Living with Temptation by Melinda Hale Page A

he
doubted that.
    “She needed a lot of persuading,” Dean admitted. “But once
she knew who I was, she was happy to arrange it for you.”
    He wouldn’t be able to forget that conversation easily. Chelsea’s
manager insisted on a bare chested photo of himself. She’d heard about him on
one of the many tabloid reports, and gushed about his body over the phone. Now
I know what women love most about me.
    It was a small price to pay to have Chelsea as his
houseguest for a few more weeks. After all, he hadn’t gotten the media’s
attention with her yet, and he needed time.
    Chelsea glared at him, obviously torn between her feelings.
He enjoyed the fire in her eyes, and the hesitant curve of her lips. She didn’t
want to give in easily, and he wanted to encourage her. This was the Chelsea
Levin hiding behind the pain from her broken marriage.
    “I can withdraw it. You can move out tomorrow if that’s what
you prefer.”
    Now he had her. As angry as she was at him, Dean knew she
didn’t want to move out.
    Chelsea exhaled loudly, then her face softened. “Fine.
Another two weeks it is. But I’ll move out whenever I want.”
    He nodded. “Of course. I feel guilty for not taking you to a
restaurant, or a walk along the beach. I haven’t been much of a host.”
    Chelsea’s face blushed fiercely. “We aren’t dating. I don’t want
to do that.”
    Dean parted his clasped hands and shrugged. “Then what do you want, Chelsea Levin? You come down here, looking sexy…”
    Her cheeks darkened. “Don’t get tempted.”
    “How could a guy not be?” he mused. “I know you want to talk
about that kiss, because I do too.”
    Chelsea’s eyes widened and she shook her head. “I don’t. We’re
keeping this professional.”
    “Then as a professional question, why’d you let me kiss you?”
    She bit her lip and lowered her head. Immediately he
recognized that vulnerability she had when she first arrived. It took every
effort not to take her into his arms. The brief embrace on the boardwalk had
only fueled his desire for her, and his touch lingered for longer than he
wanted.
    “You really think you can keep this professional for two
weeks?” he prompted.
    When Dean’s parents died, he’d been vulnerable. But the
endless sympathy from others only deepened his grief. For Chelsea, he would
keep her on edge, unaware of what he would say next. In some way, he wanted to
help her move on from her marriage. The pain from a breakup seemed as deep as
grief and he didn’t want it to take hold of her.
    Chelsea had her life ahead of her out of the public eye,
with no attachments. The least he could do was give her that push she needed to
step forward, and let go of the past.
    When she met his gaze, he noticed defiance in her eyes. “Of
course. That’s what we agreed on.”
    Her shoulders were rigid. Dean knew she was defensive, but
didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable. “You know it’s teasing me seeing you in
that dress.”
    “You bought it for me.”
    Dean bought it to make her feel like a million dollars. He
didn’t expect her to wear it tonight, and to look so breathtaking in it. But as
her blue eyes met his, he noticed a glimmer of sadness.
    “You can keep it,” he said softly. “It’s yours.”
    She looked unsure. “I’ve never had something like this
before. Thank you.”
    “And I don’t expect anything in return.”
    A small smile curved her lips. “I’ll surprise you. I could
give it to my mother,” Chelsea joked, her brief laugh echoing around them. It
sounded both delicate and sharp. “She always has to get expensive stuff. Like
the latest IPad. I forgot what version it is now.”
    That was how it was with Jake, with nothing to talk of but
the memories. He wouldn’t admit to Chelsea, or himself, how much he missed his
brother.
    “Two, I think. The next one will be in a few years. Always
is.”
    Chelsea forced a smile. “They know how to play the marketing
game.”
    Her hands smoothed down the