In the Market for Love - By Nina Blake Page 0,1

you.”

“And I’m supposed to believe that? You’re not doing a very good job of convincing me,” she said.

“Look, I only wanted you to shift your car and then–”

“And I suppose the word ‘please’ didn’t occur to you, Mr…” She struggled to find the right words. “Mr Porsche!”

His lips curled to an amused smile. “Actually, I thought I’d leave you to it and take the visitor’s spot for myself.”

Rachel glared at him. “Thank you.” The words sounded more like a reprimand.

He slid into the low leather seat of the Porsche, turning to catch her eye as he closed the door and lowered the electric window. He must be taunting her with that soft sensual smile.

Since her car door was already closed, she’d missed the opportunity to slam it shut. Instead she held his gaze as she pressed the remote locking button on her key ring with a vengeance, wishing she could demonstrate her power with a more decisive action.

She strutted away, her heels clicking on the concrete pavement. The sooner she got away from this man, the better.

* * *

Jake Austin stood by his car.

“Damn it,” he muttered.

Grabbing his briefcase, he slammed the door of his Porsche shut and ran the length of the car park until he reached the lift.

It was too late. She was gone.

This was a big building and she could be anywhere. There were probably fifty other businesses apart from his in the tower. How could he have let her leave without getting her phone number or at least her name?

He paced the bare pavement in front of the closed lift doors and wondered how it was possible for a woman to have swept him into such a tempest so quickly. She was certainly a blast of fresh air. In his line of work he met new people all the time but it had been a long time since he’d met someone with such energy and vitality.

He shook his head. The woman was a tornado.

“Come on.” Jake slammed his fist into the lift button before leaning against the masonry wall, his mind deep in thought. Or was it turmoil?

It wasn’t just his intellect this woman had excited. Closing his eyes, he pictured the delicate features of her face, the prominent cheekbones, the pale prepossessing eyes framed by lush dark lashes, so striking against her smooth creamy skin.

He’d liked what he’d seen. Her pink jacket, nipped in at the waist, outlined her slender figure and the matching skirt flattered her shapely hips and long toned thighs. Clearly the outfit highlighted her femininity but then again that would be difficult to hide.

A surge of electricity charged deep within him. Did she have any idea of the effect she’d had? Had she felt even a fraction of what he had?

There was nowhere else for him to go but back to the office. He punched the lift button again.

“How could I have let her get away?” he muttered.

He had been abrupt at first when he’d shouted across the car park but he hadn’t seen her, hadn’t even considered she might be a woman let alone one with such vitality. So full of spark and energy, she gave as good as she got. Now there was a woman who wouldn’t back down.

He should slow down and get a grip. It wasn’t as though he was seventeen any more. He was thirty-seven years old yet he was acting like a love struck schoolboy. What had this woman done to him?

She’d poked fun at his car too. So many women, and men for that matter, were impressed by wealth, a big house, an expensive car.

Not this woman. She sneered at his car. Called him Mr Porsche.

There was so much in Jake’s 1970s silver Porsche 911 Turbo that reflected his personality that normally he would have taken offence at such a comment. There were more expensive cars on the market but with a hint of retro funk mixed with the unmistakable Porsche styling, there was no vehicle which suited him better.

He could have lived comfortably from his family’s wealth but he was driven by the need to be successful in his own right. He’d inherited his father’s business acumen and combined this with his own creative streak to thrive in the cutthroat world of advertising. And the first thing he’d done all those years ago with his initial business success was buy that car.

It was a shame she thought he’d looked down on her car for that was certainly not his intention. He was only