She sighed, then grinned. "Okay, deal."

Trent waited until her bedroom door closed and the shower water started running, then he leaned back in the desk chair and gloated. He'd played the Hershey bar game again, and this time, he'd gain his biggest prize yet.

Never admit the effect of a man's kiss on your libido, particularly when he could be listening.

-MARISSA K KINCAID

Chapter 18.

Okay, tell us what he's fixing you for dinner," Amy instructed, while Marissa opened the French door for Petie, then followed him onto the patio. His nails clicked softly on the pebbled concrete as he headed toward his favorite spot on the gra.s.s. Marissa inhaled the warm July night air and thought of how hot it had been out here last night, when Trent fondled her beneath the canopy of trees.

"Yeah, tell us," Candi insisted, pulling Marissa back into the conversation. "I've got to leave for work in fifteen minutes, and I'm dying to hear what's happening over there, starting with tonight's menu, and then ending up with whether the two of you are having dessert."

Marissa laughed, sat in a patio chair, and settled in for a fun conversation with her friends. She'd been pleased when Amy's name displayed on her cell phone's caller ID, and even more pleased when she learned Candi was also on the line via speakerphone. She hadn't talked to them since Monday, and she missed their chats.

"I have no idea what he's cooking," Marissa said, "but if it tastes as good as it smells, I'm in for the best home-cooked meal I've had in quite some time."

"Gotta admit, though," Amy said, "the bar for accomplishing that isn't very high. When was the last time you even ate a home-cooked meal?"

"Yeah," Candi said. "We were talking about that after this morning's broadcast. Have you thought about what you're going to do tomorrow night? I mean, does he know about your, er, experience in the kitchen?"

"Or the lack thereof?" Amy added with a giggle.

Marissa shot a look at the open patio door to make sure Trent was still safely tucked away in the kitchen and busy with dinner, then she smirked toward the phone. "I can do it. I've been on the Internet today and found complete menus that are supposed to be simple enough that a child can do it."

"Uh-huh," Candi said sarcastically.

"You know, maybe you should just tell him you can't boil water," Amy said helpfully.

"Right, she messed that up, too, that one time," Candi said. "Remember? She decided to take a shower and forgot about the pot on the stove. Took at least a week before we could go back into her apartment without smelling it."

"Ew," Amy said. "I do remember, but that wasn't because of the boiling water. She had eggs in there, too. Talk about nasty."

"You two are doing wonders for my self-esteem," Marissa said, but they were right, after all. "However, I'm determined to pay attention to the recipes and get it right, and I'd appreciate it if you'd wish me luck."

"I'll do better than that," Amy said. "I'm going to send over some chicken and sides from Boston Market. Take them out of the containers and act like you fixed it. He'll never know. Do you think he'd like the creamed spinach? And what time do you want me to send it? Maybe you can suggest he take a shower, and then while he's doing that, I'll sneak in with the goods."

"I think she was some sort of conspirator in a prior life," Candi said. "But I admit, the idea does have potential."

Marissa patted her lap and waited for Petie to get his running start and jump. He did, then plopped down for a thorough back rub. While her hands stroked his soft coat, she chastised her friends. "If the two of you really want to support me in this whole contest thing, you'll encourage me to do things right. Do you really think I want Trent to go on the radio and tell everyone that he recognized my creamed spinach from his last trip to Boston Market? I don't think so."

Amy laughed. "Hey, I was trying to help, in my own way. And if you do get a package from me tomorrow, make sure he's not around to smell the evidence."

"Don't," Marissa warned.

"She's messing with you," Candi said. "Aren't you, Amy?"

"She'll find out tomorrow," Amy teased. "Anyway, give us the scoop on how things are going. Oh-wait a minute-I nearly forgot. Did Mona get in touch with you this morning?"

"No," Marissa said. "She left six messages, though, while we were out for that horrid morning run. I didn't get them until after our broadcast, then I called her back on her cell phone and only got her voice mail. I left a message for her to call me, but she hasn't. Did she call you again?"

