What He Wants

by C'ann Inman

Overview

Diana Stafford has lost her job and is desperately looking for another. Sheridan is hiring, but not for the position that is advertised in the newspaper. He needs a mortal to bear his son and fulfill the prophecy of his people. The attraction between the two is immediate and overwhelming. A bargain is struck, and both believe they will be able to live with the deal. But the fire between them consumes them both and leaves them wondering what price they will pay in the end. Neither is willing to trust the other until they have everything to lose. But will it be too late?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781593746230
Publisher:	Torrid Books
Publication date:	06/01/2006
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	180
File size:	846 KB

About the Author

C'ann Inman is an Oklahoma author who loves to spin wild and wicked stories for her readers. She realizes that romance can be found in many places and many ways. Her stories celebrate the sensuality of relationships. Her first short story, "Naughty and Nice", will be released in the Winter Wishes Anthology from Whiskey Creek Press Torrid January 2006. Her second short story, "Intervention", will be released in the Spring Flings Anthology from Torrid April 2006. Her first full novel, What He Wants, will be released in June 2006 from Torrid. C'ann loves to hear from readers.

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 1

Diana Stafford paused in the paved driveway after she stepped out of her small white car. The house--no mansion--was amazing. Huge. Stately. There were white columns rising from porch to roof. Wraparound porches on the first and second floor. A soft breeze blew, and she could smell the magnolias in the air.

She tilted her head back, shielded her eyes, and took in the whole picture. She would be lucky if they hired her. She accepted that. Diana was no fool. After her last company downsized and released her from her secretarial duties, she brushed up on her childcare license and looked for work as a nanny/housekeeper.

The ad in the paper caught her eye. The household needed a woman who would watch children and do a bit of housekeeping. The salary wasn't listed, but she could ask about that during the interview. She was growing more nervous by the second. Her nest egg was running out at a rapid rate of speed, and she needed work.

Diana calmed herself and walked sedately up the stone steps and rang the doorbell. Scarcely a minute later, the door was opened by an austere, older man who looked down his nose at her.

"Come inside, Miss. The waiting room is the first one on your right."

Diana stepped inside and nodded politely at the butler, or whatever he was. She proceeded into the waiting room and paused. Oh shit. There was something wrong here. There were women draped over every piece of furniture. Beautiful, hand-carved cherry wood furniture. Hell. Beautiful women. Women who made others like Diana want to save every penny they owned to invest in plastic surgery. Not women who did housework and wanted to be a nanny.Shit. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. The light red curl promptly popped back as a stray.

She found an empty chair by the doorway and sat down. Maybe she was dressed inappropriately. Her suit was simple. The white shirt underneath the plain brown suit was nothing to write home about. Diana looked from one woman to the next and inwardly sighed. She had a snowball's chance in hell finding a position here. Why were all these women looking for a childcare position?

There was a brown, soft leather couch to her right, displaying four beautiful blondes sandwiched side-by-side. Diana met one woman's eyes and nodded. The woman looked away and said something in a whisper to another one. They smiled at her arrogantly and turned their heads.

Hmph! Not only were they beautiful, they were also bitchy. Go figure. She should have brought something to read. This was going to take some time.

The butler came over to her and offered her a book.

Diana looked up at him. "This is the right house, isn't it? You are in need of a housekeeper and nanny?" Her eyes darted around the room and made another mental comparison between herself and the beauty queens.

He nodded. "Yes, ma'am." Diana smiled and thanked him. He nodded briefly, turned on his heel and left the room. When she looked up again, the blondes were sneering at her. Diana looked back at them and arched her eyebrow. They probably couldn't read. That had to be it. The thought tickled her, and she smiled to herself.

* * * *

Sheridan looked at the monitor and watched the interaction between the women. He motioned to the blondes and grimaced. "These four aren't going to make it through the door. If I wanted to get laid, yes. For this position, no. Tell them to leave."

Trevor hit an intercom button and issued the instructions. Two minutes later, the blondes stormed out of the room.

Sheridan perused the room before he tapped the screen. "Send in this brunette. Then the mousy redhead. I'll check again after their interviews." He ran his hand wearily over his face. "I'm so tired of this bullshit. Is it ever going to end?"

Trevor shook his head. "You'll know her when you see her. I'll bring in the brunette."

* * * *

Diana grinned broadly as the blondes were escorted out of the room. Now only she and one other woman remained in the room. Their designer gowns made her groan in envy, but their attitudes were ridiculous. It was only a job, for Pete's sake. They looked like they could afford to go without a paycheck or two. She didn't have that luxury.

A handsome man came in and escorted the dark-haired woman across from her into the next room. Man. She would give anything to get this job. If the salary was right, she would do her best to fill all the requirements the employer needed.

She became absorbed in the book the butler brought her, and time passed. When she looked up again, she was alone in the room. Diana blinked, looked at her watch, and groaned.

"Shit," she muttered. "Why didn't anyone come and get me?"

"You were busy," a deep voice said from the shadows.

Diana stood up abruptly and glanced around the room. "I'm sorry. Am I too late?"

"No," he answered silkily. "Come into my study."

She caught sight of the back of a dark-haired man exiting the waiting room through some ornately carved oak doors.