Kate St. James - A Little Wild

Dedication

For Shari, who deserves every wild and wonderful thing that comes her way.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to my husband Steve for his never-ending support, willingness to play golf whenever the spirit moves him (allowing me more time to write), and indulging my belief that making Sloppy Joes for dinner constitutes a fancy meal.

My appreciation to Jennifer Stark for introducing me to Samhain, and to my editor, Sue-Ellen Gower, for putting up with my myriad newbie questions and for her keen editorial eye. It was a pleasure working on this book with you.

Many thanks to Robert Fuller, who patiently answered several emails about corporate law as I wrote the first draft of this story. I tried not to take fictional liberties with your replies, Robert, but a few might have crept in. All factual errors are of course mine. Thanks also to Roberts wife and my fellow Canuck writing buddy, Gail Fuller, for responding to my online plea for research help and putting me in touch with him.

Lastly, I am indebted to my former critique partners and dear author friends, Mary Forbes, Brenda Jernigan, and Jamie Sobrato, for reading an earlier version of this story and offering constructive criticism and insight!

Chapter One

You cant ignore the entire male gender, Tess. What will you do about sex?

Tess Sheridan squirmed in her chair in the upscale Vancouver bar. Im not ignoring them all, just the

Hot guys.

Tess stared down her best friend sitting across the small table. I will have sex again someday. She tucked a stray hair into the chignon that had loosened after a long Wednesday perusing contracts. But Ive dated up a storm since ditching Warren. What do you want me to do? Send invitations to the whole bunch and stage an orgy? Shed dumped her manipulative ex-boyfriend a year ago tonightin this same bar, in factinspiring Chloe Nichols to drop into the law firm and drag her to Danvers Pub for take-stock-of-Tesss-non-existent-love-life drinks.

Chloe laughed, her dark hair swinging. Sleeping with one man would suffice. And Im not talking a member of your guy-pal entourage, either, so dont worry.

Tess sighed. Why, oh, why had she blabbed her decision to remain celibate? Chloe clearly thought she was nuts. And Tess might, too, in another life. One not influenced by her horrendous workload, her history of wrongwrongwrong, totally wrong relationships, and the biggie: fear of winding up like Mom.

She sipped her English Bay Pale Ale, the smooth malt flavor welcome after another warm mid-August day. Dont call them my entourage. She hated the nickname.

Well, they are.

Theyre my friends. The thought of hooking up with any of the men she currently dated gave her hives. Not because she considered them male counterparts of her type-A self, either, which was hardly lust-inspiringshe slept with herself every night.

No, sex spelled trouble, plain and simple. She lost perspective, put the guys needs ahead of her own. Or at least that was how it always seemed.

Whatever. Chloe drank her beer. My point is, youve accomplished a great deal since passing the bar exam, yet all you do is work.

I have to keep working hard if I want to prove myself to Mr. Greenburg, Tess said above the chatter and soft rock music filling the trendy bar. Greenburg & Associates topped the citys corporate law firms. Tess had articled with Lawrence Greenburg upon graduating from the University of British Columbias competitive law school. Hed been so impressed with her diligence and enthusiasm that hed offered her a position as junior associate. She owed him for the opportunity to rise quickly through the ranks and someday make partner.

And she owed herself that same chance to become both financially and emotionally independent. Self-reliant. Free and unencumbered.

Although maybe a little bit lonely.

She shook off the dull ache settling over her. Mr. Greenburg has shown an enormous amount of faith in me by inviting me to sit in on the latest Halliday Enterprises consultation. Graham Halliday, Vancouvers wealthiest entrepreneur, possessed a reputation for generosity and community spirit. Tess looked forward to meeting him at the conference table next week. I could learn a lot from this acquisition, Chloe. I have to stay focused.

Focused and orgasm-free.

Chloe, I love you like a chocolate fudge sundae, but youre trying to distract me. I cant afford to become emotionally involved with any man right now.

Thats why you only date dweebs?

No. Tess sniffed, feigning insult. Thats why Ive only dated casually since Warren.

Why you always break it off before the third date.

Why I wont stay with any man long enough to form an emotional bond, she corrected.

Hmm. Chloe drummed her fingers on the polished wood table.

What?

I think youre afraid.

Tess blinked. Ridiculous, she said as their waitress approached. I just happen to know what I want.

Chloe set aside her empty beer bottle. Wanna bet?

Why do you keep checking your watch? Zach Halliday asked his brother, Ethan. They sat on upholstered stools at the brass-trimmed mahogany bar that earned Danvers Pub kudos with the corporate crowd. We came here to unwind. Cant you ignore the ticker for an hour?

Ethans lean face broke into a tolerant smile. Easy for you to say, little brother. You spent the day on the golf course and the evening entertaining the Crocketts Fine Foods representatives. I, on the other hand, have been embroiled in heavy-duty discussions with Dad and the Halliday accountants.

Your choice. Zach sipped his scotch. You thrive on plotting business strategies and handling negotiations, Eth. You always have. And, you know, playing eighteen holes with Hef Crockett and his merry band of sandbaggers has its drawbacks. All that talk about price points and sales promotions damn near threw my game off.

Ethan smirked. What did you shoot?

Seventy-four.

Two over par? At a tough course like Shaughnessy? Ethan shook his head. And you probably made Hef feel fantastic about his game while you creamed him.

Zach shrugged. I try.

Im not joking. Youre a natural at whatever sport you try. Me, Im lucky to shoot eighty-nine.

Thats because you never get out on the course.

At thirty-four and with an MBA to his credit, Ethan was their fathers primary advisorand was usually happy about it. Zach envied Ethan his focus. Eth had found his place in the world early on while Zach had drifted from job to job within the corporation, trying but never fitting in. Now, at thirty, Zachs meager responsibilities included wooing reps of potential investments like the Crocketts supermarket chain. He didnt hold regular office hours, acting more as a consultant while pursuing his own investments. He definitely didnt contribute to the company coffers the way Ethan did.

While their father claimed Zachs people skills were invaluable, Zach knew Graham Halliday would far prefer it if he became engrossed in the financial or managerial end of the corporation, like Ethan.

Problem was, nothing short of the Pacific parting like the Red Sea could motivate Zachs genuine interest in their fathers holding company for commercial and real estate investments. He wanted to strike out on his own, assert his individuality on a smaller scale. Yet, he couldnt do that without killing his fathers dreams of building a Halliday family dynasty.

So hed continued to drift.

But not anymore.

You work too hard, Eth. Theres more to life, he said in keeping with the laid-back persona his brother expected. He didnt want Ethan or their father guessing he was up to something. He still had too many balls in the air, and theyd find out soon enough.

I know. Ethans suit jacket shifted on his shoulders. Ill get there.

No time like the present. Turning, Zach gestured around the bar. The professionals frequenting Danvers ranged from their twenties to mid-forties. Groups of men and women clustered at the large tables. The small tables featured primarily couples and single women.