Taken by the CEO (The Scandalous Wentworths) Read online

  “My phone?”

  Cringing, she pointed to the silver Lexus sitting in a parking spot where a tiny, yapping Chihuahua had taken her vehicle, her car keys, wallet, and phone hostage. The evil little beast looked smug as hell as he stood, paws braced against the driver’s side window. “That dog locked itself inside my car, and all my things are in there, including my phone.”

  “That dog?” The man chuckled. “It’s not yours?”

  “No. He belongs to the woman who lives next door to me, and she asked me to bring him on my run.” If only Emmaline had known that the tiny thing was basically the spawn of Satan. “But he didn’t want to run, and then my feet got tangled on the leash and I fell. When I came back to the car to get a Band-Aid, I put my stuff down and closed the door to keep him from running away while I patched myself up.”

  Except, like an idiot, she’d left the key on the front seat, and the dog had promptly jumped on it, activating the central locking and alarm.

  “I would have smashed a window, but I was worried the alarm might give him a heart attack,” she added. “I’m not sure why, but his owner is quite fond of him.”

  Thank God they were having some unseasonably mild weather, so at least the damn beast wasn’t roasting in the car.

  The man leaned closer to peer into the window and was greeted with a vicious snarl from the dog. It started yapping again, its paws scrapping at the window while it prepared for battle. “Whoa. Not exactly a friendly little guy, is he?”

  “He tried to attack an old lady. I was attempting to pick him up when he tripped me.” Emmaline pressed her fingers to her temple. “So, if you have a phone I would really appreciate being able to borrow it. I won’t be long.”

  The man dug into his shorts, causing Emmaline’s eyes to drop down his body. Blushing, she snapped her gaze back up to his face, which wasn’t any better since it was a gorgeous face and made her heart skip a beat. Tanned skin, thick dark hair, and sharp hazel eyes that looked as though they wouldn’t ever miss a beat. Though gorgeous was far too weak a word to describe him. Beguiling, perhaps? No, arresting would be more apt. Yes, he was utterly arresting in the way he dominated her attention.

  “Here you go.” He swiped at the screen of his phone and handed it over.

  Within minutes, she’d called her roadside assistance company and was told they would be on their way. “Thank you so much,” she said, handing the phone back. “You’re a lifesaver.”

  “No problem. Looks like you had quite a tumble.”

  Emmaline dusted off her brand-new leggings. She ran her hands down her behind and felt a small tear. Dammit, she’d been so desperate to look the part that she’d spent an insane amount on fancy Lycra, and now it was ruined. “Yeah. Hard to stay upright with the hound of hell on your heels.”

  “Looks like you scraped your hand, too.” A jolt of electricity shot up her arm as his fingers wrapped gently around her wrist.

  Hang on to your hormones, girl. This isn’t high school.

  “Nothing a little antiseptic won’t fix.” She tried to smile as she allowed him to look at the damage, but her heart fluttered against her ribs like a bird flapping its wings against glass.

  What the hell was happening here? She wasn’t the kind of woman who met hot strangers in the street, let alone ones who got her lady parts singing like they were part of the church choir.

  “You’ve got some dirt in there.” His brows crinkled. “There’s a water fountain just up here. Might be best to rinse it out while we wait.”

  “We?” She raised a brow. “You don’t need to stay.”

  “You just wanted me for my phone, did you?” He grinned.

  The world tilted beneath her feet. He had perfect teeth—her personal weakness—that contrasted against a light, golden tan. The smile was bright enough to power a city, and she was frozen by how attracted she was to this perfect stranger. Good to know her ex hadn’t totally killed her libido. Maybe it had just been in hibernation…like a bear.

  “No, of course not…well, yes. Kind of—I mean, I did want to use your phone.” She fidgeted with her watch, desperate to rid herself of the tingling sensation that had inhabited her fingertips. “You can stay if you like.”

  “I’m Parker,” he said, reaching out to shake her hand. “Happy to be of service.”

  “Sarah.” The lie slipped out without Emmaline even thinking about it.

