A Little Wild by Kate St. James Page B

point behind assembling her collection of platonic male friends was that not one had a prayer of leading her into temptation.
    Chloe’s gaze narrowed. “Speaking of the entourage, you have been nixing any and all invites, haven’t you? I’m dealing with a lawyer. I’ve learned to be precise.”
    Nodding, Tess finished tidying her braid. “I turned down a date this morning. Richard called.” She ran her hands down her khaki shorts.
    “That stockbroker dork?”
    “He’s not a dork. He wanted to have drinks tonight.”
    “And you said no? Go, Tess!”
    “It was no big deal. When I explained how swamped I am at work, Richard said he understood.” Actually, every guy she’d turned down in the eight days since meeting Zach had been extremely understanding about her sudden unavailability. Chloe had been right when she’d implied Tess’s love life lacked luster.
    “Don’t sell yourself short,” Chloe said. “It’s a huge deal that you turned down Dick.”
    Tess laughed. “Richard.”
    “Whatever.” The fiend grinned. “Of all the guys in your entourage, Dickie’s the tamest, which also makes him the safest. It’s goodbye safe for you, hel- lo studmuffin.” Chloe paused. “At least, it had better be. You haven’t said yes to another member of the entourage?”
    Tess shook her head. “I haven’t dated a soul since before that night in Danver’s, and I don’t plan to.” Mostly because she was swamped, but also because she needed Chloe to believe she was on track with the bet. She didn’t have the stamina to do a good job with the Crockett’s deal, help Zach with his business, concentrate on building her client list, pamper herself with her new sex toy, and keep Chloe at bay.
    Something had to give. Out of necessity, that “something” translated into pulling a scam on her best friend.
    “You mean to say you don’t plan on dating anyone but Zach,” Chloe specified above the instrumental music flowing from the coffeehouse speakers.
    “Um, yeah.”
    “Wonderful progress, Tee. I’m proud of you.”
    Tess glanced away. Chloe’s compliments would evaporate faster than rainwater in the desert if she realized Tess wasn’t dating Zach, just seeing him for business reasons.
    However, even if Tess wanted to spill her guts to her best bud, she couldn’t. On Monday, when she’d agreed to represent Zach, she’d promised to keep his plans secret. While usually she had no difficulty maintaining client confidentiality, she’d never before needed to pretend a business relationship didn’t exist.
    “Don’t be too proud.” She faked absorption in her cranberry muffin, poking at a mashed bit of red fruit and licking the juice off her finger.
    “I’ll be as proud as I want.” Chloe crossed her arms over her kelly-green apron. “I thought you’d need a ton more pushing to reach this point. You’ve surprised me.”
    “I’m daring and unafraid now, thanks to you.” Even more daring than you might think. Tess’s lips twitched. She felt like she hoarded a naughty, sexy secret. And she supposed she did.
    Because no way would she tell Chloe about the phone sex or her desk adventures, or especially her nerves and exhilaration at the thought of seeing Zach again.
    Chloe stepped aside to allow Frank access to the glass pastry cabinet. Once the tall man had retrieved a muffin, Chloe rested crossed arms on the counter. “Where is the infamous Zach Halliday taking you?”
    “Golfing.”
    “Yuck.”
    “I like to golf.”
    “Uh-huh. You only golf when your job requires it. You don’t even own a set of clubs.”
    Tess’s mouth firmed. It would really help her cause if Chloe accepted her white lies at face value!
    She picked at her muffin. “We’re getting a set from Jenna’s before heading to Northview. But in a way I am working. As a favor to his father, Zach is sort of involved in the latest Halliday Enterprises deal. He’s very intelligent, and he has some great ideas. We’ll probably toss them