Excerpt of The Sweetest Deal by Mary Campisi

Of course, the man who had stolen her opportunity would have to stay at the same hotel. C.C. took the elevator to the eighth floor and stepped into the hall. Be nice, be nice. Act like you’re crazy about him, her father had said. She wanted to strangle both of them right now. Her father had no idea what he asked of her. Pretending wasn’t in her nature. If she were his son, he wouldn’t have handed the project over to an outsider or told him to act like he was crazy about that person.

C.C. adjusted the strap on her black cocktail dress. Roxie had tried to talk her into buying a red one, but thank God she hadn’t listened. Red was for people like Roxie who thumbed their noses at life and laughed, not C.C. who stuffed extra quarters in parking meters and never even jaywalked.

Act like you’re crazy about him. Right. She wet her lips and knocked on room 812.

The door flew open and Max Jerrnigan stood in front of her…too tall, too dark…too male…shirt partially unbuttoned to reveal an abundance of dark chest hair. Instinct warned C.C. to look away but curiosity glued her eyes to the patch of chestnut hair visible between the crisp folds of open shirt. A jolt of heat shot through her. She assured herself it was only anger, paired with resentment.

"You’re early," he said, his expression unreadable. "I’m almost ready. Why don’t you come in while I finish getting dressed?"

"All right." She stepped inside and her gaze shot straight to the unmade king-size bed. Big mistake.

He caught her staring. "Sorry about that."

She yanked her eyes from the rumpled sheets and mumbled, "That’s fine." Was it hot in here? She fanned her face and scanned the rest of the room while he disappeared into the bathroom. A briefcase and laptop lay open on a table in the corner. Fine. Business-related objects she could handle. She moved toward them, anxious to distance herself from the heat and the man. That’s when she spotted the black silk boxers tossed on the chair next to the table. Visions of a naked Max Jerrnigan flitted through her head.

What was wrong with her? This man was lead on a project she believed should have been hers.

Max emerged from the bathroom adjusting his tie. "So, are we going to get this over with now or just pretend until the night is over?" He moved closer, blocking her ability to think straight.