Possessed by Passion Read online

  Hunter inhaled deeply, surprised that he had remembered her after all. But what really captured her attention were his features. He was still sinfully handsome, with skin the color of creamy butternut and a mouth that was shaped too darn beautifully to belong to any man. And his voice was richer and a lot deeper than she’d remembered.

  Before she could respond to what he’d said, Mo and Kat thanked him for the drinks as they stood. Hunter looked at them. “Where are you two going?” she asked, not missing the smirk on Mo’s face.

  “Kat and I thought we’d move closer to that big-screen television to catch the last part of the basketball game. I think my team is winning.”

  Hunter came close to calling Mo out by saying she didn’t have a team. She knew for a fact that neither Mo nor Kat was into sports. Why were they deliberately leaving her alone with Tyson?

  As soon as they grabbed their drinks off the table and walked away, Tyson didn’t waste time claiming one of the vacated seats. Hunter glanced over and met his gaze while thinking that the only thing worse than being deserted was being deserted and left with a Steele.

  She took a sip of her drink and then said, “I want to thank you for my drink, as well. That was nice of you.”

  “I’m a nice person.”

  The jury is still out on that, she thought. “I’m surprised you remember me, Tyson.”

  He chuckled, and the sound was so stimulating it seemed to graze her skin. “Trust me. I remember you. And do you know what I remember most of all?”

  “No, what?”

  He leaned over the table as if to make sure his next words were for her ears only. “The fact that we never slept together.”

  Chapter 2

  Tyson thought the shocked look on Hunter’s face was priceless. He also thought it was a total turn-on. Up close she was even more beautiful. There had been something about her dark, almond-shaped eyes and long lashes that he’d always found alluring. But what was really getting to him was her lips, especially the bottom one. The curvy shape would entice any man to want to taste it. Nibble on it. Greedily devour it.

  She interrupted his thoughts when she finally said, “And if you recall that, then I’m sure you remember why.”

  “Yes, I remember,” he said, holding tight to her gaze. “You weren’t one of those high school girls who slept around. You wanted me to make you my steady girlfriend and I had no intention of doing that.”

  “You just wanted me in the backseat of your car,” she said.

  He smiled. “The front seat would have worked just fine, trust me. I wanted you and my goal was to get you. For me it was all about sex then.”

  “Just like it’s all about sex for you now?” she asked smoothly.

  “Yes.” He had no problem being up front with her or any woman, letting them know what he wanted, what he didn’t want and, in her particular case, what he’d missed out on getting. She was the lone person in the “tried but failed” column. He intended to remedy that.

  “I heard a while back that you’d gotten married, Hunter.”

  She took another sip of her drink and he remembered the one and only time he’d sampled the beautiful lips that kissed her glass. “Yes, I got married.”

  He looked down at her ringless hand before glancing back up at her. “Still married?”

  “No.”

  Her response was quick and biting, which only led him to believe the divorce had been unpleasant. That might be bad news for her, but he saw it as good news for him since he was known to inject new life into divorcées. Over the years he’d taken plenty to bed, not necessarily to mend their broken hearts, but mainly to prove there was life after a shitty marriage.

  “How long ago?”

  Her eyebrows lifted. “Why do you want to know?”

  “Just curious.”

  For a second, she didn’t respond, and then she said, “Two years.”

  He nodded as he leaned back in his chair. “Sorry to hear about your divorce,” he said, although he was anything but. Although his parents had a great marriage and it seemed his three brothers’ marriages were off to a good start, he was of the opinion that marriage wasn’t for everybody. It definitely wasn’t for him and evidently hadn’t been for her.

  “No need to be sorry, Tyson. I regret the day I ever married the bastard.”

  He’d heard that line before. And as far as he was concerned there was no need for her to expound. It really didn’t matter to him what she thought of her ex. What mattered was that divorcées were his specialty. He would gladly shift her from his “tried and failed” column to his “achieved” category. Every one of his senses was focused on getting her into his bed.

