The No Sex Clause Read online

  The No Sex Clause

  A Romance Novel

  By Glenys O’Connell

  DEDICATION

  To Adrian, husband, best friend, and editor par excellence

  Text Copyright @ Glenys O’Connell 2012

  All Rights Reserved

  CHAPTER ONE

  “It’s just not good enough. We arranged 6 pm at my place, and it’s now 6.03 and there’s no sign of him,” Anna Findlay snapped into her cell phone.

  The woman at the other end was painstakingly patient. “I’ve told you already, Ms Findlay, that he’s on his way. He should be there in three minutes. He’s delayed in traffic – these things happen.”

  “Well, they shouldn’t….oh, I think he’s here now. A black tuxedo, you said?”

  “Yes, you purchased our formal special.” There was no mistaking the relief in the other woman’s voice as she ended the conversation.

  Anna pushed the phone back into her tiny evening bag as she watched the doorman open the door of a delicious black luxury SUV. Her jaw fell open as she saw the driver who unfolded himself from the vehicle and stood for a moment gazing up at the building. If ever a man was born to wear a tux, this was the one! My god, she could see why he made money at an escort agency – all he’d have to do is sit and look gorgeous all evening and who could wish for anything more? Especially when the deal had a No Sex Clause, Anna grimaced to herself. What on earth had she gotten herself into?

  The doorman smiled respectfully at the newcomer and the two men exchanged greetings. Anna tapped her expensively sandaled toe against the marble floor and let out an exasperated sigh. The man was already four minutes late for their date, and he was casually chatting to the doorman! This isn’t going to work, she told herself. The words had become a mantra over the past two weeks, ever since her publisher’s marketing department had persuaded her to attend her high school reunion.

  Yes, she’d known it wasn’t going to work, and a shiver of foreboding went up her spine as the black-haired hunk glanced at her through the double glass doors. Their eyes locked for a moment, and something sweet and sexy sang in the air.

  This definitely isn’t going to work, Anna repeated again to herself. The last thing she needed was to react to her date on a physical level. She’d told the agency she wanted a Sex God, believing she was immune to all that crazy hormone stuff that afflicted other women, thank you very much.

  Now she was getting shivers looking at a total stranger who wasn’t even polite enough to arrive on time. What was she thinking? Anna straightened her shoulders and drew herself up to her full five feet nine inches before striding out to the sidewalk, where she found herself standing by, ignored, as the Sex God and the doorman stood and chatted about the latest baseball scores. This was just too much! Fuming, Anna coughed loudly to attract their attention. The green gaze of the Sex God landed on her like a warm hand. Anna shivered.

  Donald, the doorman, smiled benignly at her. “Good evening, Miss Findlay…what can I do for you?”

  “You could open the car door, for one thing, and let me get in out of the cold,” she said, knowing she was being rude but then, that’s what doormen were paid for. Looking over at the Sex God, she said coldly: “You’re already late and making us later while you stand here chatting on my time. Do you mind if we get moving?”

  She enjoyed the look of shock on his face. Obviously the Sex God - whom she really must start calling by his proper name, Bob Goulding – wasn’t used to assertive women. No doubt he was used to getting away with all sorts of nonsense while women drooled over his good looks. Well, not this woman. Anna Findlay was finished with being a doormat for good looking men, and this one was about to feel the sharp edge of her tongue if he didn’t hop to it and get on with his duty.

  Oops, now there was a double entendre if ever there was one. A blush rose up Anna’s cheeks, making her even more irritated. Her blood pressure soared even higher when he replied with a double entendre of his own.

  “I’m sorry, Ma’am – just what is it you’d like me to do?” And that lazy smile and toffee-soft Western drawl suggested women often wanted him to do all sorts of things – and that sometimes he willingly complied. Anna ground her teeth.

  “I want you to get into the car and get to work.”

