Sheerly Irresistible by Kristin Gabriel

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Sheerly Irresistible

Harlequin Enterprises Limited

Unfortunately, Claire Dellafield couldn't think about anything except how ridiculous it was for a cultural anthropologist to be draped across a Dumpster in a back alley in New York City. This was definitely not what she'd imagined doing on her first day in the most exciting city in the world.

Unpeeling herself from the garbage bin, she plucked the collar of the tank top away from her damp cleavage. "Look, I assumed we were just going to take a few simple headshots in front of the nightclub. A publicity photo the university could send out when they release the results of my research project. This," she motioned to the narrow back alley, "just doesn't make sense."

The photographer lowered his camera. "I am Evan Wang. I take direction from no one. You are the model. I'm the artist. You must trust me."

"I'm not a model," she clarified, just to make certain Evan hadn't confused his assignments. "I'm an anthropology professor."

"Yes, that is a problem," Evan mused, studying her from a different angle. "But that's why people call me the miracle worker."

Claire swallowed a groan, wishing she'd followed her instincts and turned down this researchproject. But that simply wasn't a luxury a rookie anthropologist could afford. Not when research grants were so few and far between. So she'd reluctantly agreed when Penleigh College approached her to revisit a study called Strangers in the Night that had made both her father and the college famous twenty-five years ago. No doubt, some would continue to accuse her of riding her father's coattails.

Sometimes she wondered if they were right. Claire lifted her long, thick hair off the back of her neck, hoping a cool breeze would find its way into the alley. It had never been this hot in Penleigh, Indiana, the small college town she'd called home her entire life. She had shared a cottage with her father on campus until nine months ago, when he'd passed away after a long battle with kidney disease. Then it seemed as if she'd just stepped into his life - taking over his classes and now, reprising his famous research project.

Thinking of her father made Claire's throat tighten. Marcus Dellafield had been in this same spot twenty-five years ago. Well, maybe not this exact spot. There had been no sexy pictures to accompany his study on human mating habits at The Jungle, once the most popular singles bar in New York City.

But Professor Dellafield had done more than just collected research all those years ago. He'd adopted Claire as an infant and brought her back with him to Penleigh, raising her as a single father. That's what had captured the media's attention - the story of an ivory tower professor who gave a child born out of wedlock a fairy-tale life.

And it had been like a fairy tale. Claire's father had taken her with him on all his anthropological research trips, showing her the world in the process. She'd been to places like Borneo and Tasmania. Eaten with the Maori of New Zealand. Traveled by riverboat on the Amazon in South America.

And she'd enjoyed every moment of it. So had her father. During the last months of his illness, he'd often told her that he had no regrets. Nothing had been left undone. He'd always lived his life to the very fullest.

Claire planned to do the same. Only life didn't always cooperate with her. Maybe once she completed this research project, she could begin to live her own dreams, make her own choices.

"I've got an idea," Evan said at last. "Let's take advantage of your natural innocence. We'll go for the Mary Richards look."

"Mary Richards?" Claire echoed in confusion.

"You know," Evan said, digging into his big, yellow satchel, "from the old Mary Tyler Moore Show. A single girl in the city, ready to turn the world on with her smile."

"I know who she is," Claire replied. Unlike most parents, her father had actively encouraged her to watch as many movies and television shows as possible. He believed they were a reflection of the changing mores of modern culture - especially the sitcom reruns - and worthy of study.

"Here we go," Evan exclaimed, pulling a raspberry pink beret out of the satchel. He brushed off the lint, then handed it to her. "Put it on."

She placed the beret on her head. "How's that?"

"Perfect! I can almost hear the theme song to the show." He adjusted the brim, then stepped back and framed her between his fingers. "Now lose the blouse."

She looked down at her yellow cotton blouse, then shrugged and took it off, leaving only the white tank top underneath to go with her khaki shorts.

"Much better," Evan said, looping the camera strap over his neck. "Now stand up and lean against the door. Pretend it's a man and make love to it."

Claire rose to her feet, frowning at the tattered screen door streaked with rust. "I don't remember Mary making love to any doors."

He heaved a tortured sigh. "It's all we have at the moment. Just work with me here."

The screen door suddenly opened, catching Claire in the shin. "Ow!"

"Excuse me," muttered a man backing out of the door. He was tall, dark, and shirtless.

He turned to face her, a crate of empty beer bottles in his arms. But it was the sight of his bare, broad chest that had Claire's mouth watering. Along with the raven hair slicked back off his forehead, the shadow of whiskers on his square jaw, and his startling blue eyes. She swallowed hard to keep from drooling.

The man raised his voice, laced now with impatience. "Excuse me."

She stumbled off the step to let him pass and he set the crate of beer bottles next to a recycling bin, then disappeared inside the nightclub once more.

"Sir," Evan shouted after him, bounding up the back step. The man appeared at the door a moment later carrying another crate of empty bottles.

"Can you help us out here?" Evan asked.

"What do you need?"

"My name is Evan and this is Mary," he said, motioning to her.

"Claire," she corrected.

"Whatever," Evan replied with a dismissive wave of his hand. "And you are?"

The man hesitated a moment, taking stock of them both. "Mitch Malone."

"Well, Mitch, I'm trying to finish up a photo shoot and Mary here, I mean Claire, is having trouble making love to the door. I thought if she had a human prop it might work better."

Mitch didn't even blink at the odd request. "Sorry, but I have twenty more crates to haul out here."

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Excerpted from Sheerly Irresistible by Kristin Gabriel Copyright © 2002 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited
Excerpted by permission. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

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