"Yeah," Amy said. "She said she was really wanting to talk to you this morning, but couldn't get through. I don't know why she didn't answer her cell. Maybe she's busy. In any case, I told her you were doing fine. Oh, she said her trip was going fabulous, by the way."

"Go on and tell Marissa how fabulous you think it's going," Candi said, then barely paused before adding, "Amy thinks your mother has found a man in that seniors group."

"What?" Her mother, with a man? While Marissa would love to think it was possible, Mona Kincaid's history, and her admission that she 'just couldn't get over her husband,' made her hooking up with a stranger about as probable as snow in Atlanta . . . in July. How many times had Marissa tried to talk her mother into at least considering the idea of dating again? And how many times had Mona said she couldn't do it?

"I'm telling you, I heard a guy in the background," Amy said. "And then she giggled, you know, like he was tickling her-or something."

"Right," Marissa said. "You sure you were talking to my mother? The woman whose entire day revolves around calling me?"

"But you haven't talked to her much lately," Amy reminded her. "I mean, sure, she's in Branson, but has her traveling ever stopped her from needing her 6:00 A.M A.M. phone fix before?"

Marissa swallowed. She'd thought the same thing all week. Her mother was acting odd, and she hadn't hadn't called every morning. In fact, she had gone several days without calling Marissa at all. Of course, that was what Marissa had always wanted, for Mona to find happiness beyond her daughter, and she really wanted her to find love again, someday. Had it happened? This week? And if it had, what would Marissa do if this guy hurt her mom, the way Marissa's father had? Could Mona go through that again? called every morning. In fact, she had gone several days without calling Marissa at all. Of course, that was what Marissa had always wanted, for Mona to find happiness beyond her daughter, and she really wanted her to find love again, someday. Had it happened? This week? And if it had, what would Marissa do if this guy hurt her mom, the way Marissa's father had? Could Mona go through that again?

Could Marissa?

"I think it's sweet," Candi said. "And it's high time Mona found some happiness with a man. Personally, I think it's high time all of us found happiness with a man, and I'm doing my part to make that happen."

"Speak for yourself," Amy said. "I've got my man, but I agree on the rest of it. By the way, Candi has been with your buddy's financial advisor the past three nights. And last night, when she worked late, he picked her up and drove her home, at three in the morning. Now if that isn't a man who's smitten, I don't know what is."

"Keith Parker?" Marissa questioned.

Candi laughed loudly. "I know, it's wild, isn't it? I just met him Friday, or officially met him, since we'd seen each other before at his ballgames, but-what a guy. And he's the first one I've been out with since Cal who really understands where I'm coming from on the whole cheating thing. His ex-wife cheated on him-with her boss. And that's absolutely ludicrous, because what woman in her right mind would cheat on him? Not only is he to-die-for, but he's got a heart of gold, too."

"She's whooped," Amy said. "And shoot, I like him, too. He really does seem like a good guy."

"Yeah, he's a good guy," Candi echoed, then her voice dropped to a whisper, as Marissa pictured her leaning close to the speakerphone. "And he likes Landon's ma.s.sage oils." he likes Landon's ma.s.sage oils."

"Just wait till you try some of the toys made for two," Amy said, while Marissa gasped. She'd only been gone three days, and already Candi had not only become "whooped" over Trent's financial advisor, but more than that, she was trying out Amy and Landon's products with him.

"Candi, are you sure, you know, that he's-" Marissa started, but didn't know quite how to finish.

"Not going to hurt me?" Candi completed. "No, I'm not sure, but trust me, he's worth the chance. I'm crazy about him. Wait until you meet him. Well, meet him again, since you met him briefly already. You'll see him when we all go to Landon's games. They're on the same team, and I thought we could start going to them regularly, all of us, particularly since Trent said on the radio that he wanted to be added to the roster. Keith was thrilled. He's evidently been trying to get him to play for a while."