  “So what brings you back to Phoenix, Hunter?” he asked with a smile.

  * * *

  Hunter was glad a waiter appeared at that moment to place a drink in front of Tyson. Evidently he was a regular, since the man had known just what to give him. It took only a minute but that had been enough time to get herself together and recover from Tyson’s charismatic personality. It was quite obvious that he was a man on the prowl tonight and had set his sights on her. Mo and Kat had said as much, but at the time she hadn’t believed them. The man had been a player in high school and eighteen years later he was still at it. She couldn’t help wondering why he hadn’t gotten past that mentality.

  “Now, where were we? Oh, yes. I asked what brings you back to Phoenix.”

  She took another sip of her drink. There was no way she would tell him how after their divorce and the dissolution of their partnership, her architect husband had underhandedly taken all their clients. Starting over in Boston would not have been so bad if he hadn’t deliberately tried to sabotage her reputation as an architect. Tyson didn’t have to know that because of her husband’s actions she’d decided to start over here. Instead of telling him all of that, she decided to tell him the other reason she’d come back home.

  “My parents.”

  He lifted a brow. “Are they ill?”

  She shook her head. “No, they aren’t ill. My brother thinks they’re having too much fun.”

  Hunter realized just how ridiculous that sounded and added, “A few months ago they purchased ‘his and hers’ Harleys, and before that they signed up to take skydiving lessons. Lately, they’ve been hinting at selling the house and buying a boat to sail around the world.”

  Tyson appeared amused. “Sounds to me like they’re enjoying life. Maybe your brother needs to take a chill pill.”

  “Possibly, but his hands are full right now with his teenage sons and he feels Mom and Dad are driving him as crazy as they claim he’s driving them. I decided it was best I came home to keep peace.” Hunter had no idea how she would manage to do that. Her parents were intent on having fun and her brother was intent on getting them to act their age.

  “You’re an architect, right?” he asked her.

  “Yes. How did you know?”

  “Someone mentioned it at one of the class reunions that you never attended.”

  He was right, she hadn’t attended any. At first it had been school keeping her away, and later trying to build her career and finally trying to save her marriage. Although Carter had made sure they attended all of his high school reunions, he had been dead set against attending any of hers, and as usual she’d given in to him.

  “I understand you’re a doctor.”

  He nodded. “Yes. A heart surgeon.”

  She smiled. “And I bet you’re a good one.”

  “I owe it to my patients to do my very best.”

  And there was no doubt in Hunter’s mind that he did. She remembered he was devoted to whatever he did, even if he was chasing girls.

  “I’m glad you’re back in Phoenix, Hunter.”

  “Why?” She really couldn’t understand why he would be.

  He leaned in closer. “Because we have history.”

  She couldn’t keep the smile from tugging at her lips. “History?”

  “Yes.”

/>   “What kind of history?”

  “I think of you as the one who got away.”

  She had to keep from laughing out loud at that. “You mean the one who never made it to the backseat of your car?”

  “Pretty much.”

  “It’s been eighteen years. I would think you’d have gotten over it by now.”

  He shook his head and chuckled. “I had. However, seeing you again brought it back home to me, so I’ve come up with a plan.”

  She lifted a brow. “What kind of plan?”

  “A plan to seduce you.”

  Hunter’s breath caught in her lungs. His audacity was almost as great as his arrogance. What man told a woman he planned to seduce her? “Seriously? Do you think it will be that easy?”

  The smile that appeared on his face almost made her heart miss a beat. Although all the Steele brothers had those killer green eyes, she recalled that Tyson and Mercury were the only ones with dimples. Why was it that whenever he flashed those dimples, her pulse rate went haywire?

  “I didn’t say it would be easy,” he said smoothly. “What I said was that I had a plan. I see no reason that we can’t rekindle what we had years ago.”

