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Run For Covers
By Jeanie London Harlequin Enterprises, Ltd.
Copyright © 2004 Harlequin Enterprises, Ltd.
All right reserved. ISBN: 0-373-79161-5
Chapter One
SEXUAL CHEMISTRY wasn't a thing like champagne. Tori Ford always knew what to expect when she poured a flute of her favorite beverage - perfectly chilled, a sugar cube tossed in because more fizz made that first sip burst over her tongue like tiny orgasms.
With sexual chemistry, on the other hand, she never knew quite what to expect. Fortunately, Tori liked surprises because her latest assignment had started off with a bang. She never expected to walk through the grand entrance of Falling Inn Bed, and Breakfast, known locally as Falling Inn Bed, and get caught up in the spirit of this romance resort so quickly.
Oh, she knew all about the place. No one who lived in Niagara Falls could have missed the rebirth of this historic property from failing hotel to winner of the prestigious Most Romantic Getaway Award, lauded by hospitality magazines and industry periodicals worldwide.
With a philosophy that translated into something like "Life belongs to lovers and lovers belong naked," Falling Inn Bed backed up their stance with romance-themed suites designed to get couples feeling amorous. They even let staff members with titles such as the bedding consultant loose on their guests.
While a big proponent of anything promotingl'amour, Tori reserved opinion on the inn's bedding consultant. She reserved opinion on a few things about her latest reporting assignment, actually - including walking through the door to a powerful case of lust at first sight. Yet one look at Adam Grant, the too-attractive assistant general manager, and the bulb on her lust-o-meter popped like a cork from a champagne bottle.
That the man looked like someone her family would approve of came as another surprise. Tori usually went for the rough-around-the-edges, daring and dangerous types who wouldn't be welcomed within five miles of the family mansion.
But her family would have flung the doors wide for this one, with his neat sable hair and black eyes. His custom-tailored suit hugged his body like a glove. He was tall, handsome and too conservative with a composed air of self-assurance.
Adam made her itch to rough up the veneer of powerful male he wore along with his intense expression. And while his businesslike appearance and serious demeanor didn't interest her, everything simmering below it did.
As a reporter, Tori's observation skills were top notch. She recognized the calm deliberation in his gaze, the calculating mind, the tension in the impressive body that convinced her he was equally aware of her. But instead of checking her out, this guy locked his sex appeal tight under lock and key.
And then she knew exactly what it was about Adam Grant that interested her ... well, besides his handsome face.
They were kindred souls.
Once upon a time, Tori's every waking moment had been spent trying to live up to her family's expectations. While her surname might be Ford, she was a member of the prestigious Prescott family compliments of her mother, and being a Prescott meant keeping up appearances at all costs. But she'd eventually realized that life was too precious to spend all her time worrying about living up to other people's expectations.
She'd gotten smart.
People weren't perfect - except for her mother and sister, who'd mastered the art of appearing that way. But at what cost? They didn't take time to enjoy their lives. They always wore a smile for the press and never did anything that would risk starting any gossip. They never had any fun, and it was sucking the joy right out of them.
So she'd washed her hands of trying to live up to everyone else's expectations and decided the only person she needed to satisfy was herself.
And that was why Adam had resonated so strongly with her - he clearly hadn't learned yet that life was for living. They shared all this incredible chemistry, yet he wore his professionalism like armor.
Could she help him lighten up and enjoy himself?
Tori wanted to answer that question, along with a number of others about what was taking place behind the scenes at Falling Inn Bed. She finally had a chance to prove herself a competent reporter to her managing editor, who'd previously buried her on the municipal beat because she was the senator's granddaughter.
Until meeting this too-composed man who made her mouth water, she wasn't sure just how to prove herself, but now Tori knew exactly what she needed to do.
She needed to live the magic of Falling Inn Bed for herself. Then she'd report to her readers and bowl this town over with her journalistic skill and ability to sell newspapers.
And whom better to experience that magic with than the inn's assistant general manager?
"If you'll join me, Ms. Ford," Adam Grant said in a rich, smoothly polished voice that rippled through her like the first sip of really fizzy champagne. "I'll introduce you to the rest of the management team and bring you up to speed with where we are in the schedule of grand opening events."
"It'll be my pleasure to join you, Mr. Grant," she said with just enough innuendo to blast his cool professionalism straight into personal.
One sable brow lifted before he schooled his expression. But control wasn't meant to be part of this equation. When he touched her elbow to guide her down a hallway marked Business Offices, Tori felt wired to the man with a current. A quick glance into his dark gaze assured her he felt it, too.
Sometimes, there was just no explaining chemistry. And most of the time, there was no resisting it.
Tori wondered if Adam Grant knew that.
Giving him a smile that said Run for cover!, she felt another thrill when a tiny frown appeared between his brows, a look that convinced her he was expecting the worst from her.
No, this assignment wasn't turning out to be anything at all like champagne....
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Run For Covers by Jeanie London Copyright © 2004 by Harlequin Enterprises, Ltd.. 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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