AMANDA BROWNING - The Playboy's Proposal

“Should I be? Do you intend to devour me?” Kathryn challenged scoffingly, knowing she wasn’t in the least bit afraid of him.

“The idea becomes more enticing by the minute. Doesn’t it?” Joel charged softly.

Warning bells went off in her head. “I think this is where I should protest that we have only just met.”

“Maybe we have, but it only took a second for both of us to know we want each other.”

“Do we know it?” she charged mockingly, and he nodded.

“Oh yes, and I give you fair warning, when I want something I usually get it.”

“Your arrogance is incredible!”

“My lovemaking is even better,” he retorted.

AMANDA BROWNING still lives in the house where she was born. The third of four children—her sister being her twin—she enjoyed the rough and tumble of life with two brothers as much as she did reading books. Writing came naturally as an outlet for a fertile imagination. The love of books led her to a career in libraries, and being single allowed her to take the leap into writing for a living. Success is still something of a wonder, but allows her to indulge in hobbies as varied as embroidery and bird-watching.

“Amanda Browning pens a riveting tale

chock full of dynamic characters,

sharp dialogue and an explosive conflict.”

—Romantic Times

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

KATHRYN TEMPLETON was wrapped in a pleasant haze, floating somewhere between sleeping and waking. The virtually silent engine and the gentle music issuing from the car’s speakers had had her sinking more comfortably into her seat and closing her eyes some time ago. It was the sudden cessation of noise as the music was turned off which brought her eyes open with a start, and she turned puzzled green orbs towards the driver, her Titian hair swinging about her face as she did so.

‘What’s up?’ Glancing ahead, she expected to see trouble in the form of an accident, but the road, winding through a Lakeland landscape clad in a late-winter fall of snow, was empty.

‘We’re almost there,’ declared Drew Templeton, her cousin and the reason she was sitting here heading into the Cumbrian wilds, as if that explained everything.

As far as Kathryn was concerned, it left a lot to be desired. Sitting up, she glanced at him curiously. ‘So what’s turned you so serious all of a sudden?’

Drew’s fingers tapped out a nervy tattoo on the steering wheel. ‘Nothing, really,’ he denied, then added, ‘I thought I’d better warn you about Joel, that’s all.’

Finely arched brows rose questioningly in a heart-shaped face. Drew had been fairly reticent about his employer. All she knew was that he had trouble with his computer, and, because she cared for her cousin, she had agreed to help. She ran a small but flourishing business sorting out problems with computer programs.

‘What about him?’ It seemed to her a fine time to start issuing warnings, when they were almost at journey’s end, but she guessed Drew hadn’t wanted to risk her running out on him. The rat. Not that she would have. ‘OK, tell me the worst. Is he some sort of monster?’ she teased lightly, and he gave her a sombre look.

‘Not exactly. I think the best way to describe Joel Kendrick is as a wolf in wolf’s clothing,’ he declared seriously.

The description had her ears pricking up. Really? She had never met an honest-to-goodness real life wolf before. What would he be like? Handsome, of course, with sex appeal dripping from every pore, or how else would he attract women? How did he go about seducing them? What, she wondered, with a quickening of her heart, would it be like flirting with him? The thought sent a tiny tremor of anticipation along her spine. There was nothing she enjoyed more than a light-hearted flirtation with a handsome, like-minded man. The weekend, which had offered only some interesting work, now took on a different complexion entirely. Smiling to herself, Kathryn folded her arms and gave Drew her full attention.

‘How interesting. Do tell me more!’ she invited with barely suppressed enthusiasm.

Her cousin groaned, not at all surprised by her response. Kathryn was cheerful and vivacious, and generally saw life as an adventure. Instead of viewing Joel Kendrick as someone to be avoided, she was more likely to see only the challenge of flirting with him. Unfortunately, his employer wasn’t like most men she met. It worried him that there was a real danger here, and he didn’t want to see her hurt.

‘Listen, Kathy, I’m being serious. Joel is my employer, and I like him, but I don’t have to approve of his attitude towards the opposite sex. He has a predatory eye for beautiful women. When he sees one he wants, he goes after her with single-minded intent. Oh, he treats his women well, but he’s only interested in an affair. Marriage is quite out of the question. Which, incidentally, is why you’re here.’

Far from being put off, Kathryn felt her curiosity sharpen. ‘You mean, one of his women caused this computer malfunction?’

‘Apparently she took exception to his ending their affair, and we think she slipped back into the house whilst he was out and deleted everything she could lay her hands on. Then the system crashed, and…. Well, this isn’t my field. God knows what else she did, but according to Joel it’s a mess.’

‘I see,’ Kathryn mused, silently praising the woman’s ingenuity. It certainly beat cutting his suits to shreds. The woman had style.

