Uncensored Passion (Men of Passion) (12 page)

“Yes, it is.”

“Do you know her? She is really something, isn’t she?”

The woman laughed. “Yeah, she is that.”

“By the way, I’m Devon Walker, and I’m here to do an article about her. I didn’t expect her to be so—well—beautiful. And the fact that she’s single, that’s icing on the cake.”

Again, the woman laughed as she shook his extended hand. “Mindy Carson.”

Shaking her head, she took a long draw on the cigarette, exhaled a plume of smoke, then said, “Sorry to burst your bubble, Devon, but you aren’t her type. And that is truly her loss,” she added flirtatiously as she let her eyes take a long walk down his body and back to his face.

“Thank you, Mindy. But who is her type?”

She shrugged, and Trey could see she was having second thoughts about saying anything else. He turned on the charm, smiling, leaning closer to say in a conspiratorial tone, “Whatever you say is between us. I would appreciate a heads-up.”

“I don’t like to spread rumors,” she said in that tone that indicated she was dying to do just that, “but the talk is Kayla Saradon doesn’t like men, not even one as handsome as you, if you know what I mean.”

That shocked Trey. It was also something he did not believe.

“Wow. Thanks for the warning. Too bad.”

“Bet every guy who meets her thinks he has a shot. Until she freezes him out. Fact is nobody ever sees her out with a guy. She pretty much keeps to herself. Occasionally she’ll go for after-hours drinks at the Red Carpet Bar and Lounge with some of us girls, but that is very rare. She usually makes a beeline for home after work. She’s definitely a workaholic.”

“Where is the Red Carpet Bar and Lounge?”

“It’s on West End. Kind of a trendy place. I’ve only been there a couple of times.”

“Well, thank you for the information, Mindy. You’ve been a great help.”

“You’re welcome, Devon. Say, are you going to the Red Carpet later, by any chance?

“Not today. But maybe I’ll see you there before I leave town.”

“I hope so.”

He gave her his brightest smile. “Me, too.”

As he walked away, he was mulling over what she’d said.

There is no way Kayla Saradon is a lesbian. I don’t believe that. But if it were true, wouldn’t that be a slap in Dr. Romero’s face? I could tell him that not only was she not after his son, she isn’t even wired to want him.

Trey chuckled to himself, thinking that it would almost be worth it if it were true, just to see Romero’s expression when he relayed that tidbit. But not quite. Trey suddenly did not want that to be true. A woman with a body as good as Kayla Saradon’s and with those full, kissable lips, was too good a fit for a man.

He got a heated flash in his groin just thinking about how she might be in bed. Or out of bed. On her desk. On the floor. He imagined his suddenly hard cock sliding in and out of her wet channel as those green eyes burned into his and his body responded with the blood rushing to engorge his penis.

Trey mentally chastised himself.
Damn! Get a grip! She’s your assignment. She’s off limits, no matter her sexual orientation.

His mind accepted that. But his libido was a different thing altogether.

CHAPTER 13

Conflicting thoughts—Possibilities

As soon as Trey had left her office, Kayla called the number on the card he’d given her. After the secretary verified Devon Walker was indeed a freelance writer working currently on assignment with
Your Health Today,
Kayla sat thinking about him and anticipating their scheduled meeting on Saturday.

He is definitely easy on the eye. Bet he’s a tiger in bed. Oh, stop it, Saradon!
Kayla berated herself.

You have your quota of partners, and they’re all great. You do not want to cheat on them, not even with a man as obviously virile as Devon Walker. Okay, so he makes me wet and hot! He’s probably not half as good as you think he is.

She made a concentrated effort to put him out of her mind, yet couldn’t, and on the drive home, after another day of barely tuning in to her patients’ grievances, Kayla found her thoughts dominated by Devon Walker. There was something about the way he had looked at her that kept coming back to mind. A sexual spark had definitely passed between them that had aroused her curiosity, striking a chord so deep within her psyche that it continued to resonate.

