respective partners’ homes. Evidently, after Hannah left the message to say her boss/fiancé had asked her to work late again, her hot-to-trot roommate decided to ignore their agreement and make the most of
Happy Hour
.
Hannah tossed her tote on the chair and hung her coat in the closet. Not only was she exhausted and starving, she still had to finish addressing the invitations. No way was she waiting someplace else while her nympho roommate finished getting her jollies. After all, Gina had relinquished her right to privacy when she violated the no-sex-in-the-apartment rule. She and her flavor of the week could go at it the entire night for all Hannah cared.
The next time her sixth sense started yapping, not only would she tell the little voice to
zip it
, she’d also add dumplings and spareribs to her takeout order.
“
Oh, yes
!”
If only she could shed her inhibitions and be that wanton. With only seven weeks until the wedding, she was tempted to forget about offending her grandma’s traditional sensibilities and move in with Kevin now. At least then she wouldn’t have to put up with her roommate’s X-rated theatrics reminding her how self-conscious she was in the boudoir.
“You have the most luscious little
titties
,” a deep, familiar voice murmured.
“You don’t think they’re too small after squeezing my roomie’s over-inflated boobs?”
“No, way. If I want more than a mouthful, I’d rather grab your incredible ass.”
Hannah gasped.
Kevin
?
~*~
The only position this lecher wants to place a woman in requires years of stretching.
Hannah silently fumed to herself a week later.
“I’m sorry, Miss uhh....”
“Oliver.” She pointed to her name on the résumé the director of Human Resources held. Without giving her qualifications more than a cursory glance, Stanley Pulaski continued dragging his beady gaze from the calf-length hem of her skirt, up to her French braid. The contemptuous curl in the creep’s lip said he hoped to find evidence of a sexier body than Hannah’s dumpy figure. His immediate dismissal said he’d ranked her about a three on a scale of one to ten.
Jeez. Who the heck was he to judge her? She wasn’t the one wearing a dead muskrat posing as a toupee.
“You see, Miss Oliver—” Pulaski handed her résumé back to her. “—it’s Calder Pharmaceutical’s policy to promote from within, and you’re much too qualified for an entry level post.”
“If that’s the case, why was I given an appointment for an interview?”
“That was apparently my assistant’s lack of judgment.”
The playmate of the month at the reception desk glared at his back, belying his pathetic attempt at passing the buck.
“I apologize for any inconvenience. Thank you for your interest in Calder,” he continued. “I won’t waste any more of your time.”
That was for damn sure. Hannah spun on her designer sandals’ four-inch heels and stormed out of the personnel office.
This would teach her to get involved with a
guy
who signed her paycheck. Not only was she not getting married or having the children she wanted anytime soon, she’d be spending the rest of the week contacting employment recruiters. Considering the sky-high unemployment rate, she probably should’ve waited to quit her job, but she’d been unable to bear working for that cheating rat-bastard another second.
On her way through the lobby, she slapped the visitor’s badge on the guard’s desk and stormed through the electric doors into the late April sunshine. A kaleidoscope of color and fragrances from the spring garden bombarded her senses.
“That sleaze Pulaski deserves an incurable case of jock itch,” she muttered, kicking the bloom off a flower edging the walkway.
“There are a few thousand more of those beauties if decapitating that one didn’t help,” a white-haired man joked from a bench in the inviting shade of a blossoming tree.
Smiling, she shrugged one shoulder. “Thanks, but one’s my limit. I would’ve introduced my foot to that jerk’s head, but I didn’t want to stub my toes.” She wandered across the manicured lawn. “Do you mind if I join you?” She needed to cool down before her dentist appointment that afternoon.
“I’d love some company.” The man puffed on his pipe the way her late grandpa had. “I’m Edward.”
“Hannah Oliver.” She shook his hand, sinking onto the bench next to him.
“So whose head were you mentally kicking?”
She told him about her ordeal with the sexist bastard in the HR department, and when she finished, Edward frowned. “He didn’t even interview you?”
“Not really. Apparently a woman needs talents besides stellar administrative skills to land a job at Calder.”
Like perhaps certification in Kama sutra yoga and a fondness for the downward-facing dog position.
“I guarantee—if I looked like some bulimic lingerie model, Mr. Pulaski would’ve hired me on the spot.”
Edward patted her arm. “You have every right to be upset. And, for what it’s worth, I think you’re much more attractive than those skinny giraffes in the underwear catalogs.”
“Thanks.” She smiled. The old
guy
obviously needed a pair of glasses. “Now that you’ve validated me, I won’t feel so guilty if I console myself.” She dug a bag of her homemade cinnamon-almond squares from her handbag and offered him one.
The sweet old man smiled his thanks and fished out a cookie. “Did you make these?”
She nodded, praying her cheeks hadn’t turned as pink as they felt. Her friends considered her hobby old-fashioned, but baking was a way to spend time with her grandma. “Enjoy. If I eat them all, my butt will spread like the Delaware River in a flash flood.”
“You young girls worry far too much about your figures.”
“Young? I’m almost thirty. And with men like Pervert Pulaski around, do you blame me? I mean, seriously—I have ten years of experience, and I’m only twelve credits shy of getting my business degree.” She handed Edward a copy of her résumé to emphasize her point. “Would you reject an applicant with my qualifications just because she doesn’t look like a model?”
“Not if she brought cookies like these with her.” He chuckled, scanning the page listing her credentials. “If you type half as well as you bake, I’m sure you’ll have a job in no time.”
Assuming she interviewed with someone who didn’t care if she could do splits.
She inhaled the sweet perfume of flowers mingling with the smell of his tobacco smoke. “I’m sorry for venting. I can’t believe I’m jabbering on like this. I usually break out in a cold sweat around men.”
His gaze shot up from her résumé. “You’re afraid of men?”
“Not
afraid.
I’m just a little self-conscious with them.”
“It didn’t sound like you had a problem talking to Don Juan Pulaski.”
“I only get tongue-tied with
good-looking
guys.”
“Ohhh.” Edward laughed. “You don’t find
me
attractive?”
In truth, she found his craggy face and neatly trimmed beard extremely appealing in a mature way. Before meeting Edward, she’d considered it unnatural for a woman her age to be romantically interested in a senior citizen. Now, she almost understood the attraction. Edward had no doubt been a real lady-killer in his day.
