Midnight Surrender by Jean Brashear

"I have a sense that Jordan might be lonely."

A bark of laughter. "Jordan? Get real." David glanced in the mirror behind the bar, and his brow wrinkled. "Speak of the devil...she does get around, doesn't she?"

Will followed his stare and spotted Jordan striding across to the bar on those long, long legs, her lithe figure showcased in a tight black pinstriped skirt and severely tailored red silk blouse. Work clothes, he supposed, but with the addition of red stilettos, she looked anything but buttoned-up.

She was quickly welcomed by the bartender and offered a stool by one of the regulars. She gave each man around her a smile that seemed genuine, bantering with them and making every man near her vie for her attention. Man-eater was not the right description for her; Jordan Parrish was a siren, yes, but with a surprising dash of friendly chum mixed in. In no time she had her audience eating from her hand.

"I'd better shove off." David signaled the bartender to bring his check. "I'll be late for Joseph's game if I don't get cracking."

Just then Jordan glanced into the mirror, and her gaze fastened on Will's. He felt a visceral and very unwelcome punch, but he carefully kept his face neutral and merely lifted his beer in salute.

She arched one eyebrow, then pointedly turned away.

Friendly perhaps, but not to him. And didn't that just stir the competitor in him?

He should head out, as well. There was sheetrock calling his name.

But just then he noticed Jordan on the small dance floor, smiling and flirting outrageously with her current partner.

Will pondered holding sheetrock...or holding Jordan.

No contest. At any rate, one more encounter with her would surely cure him of this curious fascination. He threw some money down on the bar, and headed her direction.

As he approached, she glanced over her shoulder, then quickly turned her back on him, redoubling her attention on her partner, putting a dangerous sway in those slim hips he wouldn't mind getting his hands on.

She's a man-eater. Discards men like tissues.

Hadn't he had his own taste of her sharp tongue? Indeed, but abruptly Will found himself smiling. She was bad-tempered and difficult, but didn't that add to the challenge she presented? She was the polar opposite of his perfect woman, but that woman hadn't yet made her appearance. While he was patiently waiting, he would unlock the puzzle of Jordan Parrish. It wasn't as though his heart would get involved, after all. He was saving that for the woman of his dreams.

Meanwhile, two could play Ms. Parrish's game.

When Jordan glanced over and narrowed her eyes at him as if to warn him off, he stifled the grin that threatened and instead walked right past her toward a woman sitting with her friends.