Drew sighed and flicked on the indicator before turning off the main road. ‘Joel called me and asked if I knew anyone who could help. He doesn’t want just anyone raking around in his business. I knew I could trust you, but it wasn’t until we were on our way that I realised taking you to Joel was like throwing you to the wolf.’

‘Because you think he might be interested in adding me to his list of conquests?’ Kathryn enquired teasingly, and Drew turned troubled eyes on her.

‘You certainly fit his criteria.’

She grinned. This was sounding very promising, ‘You mean I’m breathing?’ she taunted wryly.

‘I mean, you’re beautiful,’ Drew corrected heavily, and she quickly reached out and squeezed his arm.

‘Thank you for the compliment,’ she said warmly, and, unable to resist her patent affection, he grinned back at her.

‘You’re entirely welcome.’

Sitting back in her seat, Kathryn studied the starkly beautiful landscape. They were on a lakeside road, and the view was breathtaking. She liked winter. Everything seemed so sharp and clean. Eventually, though, her thoughts turned back to Joel Kendrick.

It was as well he wasn’t looking for a wife, because he didn’t sound her type at all. She was looking for that one man she would want to spend the rest of her life with. She knew that one day she would meet a man and fall in love with him in an instant, because love was like that. Whilst she waited, though, she wasn’t averse to having some fun. So what if Drew’s boss wasn’t husband material? As a diversion he fitted the bill nicely. She was well and truly intrigued by the possibility of indulging in some fascinating exchanges with a man who must have flirtation down to a fine art. Really, Drew needn’t worry about her being seduced by this latter-day Casanova. She had her head screwed on, and wasn’t about to become Joel Kendrick’s next conquest.

‘So, Joel Kendrick is used to getting any woman he wants, is he?’ she mused thoughtfully.

‘Being handsome and rich has something to do with it. Women seem to fall for him in droves,’ Drew added dryly.

‘Ah, the pull of sex appeal.’

She knew its power. Had fallen under its spell once or twice in her search for love and Mr Right. She knew she was as susceptible as the next woman when it came to a hunky male, but that didn’t mean she gave in to it. She had had a grand total of two relationships in her twenty-six years. It was no hardship to keep her relationships platonic. Sex for sex’s sake had never had an appeal.

‘What does he do? I mean, he doesn’t simply chase women all day, does he?’

‘He’s a business man, with engineering companies worldwide. He can be ruthless at times, but he’s well respected in the City. He took over the original company when his father retired, and has taken it from strength to strength. He’s a force to be reckoned with, but unfortunately it means he’s used to getting his own way.’

So, he was a strong-willed man. Well, she was used to strong-willed men. Her father and brothers were such men, with a tendency to issue commands to the youngest child and only daughter because they loved her and wanted to protect her. She understood that, but never let them ride roughshod over her. Consequently, their battles had become legendary. She was, after all, her father’s daughter, and equally strong-willed.

‘Do you honestly think I’m likely to be interested in him?’

‘I hope not,’ Drew responded fervently. There was no knowing quite which way Kathryn would go, but a prudent man expected the worst. He pulled a face. ‘Though it’s been my experience that women can’t seem to help themselves where he’s concerned.’

She laughed wryly, easily following his line of thought. The trouble with Drew was that he knew her too well. ‘Thanks for the vote of confidence. As it happens, I’m no push-over. Have you given thought to the possibility that I might not like him?’ The law of probability said that there must be some women who were immune to his practised charm.

‘No. You’d do something silly just for fun even if you didn’t like him. Just don’t get involved with him,’ Drew commanded. ‘Be kind to yourself, Kathy. He’s not the sort of man you want to play around with.’

There was no doubting his concern, and she loved him for it, but she felt he was rather jumping the gun. OK, she was thinking of sharpening her claws a little, but she could always change her mind. ‘I tell you what, I’ll take it under advisement. For now, I think I’ll just reserve judgement. After all, I haven’t even met the man!’

A situation which was about to be remedied some fifteen minutes later, when Drew brought the car to a halt before a large stone-built house, with gables and an extra wing tacked on to one end of it.

‘So, this is the wolf’s lair?’ Kathryn declared, tongue very firmly in cheek, as she climbed out of the car. It was beautiful.

Drew retrieved their luggage from the boot. ‘Come and meet him. I hope you’ve got some garlic handy.’

‘Silly, that’s only good against vampires. What I need is a silver bullet, and I’m fresh out of those. I’ll put them on my shopping list.’

‘You may joke now,’ Drew responded, seeing her determination to make light of the situation as a bad sign. ‘I only hope you don’t end up laughing on the other side of your face.’

Kathryn slipped an arm through his and squeezed gently. ‘Don’t worry, Drew. I can take care of myself.’

He looked at her doubtfully. ‘Hmm. Famous last words. Oh, well, I’ve had my say. It’s up to you now.’