Other than her young Latin lover, J.J., Kayla silently admitted she had never seen a more sensual man than Devon Walker. Plus, he had that weathered, “I’ve-been-rode-hard-and-put-away-wet-but-am-still-up-for-bucking” look.

The fact that he had lived hard was evident in the hard set of his mouth, the crinkly lines bracketing his eyes, and the seemingly innate knowledge in his penetrating gaze. The only color that came to mind to describe his eyes was electric blue. Devon Walker definitely looked like a man who had seen more than his share of the bad side of humanity, but somehow was still clinging to an optimistic thread.

But what made him even more appealing was the fact that, much the same as J.J., Devon Walker seemed unaware of how he affected the opposite sex.

I’m sure it isn’t just me who’s responded to him that way. Wonder if he’s got someone already? He wasn’t wearing a wedding ring.

She was still wondering what kind of lover Devon would be as she pulled into her driveway. Would he be as fantastic in bed as J.J.? Maybe he could even teach her some things. She laughed to herself with that thought.

But I doubt it.

Yet the thought solicited a wet seepage between her legs as Kayla involuntarily tightened her abdominal muscles in fanciful anticipation.

She realized that she should have asked a few questions of her own. Like was he married, even though she didn’t see a wedding ring? Of course that didn’t mean he wasn’t. Some men just didn’t wear rings.

But there hadn’t been an opening for that. At least none that would have seemed appropriate.
Yet he was interested in me, I could tell, and not just for an article. I wonder what he would think about being a fifth partner.

Kayla shook her head at her incredulous runaway train of thought.
What makes me think Devon Walker would be amendable to polyandry, or that he would be willing to share love with the other men in my life—even if I got up the nerve to ask?

Something told her, some deep-seated gut feeling, that Devon Walker wasn’t a man who would be able to share intimacy. Ten to one he was a one-on-one, you’re-mine kind of guy. Kayla suddenly recalled his remark about a man claiming her. Yes, she felt certain, Devon Walker would be that kind of man, dominant and passionately unyielding.

Another thing she’d be willing to bet was true was that he would be fantastic in bed.
Maybe so good, I wouldn’t need any others.

That fleeting thought shocked her.

Now where the hell did that come from
?
You know you decided years ago that no one man is ever going to be that good. Besides, Devon Walker probably has a dick the size of a peanut!
Of course, he did have those marvelously large, calloused hands….

Kayla mentally checked herself, trying to convince herself she didn’t want to know, that it didn’t matter. But her silent denials didn’t negate the fact that she did want to know, and it did matter. It was the first time in a long time Kayla had felt this drawn to someone. She had found all of her partners sexually attractive and had wanted them all—still did—but she had never felt this almost indescribable magnetic pull that she felt for this stranger, Devon.

Well, I have four days to tone down my hormones before our Saturday meeting.

As she turned off the ignition, Kayla was both excited and apprehensive about that meeting. She tried to put her mind on her forthcoming night with Lee, telling herself it would be soothing and sexually satisfying, as always. Yet try as she would to dwell on that, her thoughts kept going back to the tall, handsome, and sexually dynamic reporter who had seemed to be an amalgamation of shyness, anxiousness, and lack of professional courage. She wanted to help him overcome all those things. And so much more.

Exiting the vehicle and heading for the door, Kayla willed her mind to think only of her four partners waiting inside. They were all wonderful. And she loved them.

I have the perfect life. But would it be better with Devon Walker in it?

Feeling disloyal and frustrated, she kissed her men as they met her in the usual way, taking her briefcase, her shoes, and her jacket.

Only Harm seemed to notice her preoccupation as he leaned to kiss her hello.

“Another hard day, my love?”

Kayla shrugged. “An interesting day, to say the least.”

* * *

Across town, in the lounge area of the Sheridan, as Kayla was being greeted at home, Trey sipped his Johnny Walker Black scotch, his thoughts as hotly focused on her as hers were on him. He wondered what she was doing at that moment. He had already been to the Red Carpet Lounge, asking around, hoping someone would remember her and be able to shed some light on her personality and preferences, but no one did. The lady remained a mystery. One he was determined to solve.