  That startled him, Anna noted with satisfaction, although the strange look that Donnie the doorman gave her was a little disconcerting. Well, to hell with them! But she ground her teeth even more when Donnie looked over to the other man and waited for his nod before he opened the passenger door for Anna to get in. Men!

  The Sex God climbed in beside her, bringing with him a scent of fresh, clean male and something else – could it be the smell of the great outdoors? Uhmm, whatever it was, it was very distracting to female hormones. Maybe she’d suggest to her friend, perfume designer Sue Lennox, that she try to distil that Great Outdoors scent as an aftershave for men. If the effect it was having on Anna was anything to go by, the perfume would be a best-seller!

  “So, exactly what work do you want me to do?” he asked as he settled himself in beside her.

  “Didn’t the agency tell you? I understood it was all arranged – I bought the full package.”

  Was he blushing? Anna was sure there was a flush over his cheekbones even in the dim light of the luxury vehicle’s interior. He seemed to be avoiding her eyes, but there was something suspiciously like a smile tweaking the strong line of his lips.

  His almost-smile irritated Anna beyond endurance. “Don’t tell me they’ve sent me a rank beginner!” she snapped, rolling her eyes. “Mrs Rogers assured me you were very experienced in this sort of thing.”

  Her companion went into a paroxysm of coughing. Great, a sick one as well. Wonderful. This evening was going down the toilet before it even started. He seemed to get over his bout of coughing, and then asked in a strangled sounding voice: “Just what did you expect from the ‘full package’?”

  Anna sighed. Yes, she’d told Alexandra Peterson, her contact at the New York office of her publisher, that this would be a mistake. She was right, Alex was wrong, and the whole of the class of 1999 would be laughing their socks off at her. Not that that would be the first time…but…

  “Really, I don’t know what’s going on here. Am I going to have to take you by the hand and show you everything I want? For starters, sit a little closer – I want you to be very, very attentive.”

  Another bout of coughing. “Attentive? Okay, right. I can do attentive. And I assure you, I’m very, very experienced, all right? It’s just that…well, this is a little unusual…” But he scooted across the seat towards her and slipped his arm around her shoulders. “Is this close enough?” he murmured, his breath warm on her neck.

  Suddenly it was very, very warm inside the car and Anna had to fight a desire to lean into the broad chest of her companion, her eyes drooping shut. She’d like to fall asleep against his strength…hell, no, sleep was not what her hormones had in mind! They were zinging around her body, making her limbs heavy and her skin super sensitive to the sensual touch of the silk wool mix of his tuxedo jacket as it slid against her bare shoulders. Maybe she should have worn a less revealing evening dress…… and then images of wearing nothing at all, skin on skin with her escort, flashed and burned through her mind and Anna sat up suddenly as straight as a Victorian dowager.

  “Something wrong?” Her companion asked, letting his arm slide from her suddenly rigid shoulders, his hand sliding down her bare arm and sending all sorts of sparks flying across her skin.

  “No, not at all – just save the attentive stuff until we get there! You can’t drive if you let your hands wander.”

  “Jeez, would you ever make up your mind? Just where, might I ask, is ‘there
’, anyway?”

  “Didn’t you read the information from the agency? They said they’d make sure you got everything you needed…”

  “Nope, I didn’t get anything from the agency.”

  Anna swore under her breath nastily enough for Mrs Rogers’ ears to be burning, although Anna had no doubt that Mrs Rogers was probably home someplace away from the agency, enjoying a casual supper and a glass of wine in front of the television. While she, Anna, was stuck in a luxury SUV with this gorgeous brainless hunk who’d obviously not been briefed at all by the aforesaid Mrs. Rogers. Anna ground her teeth some more, and her companion had the good sense to slide a few inches further away from her on the leather seat.

  “In light of the fact that I don’t have a clue what’s going on, perhaps you’d be kind enough to give me the potted version of what’s happening, and how I’m supposed to react?”