  It must have been a leftover thought from her conversation with Gracie earlier that morning, a little inkling that refused to go away. She didn’t want to be Emmaline, she wanted to be someone who wasn’t naive and trusting and stupidly sensible. She didn’t want to be the girl who let a pint-sized dog boss her around. Sarah would be able to brush the embarrassment off and still be charming and funny. That’s the kind of woman Emmaline wanted to be.

  She sucked in a breath at how small her hand felt in his. “Nice to meet you.”

  “The pleasure’s all mine.” Something about the way he said it made a shiver run down her spine. His eyes seemed to swallow her whole, and for a moment she forgot where she was and how they’d come to meet. “Now, let’s get you some water.”

  What if he’s a stalker? What if his hobby is hacking people up into little itty-bitty pieces? What if—

  “I’m okay.” She nodded. “Really.”

  He frowned. “You don’t want to get an infection. And it’s not like the dog is going anywhere.”

  They both turned to look at the Chihuahua, who immediately barked again. Emmaline let out a breath. Never again would she let herself get bullied into walking someone else’s dog.

  “Come on, fountain’s this way.” He motioned for her to follow him, and this time she didn’t resist. “What’s the dog’s name?”

  Emmaline cringed. “Jimmy Chews.”

  “You’re shitting me.” Parker looked at her incredulously.

  “Wish I was,” she said with a laugh. “And yeah, he’s just as spoiled as you think.”

  Twenty minutes later, Emmaline had access to her car and was holding Jimmy Chews in one arm as she tried to repack her bag. “Thank you so much, Parker. I don’t know what I would have done.”

  “It’s nothing.” His thousand-watt smile blinded her.

  “I don’t know if there’s anything I can do to repay you,” she said, holding her keys firmly in one hand as she put the dog back into the car, this time securing his lead to the designer doggy seat that Mrs. Cotts insisted she use for the trip. “But you have my eternal gratitude.”

  “There is something,” he said, leaning against the car.

  “Oh?” Her breath stuttered in and out as she fiddled with the hem of her new top, wondering why in the hell her heart was beating so fast.

  “Have dinner with me tomorrow night.”

  She blinked. Well, that was unexpected. “I shouldn’t.”

  “You did say you owed me one.” He grinned. “I’m sure Jimmy Chews would approve.”

  “I doubt that. He hates men.” She smirked.

  “And you?”

  “I’m quite partial to them.” She sucked her bottom lip in between her teeth. “Particularly ones that save the day.”

  Was she flirting? She never flirted. It was definitely not in the Greene rules of appropriate ways to behave…especially when a stranger was involved.

  The Greene rules haven’t exactly been successful for you in the past.

  “Have dinner with me,” he said.

  “You’re persistent, Parker Who Saves the Day.”

  “And you’re coy, Sarah Who Should Probably Never Own a Dog.”

  She burst out laughing. Okay, so he was pretty darn charming…and funny…and gorgeous. “I think you’re right.”

  What would Sarah do? She probably wouldn’t worry about what she should do and would instead do what she wanted. She was about to refuse the invite again when an image of her ex-husband and his new girl-toy flashed in front of her eyes. He certainly hadn’t wasted any time in moving on, so why should she?


  “A dinner to say thank you.” She nodded, her veins fizzing with excitement.

  While he typed her number into his phone, she allowed her eyes to skim along the length of his lean, muscular legs.

  This Sarah girl has good taste.

  “Tomorrow night. I’ll pick you up.”

  “Why don’t we meet at the restaurant?” No sense in being totally irresponsible—he could be anyone. “Do you know that bar, First, in South Melbourne? It’s not too far from here.”

  “I’m sure I’ll find it.” Parker grinned. “How does eight o’clock sound?”

  “Perfect.” Emmaline’s stomach fluttered.

  She stood awkwardly for a moment before she took her cue to leave. With a small wave, she got into her car, ignoring the ache in her butt from where she’d fallen. Perhaps this was what Gracie meant when she said to get out and meet people, though she wasn’t sure her sister had this exact scenario in mind.

