The Tycoon's Dating Deal. Nicola Marsh

she’d developed a huge crush on Matt around this time. She’d tried to hide it but he obviously knew, because he’d treated her with kid gloves that summer and beyond. No more playful tickles or impulsive hugs. The object of her affection had kept his distance, driving her insane in the process.

      Kara had followed suit until her eighteenth birthday. The memory of his rejection still turned her stomach. Yet today, when he’d appeared out of the blue, she’d almost swooned. No accounting for hormones.

      ‘Excuse me. Is this seat taken?’ A deep voice intruded on her memories.

      ‘Actually, I’m waiting for…’ Kara stared, momentarily speechless.

      ‘This must be my lucky day. Seeing you twice in the space of a few hours…What are the odds of that happening?’

      She looked at Matt’s striking face, drinking in every detail: the laughter-lines at the outer corners of his eyes, the creases around his mouth, the dark shadow of stubble along his jaw line. Lord, he looked good. Her heart galloped, desire snaking through her body.

      She clenched her hands under the table, willing her mind and mouth to work in synchronisation. ‘I don’t know, Matt. You tell me—you’re the gambling man…if your reported jaunts to Randwick Racecourse are anything to go by.’

      He smiled, appearing undaunted by her jibe. ‘Odds of a million to one, I’d say, but then we were always drawn together. By the way, nice to know you’ve kept such a close eye on me via the newspapers. Miss me?’

      She didn’t have a chance to answer. To her amazement, he sat down, folding his long legs under the poky table. In doing so, their knees brushed, sending shock waves shooting up her legs.

      ‘Why don’t we have that drink I mentioned this afternoon?’ He leaned towards her, creating an intimacy that drew her like a magnet.

      ‘As I recall, I said no to your offer.’

      His hypnotic stare bored right through to her soul.

      ‘I know you didn’t mean it. Anyway, let’s just call this fate. We were destined to meet again and, now that we’re both here, what’s the harm in two old friends sharing a drink?’

      Kara was lost in the liquid blue pools of his eyes, helpless to resist. She’d always been like this around him. Floundering. Lost. Yearning.

      ‘Um, I’m actually meeting some people here shortly. Why don’t we have that drink some other time?’

      She had to fob him off before he discovered the real reason she was here and agreeing to a drink with him was a small price to pay.

      ‘Actually, I’m one of those people you’re waiting for.’ He grinned, his confident smile revealing a row of even teeth that gleamed unnaturally white in the fluorescent lighting of the bar.

      His answer floored her as realisation dawned. Matt, entering the agency this afternoon, Sal saying she had one more male applicant to screen, the coincidental meeting at the bar tonight. No way! He’d been at Sal’s on other business, surely?

      ‘You’re kidding? The great Matt Byrne, all-round party guy, can’t get a date? Tell me the real reason you’re here. Did Sal put you up to this?’ She tried to keep the sarcasm out of her voice and failed.

      He crossed his arms and leaned back, looking every inch the cool lawyer under interrogation. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. I found Sal’s agency by chance. As for my being here tonight, I signed up this afternoon. I don’t owe you any explanations, Kara. My life isn’t an open book, so don’t jump to conclusions.’

      She persisted. ‘But a dating agency? Why would a guy like you need help in getting a date?’

      The words were out before she could think. Damn, now she would have to justify what she meant.

      ‘A guy like me?’ His voice dropped low, as tingles of excitement skittered down her spine.

      ‘You know. Successful. Rich.’ She glanced away, unable to match his stare.

      ‘You forgot good-looking,’ he teased.

      Her cheeks warmed as she was forced to admit to the understatement of the year. ‘Yeah, that too. So, what’s your story?’ She kept her tone flippant, hoping he was fooled. By the smug expression on his face, he wasn’t.

      ‘Not so fast. How about we enjoy our seven minutes together and if you want to know more, you’ll have to choose me as your prospective date?’

      She laughed. ‘You’re some piece of work! Blackmail will get you nowhere.’

      He leaned forward. ‘How about flattery? Will that get me anywhere?’

      Suddenly eager to match wits with this intoxicating man, she batted her mascaraed eyelashes. ‘You’ll just have to try it and find out.’

      His lips curved in a slow, seductive smile that melted any lingering resistance. ‘You’ve got a deal.’

      She leaned back and crossed her legs, giving Matt a tantalising glimpse of sheer stockings. He yearned to stroke every inch of her smooth flesh, caressing till she begged for more. Ever since he’d walked into the room, he could barely keep his eyes off her. Now he just had to convince his hands to do the same.

      ‘So, do you know how tonight works?’

      Even her rich voice seemed laden with sexy promise. He would have a hard time concentrating on anything she said over the next seven minutes if his thoughts persisted down this track. With an effort, he wrenched them back to the present.

      ‘Yeah, Sally explained the routine to me. I spend seven minutes with seven gorgeous women, then choose my perfect match at the end. No laborious blind dates, no wasted small talk, no mindless chatter over dinners that seem to last an eternity. Just the way I wanted it.’

      Kara glared at him. ‘There’s something you’re not telling me. From all reports, you love dating. The more the merrier seems to be your motto. So why resort to this? I thought you were the type of guy who loves the thrill of the chase.’

      ‘Sure, I love the chase as much as the next guy, but my priorities are changing.’

      He hoped the answer would satisfy her. He wasn’t ready to tell her the truth. He could barely face it himself.

      She held her hands up in apparent surrender. He watched the long, elegant tapering of her fingers, imagining them stroking his body. Sitting here trying to look cool was becoming more difficult by the minute.

      ‘Fine, whatever you say, Matt, though I still think you’re up to something.’ She laughed, a sweet, tinkling sound that revived memories of hot summer afternoons when they’d shared confidences and dreams. ‘I’m looking forward to dragging your secrets from you, whether you like it or not.’

      He reached across the table and captured her hand in his, sliding his thumb around her palm. ‘I’m much more open to cajoling. Care to try?’

      Kara swallowed, desperate to ease the sudden dryness in her throat. Matt’s thumb created havoc with her senses, its swirling, concentric circles sending waves of pleasure through her body. She savoured his caress, all logic driven from her mind.

      As she stared into his eyes, her stomach somersaulted. She wanted him. More than she had ever wanted anything in her life. Thank goodness tonight was a one-off. Matt Byrne was dangerous. In one day, he’d managed to revive feelings that she’d buried for years. He was far too much man for her to handle. Unfortunately, the thought of handling him conjured up more vivid images, flashing across her mind in an erotic kaleidoscope.

      She pulled her hand away, needing to re-establish boundaries between them.

      ‘I’m not here to cajole anything out of you. You’ll tell me what’s bugging you eventually. If not, I don’t give a damn. Our friendship ended a long time ago, so why don’t we get on with tonight’s business and go our separate ways?’

      He leaned back, crossed