Marissa blinked. Was this really Candi, her typically cynical friend, not only falling for a guy herself, but insinuating that Marissa and Trent would get together, too? As in give-up-the-ad-campaign-and-forget-he-could-break-her-heart? "In case you've forgotten, I won't even be seeing him anymore after Friday. I can't, at least for twelve months, or I forfeit the campaign. And you both told me to make sure I didn't let anything happen to get in the way of winning that prize and boosting our business, remember?"

"That was before," Candi said.

"Before what?"

"Before we decided that you should forget the prize and go for the guy. I mean, he's loaded. If you two end up together, you could get all the advertising you want, or even better, you both may decide to combine your e-zines, or put the two of them out with the same publisher, or, well, I don't know how it'd work, but I think you should try it. Amy and I can tell listening to the two of you over the radio that you're made for each other."

"We've fought every morning," Marissa said.

"No, you've flirted every morning," Amy corrected. "And even your mother can tell. That's why all of Atlanta is talking about it."

"All of Atlanta is talking about what?" Marissa asked, not sure she really wanted to know.

"Aren't you getting the paper at the apartment?" Candi asked.

"No."

"Doesn't matter," Amy said. "The Atlanta Journal Atlanta Journal is online. Pull it up on your computer. You and Trent have been on the front page of the Living Section every day this week. I'm betting you're probably on the site's home page. Everybody's debating whether you can pull off hating him long enough to snag the prize, or whether you'll end up with a ring on your finger when all is said and done. You know, based on his hopes and dreams that you gave on air, he wants a wife." is online. Pull it up on your computer. You and Trent have been on the front page of the Living Section every day this week. I'm betting you're probably on the site's home page. Everybody's debating whether you can pull off hating him long enough to snag the prize, or whether you'll end up with a ring on your finger when all is said and done. You know, based on his hopes and dreams that you gave on air, he wants a wife."

"I've got news for you," Marissa said. "He probably wants someone who wants to be be his wife." his wife."

"Come on," Amy urged. "Admit it. You're attracted to him."

"You know I am. That's why you packed Pinky for me, to keep me from being too tempted. When did you change your mind?"

"When I decided that your happiness is more important than advertising for the e-zine. And besides, everybody's already talking about our sites, and our subscriptions continue to skyrocket every day the two of you are on the radio or in the paper. We're going to be fine."

"She's right, you know," Candi said. "I'm betting all three of us will be able to work at home on the e-zine, and a whole lot sooner than we planned, all because of the publicity you're getting with the contest. We really don't need the big prize."

Marissa leaned her head back so her neck rested on the top edge of the chair and could literally feel the tension building in her muscles. A good soak in the hot tub was probably in order, but right now she had to convince her friends that she didn't need to go for Trent. "Listen. I'll tell you the truth. The two of us have admitted an attraction, and we even crossed the boundary-a little-last night."

"I knew it!" Amy said.

"But," Marissa said, determined to make her point, "we've talked about it, and I've told Trent, in no uncertain terms, that while I like him as a friend, I am not ready for a new relationship that could end up with me getting cheated on again." Marissa knew her own pattern. She'd watched it happen to her mother and had dealt with the fallout ever since.

"There's nothing wrong with the two of you being friends, of course, but as long as you're both under one roof, and admittedly attracted to each other, I think you should investigate the possibility that he may be worth the risk," Candi said.

"I agree," Amy said. "But I'll put it more bluntly. Get to know him as a friend. See if you think he could indeed stay true to one woman, if he loved her with all of his heart. I've always said that I'm not at all certain a cheater can't change his stripes. And while he admitted to cheating on that Lily person, he also said it was in college and that he hadn't settled down. So, he could have changed, you know, grown up and learned that's not the way to treat women. I mean, I don't have a problem exposing cheaters for what they are on the site. If they've cheated, then the world needs to know. But if they see the light, and want to treat a woman the way she should be treated, then I think they should get another chance."

