Hypnotic Seduction (The Seduction Series) by Laurie Kellogg, L. L. Kellogg Page A

some backlash from what the vice chairman had seen last evening—just not this soon. “Like I need more aggravation today.”
    While he rubbed the back of his neck, Hannah shook two tablets into his free hand. “Why don’t you lie down and let me help get rid of some of that tension?”
    “What?” He snapped his gaze to hers. The last time a woman offered to relax him, the shedding of clothing had been involved.
    “A physical therapist friend taught me a way to alleviate tension headaches,” she explained. “It’s best if you lie on your back on the floor.”
    He shook his head to clear the image of her naked, straddling him on the carpet.
    Yeah, that was just what Kurt Preston needed to walk in on. It would kill any shot Jordan had at becoming chairman .
    Get a grip, idiot . Hannah wasn’t like the endless parade of women who were constantly trying to maneuver their way into his bed. She would never come on to him—which perhaps was why the fantasy of being with her was the only way he’d been able to come in the last two weeks.
    “What the hell.” He dropped to his knees and stretched out. “It’s worth a try.”
    She knelt down and lifted his head, sliding her curved fingertips under the base of his skull. “Just relax and let the weight of your head rest on my fingers. A lot of headaches are actually muscles spasms in your neck and scalp. This helps to stretch and relax them.”
    He gazed at her upside-down face poised only inches above his, her huge silver eyes staring back at him. He’d never noticed her wearing mascara before. Who would’ve guessed her light brown lashes could be so thick and long?
    For that matter, she had blush on today, too. The extra color on her cheeks emphasized how delicate her bone structure and straight little nose were. Edward was right. She was pretty. Jordan bit his tongue to stop himself from telling her how nice she looked.
    “So what do you think Mr. Preston’s all hot and bothered about?” she asked.
    “I attended the hospital’s dedication of the wing last night. My date lost an earring in my car, and it rolled under my feet. When she bent down to find it, her face ended up in my lap. Stuffed-shirt Preston strolled by in the parking lot just in time to see her sit up with a beaming smile.”
    An amused sputter burst out of Hannah, suggesting she wasn’t as uptight as he’d once thought. “I would’ve loved to see his expression.”
    “Go ahead, laugh. I’m going to have to do a helluva fast tap dance to talk my way out of this one.” He steeled himself against the distracting scent wafting around him. Damn, she smelled good—kind of like summer. Was it possible to bottle a season?
    “Mr. Preston is the board member whose middle name is Ultra Conservative, isn’t he?”
    “He’s also the vice chairman. Truthfully, they’re all singing the home and family blues to me. My social life has a bad enough rep as it is. The last thing I need is more speculation about my morality. As if I don’t have enough pressure in my life.”
    “I could bring you a copy of the hypnosis recording my therapist gave me for between sessions. It might help you relax and relieve some of your tension.”
    Hypnosis? “Why the heck are you going for hypnotherapy?”
    The pink in her cheeks deepened.
    “Sorry if that seemed nosey.”
    “No, it’s okay. It’s just....I get nervous around men. The hypnosis is supposed to boost my self-confidence.”
    “That’s silly. You seem self-assured enough to me.”
    “Maybe in my job. But not with guys . I started treatment about ten days ago, and already I feel a lot more relaxed.”
    He lay there studying her sweet features from a whole new perspective, and his mouth turned desert-dry. Forget pretty. Make that beautiful. If her sexy pout was just a millimeter closer to his lips, he’d....
    God help him, he wanted to kiss her. But that lewd cartoon, compounded by all the harassment rumors Renee spread had stacked the deck against