Julie James - Just the Sexiest Man Alive

Table of Contents

GAME ON

Am I correct in understanding that you dislike me, Ms. Donovan? he asked coyly, circling around her in amusement.

Taylor followed him with her eyes, her voice even. I wont let my feelings about you compromise my career, Mr. Andrews. You got me in a lot of trouble at work, you know.

Jason stopped, surprised to find himself uncomfortable at the thought. Ill tell you what, he said magnanimously. Let me buy you a drink. We can start overget to know one another properly. He flashed her the smile that made hearts flutter worldwide. Five and a half billion dollars in lifetime box office gross for his little projects. Take that.

Taylor cocked her head, appearing to consider his offer. Then, with her arms folded across her chest, she took a few steps toward him. When she was close enough that they were practically touching, she stared up at him, her green eyes boring deep into his. Jason could feel the warmth of her body, and he wondered if she knew what he was thinking right then.

Apparently, she did.

Lets get something straight, Mr. Andrews, she said steadily. This is business. Nothing else.

Before Jason could get in one word edgewise on the matter, Taylor backed away and turned to leave. And Ill expect you to be at my office first thing tomorrow morning. Do try not to be late.

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

JUST THE SEXIEST MAN ALIVE

A Berkley Sensation Book / published by arrangement with the author

PRINTING HISTORY
Berkley Sensation mass-market edition / October 2008

Copyright 2008 by Julie Koca.

All rights reserved.
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eISBN : 978-1-436-29003-6

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Berkley Sensation Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,
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To my grandfather
for inspiring me to start the journey,
and to my husband
for being my partner along the way.

Acknowledgments

First and foremost, I would like to thank my film agent, Dick Shepherd, who believed in this story, and me, from the very beginning, and without whom none of this would have happened.

I would also like to express my deepest appreciation to all my family and friends for their love and continuing encouragement.

I am forever grateful to my earliest readers who took the time to read this story back when it was called The Andrews Project , and especially to Ami Wynne, Brian Guarraci, Brendan Carroll, and Karen Schmidt for their thoughtful input, and to Mason Novick for his advice on the value of conflict in romantic comedies.

A special thanks to my literary agent, Susan Crawford, whose passion and enthusiasm are truly inspiring, and also to my wonderfully supportive editor, Wendy McCurdy; her assistant, Allison Brandau; and everyone at Berkley.

Finally, and most importantly, I want to thank my husband, Brian, for tirelessly reading every draft, being my toughest critic, and making it all possible.

One

TAYLOR DONOVAN MAY have been new to Los Angeles, but she certainly recognized a line of bullshit when she heard one.

It was 8:15 on a Monday morningfrankly, a bit early, in Taylors mind anyway, to be dealing with this latest round of nonsense coming from her opposing counsel, Frank Siedlecki of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. But hey, it was a gorgeous sunny morning in Southern California and her Starbucks had already begun to kick in, so she was willing to play nice.

Franks call had come in just as Taylor had pulled into the parking garage of her downtown L.A. office building. After answering, she had let her opposing counsel go on for several minuteswithout interruption, she might addabout the righteousness of his clients position and how Taylor and her utterly nonrighteous client should consider themselves lucky to be given the chance to make the whole lawsuit go away for a paltry $30 million. But at a certain point, one could only take so much nonsense in one Monday-morning phone call. Luscious Starbucks or not.

So Taylor had no choice but to cut Frank off mid-rant, praying she didnt lose the signal to her cell phone as she stepped into the lobby elevator.

Frank, Frank, she said in a firm but professional tone, theres no way were going to settle at those numbers. You want all that money, just because your clients heard a few four-letter words in the workplace?

She noticed then that an elderly couple had gotten into the elevator with her. She smiled politely at them as she continued her phone conversation.

You know, if the EEOCs going to ask for thirty million dollars in a sexual harassment case, she told Frank, at least tell me somebody was called a slut or a whore.

Out of the corner of her eye, Taylor saw the elderly womanseventy-five years old if she was a daysend her husband a disapproving look. But then Frank began rattling on further about the so-called merits of the plaintiffs position.

I have to be honest, Im not exactly impressed with your case, she said, cutting him off. All youve got is a sporadic string of some very minor incidents. Its not as if anyone slapped an ass or grabbed a boob.

Taylor noticed that the elderly couple was now subtly but quickly moving away from her, to the opposite end of the elevator.

Of course Im not taking you seriously, she said in response to her opposing counsels question. Were talking about thirty million dollars here! Instead of shouting, her voice had a laughing tone, which experience had proven to be far more infuriating to her opponents.

Not seeing any reason to waste another minute, she summarized her position with a few simple parting thoughts.

Frank, this case is a publicity stunt and a shakedown. My clients did nothing illegal, and you and I both know Ill have no problem proving that to a jury. So theres no reason to discuss your ridiculous settlement offer any further. Call me when somebody sees a penis.