Excerpt of Relentless by Anna Wells

“Wow! You look good enough to eat!” Michaela declared as she opened her front door, eying the handsome tuxedoed man standing before her. Jordan Marsh was hot with his thick, wavy, dark blond hair, and sculpted features. And, God, let’s not forget that lean, fit body. He was the kind of man that women fantasized about, unfortunately the two of them were just friends.

“Well, if you insist. Go right ahead. I’m certainly not going to stop you.” Jordan casually leaned his broad shoulder against the doorframe as he tilted his dark blonde head to the side in his usual cocky manner. “I might add you look pretty hot yourself tonight,” he said, his blue eyes sparkling as he appraised her figure with obvious appreciation. “Nice… You look great in that red dress. Now turn around so I can get the whole picture.” Michaela did as he asked and Jordan nodded in obvious appreciation.

“Yep, very sexy. I definitely like the way it scoops low in the back and the front. It looks like I am going to have to beat the men off with a stick tonight.”

Michaela laughed, her chestnut curls bouncing as she leaned forward, giving him a quick hug as she pulled him inside her town home. She hadn’t been able to resist buying the full-length evening dress, with its spaghetti straps and plunging neckline; it showed off her figure to perfection. She might be petite, but she was proud of her hourglass figure. “Feel free to shower me with as many compliments as you like,” she insisted good-naturedly. She scrunched her pert nose, her chocolate brown eyes clouding with momentary self-doubt. “You don’t think it’s too much for an office Christmas party do you?”

“No,” Jordan insisted, his warm eyes sparkling with humor. “That dress looks awesome on you, and it disguises the fact that you’re vertically challenged.”

Michaela tried to look annoyed at his teasing, but failed miserably. “Do you always have to make fun of my height?”

“Of course I do it’s too much fun not to.” Flashing a pleased grin at what he obviously thought was a clever response.

“I think you need another hobby besides making fun of me,” Michaela informed him, enjoying the easy banter they always shared.

Jordan shook his head in denial, his face softening as he smiled at her. “Nope, I don’t think so. I am perfectly content with this one. It satisfies all my needs.”

Michaela shot him a skeptical look and gave an unladylike snort before saying, “If that is satisfying all your needs, I suggest you start dating more.”

Jordan’s eyes filled with self-deprecation and something else she couldn’t quite identify. “You’re right about that one,” he said, pausing briefly before asking, “I hate to put an end to this stimulating conversation, but shouldn’t we get going to your party?”

Michaela looked at her watch quickly. “You’re right we should get going. Let me just grab my wrap.” She opened the hall closet and retrieved the garment along with her purse. “I just want to thank you again Jordan for taking me to this party. I hate going to these things alone and since I’m not dating anyone I thought you were the ideal candidate.”

Jordan took the wrap from her hands and placed it on her shoulders, his hands lingering a little more than necessary. He moved his hands up and down her arms lightly before he released her. Michaela felt a shiver go down her spine at his touch while she breathed in the scent of his spicy cologne. What was that about she wondered? Jordan is just a friend, nothing more she reminded herself. Although it wasn’t the first time she had been forced to issue that particular reminder.

“You know me, free food, free drinks, I’m there,” he said easily as he escorted her out the door with a firm touch on her lower back.

Michaela was so distracted by her reaction to Jordan that she didn’t even notice the crisp, cool air of this December night in Boston. She turned and locked the door. Angling her head toward Jordan she treated him to a satisfied smile. “Well, in that case I guess I am doing you a favor.”

Jordan gently grabbed her hand and guided her down the steps beside him. “No way, Michaela, I am not letting you get away with that. Let’s get this straight. I am doing you the favor which means you owe me.” When they reached the sidewalk, he raised his free hand to hail a cab.

“Does everything have to be a competition with you?” she asked in exasperation while wondering when they had begun this hand holding thing. It wasn’t that she was old fashioned, there were just some invisible lines that weren’t crossed when you were just friends. Hand holding was definitely crossing one of those lines, she was sure of it. She tried to ignore the way he was rubbing the inside of her palm with his thumb. It felt so intimate that it made her body shiver.

“Michaela everything is a competition,” he told her as a taxi pulled up to the curb, and then he casually helped her into the cab.

Michaela shifted on the seat making room for his large frame. “Even between friends?” she asked.

“Especially between friends,” he assured her.