Operation Babe-Magnet: Operation Babe-Magnet / Operation Beauty. Kristin Gabriel

her a curt nod. “A sound policy.”

      “Now, if you’re really interested in the job…”

      “I am.”

      She opened the file folder on her desk. “I had a job request earlier today that has presented some problems. Since the majority of escort requests are for evening duty, dances and such, most of my employees work elsewhere during the day.”

      “I’m available twenty-four hours a day,” Dexter assured her.

      Betty glanced down at the open folder. “Actually, that’s exactly what Miss Timberlake requires. A man at her disposal twenty-four hours a day for approximately four weeks.”

      “That sounds perfect.”

      She arched a brow. “Aren’t you even interested in hearing about the job?”

      He shook his head. “I’m completely flexible.”

      She looked bemused. “Well, that’s good, because she refused to give me many details. Although she did make it clear that confidentiality was of the utmost importance.”

      “My lips are sealed.”

      She smiled. “See that you keep it that way. I’ve not yet met Ms. Timberlake but she sounded quite young on the phone. As I said before, any physical relationship with a client results in instant termination.”

      “Understood.” He took a deep breath. “Does this mean I have the job?”

      She stood up and held out her hand. “Congratulations, Mr. Kane. You are now officially a Stud.”

      2

      KYLIE TIMBERLAKE sprinted through the door of Studs-R-Us, her heart pounding in anticipation. She’d almost given up finding a way out of this untenable situation. Now it looked as if her biggest problem was about to be solved.

      She stopped short when she saw the man standing in the front office. His short, dark hair was slicked back and he wore a pair of wire-rimmed glasses. He was tall and looked as if his gray pinstripe suit concealed finely honed muscles. Her first impression was that she’d run smack dab into a superhero in disguise. But she didn’t need a man who could leap tall buildings in a single bound. She needed a man who had a way with woman. And one who didn’t mind a little deception.

      “Excuse me,” she said, still a little breathless from her sprint. “I’m looking for Mrs. Brubaker.”

      “She just took the receptionist out to dinner.” The man pushed his glasses up on his nose. “I’m filling in until they get back.”

      “Oh.” Disappointment spiraled through her. Had she gotten the time wrong? “Do you have any idea when that will be?”

      “No, but perhaps I can help you.”

      “I’m here for an interview.” Kylie bit her lower lip, telling herself not to panic. She still had a little time to sort it all out.

      “Are you Miss Timberlake?”

      “Yes,” she said, giving him a quick smile. Her preoccupation was no reason to be rude. “I’m supposed to be meeting one of the studs here. But I must have mixed up the time.”

      He glanced at his watch.

      “Actually, you’re three minutes late.”

      “You mean he already left?”

      “No.” The man shifted on his feet. “I’m…the stud.”

      She blinked. “You?”

      “Yes.” He arched a dark brow. “Is that a problem?”

      “No. Not at all.” Her cheeks burned. She’d imagined spending the next few weeks with one of the men in the pinups plastered in the front windows. Slick, polished playboys who didn’t affect her in the least. Not this superhero in the making. The last man she’d suspect of making his living as a gigolo.

      On the other hand, superheroes did rescue damsels in distress. And her distress was on the verge of becoming an all-out disaster. She stepped forward and extended her hand. “Hello, I’m Kylie.”

      “I’m Dexter.” His eyes widened slightly at her firm grip. “Dexter D. Kane.”

      She wondered what the D stood for, but couldn’t afford to waste time by asking him. She wouldn’t be referring to him by his middle name anyway. Or his first name, for that matter. “Has Mrs. Brubaker told you anything about me or this job?”

      “Only that you require my services for the next four weeks.”

      To her mortification, she felt another blush creep up her neck. She hadn’t enjoyed the services of any man—let alone a gigolo—for too long to remember. Not that she was contemplating a relationship with Dexter. No matter what images his words evoked. “That’s true. This is a rather unusual job. And one that requires the utmost secrecy.”

      He smiled. “You can count on my discretion, Miss Timberlake. My job depends on it. And I’m depending on this job.”

      She barely comprehended his words, too dazzled by the dimple that flashed on his chin when he smiled. It almost made her forget her mission. But the chime of a wall clock brought reality rushing back. She had about fifty phone calls to make within the next few hours.

      “I’ll have to give you the condensed version and fill in the details later.” She took a deep breath, hoping she could trust him. “Have you read a book called How To Jump-Start Your Love Life?”

      “No,” he said, looking a little confused. “I’ve never even heard of it.”

      “It’s new on the market, but it has the potential to become a bestseller. I’m the publicist for Handy Press, the small press that published it. It’s my responsibility to see that it gets the right amount of media coverage necessary to attract national attention.”

      His brows furrowed. “And?”

      “And I’ve scheduled an array of book signings, radio interviews and even a couple television spots for the author. We’ll hit twelve cities in just under four weeks. It’s an all out publicity blitz. There’s only one small problem.”

      “You need an escort?”

      “No. I need someone to play the part of the author, Harry Hanover.” She waited, letting the words sink in. Dexter D. Kane certainly looked intelligent enough to understand all the ramifications.

      He folded his arms across his chest. “You’re serious?”

      “Absolutely. You see, Harry suffers from agoraphobia,” she explained, “which is a fear of social situations. It’s impossible for him to appear in public. In fact, his case is so severe that he refuses to leave his home. Unfortunately, I’d already scheduled all the media events before I found that out.”

      “So why not just cancel the tour?”

      “Because Harry believes there will be negative repercussions on the sale of his book. And frankly, that’s a real possibility. Booksellers can make or break a book. And many of them have already started advertising the upcoming book signings. Broken promises don’t make the best public relations. Not only could Harry’s book suffer if he fails to make his scheduled appearances, but Handy Press could suffer as well.”

      “In what way?”

      “The company stays afloat by publishing how-to manuals and technical guidebooks. If booksellers retaliate by pulling all the Handy Press books off the shelves, the company could go bankrupt.”

      He looked thoughtful. “There has to be some other solution.”

      She shook her head. “Believe me, I’ve lain awake nights trying to think of a way out of this mess. I know it seems a little extreme, but this is the only answer.”

      “How