  Oh well, whatever works.

  Sarah was in charge now, and maybe that’s how she liked to meet people. Emmaline stifled a grin. She could get used to being someone else. It was kind of freeing to play the role of someone more outgoing and confident. Too bad she couldn’t fake pet wrangling skills.

  Chapter Three

  Emmaline interlaced her fingers in her lap. It had been an embarrassingly long time since she’d been on a date. Hence the reason she’d chosen her brother-in-law’s bar and restaurant as the place to meet Parker. She knew if it ended up being a disaster, she could call for reinforcements.

  Tugging on the hem of her dress, she wondered—for what felt like the hundredth time—if it was too short, too dressy, and too over-the-top. The white cotton lace was soft under her fingers but she was struck with a sudden worry. What if he thought she was wearing a white dress to hint at…marriage? She shuddered. That was the last thing she wanted. This was just a date with an option on a fling.

  Long-term was not her thing anymore.

  She could do this. It was just a simple date, nothing she couldn’t handle.

  “Sarah?” Parker appeared at the edge of her table, flashing his perfect white teeth at her.

  Emmaline stared blankly at him before her brain kicked in. She’d forgotten her alias for a moment. Cursing herself internally, she scrambled to stand up and greet her date. But her feet struggled with the super-high turquoise heels Gracie had insisted she wear. She steadied herself on the table as Parker leaned in to give her a kiss on her flaming cheek.

  If you were any more awkward, you’d be a baby horse on rollerblades.

  “Hi,” she said in an effort to quiet down her nerves as his scent invaded her nostrils. Expensive aftershave but just a dab, something earthy and masculine with a bare whiff of mint. Perfection.

  “You look amazing.” His eyes roamed over her, and her skin heated more and more with each lazy brush of his gaze.

  “So do you.”

  He slid into the seat across from her, his tall frame moving gracefully for someone of his height. His broad shoulders filled the booth, making the space seem smaller. More intimate. Crowding her in a way that felt entirely too delicious. He wore a lightweight shirt in checked white and blue that sat snugly over his chest, the sleeves rolled up to reveal strong, tanned forearms. She wondered what they would feel like pinning her down as he lavished his mouth on her body.

  You jumped straight from hello to sex? Calm down, this is a restaurant. Not a sex club.

  At that moment, a waitress appeared to take their drinks, and Emmaline was glad for the distraction. She needed something external to force her eyes away from Parker, because she couldn’t conjure up that level of willpower on her own.

  “A glass of champagne, please.” Her fingertip drifted down the drinks menu, avoiding the most expensive option and picking one in the middle.

  She’d already decided that Sarah wouldn’t be some “born with a silver spoon in her mouth” society girl like Emmaline. No siree, she was going to be an ordinary girl, with an ordinary life and ordinary problems. She’d purposefully left all her expensive accessories at home, swapping her Tiffany necklace for a chunky strand of turquoise beads that she’d bought in Noosa, and had ditched her designer handbag for a cute brand-free version.

  “I’ll have a gin and tonic, thanks.” Parker turned to Emmaline. “So, what do you do besides rope strangers into helping you, Sarah?”

  “I’m…” She took a moment to recall her script. “A primary school teacher.”

  It wasn’t something that could be confused with her real career in human resources. And her rule for the night was that she had to play out a whole new persona. Nothing real about her life would enter this date. It was a risk-free way for her to test out the waters of the dating world. A dress rehearsal before she put herself out there for real.

  That way, if she managed to screw things up she could blame her persona and still have the courage to try again. And, since she wasn’t looking for anything serious right now, there was no chance of having to “explain herself” at a later date. It was the perfect plan.

  “And I have only recently taken up running,” she continued, her cheeks growing warm. “But I’ll be sure to go without the devil dog next time.”

  “Sounds like a safe bet.” His hazel eyes twinkled mischievously. “I’m sure you would have been running fine without Jimmy Chews messing up your stride.”

  “You’re being kind.”

  “And why would I want to do that?”

