Come Away with Me Read online

  It was an unlikely field of endeavor and one he had stumbled into completely by accident. But once in, he had excelled beyond his wildest dreams. His fame and popularity were unparallel. Women and men bought his books, attended his lectures and listened to his radio talk show. But it wasn’t enough.

  All this was fine, but this wasn’t what he really wanted. He was once a serious scientist and a promising professional on his way to the top in his field. His research papers and scientific studies on human sexuality drew rave reviews from the psychology community and accolades from his peers. But that was before the fame started. Now people came in droves just to hear him talk about sex and seduction.

  He didn’t mind; it was all part of a larger picture. He enjoyed writing books that helped people with relationship issues. But what he was really doing was preparing a major case study entitled The Anthropology of Love. The basic thesis was simple: examine the process of falling in love up close and personal. He would be presenting his initial results at the National Psychology Conference in four weeks.

  It was a project he’d been working on for well over a year. Everything was complete. He had his hypothetical premise, his suppositious data, his indisputable research from test subjects and his theoretical conclusion. Now he had the four-week break in his schedule to complete his project. The only thing missing was the perfect partner on which to test and examine his theories. Unfortunately, finding her wasn’t as easy as he had initially anticipated.

  His subject had to be extremely self-aware, detached emotionally from constraints of a relationship and able to submit to the process he had outlined. Whether she needed to be aware of the study was a nonissue. But the most vital criteria was that he had to feel an immediate physical and emotional attraction. In other words, he needed the perfect woman. So far no one even came close.

  He knew he’d know her the instant he saw her. But so far he hadn’t come across anyone who fit the criteria. Now he was running out of time and he needed someone fast.

  He saw a woman stand and a forum assistant hurry over to hold the microphone for her. She leaned toward the mic, smiling giddily, and then asked her question. “Dr. Love, in your new seduction book you write about having sex in public places. Are you saying sex in public is okay?”

  “Actually, my book doesn’t say that at all. What it suggests is the possibility of ‘romancing’ in public places,” he began, explaining slowly to clarify his stance. The last thing he needed was to be misquoted. And he didn’t need another scandal. The one last year was certainly enough. “Don’t be timid about public displays of affection. Hold hands when you walk. Men, touch the small of a woman’s back. Women, touch your man’s arm or face tenderly from time to time. There’s nothing wrong with a little flirting and seduction in public. Remember show and tell. No matter where you are, show the person you’re with that they are desired and adored. The smallest gesture can make the biggest difference. But please be mindful of location. Some areas aren’t as accepting as others. The bottom line is use common sense.”

  Another question was asked. “Dr. Love, when is your next book being released and what will it be about?” she asked.

  “I’m taking a short break from writing books right now.” There was a very loud, very disappointed collective “Awww” as the audience began to mumble under their breaths. “I’m currently working on something very different. It’s entitled The Anthropology of Love. There is no release date as of yet. It’s not my traditional howto, self-help guide. It’s more of a specific case study centering on a single subject—falling in love.” Oohs and ahhs filtered quickly throughout the room.

  “Do you use volunteers for your research and where do I sign up?” someone from the audience asked. Everyone laughed.

  Quinn smiled and chuckled. “I’m afraid that’s going to have to remain confidential.”

  There was another collective sound of disappointment as another question was quickly asked. Quinn answered as he continued walking around the room. He stood in the back as a woman relayed what she’d learned and how it had positively affected her life. He listened while studying those around him. He knew instantly. No one here fit his subject parameters. Not like her.

  Then, out of the corner of his eye he spotted her. She slipped into the room seemingly unnoticed, but he noticed. She looked around the room then turned her attention to the stage. She didn’t see him.

  As Shay had suspected, the room was packed to standing room only and then some. She quietly closed the door behind her and looked around. The buzz of excitement generated from every direction. There was a man standing on stage—Dr. Love she assumed. He looked very different in reality than in his press photos, but she surmised with retouching, he could be made to look like anyone he wanted. He was smiling as a woman stood talking about her personal experiences from reading the books and participating in a past conference.

  She thanked Dr. Love for his assistance in rejuvenating her relationship with her husband, including the fact that they were now expecting their first child. When the woman finished the audience applauded her success. Shay turned her attention back to the man on stage, but he didn’t respond. Someone from the audience did.

  “Thank you. I appreciate the compliment, but you did all the work. I just reminded you what you already had together. The idea is to keep the passion growing in a relationship. Seduction, romance and fantasies don’t end when you slip on the ring and say ‘I do’ or when you commit to another person. That’s when the fun begins.”

  Shay whipped around quickly as she looked for the deep, masculine voice coming through the room’s speakers. The almost familiar voice seemed to come from all directions, but she couldn’t figure out who was speaking.

  “Okay, we have time for just a few more questions,” the man on stage said. He was obviously the moderator. Several women stood, one nearly jumping from her seat while waving her hand frantically. He pointed to her and she asked a question, then there was laughter, including his laughter over the microphone.

