Irresistible?. Stephanie Bond

      Contents

      Cover “What is it about you?” Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Acknowledgments Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Copyright

       “What is it about you?”

      Uneasiness crept over Ellie as she fished for her shoes under the car seat “What do you mean?”

      

      Mark looked over at her with an exasperated expression. “I mean you drive me to do crazy things like making out in the front seat of my car at a business dinner!” He turned back to stare ahead. “After all these years of keeping my nose dean, my boss suddenly thinks I’m Mr. Happy Pants.”

      

      Ellie sat up angrily and snapped open her purse to retrieve her comb. The pheromone pills fell into her lap, and she froze. Beside her, Mark still muttered to himself. She coughed nervously. “Are we still going in?” She looked at him hesitantly. “I’m game if you are.”

      

      “Yeah,” he said, straightening his tie. “It’ll look worse if we don’t.” He gave her a sheepish grin. “Thanks for being a sport.”

      

      At the door, Mark rang the bell, then smiled at her as they waited. “I’ll have to admit, the garter belt was a nice surprise.” He rocked back on his heels, the picture of confidence again.

      

      Ellie couldn’t resist knocking him off balance. “Then I can’t imagine what you would have thought of my tattoo.”

       Dear Reader,

      

      Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope you are enjoying a happy and romantic month.

      

      Harlequin is romance, so February 14 is an extraspecial day for us. Some people say it with flowers, others with chocolates, others with expensive jewelry, but those three little words, I love you, are perhaps the best words in our vocabulary. And at Harlequin, we get to be part of this experience all year long!

      

      As a treat for this special day, what better way to recall the joy of falling in love, than with our Love & laughter selection this month. RITA Award-winning author Marie Ferrarella spins a delightfully comic tale of identical cousins (they walk alike, they talk alike...) and the man who doesn’t know which woman he’s In love with! Talented newcomer Stephanie Bond hits a hilarious note in Irresistible? Single and dateless Ellie Sutherland, who considers Valentine’s Day Black Friday (I know those of you who are single on Valentine’s Day can relate!), takes scientific action to land a man.

      

      Wishing you much love—and laughter,

      Malle Vallik

      Associate Senior Editor

      Irresistible?

      Stephanie Bond

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      STEPHANIE BOND’S friends, family and fellow computer programmers are usually surprised when they discover she writes comedy. After all, computer nerd and comedienne aren’t typical hand in glove occupations. “Actually, I’m sometimes amused by the whole idea myself,” she says, laughing. “I’m not an especially funny person—I’m just one of those people that funny things happen to.”

      When Stephanie isn’t in front of her computer working or writing, (she admits there’s so much food in her keyboard that it crunches when she types), she’s usually boating with her husband, Chris, or at home near Atlanta, contemplating the grime on her windows.

      Stephanie would love to hear from her readers. Write to her at 6225 Song Breeze Trace, Duluth, GA 30155

      Many thanks to Natalie Patrick and Beth Harbison for giving me a leg up;

      To Rita Herron, Hillary Bergeron and Mary Barfield for the weekly cheerleading;

      And to Chris Hauck, for providing a constant source of comedic inspiration—our marriage.

       1

      ELLIE SUTHERLAND opened her mouth to speak, but the sound that emerged was more like a croak. “I’m fired?”

      Her supervisor, Joan Wright, coughed lightly, then leaned forward to rest her elbows on the desk. “Not fired. With the new budget cuts, I’m afraid we have no choice but to let you go. In one week,” she added sorrowfully. “Please don’t take it personally.”

      “I don’t believe this,” Ellie mumbled, shaking her head. How am I going to make the rent?

      “Ellie, yours is not exactly a dream job.”

      “Oh, great,” Ellie said. “I’m fired from a job that sucks, and that’s supposed to make me feel better.” Credit cards. Food.

      “You know what I mean, Ellie. You’re overqualified to be a gofer in a dumpy little federally funded arts center. You’re too talented.”

      “Yeah, that’s why gallery owners are beating down my apartment door.” Utilities. Painting supplies.

      “You’ll get your break. Just hang in there. You know as well as I do it takes talent, luck and perseverance to make it in the art industry. And since you have incredible talent, you only need one of the other two qualities.”

      Tears pricked the back of Ellie’s eyelids. “I had a feeling when I woke up this morning I should just stay in bed.” She sighed. “I’d hoped to make some contacts at this job.”

      Joan brightened. “You did—me.