  Emmaline paused while the waitress returned and set down their drinks. She reached for her flute and took a delicate sip, enjoying the fizzing liquid as it slid down her throat. “Because you want to get into my pants.”

  Parker laughed, the deep, rumbling sound sending a shiver down her spine. Everything about him radiated powerful masculinity, even his damn laugh. He took a swig of his drink and shook his head. “You’re wearing a dress.”

  “You want to get into my dress, then.” This was not like her at all. But Sarah was a flirt…a much better one than Emmaline had ever been.

  “Well, if we’re being frank, I guess you could say that.”

  “And if we’re being frank, can you tell me there’s not a wedding ring hiding in your pocket?”

  The question slipped out before she even had time to think about it. But she was emboldened by the idea of being someone—anyone—but herself. There was no way in hell she would ever have asked that question as Emmaline. Not in a million years. Conflict, as her mother had always said, was best hidden away. Like dirty laundry.

  Parker frowned, and the hardness in his face was enough to make her regret asking the question. He rubbed his hand along the angled length of his jaw. “I’m the son of a cheating bastard, so I’ve made it my mission never to inflict that kind of pain on anyone else.”

  Her chest squeezed. The memory of walking in on her dentist husband diddling his business partner in the dental exam chair was branded into her brain. She was tempted to say something to Parker about her divorce, to explain why she’d asked the question. But that was Emmaline’s way of doing things.

  “So yes, I’m single,” Parker added.

  “One can’t be too careful with these things.” She sipped her drink.

  “I agree. Better to be direct.” He shrugged, and a crooked grin pulled at his lips. The guy had a smile that could set fire to the frilly French knickers she’d worn in case the date went extra well. At this rate, the damn things would disintegrate right off her body before they got to dessert.

  “I had one of those mothers who believed that if you don’t have anything nice to say, you shouldn’t say anything at all.” Emmaline traced the rim of her champagne flute with her fingertip. “She’d clip me over the ear if she could hear me now.”

  “Niceness is overrated.” Parker leaned in conspiratorially. “And don’t they say that nice girls finish last?”

  “Nice girls don’t always get to finish. I think that’s part of the problem.” It was certainly h
er problem. Thirty-one and still yet to experience a big O with a partner. She’d managed the deed on her own, but the second anyone else was involved…poof!

  Her orgasms were like Moby Dick. Oh, the irony.

  “That is a problem.” Parker’s eyes glinted, adding a hungry edge to his otherwise playful demeanor.

  Emmaline tried to disguise the shiver that ran through her body by taking a sip of her drink. Only it was empty. No wonder she was feeling a little fuzzy around the edges. Not to mention the fact that she had lost all grasp on appropriate dinner conversation. Conrad had trained her to be a “look pretty, keep quiet” kind of woman…but those days were over. She was Sarah now, at least for tonight.

  Running into Parker was the intervention of fate. Anticipation zinged through her. She’d missed out on a lot, but tonight, she was going all in.

  …

  Parker watched as Sarah called the waiter over so they could order their food and another round of drinks. As she talked, her eyes repeatedly flicked in his direction as though she expected him to vanish into thin air.

  Like he wanted to be anywhere else right now. Not a chance in hell.

  Her long hair gleamed like liquid gold under the intimate lighting, and her eyes…wow. He could imagine what those baby blues would be like—all wild and fluttery and aroused—staring up at him while he made sure that she finished over and over. The thought of it made his body pulse with electric energy.

  “I haven’t asked you what you do for a living,” she said, reaching for her now-full champagne glass.

  Parker paused. She had no idea who he was, had no idea he was about to take over the company where she likely bought her clothes and bags and shoes. No idea that his father was one of the top twenty wealthiest men in all of Australia and, given a few years, Parker would overtake that if everything went according to plan.

  When everything went according to plan.

  “I work for a family business,” he said, choosing his words carefully. It would probably be fine to reveal his identity, but after all the calls he’d received since arriving back in Melbourne…well, it was refreshing for someone to be interested in him without knowing his net worth. Seems he was considered somewhat of a magnet for social climbers these days.