He had decided his next step might be talking to the men Romero had said were her tenants. But he would wait until after his meeting with Kayla for that. In the meantime, he had decided he would keep sniffing around possible associates. Something told him that wasn’t going to pan out, either. The online information about her hadn’t really given him what he needed, so he made a mental note to have the office do a background check, including financial information and credit card spending profile, and email him the particulars later.

A lot is riding on my meeting with her on Saturday.

Though he was far from being egotistical when it came to his ability to attract the opposite sex, Trey had gotten the distinct impression that Kayla found him as intriguing as he’d found her.

Maybe it was my “sorry for being an idiot” act that had garnered her pity. But damn, I don’t want her pity. I want her!

Feeling the vibration from his cell phone, Trey retrieved it from his pocket and answered with a clipped, “Yes?”

The firm’s secretary, Sarah, said, “Your call came through this morning, Trey. Thought you’d want to know. Hope I haven’t called too late. I got busy at the office and forgot to call earlier, and it just came to mind and I—ah—kind of wanted to talk to you outside the office.”

“That’s all right, Sarah. I appreciate your letting me know. So what’s up?”

“First thing is to tell you that the lady wanted to verify your credentials, which I did and glowingly so.”

“I figured she might. She’s very thorough. Oh, and by the way, run the usual background check on her, as well, and email me what you find.”

“Trey, there’s another thing.”

He caught the worried tone in her voice.

“What is it, Sarah?”

“Well, let me preface what I’m about to tell you. I don’t usually listen in to conversations, but I’m glad I did this time. I’m glad the intercom was open and they didn’t know it.”

“They? You mean the partners?”

“Yes.”

“So what did you hear, Sarah?”

“I like you, Trey. That’s why I’m telling you this. I think you’re a good guy. And I know how hard you work and how diligent you are concerning your job. It galls me that Gavin Johnson seems so determined to slander you whenever he gets the chance and that he’s trying to get you fired. But I suppose you know that, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Just between you and me, I can’t stand the man.”

Trey chuckled. “I understand. He doesn’t exactly make a person feel warm and fuzzy.”

“He’s a bastard, that’s what he is!” Sarah said curtly.

Trey was surprised. In all the years he had known her, he had never heard mild-mannered Sarah Upton ever express herself so vehemently.

“It’s okay, Sarah. I know Gavin hates me. I don’t know why, but I’ve accepted that he does long ago. So what did you hear? Lay it on me. I can take it.”

“I heard them discussing your case. Gavin said he expected you to fail, and when you did, per their earlier agreement, you were to be terminated. And Rob said that yes, they had tentatively agreed to that, but on thinking about it, he wasn’t sure firing you would be in the best interest of the firm. Joyce agreed, saying that you were a decorated war hero and definitely an asset to the company. And besides, you knew what you were doing, had always concluded each case given you to the firm’s advantage. She said you seemed to be a born leader, which was probably why you had been so good in Special Forces.

“Gavin said you weren’t as good as the hype that you probably started yourself, and some medals were given to the wrong people. He said the true heroes never got mentioned, only the ones who crowed the loudest. And then this next part kinda floored me.”

“Really? What was it?”

“Joyce McClary said she was confused, since he was the one who had searched you out and recommended they issue an invitation to join the firm.”

“What? Are you sure she said that, Sarah?”

“Yes. I’m sure. I thought that was strange, too, given the way he’s always putting you down. Then Gavin said he had his own reasons at the time, and since he had gotten to know you, to know how arrogant and hypocritical you are, he realized his initial assessment was right, that it was time to cut you loose from the firm and that …”

When Sarah paused, seeming too angry to continue, Trey prompted gently. “Go on, Sarah. What else?”

“Well, he said he was looking forward to passing the word on to other PI firms so they wouldn’t make the mistake of hiring you.”

“Damn!”

“My sentiments exactly. Then Joyce said she thought that was too harsh, to say the least, and Rob agreed. Then Gavin said they didn’t know what he knew about you. Then he gave them an ultimatum. If you bungled this assignment, as he felt sure you were destined to do, either you would go, or he would.