  “There’s nothing to rekindle. Need I remind you that we didn’t have anything mainly because you were only interested in one thing?”

  His smile widened as he lifted his drink to his lips. Without saying a word, he was letting her know that nothing about him had changed and that he was still only interested in one thing.

  “I suggest you go find someone else to seduce.”

  He shook his head. “I can’t do that. I want you.”

  “You can’t always have what you want. That’s life.”

  Whatever he was about to say was lost when Mo and Kat appeared. “My team lost,” Mo said, grinning. She glanced at her watch. “Tomorrow is a workday so we figured it’s time to go.”

  Great timing, Hunter thought, and she stood.

  Tyson stood as well and shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’ll take you home, Hunter, if you aren’t ready to leave just yet.”

  If he thought for one minute she would go with him, especially after admitting his plan to seduce her, he wasn’t thinking straight. “Thanks, but I am ready. It was good seeing you again, Tyson.”

  “Same here, Hunter,” he said, and she thought she saw something akin to amusement in his eyes. “I have a feeling we’ll be running into each other again.”

  Hunter hoped not. She had enough to worry about with her parents, without being concerned about Tyson Steele trying to get her into bed. “Good night.” She walked toward the door with Mo and Kat, feeling the heat of Tyson’s gaze on her backside.

  As soon as they were out the door she turned to her friends. “Why on earth did the two of you leave me alone with Tyson?”

  Kat grinned. “Because we knew you could handle him.”

  “Besides, it was quite obvious you were the one on his radar and not us,” Mo added. “So how did it go?”

  Hunter shook her head. “You guys were right. Nothing has changed with Tyson. He’s still looking for a pair of legs to get between.”

  “And you didn’t make yours available to him again?” Kat asked, grinning. “What a shame.”

  “For him I’m sure it was, especially since he told me of his plan to seduce me.”

  Mo’s eyes widened. “He actually told you that?”

  “Without cracking a smile or blinking an eye.”

  Both Mo and Kat stopped walking to stare at her. “You don’t sound worried.”

  Hunter stopped and glanced at her friends, lifting a brow. “Why would I be?”

  “We’re talking about Tyson Steele, Hunter. The man who’s known to get what he wants. I heard from women that he’s so smooth you won’t miss your panties until they’re gone. And for him to already have a plan of seduction for you sounds serious.”

  “Only in his book, not mine.”

  Kat tilted her head. “And this from a woman who’s gone without sex for two years now.”

  “Actually four. If you recall, Carter and I slept in separate bedrooms for two years before our divorce. You can’t miss what you never got on a regular basis anyway. I haven’t had an orgasm in so long I’ve honestly forgotten how it feels.”

  “Then you’re in luck,” Mo said with a huge smile on her face. “There are quite a few women around town who claim the orgasms those Bad News Steeles give a girl can blow her mind to smithereens and have her begging for more. Rumor has it that you haven’t truly been made love to unless it’s been by a Steele. They’re supposed to be just that good in the bedroom.”

  Hunter rolled her eyes. “I’m sure it’s nothing more than a lot of hype.”

  “But what if it’s not?” Kat asked seriously. “And just think. One of those Bad News Steeles has plans to seduce you. If Tyson succeeds then you’ll never forget how an orgasm feels again.”

  “Whatever,” Hunter said as they resumed walking. By the time they reached the car, Hunter decided whatever plan Tyson thought he had for her was no big deal, since she doubted their paths would cross again anyway. And even if they did, she was certain it was just like she’d told Mo and Kat. All those rumors about the Steeles were probably nothing more than a lot of hype.

  * * *

  “Is there a reason you’re visiting me this time of night, Tyson?” Eli Steele asked gruffly, moving aside for his brother to enter his home. “And why aren’t you at the basketball game with Mercury and Gannon?”

  “I had better things to do.”

  Eli rolled his eyes. “In other words, your team didn’t make it to the finals. Everyone knows what a sore loser you are.”

