Chapter One

Janna Puchina watched as her friend Dani pummeled her fists against the chest of the man who held her small frame in his strong arms. Letting loose a sigh of frustration that blew a low-hanging curl off her forehead, Janna wished her friend luck. