68 & Climbing

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="3b8006e0dvldtc.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>Kate Douglas</B></FONT><B>    |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Erotic Romance"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Erotic Romance"><U>Erotic Romance</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id51.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chanku Family Tree"><U>Chanku Family Tree</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Print Titles"><U>Print Titles</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wolf Tales"><U>Wolf Tales</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sexy Beast"><U>Sexy Beast</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wolf Tales II"><U>Wolf Tales II</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wild Nights"><U>Wild Nights</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wolf Tales III"><U>Wolf Tales III</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sexy Beast II"><U>Sexy Beast II</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wolf Tales IV"><U>Wolf Tales IV</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sexy Beast III"><U>Sexy Beast III</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wolf Tales V"><U>Wolf Tales V</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id46.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sexy Beast IV"><U>Sexy Beast IV</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id48.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wolf Tales VI"><U>Wolf Tales VI</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id49.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sexy Beast V"><U>Sexy Beast V</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id58.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wolf Tales VII"><U>Wolf Tales VII</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sexy Beast VI"><U>Sexy Beast VI</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wolf Tales VIII"><U>Wolf Tales VIII</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id61.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sexy Beast VII"><U>Sexy Beast VII</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id62.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wolf Tales 9"><U>Wolf Tales 9</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id64.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sexy Beast VIII"><U>Sexy Beast VIII</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id65.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wolf Tales 10"><U>Wolf Tales 10</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id66.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wolf Tales 11"><U>Wolf Tales 11</U></A>   |   <B>68 & Climbing</B>   |   <A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Free Story!"><U>Free Story!</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="002d2c00dvldtc.gif"> <div> <IMG SRC="10996e10.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> He's pure sex appeal and all Alpha male--what's a business woman to do, once the shirts come off?</div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>68 & Climbing</B></div> <div> <I><B>A sexy little romantic comedy...this book is now available free as a download to members of my newsletter. Join here:</B></I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B> <form method="get" action="http://groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/KateDouglas"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center"> <em>Subscribe to KateDouglas</em> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <input type="text" name="user" value="enter email address" size="20"> </td> <td> <input type="image" border="0" alt="Click here to join KateDouglas" name="Click here to join KateDouglas" src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/yg/img/i/us/ui/join.gif"> </td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td colspan="2"> Powered by <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/">groups.yahoo.com</a> </td> </tr> </table> </form>  </B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Once you've joined the newsletter, go into the files section where you can download the PDF file of  </B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>68 & Climbing.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Winner of the Uber Award from the </B></I><A HREF="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LeagueAmazingWriters" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LeagueAmaz"><U><I><B>League of Amazing Writers:</B></I></U></A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="http://www.loose-id.net/detail.aspx?ID=4" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.loose-id.net/detail.aspx?ID=4"><U><IMG SRC="1f6c1d60.jpg" border=0 width="193" height="214" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> <I><B>Nominated for the </B></I><A HREF="http://theromancestudio.com/capa.php" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://theromancestudio.com/capa.php"><U><I><B>2004 CAPA </B></I></U></A><I><B> for </B></I></div> <div> <I><B>best erotic contemporary romance.<IMG SRC="0b064700.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="112" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Reviews:</B></I></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="1161a1a0.gif" border=0 width="26" height="26" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="1161a1a0.gif" border=0 width="26" height="26" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="1161a1a0.gif" border=0 width="26" height="26" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="1161a1a0.gif" border=0 width="26" height="26" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="1161a1a0.gif" border=0 width="26" height="26" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>"...This book had me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what kind of chaos these two characters could create. I was engrossed with how Nick managed to get Annmarie’s attention and how much time Annmarie spent fantasizing about him. These two were a perfect compliment to each other from start to finish. I utterly enjoyed this book. This will be a definite keeper for me."</B></div> <div> <I>     Reviewed by Sheryl for </I><A HREF="http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/68climbing.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/68climb"><U><I>Coffee Time Romance</I></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="118202a0.jpg" border=0 width="32" height="42" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I><I><B><IMG SRC="118202a0.jpg" border=0 width="32" height="42" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I><I><B><IMG SRC="118202a0.jpg" border=0 width="32" height="42" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I><I><B><IMG SRC="118202a0.jpg" border=0 width="32" height="42" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I><I><B><IMG SRC="118202a0.jpg" border=0 width="32" height="42" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>"...Annmarie and Nick are unforgettable characters. Both are truly great alone, but when they are together, they are amazing...The heat is on in </B><B>68 & Climbing</B><B>. This story showcases a great emotional growth in both the main characters, along with some sizzling love scenes. Kate </B><B>Douglas</B><B> has written a winner!"</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>  </B><I>   Reviewed by Sarah W. for </I><A HREF="http://fallenangelreviews.com/July2004/Sarah_68AndClimbing.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://fallenangelreviews.com/July2004/S"><U><I>Fallen Angel Reviews</I></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <I><IMG SRC="0e31f270.gif" border=0 width="31" height="39" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="1611f270.gif" border=0 width="31" height="39" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="1621f270.gif" border=0 width="31" height="39" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="1631f270.gif" border=0 width="31" height="39" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="1641f270.gif" border=0 width="31" height="39" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></I></div> <div> <B>"Kate Douglas’ </B><B>68 & Climbing</B><B> is a delightful and extremely sexy contemporary romance..  The plot moves quickly and despite the fact that it is almost a full-length book, by the time you realize it, the story is over...I certainly recommend it. </B></div> <div> <I>     Reviewed by</I><I> </I><I>Mireya</I><I> for </I><A HREF="http://aromancereview.com/reviews/index.php?app_state=show_event&bookid=4404" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://aromancereview.com/reviews/index."><U><I>A Romance Review</I></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><IMG SRC="13c992c0.jpg" border=0 width="153" height="44" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="13e15180.gif" border=0 width="21" height="24" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </I><I><B>4 1/2 Unicorns</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>"...Kate Douglas’s</B><B> </B><I><B>68 & Climbing</B></I><B> </B><B>is a terrific book. The chemistry between Annmarie and Nick is hot!...</B><I><B>68 & Climbing</B></I><I><B> </B></I><B>is a book reader’s will want to read over and over."</B></div> <div> <B>    </B><I> Reviewed by Kaleen for </I><A HREF="http://www.enchantedinromance.com/68climbing_kaleen.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.enchantedinromance.com/68clim"><U><I>Enchanted in Romance</I></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="113491b0.jpg" border=0 width="73" height="27" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>"...This is the first time that I have read Kate Douglas, and I can see that it won't be the last. Her characters jumped off the page...It was very sweet and romantic. I definitely recommend this!" </B></div> <div> <B>    </B><I> Reviewed by Kelly for Sizzling Romance Reviews</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Four Quills</B></I></div> <div> <B>"...This is spicy erotica backed by a plot line which develops quite naturally. Not only is the story crafted well...but it is also hot. Hot is an understatement in fact...Compelling interactions between the super-macho hero and the reluctantly aroused heroine. Racy stuff indeed. </B></div> <div>     <I> Reviewed By Maitresse for </I><A HREF="http://earthchildseries.com/NovelBlog/alphabeta/dex/dindex/douglaskate.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://earthchildseries.com/NovelBlog/al"><U><I>Novelspot Romance Reviews</I></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="050410e0.gif" border=0 width="65" height="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>"...68 & Climbing is a sensual romantic story that will pull at your heartstrings... Ms. Douglas has done a superb job creating this tender, touching, and fiery couple...Pick up this steamy book you won’t be disappointed."</B></div> <div>  <I>    Reviewed by Susan Holly for Just Erotic Romance Reviews</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>"...68 & Climbing</B></I><B> i</B><B>s sexy, fun, sweaty and breathtaking romance all in one fabulous package. I hope Kate Douglas writes another story like this again very soon! I loved it and can't wait to read it all again."</B></div> <div> <I>     Reviewed by Tracey West for </I><A HREF="http://www.roadtoromance.ca/reviews7104/review68.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.roadtoromance.ca/reviews7104/"><U><I>The Road to Romance</I></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>"...Kate Douglas creates an absolutely delightful and sinfully sexy story in 68 AND CLIMBING. Humor, blazing sexual tension and some very lust-worthy characters, make this an engaging and thoroughly entertaining read...This romantic and sizzling tale is definitely the perfect way to make your hot summer nights even hotter. With magnetic characters, ever-escalating sexual pyrotechnics, and laugh-out-loud funny situations, 68 AND CLIMBING is the book I recommend as this summer's red-hot read."</B></div> <div>      <I>Reviewd by Enya Adrian for Romance Reviews Today</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><IMG SRC="1ca7f200.gif" border=0 width="127" height="32" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></I></div> <div> <B>"...The author has crafted a believable and wonderful story. This book is well worth a look, and Ms. Douglas has added another book to her long list of other wonderful stories."</B></div> <div> <I>     Reviewed by Sophie for </I><A HREF="http://loveromances.com/68andclimbing_sophie.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://loveromances.com/68andclimbing_so"><U><I>Love Romances</I></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Excerpt~~</B></I></div> <div>    </div> <bR> <div> © 2004 Katherine A. Moore</div> <div> ISBN: 1-59632-002-8 </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>68 & Climbing</B></div> <bR> <div> Prologue</div> <bR> <div> The door slammed in the hotel room next to hers and loud voices dragged Annmarie Weston from a deep, exhausted sleep. She glanced at the clock. </div> <div> 12:36 A.M.</div> <div> She rolled to one side and pulled the blanket up over her head.</div> <div> Giggles. Incessant, irritating, mind-numbing giggles. Did women <I>always</I> giggle during sex? Annmarie glanced once more at the clock beside her bed. </div> <div> 12:38 A.M. </div> <div> She was meeting her client for coffee and, hopefully, the final discussions on their contract, in less than six hours.</div> <div> She rolled over on her stomach and shoved the thin hotel pillow over her head, clamping it tightly against her ears. The giggling from the next room faded. </div> <div> Annmarie sighed, dreaming longingly of her own bed in the little dormer room above her shop. Her own bed where she could sleep blissfully-and quietly-alone. </div> <div> Her eyes burned behind her lids. Alone was good. Alone was okay, right? At least, when she was alone, she got a good night's sleep.</div> <div> <I>Sleep. Please...just a little bit of sleep.</I> Was that too much to ask? Damn, she hated these blasted sales trips, hated the buyers with roaming hands and big egos, the slick come-ons, the groping and innuendo. </div> <div> It was enough to turn her off men altogether-as if she even had time for sex. Annmarie shifted into a more comfortable position and her eyes drifted closed, exhaustion winning out over the stuffy room and the muted voices from next door.</div> <div> Two more nights and she'd finally get to sleep in her own bed.</div> <div> The bed shook. Then again. A steady <I>thump, thump, thump </I>reverberated through Annmarie's head as the bed next door bounced rhythmically against the wall.</div> <div> Deep, painful sounding groans, more giggles. Clenching her jaw, Annmarie reached over her head and pounded on the wall.</div> <div> The banging continued-faster, harder. </div> <div> The giggling stopped.</div> <div> The groans grew louder.</div> <div> Moaning, an agonized cry, the <I>thump, groan, thump, groan, thump </I>marking point and counterpoint.</div> <div> A dramatic shriek echoed through the thin walls.</div> <div> A man's voice, breathless, uncontrolled. “Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh<I> fuck!”</I></div> <div> Finally, silence. Blissful, unremarkable silence. </div> <div> Annmarie opened one eye and gazed blearily at the bedside clock. It blinked. </div> <div> 12:40 A.M.</div> <div> She rolled her eyes against the darkness. “Four minutes, start to finish.” She'd have to remind Jean she was right. Men were only good for reaching stuff on the top shelf and lifting heavy things.</div> <div> Oh yeah...and fixing sewing machines.</div> <div> A deep snore reverberated from the next room.</div> <div> A few moments later, the snoring was joined by the unmistakable buzz of a vibrator. </div> <div> Picturing the woman in the next room taking care of herself next to her sleeping lover might have been comical at some other time. Now, it merely lulled Annmarie into sleep.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Chapter 1</div> <bR> <div> “Why's it suddenly so quiet out there?”</div> <div> “Don't know, boss. Check the temperature.”</div> <div> “Excuse me?” Annmarie slipped her reading glasses down her nose and frowned over the top of the wire frames. Jean Alexander may have been her best friend since second grade and her secretary for almost as long, but sometimes she still drove Annmarie batty. “You want to run that by me one more time?”</div> <div> Jean's smile looked downright smarmy. “You heard me. The temperature. How hot is it? And I don't mean the steam rising from your collar, either, m'dear.” Jean waddled across the polished oak floor and peered at the thermometer hanging from the fire escape outside Annmarie's office. “Yep. I thought so. Sixty-eight degrees and climbing.” She stretched, arched her back and rubbed her very pregnant belly. “That explains it.”</div> <div>  “That explains nothing, Jean. Please. Sit down. Every time you stand up, I expect that baby to fall out on his head.”</div> <div>  “Trust me, childbirth is not that easy.” Grumbling, Jean rubbed the small of her back. “Her. Her head...I told you, the doctor said Emma's a girl.”</div> <div>  “Okay...<I>her.</I> So?” Annmarie gestured with a flip of her hand. “Do you intend to explain the temperature analogy...sometime within this millennium?”</div> <div>  “So, the wheels of industry, including the sewing machines at Weston Designs, grind to a halt when the outside temperature hits the high sixties.” Jean left off with a very pregnant pause.</div> <div> Annmarie slowly shook her head at Jean's ambiguous reply, stood up and headed for the door. Ten sewing machines should be humming away right now, ten young women, residents of a shelter for troubled girls, should be busy assembling the sleek business fashions Annmarie designed. Instead, the only noise coming from the workroom sounded like one large, collective sigh.</div> <div> Jean's soft chuckle grated on Annmarie's already exhausted and tattered nerves. </div> <div> “It started just after you left on the sales trip,” Jean said.</div> <div> Annmarie took a deep breath and turned her head to glare over her shoulder at Jean. “Do you have to sound so smug? It's terribly unbecoming, especially when you make absolutely no sense at all. <U>What</U> started?”     </div> <div>  “The temperature-dependent, hormonally driven work stoppage at Weston Designs. It's become a definite issue.”</div> <div> Annmarie frowned. “I don't need this. Really, I don't. Damn, this last trip was a bitch.” </div> <div> Jean shook her head. “More jerks with roaming hands?”</div> <div> “You got it.” In a nasal voice, she said, `Sure, Annmarie...sweetheart. We'll order your line. Join me for a drink and a little nooky?' She ground her teeth when Jean laughed.</div> <div> “It's not funny. I do not put out...for anyone.” She rubbed her eyes and ignored the little voice in the back of her mind. The one reminding her that might be part of her problem.</div> <div> <I>Problem. Sewing machines. Temperature? Oh, yeah.</I></div> <div> “Okay. You said this started right after I left?” She took a deep breath and let it go on a long, ragged sigh. “Not that I understand. You have to admit, it's a new phenomenon. I mean, since when have the wheels of industry been tied to fluctuations of hormones and daily temperature?” Annmarie stared baldly over her shoulder at Jean.</div> <div> “Since the construction crew started work on the old boarding house next door,” Jean said. The corner of her mouth twitched with a barely controlled grin. “Once it warms up, the shirts come off.”</div> <div> Annmarie mouthed a disbelieving “what?” then quietly opened the door. Just as quietly, she crossed the hardwood floor of the workroom. Ten young women, the entire work force of Weston Designs, unless you counted old Fred, who kept the sewing machines running and the water dispenser full, filled the narrow fire escape stretching along the east side of Annmarie's newly renovated brick tenement building.</div> <div> Not a single sewing machine hummed, not a head turned at her entrance.</div> <div> “Girl, that man is gorgeous.”</div> <div> “Gorgeous is not an adequate description.”</div> <div> “He looks more than adequate to me.”</div> <div> “Look at the chest on the blond dude. I'd die for a chance to...”</div> <div> “Chest nothing...look at the package he's carrying in those tight...”</div> <div> “Ladies, isn't there something else you should be doing right now?”</div> <div> “Oh, hi, Ms. Weston, we just...”</div> <div> “I mean, they're so...”</div> <div> “They're...”</div> <div> <I>“They</I> are none of your business. Your business is getting that order finished before Myers and Bold decides they don't want to carry my line anymore. Now back to work.”</div> <div>  “Yes'm”</div> <div>  “Slave driver,” Jean whispered as, laughing and teasing, the young women headed back to their work stations. “Aren't you at least going to look and see what all the excitement's about?”</div> <div>  “I am not into ogling half naked men.” Annmarie glared at her friend, then broke into a reluctant grin at Jean's knowing look.</div> <div>  “I remember ogling a few with you back in college.”</div> <div>  “That was different. I was young and foolish then. Besides, look what ogling got you into.” She stared meaningfully at Jean's bulging middle.</div> <div>  “Actually, I got into nothing. Leo got into me. That's how it works, you know. Of course, it's been so long, you've probably forgotten the mechanics of the act.”</div> <div>  “It has not been that long.”</div> <div>  “Your last date, as I recall, happened before Sam was born. He's almost three, by the way.”</div> <div>  “I am perfectly aware of your son's age. I've been busy. Getting a new business off the ground doesn't leave a whole lot of time available for fun and games.” </div> <div> Annmarie nervously wiped her hands along her short cotton skirt. Not that there was anything wrong with being single at thirty-four, which made her barely one year older than Jean. Nothing at all. Except Jean had a husband who adored her, a beautiful little boy and a baby girl on the way. </div> <div> Annmarie looked around the workroom. She had Weston Designs and a business loan that often looked like the budget overrides for Boston's notorious Big Dig. Not much there to keep a woman warm at night.</div> <div> Besides, not every date ended in the bedroom.</div> <div> In fact, Annmarie could count on two fingers the number of dates that had. With that depressing thought in mind, she smiled at Jean. “I don't have time to fulfill your sexual fantasies, m'dear.”</div> <div> “Well, it's not my fantasy we're talking about. You, <U>m'dear,</U> are not too busy to take a look at this.” Jean grabbed Annmarie's arm and propelled her out onto the fire escape.</div> <div> “This is childish and stupid.” Annmarie glanced over the edge of the railing, intending to satisfy Jean with one quick look.</div> <div> “Oh my.” Had she said that? Annmarie's hand went to her throat.<I> So, this is what all the fuss is about.</I></div> <div> Half a dozen young men performed as many different jobs on the sagging building next to Annmarie's. She knew the old boarding house had been slated for renovation, had even considered renting one of the upscale offices for her own use once the project was completed.</div> <div>  She hadn't realized, however, that work had begun while she was away on her trip, nor had she considered the impact of six bare-chested, broad shouldered, handsome, suntanned, young construction workers on the productivity of her equally young, multi-ethnic force of female employees.</div> <div>  “Pretty cool, huh Ms. Weston?”</div> <div>  “Oh, yeah,” she muttered, tearing her gaze away from one particularly broad set of shoulders. “Did you need something, Lil?” she asked, suddenly all business.</div> <div>  “Just another look, ma'am.” Lil giggled, took a quick peek over the fire escape and waved. A tall, blond Adonis grinned and waved back, then returned to his labors.</div> <div>  “C'mon, Lil.” Jean grabbed the young woman's arm. “We've got orders to fill. You can check out the scenery when it's time for your break.” She herded the giggling young woman away from the fire escape, but managed to roll her eyes at Annmarie as she left. “I think we're gonna have a problem,” Jean said, shaking her head.</div> <div> Annmarie hated when Jean was right.</div> <div> Even now, though her business fashions for women were winning awards and the name Weston Designs was showing up with regular frequency in high end magazines and newspaper articles, Annmarie knew her success-or failure, was only a missed order away.</div> <div> A loud crack caught her attention. A male voice shouted, another cursed. She glanced over the railing just in time to watch a pile of lumber as it tumbled from the back of a flatbed truck and spread out in a messy pile across the cobblestones.</div> <div> With a lot of joshing and teasing, a couple of the young men began re-stacking the lumber. Annmarie watched them a moment, fully aware of the healthy male bodies she was going to be contending with over the course of the renovation.</div> <div> Somehow, she had to figure out how to keep her girls interested in finishing the new order for Myers and Bold.</div> <div> It wasn't going to be easy, not with the gorgeous new neighbors offering up more beefcake than she'd seen in a year.</div> <div> They were definitely a good looking group of young men. Too young for her, but it certainly couldn't hurt to look. Sleek and well-muscled from working outdoors, there wasn't a single couch potato in the bunch.</div> <div> For instance...her gaze was drawn to the broad shoulders and lean hips of the largest man on the crew.</div> <div> She couldn't see his face. He worked steadily, ignoring the silly sparring of the kids stacking the lumber, his arms stretched high over his head as he used a pry bar to carefully remove rotten strips of wooden siding from the old building. A fine pattern of dust covered his wide, deeply bronzed shoulders. A light sheen of perspiration defined the corded muscles across his back.</div> <div> Muscles that bunched and rippled with each powerful thrust of his arms.</div> <div> He'd tied his long, dark hair into a ponytail hanging well beyond the nape of his neck. A leather construction belt rode low on his hips and his faded cutoffs had frayed way past anything even remotely decent.</div> <div> He looked more mature than the rest of the crew. His body had a seasoned strength about it, a well-defined, solid musculature the younger workers only hinted at. </div> <div> Annmarie licked her lips and swallowed. At some basic level of consciousness, she accepted the fact she was incapable of turning away, at least until she checked out the rest of the man's body. </div> <div> <I>Lordy, lordy,</I> but there was a lot to check...</div> <div> She'd never seen legs quite so beautifully shaped and muscled...or so long. He was definitely taller than anyone else on the crew, well over six feet with a lean strength she found more than appealing. </div> <div> She studied the definition of muscles on his rock-hard calves where they disappeared into heavy gray socks above steel-toed boots. The dark hair on his legs only highlighted the corded tendons and sinews as he stretched and pulled and bent and lifted.</div> <div> Slowly she made the ascending journey over his lean contours. She paused to savor the worn patches on the rear of his cutoffs and wondered if the tan on his legs met the sun-darkened skin on his back. </div> <div> No, she didn't picture this guy hitting a tanning booth or nude beach for the all-over look.</div> <div> She closed her eyes against the vivid image of untanned flesh. There'd be taut, rounded buns, muscular with shadowed hollows at each side. She could almost see him, walking naked across a darkened bedroom-her bedroom-just walking away after a really good fuck, his pale butt visible in the glow from streetlights outside her window, his darkly tanned back and legs fading into shadows.</div> <div> She was sure she'd be able to see that butt, though.</div> <div> She wouldn't need a vibrator after he was through, either. Not with him in her bed.</div> <div> She licked her lips, then gnawed a bit on her lower one.</div> <div> He straightened up and stretched his arms over his head, then twisted slowly, side to side, an obvious effort to loosen up tight muscles.</div> <div> His back and shoulders rippled. His skin glistened with sweat. Dark strands of his long hair stuck lightly to his right shoulder blade.</div> <div> Annmarie licked her lips again.</div> <div> He leaned over and touched the ground, stretching with his palms flat to the dirt, his long fingers splayed wide. His denim shorts rode tight against his perfectly shaped ass.</div> <div> Annmarie almost choked. Then she slowly released a deep breath, barely aware she'd been holding it so long she felt lightheaded.</div> <div> Jean was right. Annmarie almost laughed aloud-she had been working too hard. Any woman who could get so caught up in the sight of a well-built male backside she forgot to breathe, definitely had a problem.</div> <div> Not enough of a problem, however, to turn around and head back to her office. She moved away from the open doorway to the wrought iron railing that encircled the fire escape, edging closer for a better look. Just then, he straightened up and, without turning her way, returned to his job ripping the old siding off the building.</div> <div> He worked with a powerful, steady rhythm, hypnotic in its strength and purpose. Annmarie's fingers tightened on the railing and she took another deep breath. She ran her tongue over her top, then bottom lip, aware of an unusual tingling sensation. </div> <div> She licked her lips again, then rolled and hunched her shoulders. Her bra seemed much too constricting, her breasts unusually full and tender...her throat was tight and her mouth dry. Annmarie grinned, suddenly much more sympathetic toward the young women working diligently behind her. At least as the boss, she had the option of enjoying this view whenever she wanted.</div> <div> <I>Oh damn, what a view!</I> There was something absolutely mesmerizing about the supple stretch and sway of the man's body as he methodically demolished the wall.</div> <div> Suddenly he paused, arms upraised, metal pry bar in place beneath a long strip of rotting wood, and tilted his head. As if he listened for something? Or because he felt her watching him?</div> <div> Mortified, Annmarie knew she had to back away from the fire escape before he turned around. Now, before he...</div> <div> Her legs failed her. Before she could take a single step, an electric pair of brilliant blue eyes held her immobile.</div> <div> He was close, not more than thirty feet away, but still, she shouldn't have been able to tell his eyes were blue, should she? Not at this distance, but she knew, without any doubt at all what color his eyes were beneath those dark lashes, knew they held her immobile with merely a glance.</div> <div> She felt like a doe caught in the headlights, trapped here on the narrow ledge with her hair tousled and blowing across her face in the morning breeze. Her cotton skirt clung to her thighs, the fabric of her blouse molded her breasts as if Mother Nature held her up for this man's perusal. </div> <div> Obviously, he wasn't one to waste an opportunity as he literally devoured her with his unwavering gaze, exploring her every bit as thoroughly as she had examined him. His inspection was hot and invasive, trailing over her flesh like warm hands or a searching tongue. When he obviously studied her full breasts, she felt his hands on her as if he'd actually squeezed her flesh between his long fingers. When his gaze lowered to the sharply defined <B>V</B> between her legs where the light breeze held her skirt close against her mons, Annmarie fought an involuntary clenching of her muscles, knew she was already growing hot and wet as if he actually tasted her there.</div> <div> Without conscious volition, she felt herself leaning closer, his heated inspection leaving her hot and wanting, powerless to back away.</div> <div> Until he curled his lip up in a half smile, tipped an imaginary hat and winked at her. A leering, suggestive, lascivious wink that had the same effect as a bucket of cold water thrown in her face.</div> <div>  Furious, more than a little embarrassed, Annmarie spun around. She almost stumbled over three of her girls. “Back to work,” she ordered. She felt like a complete idiot, knowing the girls had seen her practically drooling over the jerk.</div> <div> <I>Damn him. </I></div> <div> “What do ya think, boss?” Jean asked, shooing her giggling young charges back to their machines.