  From the corner of her eye she spotted him, her perfect stranger. He had been walking around in the back of the room. There was no spotlight. Still he seemed to radiate an inner glow. Heads were turned, as every eye tracked his movements. Shay shook her head, only half mesmerized. She watched his slow steady stroll. He moved with the ease of a panther. He was masterful. It took less than a second to realize he was the man she was looking for.

  He was definitely Dr. Love. Tall, dark and too damn handsome, the man looked more like a GQ cover model than a renowned relationship therapist. He was suave and elegant with the mark of polished sophistication. His face was clean-shaven, chiseled and angular. He had full sensuous lips and dark piercing eyes that seemed to observe the entire room in one easy sweep. He carried himself with ease, passing by women who, near swooning, frantically fanned themselves in his wake. She nodded. She could certainly see the appeal. He was gorgeous.

  She suspected he knew his effect on others. He was too assured and confident not to. He smiled generously and she could swear she heard someone sigh. All eyes followed him as if mesmerized by his presence. Several more questions were asked, but Shay was no longer listening. Like the majority of the women there, she was too busy watching. But not him. She watched the women watching him. It was amazing.

  He laughed. “Good question. To tell you the truth I have no idea why men lie. And to be fair, I have no idea why women lie, either. In some cases it’s out of fear, in others, it’s protection or desperation. What do you think?”

  Shay nodded. Okay, he was good, she thought, still looking around the room seeing the enamored faces as a discussion ensued and he walked toward the middle of the room. No, he was way better than just good. He was exceptional. He had style, poise and of course he was breathtakingly handsome. Who cared what he was saying? Just looking at him was enough to set a woman’s body on fire. He even had her believing his love and romance rhetoric—almost.

  “…Well, as I said earlier, it’s not rocket science. Making love comes from the heart, nowhere else. Men are just as afraid of being hurt and rejected as women.” There was a spattering of disbelief. “I see I’ll have to do another retreat for the few disbelievers.” There was applause and more laughter. “No, I’m serious, think about it, what makes a man any different from a woman when it comes to getting hurt? Heartbreak is heartbreak. I certainly can attest to my share.” There was serious incredulity at this point as rumbles of laughter and whispers of private conversations circled the room. He used this opportunity to get back to the stage and quickly speak to the moderator.

  Shay nodded. She had to give him his Svengali props. The audience, made up mostly of drooling women, was enraptured. They seemed to worship every word from his mouth. When he smiled, she could actually hear the sighs around her. “Oh, you are good,” Shay muttered to herself louder than she expected. “And I’d love to find out just how good you really are.” The women standing near to her giggled, obviously agreeing wholeheartedly with her statement. He turned to the sound of laughter then continued talking.

  “Making love doesn’t come from a place of control or dominance, although each has a specific place in the process. But to answer your question, no, true sexual enjoyment comes from the pleasure of giving yourself willingly to your partner and vice versa. Think bold and be spontaneous… Step up and ask for what you want. How else are you going to get it?”

  “Good Lord, can you imagine taking him to bed with you every night and asking for what you want?” the woman beside her whispered in a very pronounced Texas drawl.

  Shay smiled. “Is that a conference option?” she asked jokingly. This time laughter was much louder around her. Quinn turned in her direction again then paused before continuing. No doubt about it, he
had been looking directly at her.

  “Remember the key words of romance. Target. Tempt. Touch. Tease. Taste. This conference focused on the romance of fantasy, making your desires known. So, let’s wrap it up with a short exercise. Tell me your fantasy,” he said, getting back to the podium. He looked around waiting for someone to answer. Obviously no one was bold enough. “Come on, somebody must have a fantasy. We just spent three days together outlining the possibilities,” he said. There was shy laughter. “So, right now, this minute, tell me your fantasy. What do you want?”

  Answers began being called out. He elaborated on each one, defining the clinical term, outlining the attributes and finally, sharing specific tips on making the fantasy become reality. There was a lingering snicker through the crowded room as slightly embarrassed couples and singles looked at each other and smiled. Some wrote feverishly while others nodded seeming to absorb every utterance. “Anyone else have a fantasy they wish to explore? Remember to be bold. If you can fantasize then you can make it real. Tell me what you want.”

  Shay couldn’t help herself. The word left her mouth before she even realized she’d said it. The answer to his question was simple, “You.” Everyone turned around, looking for the person brave enough to say what the majority of the women in the room were thinking but were too shy to speak out loud. Shay didn’t reveal herself. She didn’t need to. Dr. Love was looking right at her when she answered.

  “That’s very flattering, but…”

  “But what?” she asked boldly, her voice deep and sexy. She took a step forward as everyone turned to see who spoke. The assistant with the microphone hurried over. “I’m only doing what you just suggested. Be bold and spontaneous, right?” Her brow rose for added emphasis. Heads turned back to him as if at a tennis match.

  He smiled tensely, observing his pursuer. “Correct.”

  “So, as per your instructions, the spontaneous me just boldly answered your question. What do I want? What’s my fantasy? Right now the answer is you.”

  “Unfortunately, I’m not an attainable fantasy,” he said, taking a step forward.

  “Why are you not an attainable fantasy?” she asked. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t everyone attainable to some degree? We just need to know the right buttons to push.” Heads instantly turned in his direction for the answer.

