Deadly Obsession (A Brown and de Luca Novel Book 4) by MAGGIE SHAYNE

tits. They’d probably pop.
    Wow. What the hell is wrong with you, girl?
    I don’t know, Inner Bitch. You tell me. What is this?
    Green-eyed monster. No doubt about it.
    “I don’t
get
jealous.” I said it aloud.
    You do now.
    “No.” I shook my head, and tamped down the burst of temper. “No, you know what, no. I’m not doing this. Mason Brown is not a player. I know that. Whatever was going on back there, it wasn’t that. So I need to knock it the fuck off and give him a chance to explain.”
    I took a big breath, nodded hard and pulled the car over. Then I pulled out my cell and called him.
    He answered before the first ring finished. “It’s not what you’re thinking, Rachel. I swear to God, she didn’t look like that when she applied for the job.”
    I sighed heavily. “I owe you an apology. I’m sorry I acted like a jealous...whatever back there. That’s not me. I don’t know who the hell that was. Some jackass snuck in and took over my body. Temporarily.”
    “Actually, it made me feel pretty damn good.”
    “That’s ’cause you’re a guy. And it fed your ego.”
    “You’re probably right.”
    “I’ll let you get back to the bimbo, I just wanted to tell you that...” I sighed. “I guess I trust you.”
    “That’s nice. You can, you know.”
    “I know.”
    “I told her that her outfit was completely inappropriate and sent her home. I’ll hire someone else.”
    “Not because of me,” I said.
    “Completely because of you. Her showing up like that was an insult to you. And I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. I set her straight.”
    I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “Thanks for that. I’m sorry I ran out on breakfast.”
    “Come back? We didn’t eat it yet.”
    I shook my head. “Actually, no. I have a lot of writing to do today, I’m way behind. And...”
And I need some alone time.
“And stuff,” I finished lamely. “I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
    * * *
    Gretchen had worn a uniform that was a size too small, unbuttoned low, over a pushup bra. She’d blown her hair dry upside down, to give it that centerfold lift and fullness men loved, had applied flavored lip gloss and smoky eyes. She’d gotten out of the car slowly, one long leg first, and she knew he’d been watching. She’d felt his eyes burning on her thigh.
    Men always responded to her thighs. The nurse uniform was a new touch. After all, most of her conquests never knew her real name, much less her true profession. But this one was different. With Mason it would be forever.
    He’d watched her, she knew it, as she got out of the car and walked toward his front door, swinging her hips better than any runway model and mesmerizing him. She’d knocked, pretending she didn’t see him standing back there with the soon-to-be-former girlfriend, his eyes almost popping as they moved from her head to her manicured toes and back again.
    And the teenage boy had practically been drooling when she’d spoken to him in her sexiest voice.
    Then, just as she’d planned, the brunette had revealed herself to Mason as an insecure, jealous, controlling bitch.
    Gretchen could tell that pissed him off. He didn’t even speak to her after that, only sputtered a little. That’s how angry he was.
    Then, exceeding even her hopes, the brunette had hefted the ugly dog off the floor, snapped at her and stormed out.
    Gretchen looked at Mason and gasped, squeezing moisture into her eyes. “Why would she say that to me?”
    “Um, ’cause you look like you’re wearing the sexy nurse costume from Party City,” the horny teenager said, all bravado and pretending he wasn’t as turned on as his father was.
    “Jeremy, that’s not nice.”
    The kid blushed, then took his puppy and turned around.
    “Ohh, is that a puppy?” she asked.
    “No. It’s a wombat. Escaped from the zoo. I’m taking it back.” He didn’t turn around, just kept right on walking. “Call me when we can have breakfast, Uncle Mace.” His kid brother