  Anna took a deep breath to calm herself. Remember what Alonso, her personal trainer, said: breathe deeply, in, out, let all your muscles relax slowly, breath in, breath out….omigod, just how did I get myself into this mess? I’m going to wring Alex’s miserable neck…

  She took another deep breath, as Alonso had taught her, breathing out to rid her mind of all the anger and frustrations and tension. Maybe she could breathe her way out of this mess. In…breathe out… It didn’t work, so she had to speak anyway. “Okay, we’re going to my high school reunion.” If he laughs, I’ll not be responsible for my actions. And they’ll be violent…

  But her companion remained quiet, obviously listening, and she tried another deep breath. That didn’t work, either. “At that reunion, you will be my very attentive escort – you’ll listen to my every word, laugh at my jokes, bring me drinks, get me a seat – whatever it takes to make everyone believe you’re madly in….er, infatuated with me.” She’d almost said ‘…in love with me’ which would have been really silly for someone who didn’t recognise being in love as anything more than a serious disorder of the hormones.

  “I guess I can do that,” the man drawled. “And is there anything in particular that I need to remember?”

  “Well, I’ll be calling you Bob, and that’s how I’ll introduce you, so that shouldn’t be a problem.”

  “Bob? No, okay, I guess I can remember that.”

  Damn the man! Was he being sarcastic? Had he picked up on her opinion of his lack of brainpower? Well, she wasn’t going to worry about that – she was paying him well enough for him not to have to worry about anything except being her perfect escort.

  “Uhmm, what should I call you?”

  “Just call me Anna, and we’ll be fine. Oh, and people will mention my book – just nod and look impressed, okay? Don’t try to explain anything to anyone.” Anna paused, wondering if she needed to fill him in on the type of questions and comments people might make about her book…then decided against it. Why make things even more complicated? “There are just two other things.”

  “Fire away.”

  “One is that I’ve booked a suite for the night at the hotel near the school…just for the way it looks, you know,” Anna swallowed hard past her embarrassment, glad that it had got darker outside and she was sure he wouldn’t be able to see her flaming cheeks. “But you’ll know all about that, of course.”

  “Yes, Ma’am,” he drawled. “I can assure you I’m getting the picture.”

  “And, er, the other thing…I’m really nervous about this reunion.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Jed had almost laughed aloud when she’d declared she was scared of her high school reunion. It was hard to imagine how this snotty, opinionated, infuriating, beautiful woman could be afraid of anything. Certainly, she was pretty good about demanding that people do things for her. But when he braked to a halt outside the small town high school that she’d directed him to, one glance at her was enough to make him believe her. Anna’s face had gone chalk white. His beautiful companion was scared half to death. Yet the sprawling, two storey school, decked out with banners and coloured lights, conveyed a welcoming look despite its rundown appearance.

  Jed Walker looked from his companion’s white face to the tacky-looking decorations and welcome banners on the high school, and wondered just what the hell he’d gotten himself into.

  He’d been on his way to a cocktail party when he’d been virtually kidnapped by the sharp-tongued beauty who’d hijacked him – and his car – and brought them out to this god-forsaken wide spot in the road where she somehow seemed to think he was going to act as her lover.

  Or maybe not just act – she’d booked them a hotel room for afterwards. Somehow this was all moving too fast. He’d certainly no objections to spending the night with a woman as gorgeous as this Anna, but he figured she had to be out of her mind, a few sandwiches short of a picnic, as his Daddy used to say, and Jed was no longer sure this adventure was worth its salt.

  His Daddy had always told him New York was a weird and crazy place, and after a few years in the city, Jed had little difficulty in believing his old man. But this was definitely the weirdest thing that had happened to him so far. And if he was going to go to bed with a woman, he reckoned he didn’t like the idea of being kidnapped and then being ordered how to behave. No, not at all.

  In fact, he’d been about to get her out of the car, see her safely into the school hall, and return to the cocktail party when he’d caught sight of her face. And it was pure and simple fear he’d seen there – the lady was terrified of walking into her high school reunion!

