The Seduction Request by Michelle Celmer Page A

And rich.” Alex grabbed a stack of messages off her desk. Messages Matt had left,that she hadn’t yet returned because she was a big chicken. “And he’s obviously interested.”
    â€œAnd he’s leaving. I’m not looking to get my heart stomped on again. If you like him so much why don’t you go out with him.”
    He let out a wistful sigh. “In my dreams, honey.”
    She gave him an eye roll. “Don’t you have work to do?”
    â€œYou’re awfully cranky for someone who claims not to need sex. I’m telling you, you’ll feel so much better if you sleep with him then never call. Revenge is good for the soul.”
    If she thought it would make her feel better, she might just try it. But she didn’t want revenge. She wanted to know what it was Matt wanted from her. One minute he said he wanted to be her friend, the next he was like a wolf on the prowl. And knowing she was his intended prey filled her with a sizzling sexual energy. That he could so effortlessly stir that reaction scared the hell out of her.
    Her only defense was avoidance. So she wouldn’t do something dumb, like fall in love with him again.
    â€œIf you insist on being so stubborn, how about dinner and a movie tonight instead? My treat. You’ve been working too hard.”
    Well, one of us has to, she wanted to say but held her tongue. Alex didn’t mean to be irresponsible. He couldn’t help that he was completely unfocused. “Only if we can see an action movie,” she said. “No gushy romantic garbage.”
    He slipped off her desk. “You’re on. I’ll pick you up at six at your place.”
    â€œAnd no more talking about Matt?”
    â€œYes, fine. No more talking about Matt.”
    An evening when she wouldn’t have to see Matt or think about Matt. It almost sounded too good to be true.
    Â 
    Matt pulled up in front of Emily’s apartment, and parked. He’d had enough of being brushed off. Problems with the restaurant and office responsibilities had kept him tied up the last two days but now things were running relatively smoothly. This was his chance. This would be the night he would seduce Emily.
    He walked up to her door and raised his hand to knock when he saw the note taped there inviting him in.
    Well, it was inviting someone in, although he seriously doubted he was the intended receiver. Still, it did say to come in. And he didn’t know for sure that it wasn’t for him.
    Feeling only slightly guilty, he stuffed the note in his pocket and opened the door, peering inside. From the bathroom, he heard the shower running.
    Emily in the shower, water and soap sliding down her body. Naked and wet. His favorite combination.
    This just kept getting better.
    He stepped inside and closed the door, and as an afterthought locked it. For the briefest of moments he considered joining her in the shower, then wrote it off as a bad idea. Tempting, but unwise. When they took a shower together—and they would—it would be her idea.
    Considering her reaction to him the other night in her parents’ kitchen, finessing Emily into bed wouldn’t really be all that difficult. He had decided, because he liked to continually present himself withnew challenges, he wasn’t going to make love to Emily until she asked for it.
    Until then, he was predicting a fair amount of teasing and foreplay.
    Her sofa bed was folded out, and since there was nowhere else to sit, he plopped down and stretched out lengthwise, stuffing a pillow under his head. He caught a hint of Emily’s scent mingled with fabric softener and imagined her lying there. The sheets were a disheveled mess, as if she moved around a lot in her sleep. Unless her boyfriend was back and the sheets were messed up for an entirely different reason.
    The thought stuck in his side like a thorn. He shouldn’t feel this possessiveness toward her. Up until today, after