  He nodded, openly enjoying the scintillating banter. He also wondered just how far she’d take this. He decided to test her. “Psychology 101 assumptions aside, let’s just say I’m an impractical fantasy at the moment. I would simply be sitting in for the man you really want to be with. That wouldn’t be fair to either of us. Neither would ultimately enjoy the pleasure in the mutual outcome and we would want to enjoy the pleasure of the outcome, wouldn’t we?” His voice trailed off softly as each word was slowly enunciated. There was no mistaking his meaning and intent. There was an excited muttering as all eyes shifted back to her in ardent anticipation.

  She smiled. “Yes, definitely,” she assured him.

  “Therefore in essence I teach rather than participate.”

  “So in other words, some teach and write books because they can no longer participate.”

  The audience, hanging on every word, shifted their attention in anticipation of his reply. He smiled and chuckled silently as his jaw visibly tightened. “On the contrary,” he began as a devilish grin appeared, “some teach, write books and participate extremely well. Some also see the thin professional line between them. I don’t cross that line.”

  “What if there is no line?” she asked. Heads turned to him.

  “Then I’d have to reassess my options.” Heads turned to her.

  She smiled mischievously. “Then by all means, reassess me.”

  All eyes shifted to him as his full sensuous lips turned up to smile. “Is that a proposition?” he asked. The inquisitive glint in his eyes sparked. All eyes turned to Shay. He watched as her chin stayed firm and even tipped slightly. He could almost see her calculating and hear her heart beating from across the room. She didn’t reply right away. The room was deathly quiet.

  “Consider it a reassessable option,” she said.

  “Then perhaps we should continue this discussion in private,” he suggested seductively, one brow raised for added interest.

  “Perhaps we should,” she said.

  The audience, witnessing the verbal seduction, made an “oooo” sound, denoting the new rush of excitement surging through the room. Shay nodded her assertion. Heads turned. He nodded as well. There was a moment of silence as everyone in the room seemed to be holding their collective breath, anxiously anticipating the next move.

  The meeting of the minds was exciting. Quinn hadn’t been drawn into such a lively and enjoyable one-on-one in a long time. Whoever she was, she was intelligent, poised, opinionated and quick. She had a witty, wry sense of humor and she kept him on his toes the whole time. He liked it.

  A muttering of excitement sizzled all around them. Everyone was talking and looking at her. Some proud, some envious and some still in shock. The moderator stepped forward, clearing his throat a couple of times. “Okay, after that I think we’re gonna wrap this up right here.” There was a collective “Awww” as everyone seemed to want to know what would happen next. “This seems like the perfect time to mention Dr. Anderson’s newest release, The Sensual Seduction. I think by the last few minutes of this forum we can all attest it’s definitely worth picking up.

  “Also available today are The Process of Romance, The Secrets of Sensuality, Unlocking Your Passion and Freeing Your Fantasies. Thank you all for coming. The book signing will begin in about fifteen minutes. Have a safe journey home. Good night.”

  The applause for Dr. Love was nearly deafening. Shay smiled as she clapped as well. She had to hand it to him, he was impressive. But he was certainly not the great and powerful Dr. Love Jade proclaimed him to be. He was fallible, or at the very least, mortal. She made her point. Still, she admired his resolve. He was the perfect pitchman for romance.

  Chapter 4

  Quinn watched her from the stage as the program drew to an end. He wasn’t sure what to make of her yet. That, in and of itself, interested him. He was always able to quickly ascertain a person’s intention. He suspected she wanted something from him. They all did—why else would she even be there? The question was, what did she want? Whatever it was, and whoever she was, she played her part extremely well. She had audacity and she certainly gave as well as she took. Where most women were either too timid or in awe around him because of his perceived reputation, she certainly wasn’t. She was the exact opposite. That intrigued him. She had an air of near scorn that bordered on impertinence. She’d all but publicly proclaimed her intentions in challenging him.

  It had been a long time since someone had gotten to him. She had instantly. To most, he was Dr. Love, renowned relationship psychologist and beyond reproach. His reputation was solid and very well deserved. He was very good at what he did, and well respected both in and out of his professional and business communities. He just hoped Danny knew what he was doing when he set this up.

  He waved, nodded and smiled in gratitude for the resounding applause. When the program ended, a few women rushed the stage to speak with him before the signing. As they talked he glanced around the emptying room. Unlike some who hurried out immediately to assure their place in the book signing line, she stood in the same spot as before. She spoke with a few women as they left the room. He knew she hadn’t attended the conference the last three days. He would have noticed her. She definitely wasn’t the kind of woman a man could easily miss.

  She was casually dressed in tan slacks and a turquoise-colored top. She carried a jacket or coat over her arm and a small purse slung over her shoulder. She was attractive, very attractive, but in a girl-next-door kind of way. She was medium height, with large brown eyes that locked on target and held when she talked. She had smooth mocha skin and dark wavy hair. Then there was her voice. That’s what really got his attention. It was deep, sexy and sultry with just enough edge to be provocative.