"You told me to use Pinky instead of Trent," Marissa said. "Merely two days ago!"

"That was before I realized that you two have something going. Now I want you to get rid of Pinky for the rest of the week and get into Trent's pants," Amy said matter-of-factly.

Marissa's eyes widened. "Get into his pants?"

"Sleep. With. Him," Amy said, each word slower and stronger than the one before.

"Yeah, I think you should, too," Candi said. "You have chemistry. Everyone can hear it, even over the radio. I can only imagine what you're like in person. Go for it."

"We do have chemistry," Marissa said, shocked at where this conversation had headed. They'd been all for her maintaining her distance from Trent, and now they were trying to convince her to go to bed with him? "But that chemistry is volatile, trust me. Sometimes all I want to do is jump his bones, and other times, I want to throttle him. And I know that the best thing I can do is keep things at the friendship level."

"Wow, sounds like you've got it bad," Amy said.

"I've got to tell you," Candi said, "and no offense to Amy's prize product, but Marissa, Pinky doesn't hold a candle to the real thing. For a while there, I'd have argued for the battery version, too, but after being with Keith, I realize I'd forgotten how d.a.m.n hot it can be."

"Tell me about it," Marissa said, entranced by the bubbling water in the hot tub . . . and the memory of Trent's body on hers. "I nearly came when he kissed me. I can only imagine what I'd do if we did more."

"Well, if you'd like to do more than imagine it, darling, I'm happy to help," Trent said.

"Oh!" Amy squealed into the phone, while Marissa's chest burned, then her neck, then her cheeks, and she turned to view Trent, standing in the doorway with a satisfied grin on his face and a chef's hat on his head.

"Dinner is served."

Any man worth his salt knows how to cook a good meal . . . and give a great ma.s.sage.

-TRENT J JACKSON

Chapter 19.

Trent's chest swelled as Marissa took another bite of etouffee and hummed her contentment with his cooking. She made the same sweet sound with every bite, and Trent had to wonder if he wouldn't hear something similar when they made love. And now that he knew he could nearly get her there with a kiss . . .

She took another bite, then caught him staring. "There's no need to look so smug."

"I thought you said you didn't want to talk about it." After he'd overheard her admission on the patio, she'd issued a pointed warning that if he muttered one word, she'd make him rethink his decision about providing her with silverware.

She pushed her plate forward, then took another longing look at the food and pulled it back in place. "You should be ashamed of yourself, both for eavesdropping on my private conversation and for cooking something that I can't stop eating. I was full five minutes ago."

"I wasn't eavesdropping. I came out to tell you that dinner was ready and happened to hear you mention something rather interesting interesting." Before she had a chance to respond, he continued, "And I'm glad you like the meal. You can't beat my mama's recipe for crawfish etouffee. And just wait until you try her bread pudding, our dessert. I'm a.s.suming we'll probably have to wait until later for that, since you're full."

Her mouth stopped chewing, then she swallowed. "Crawfish?"

"Yeah. What'd you think?"

She eyed the remainder on her plate, then slowly took another bite of etouffee. "Can you teach me how to make it?"

He grinned, not surprised that Rissi Kincaid didn't balk at crawfish as a Cajun cooking staple. She wasn't the type to back away from things that were different, or a challenge, like the run this morning, or his cooking with "mud bugs" tonight. Not that he'd tell her the Louisiana nickname for his favorite crustacean. "Sure, I'll teach you. In fact, I'll teach you lots of things, if you want, like what 'more than a kiss' would do for you."

She took a bite of French bread. "You know, it's very tacky to listen to other people's conversations. I'd think you would know better."

"If I had known you were talking s.e.x, I'd have come out sooner," he said. "As would any other normal male. Listening to a woman talk about s.e.x, particularly about the fact that I can merely kiss her and nearly give her an o.r.g.a.s.m, is quite the ego booster."

"As if your ego needs boosting." Pink tinged her cheeks as she continued to eat. This time, she didn't look up, but kept her eyes focused on her food.