1

      JOSIE SINCLAIR HELD HER BREATH as she opened the apartment door, wincing at the slight squeal of the hinges. After slipping inside, she didn’t breathe again until she’d closed the door behind her, locking it once more. Then she pocketed the key, debating the risk of switching on a light. She didn’t want to do anything that might alert Adam to her presence.

      Not until she was ready for him.

      A full moon shone through the high-rise window, illuminating a shadowy path into the living room. A sudden hiss permeated the deep silence and Josie’s hand flew to her chest. But it was only Horatio, her boyfriend’s temperamental Siamese. She bent down to pet the cat, her heart still racing in her chest. Her reaction had more to do with nerves than fear. She’d never done anything like this before.

      Horatio seemed to sense her anxiety, jerking away from her and bounding underneath the sofa. As she rose to her feet, Josie reached into her bag and pulled out the list she’d made on the flight from Tempe. Lists always made her feel in control and she began to calm down as she found a pen in her bag to check off the first item.

      1. Go to Adam’s apartment.

      He’d given her a key weeks ago, but she hadn’t worked up the nerve to use it until tonight. Doubts had assailed her on the long drive from the Denver airport, but she’d stuck one of her motivational tapes into the car’s cassette player and now she was ready for action. Almost. Her gaze moved to the second item on the list.

      2. Undress.

      With trembling fingers, she untied the silk scarf around her neck, then dropped it into the small bag she’d brought with her from the airport. The fluttering fabric enticed Horatio, who leaped out from under the sofa and pounced on it immediately, batting at the scarf with his paws.

      She tried to take the scarf away from him, but his claws snagged the delicate fabric and she knew it was a lost cause. Ignoring the cat and his new toy, Josie kicked off her shoes before shedding her slacks and blouse. She tucked them all neatly into the bag, then pulled out a sheer red negligee, holding it up in front of her.

      The transparent fabric and baby-doll design left little to the imagination, but the saleswoman at the boutique in Tempe had assured her that any man would find it irresistible.

      Maybe she shouldn’t wear anything at all.

      Josie discarded that idea almost as soon as it entered her head. She wasn’t that motivated. Her body was far from perfect, with her average bust and full hips. That was one of the reasons she wanted to surprise Adam in the dark. The negligee wouldn’t provide much cover, but it was definitely better than nothing.

      After slipping off her cotton bra, she dropped the negligee over her head. The hem whispered against the top of her thighs and a shiver rippled over her bare skin. Feeling overexposed, Josie took a deep breath and picked up the pen, slashing a line through the second item.

      She