  Tyson frowned. “I’m not a sore loser.” He then glanced around. “Where’s Stacey?”

  His once die-hard bachelor brother had defected and married, just like his brothers Galen and Jonas. The only thing redeeming about that was he’d married Stacey Carlson. She was the sister of a good friend and former colleague of Tyson’s by the name of Cohen.

  “Stacey’s in bed, where most people with good sense are by now,” Eli said, dropping down on the sofa. “I hear Brittany and the babies might be going home tomorrow.”

  Tyson nodded. “So I heard.”

  “Word also has it that Mom has volunteered to help out for a few days. I hope she doesn’t get on Galen’s nerves.”

  Tyson chuckled. “I doubt that she will. He’s been in her good graces ever since he was the first to get married. Besides, helping out with the babies will keep her busy.”

  “And the busier she is the less chance she has to get into your business—and Mercury’s and Gannon’s—right?”

  “Right,” Tyson said, knowing Eli understood. Before he married, he’d gotten the Eden Tyson Steele’s “sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong” treatment, just like the rest of them. Now, with three sons married, she was relentless on the other three, prodding them along to get them to the altar. Tyson vowed it wouldn’t work on him. “So who do you think the babies look like?”

  Eli chuckled. “With those green eyes, forehead and lips, they favor Galen all the way. I haven’t heard their decisions on names, have you?”

  “Nope, but rumor has it they’re allowing Mom to do the honors.”

  Eli shook his head. “No wonder she’s blowing up the newspapers. She’s up there on cloud nine.”

  “Fine. She can stay there for a while,” Tyson said. “Just as long as she’s not into my business while she’s up there.”

  “You and Mercury and Gannon will get a slight reprieve, but don’t think she’ll let you guys off the hook for good.” Eli didn’t say anything for a minute as he stared across the room at his brother and then he said, “Okay, get it out. There’s a reason you dropped by so late.”

  Tyson sat down in the wingback chair across from the sofa. “There is. Hunter McKay’s back in town.”

  Eli’s forehead bunched. “Who’s Hunter McKay?”

  Tyson rolled his eyes
. “I can’t believe you don’t remember Hunter. But I shouldn’t be surprised. Back in the day, the old Eli remembered bodies and not names.”

  A smile curved Eli’s lips. “True. So was she one of those bodies?”

  “Hell, no! She was my girl.”

  “You never had a girl, Tyson.”

  His brother was right and for the life of him Tyson wasn’t sure why he’d said what he had just now. “Sorry, saying that was a huge mistake.”

  “I hope there’s not a reason why you made it. And lower your voice or you’ll wake up my wife and she needs her rest.”

  Tyson didn’t need to ask why. It seemed that all his married brothers had wedded women they enjoyed spending time with in and out of the bedroom. “There’s not a reason.”

  Eli stared at him for a long moment and then asked, “So what’s the big deal about this Hunter McKay being back in town?”

  “It just is.”

  “Hey, wait a minute,” Eli said, sitting straight up on the sofa. “That name is coming back to me. Isn’t Hunter McKay the girl who dumped you in your senior year of high school?”

  “She didn’t dump me.”

  “That’s not the way I remember it. And why are you interested in Hunter McKay? Didn’t I hear something about her getting married some years back?”

  “She’s a divorcée now. I saw her tonight at Notorious and got that much out of her. And it was a nasty divorce.”

  “How do you know?”

  Tyson stretched his long legs out in front of him. “She called her ex a bastard.”

  “Okay, her ex was a bastard. That doesn’t explain why you’re here at midnight.”

  Without hesitation Tyson said, “I want you to find out information on her.”

  Eli rolled his eyes. “Do I look like a friggin’ detective?”

  “No, but she’s an architect and as president of Phoenix’s business council, you would know if she’s set up her own business in town or was hired by an established firm.”

  “And you want to know that for what reason?”