</div> <div> “I think...” She took a deep breath, all too aware her heart still raced, the sensitive flesh between her legs still throbbed with heat and wanting and the narrow strip of her  expensive thong panties practically dripped.</div> <div> <I>Embarrassed. </I>That's all it was. She was just embarrassed that he'd caught her.</div> <div> Why couldn't she have just waved and said, “Hi, neighbor.” That's what Jean would have done. Then she wouldn't have felt so stupid.</div> <div> <I>So violated.</I></div> <div> “Annmarie?” Jean grinned at her. “You were thinking?”</div> <div> “Oh. Yeah.” She took another deep breath than walked briskly across the floor to her office. “I think I'm going to have a little talk with their foreman about keeping his employees properly dressed while on the job. Otherwise, I have a feeling our young ladies will be a bit too distracted to accomplish what I'm paying them for.”</div> <div>  “I highly doubt it would do any good. I don't even know who the foreman is. Some days it's hard to tell who's in charge.” Jean laughed. “They all seem to like to shout orders. That's not, however what I was asking.” She followed Annmarie back into her office and shut the door behind them. </div> <div> “I wondered what you thought of the big guy with the broad shoulders, long hair and cute butt. If I didn't have Leo....”</div> <div> “Well you do have Leo.” Oh, lordy, she sounded so stuffy-just like her mother! Annmarie took a deep breath and flashed an apologetic smile at Jean.  “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap. I'm just worried about the Myers and Bold account,” she fibbed. How could she possibly explain to Jean how humiliating it felt to be caught, well, ogling? She hadn't given Myers and Bold a single thought while she'd been watching the man work.</div> <div>  “Hiring young girls from the shelter has been good for all parties involved, but we have to remember how impressionable-and impulsive-they are,” she said, warming to what sounded like a fairly reasonable argument. “Having a group of half-dressed young studs preening just outside the window not only interferes with the girls' concentration, it could lead to some real problems down the road. Some of these kids are mothers already and I dare you to tell me there's one young woman in that other room who is ready for the responsibilities of motherhood. I...”</div> <div>  “Annmarie, just listen to yourself. C'mon, boss. Get off your soap box. Don't tell me you didn't enjoy the view,” Jean interrupted. “I saw that look of uncontrolled lust on your face.”</div> <div> “I am never out of control.” Annmarie forced the image of work-roughened hands and a face that made actor Adrian Paul look average, out of her mind. She shivered at the fleeting impression of those callused fingers stroking her in places left too long unstroked, then sighed.</div> <div> “Maybe that's your problem.”</div> <div> Jean's soft statement, spoken without a hint of humor, brought Annmarie up short. She stared at her friend for a moment, at the conflicting expressions of affection, frustration and awareness, then quickly shut her mouth. </div> <div> She took another deep breath, turned her lips up in a semblance of a smile and nodded her head. “Maybe you're right. It might be fun to just cut loose for a change, not worry about anything.” There'd been a time...Annmarie shrugged. </div> <div> “Losing control, however, is not how we're going to get that order filled by the due date. We need to keep the sewing machines humming and the girls working...and away from the `temptations of the flesh' next door, no matter how tempting they are. At least while the girls are on my time. They're free to do as they wish on their own.”</div> <div> “I'll have a talk with the girls. Let's hold off talking to the foreman. It might tick him off and make things worse.”</div> <div> “Okay.” Annmarie nodded. “You play Bad Cop for awhile so I can catch up on the mail.”</div> <div> Laughing, Jean saluted and headed out the door to the workroom.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="http://www.katedouglas.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.katedouglas.com"><U><B>Return to Kate's Home Page</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> NOTICE: This novel is protected under Copyright Registration with the</div> <div> United States of America. No part or portion of this work may be used</div> <div> for re-sell or re-print either digitally or in print format by ANY entity other</div> <div> than the legal publisher of this work listed above. Re- sell or re-print of</div> <div> this work may not be used without the written permission of the author</div> <div> AND the publisher or without full monetary compensation of the work</div> <div> to both the author and legal publisher. 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