  And suddenly Jed Walker, who many people would hesitate to call a gentleman, was hit by a wave of old fashioned chivalry. He just couldn’t leave this woman to face her demons all alone. Whatever those demons were, the look on her face made him want to scoop her up in his arms and soothe away her fears.

  And, having felt the sharp side of her tongue, he could just imagine what her reaction would be to that!

  “Would you please stop grinning like an idiot and get to work?” Anna demanded, wondering what on earth was going through his mind as he stared appraisingly at her with those gorgeous green eyes. Then his expression opened up and she saw what he was thinking, saw the desire flickering there just in time to gasp as he gathered her in his arms and kissed her thoroughly on the mouth. A kiss that seemed to inject warmth into every part of her, from her toes to the tip of her head, and places in between – tender places she’d vowed no man would have access to again!

  When she was able to draw breath again, she was ready to splutter a reprimand when she saw the gleam of laughter in his eyes and held her tongue. The beast was laughing at her.

  “Just doing my job, Ma’am,” he whispered in her ear, and yes, he was! People were staring into the car, staring at the beautiful, passionate people in the car! Yes! This was exactly what she wanted….and maybe later she’d think about just how much she’d enjoyed that kiss.

  Been there, done that - got the scars, she muttered to herself.

  “I’m sorry - what did you say?”

  “Oh, nothing. Let’s get this over with.”

  Now to face her former classmates, the people who’d mocked her and made fun of her studious ways and conservative dressing, who’d laughed at her shyness and called her Mouse. She’d always dreamed of paying them back, and now an adventurous publisher had given her the opportunity. She would grasp it with both hands.

  Payback’s a bitch.

  And she was just the bitch for the job!

  * * *

  Jed stepped around the car to open Anna’s door and offered her his hand while displaying a charming smile to the small crowd who’d gathered round them. Anna puzzled him, and he was beginning to find her intriguing, despite his better judgement. Of course, his judgement might be a bit skewed right now – that kiss had hit him right down to his, well, his toes…..

  Gorgeous creatures like this had usually been high school princesses adored by all. But Anna didn’t give the impression she had enjoyed a cosseted high school tenure – so just
what had these people done to her to make her feel this way?

  He was amazed at the sudden protective surge that washed over him, wanting to take on any comers who might wound this little lamb – even though he knew she was a little lamb with sharp teeth and claws. Maybe he should just get in the car and go right back to New York City while he could escape unscathed…

  But it was too late. They were already out of the car and a skinny big-haired blonde was bearing down on them with several others in her wake.

  “Well, Anna Findlay! What a delight to see you here at the reunion! Just you come along in now, dear, and tell your friends all that’s been happening to you. Not that I guess that’s been very much.”

  “Hi, Lindy,” Anna said, her voice small. Jed thought the last time he’d seen a look like that it had been on a rabbit that had been cornered by a pack of dogs. He’d rescued that old rabbit – surely he could take the time to rescue this one? Flinging his arm around her shoulders, he urged her through the group. “C’mon, honey, let’s go inside and you can introduce me to all your friends.”

  “My friends? That won’t take too long.” She sighed back at him, grateful for the shelter of his protecting arm. Then a backward glance revealed to her satisfaction, that Lindy and company were gazing open-mouthed – at Bob, her escort.

  *****

  As a lonely teenager she’d dreamed of walking in to the annual school dance on the arm of a gorgeous hunk – preferably the football team captain – and watching all the other girls turn green with envy.

  The dream had changed as she got older. She fantasised about returning to a gathering at the high school as a successful and desirable woman, and setting the whole room quivering with envy at her achievements.

  Now both dreams were coming true at once. She was a bestselling author, a recognised academic in her own field of sociology, AND she had a gorgeous hunk on her arm. Not to mention the fact that she looked terrific, she added to herself as she passed by the mirrored walls of the entrance hall. Sometimes she looked at her reflection in the mirror these days, and wondered who that woman was…