Sweet Spot by Susan Mallery

pregnant by her soon-to-be ex-husband. Nicole was a cliché. She could be a character in a soap.
    Jesse was unlikely to keep this kind of information to herself which meant soon everyone would know. Talk about humiliating.
    She reached into her purse for a tissue and fumbled with a business card instead. She pulled it out and stared at the printing on the front, then reached for her cell phone and dialed.
    When the phone was answered, she asked for the extension on the card.
    “Hawkins.”
    “It’s Nicole,” she said, doing her best to keep her voice from shaking. This was not a good idea but it was the only one she could come up with.
    “You’re an unexpected surprise.”
    “Is that good or bad?”
    “I like surprises.”
    His voice was teasing. That gave her courage. “Can you talk for a second?”
    “Sure. Is this a regular conversation or should I close my door?”
    “You might want to close it.”
    There was a moment of silence, followed by a chuckle. “Okay. I wouldn’t have figured you were into phone sex. I’ll admit I’ve never done it, but I’m a fast learner.”
    She squeezed the cell phone so tight, her fingers hurt. “I have to ask you a question. Did you mean what you said before? What you’ve been hinting at? Do you want to sleep with me or is it all a game?”
    “Nicole, what’s going on?”
    “Just answer the question.”
    “Of course I’m interested.”
    Thank God. She sucked in a breath. “Then here’s the deal. I’ll be your personal sex kitten. I’ll be available when, where and how you want.”
    “That’s a hell of an offer.”
    “There’s a catch.”
    “I almost don’t care what it is.”
    Now came the scary part. “I want you to pretend to be my adoring boyfriend. I want us to be seen in public. I want you to be all over me. You’ll be faithful, you won’t flirt with anyone else. I get to show you off to all my friends and in a few weeks, I want to publicly dump you.”
    He was going to say no, she told herself. She was asking for too much. Worse, he was going to know she’d asked and that would be a whole new level of humiliation.
    The silence stretched between them. She closed her eyes and held her breath. He was going to say no. Why wouldn’t he?
    “Why?” he asked.
    “I have something to prove.” And her pride to salvage.
    “Is this about your ex-husband?”
    “A little.”
    “Are you still in love with him?”
    “No.”
    “You sure?”
    “More than sure. He cheated and I’m angry, but I’m not hurt. He wants to get back together. I don’t. I’m just tired of how everyone’s acting. The pity is the worst. The knowing looks. I want to prove I’m totally fine.”
    It was as close to the truth as she could get and not start sobbing.
    “I don’t do relationships,” he said. “Not serious ones. I like serial monogamy, but I don’t do permanent.”
    “Me, either.” Wait a second. Did that mean he was saying yes?
    “Brittany would have to be told that we weren’t serious. I don’t want her worrying.”
    “Just don’t tell her the specifics of the deal and I’m good with that.”
    “Not a problem. I don’t discuss my sex life with her and I don’t need her knowing I had to make a deal to get you into bed.”
    Her heart thudded in her chest. “So you agree?”
    “Yes. When do you turn into my…what was it you said? Oh, yeah. When do you turn into my personal sex kitten?”
    Relief tasted sweet. It was immediately followed by sexual anticipation and an ache between her legs.
    “Whenever you want.”
    “I can be at your place in twenty minutes,” he said.
    “I’ll be waiting.”
    “Can you be waiting naked?”
    “If it’s important to you.”
    “It is.”

CHAPTER SIX
    NICOLE RACED HOME and ran into the house. Actually she moved as quickly as she could considering her knee was still stiff, but it was almost like running.
    She looked around downstairs, decided it was clean enough, then moved up the stairs.
    Her bedroom was fairly