Page 45 of Twice as Tempting

Kelly giggled. “It looks like business is good.”

“It is right now because the weather is still warm. Things will slow down once winter comes.”

“I’ve been thinking about some advertising ideas for when you become the owner.”

“Hit me.”

“For one, I think you need to have a grand reopening party. You can invite all of Jim’s previous customers but also make it open to the public so they can stop by and check you out. You should also have some giveaways, like coffee mugs, pens, hats, that sort of thing. People love freebies!”

Damian set his sandwich down and looked at her with awe. “That’s a great idea. I never would have thought of it.”

“That’s because you just want to work on cars, which is understandable, but you need to build customer relations too.”

“See, that’s why I need you.”

Kelly had just taken a hefty bite of her turkey club, and it lodged in her throat, making her cough and sputter. She quickly reached for her Dr. Pepper and took a long slug.

“You ok?” Damian asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Too big a bite.”

“What other ideas do you have?”

“Well, I think we should run ads in all the local papers and put up flyers in the auto supply stores around here. We have to get your name out there so that people start to recognize it.”

“Speaking of names, I’m not sure what to call the place. I want something with pizazz, but I haven’t come up with anything yet.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll come up with something.” Kelly realized that she had been using the word “we” an awful lot, but Damian didn’t appear to mind. On the contrary, he seemed to welcome her advice, and in his words, he “needed” her. It warmed her insides to hear that he needed her in more than just one way, and she was more than happy to lend her services.

After they polished off the rest of their lunch, Damian said, “So, what’s on your agenda for the rest of the day?”

“You know what? I think I’m going to lounge at the pool and read a book.” The apartment complex contained a decent-sized pool that Kelly rarely used because it was usually teeming with kids. But since it was a holiday weekend, the pool would probably be quiet.

“Sounds great. Wish I could join you, but I have some work to finish up.”

“Yeah, I figured,” she replied, unable to mask her disappointment.

“Maybe we could get together later,” Damian suggested.

Just the thought of it made Kelly’s toes tingle. “Sure. Give me a call when you get home.”

“Count on it,” he said and then leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Thanks for lunch.”

Why was it that such simple words and such a simple gesture had her heart thumping like crazy? “See you later,” she said, and she hurried out the door before she was tempted to fist her hands in his shirt and pull him in for a deeper kiss.

Kelly chuckled as she drove away. While some women would have been repelled by the smell of oil and grease on a man, she had been turned on by it! She would take a dirty Damian over a sharp-dressed businessman any day!

When Kelly pulled into the apartment complex, she noted the lack of cars and drove past her building to where the pool area was. She was in luck—completely empty! Twenty minutes later, Kelly was leaning back in a lounge chair in her bright red bikini, her hair in a messy bun atop her head. She had already slathered on sunscreen and donned her oversized sunglasses, so now she could kick back and read.

She had chosen to reread the novel that would be featured at her book club meeting, just to refamiliarize herself with the plot and the characters, although there really wasn’t all that much to the story. A hot millionaire falls for his equally hot secretary (or, in modern times, administrative assistant), and they have several lusty encounters in the office, on his desk, in the supply room, and so on. Kelly cringed a little when she read some of the sex scenes, wondering how Mrs. Simmons’s friends would react, but then she got caught up in the story and her worries faded away.

She must have faded away also, because the next thing she knew, she was awakened by a loud whistle of appreciation. Her eyes snapped open, and there was Damian, staring down at her with the widest grin that she had ever seen.

“Now that’s what I call a bathing suit,” he said.

Kelly sat up and blinked her eyes a few times. Am I dreaming again? “What are you doing here?”

“Couldn’t stand the thought of you out here all alone. Plus, it’s hot out, and I could use a swim.”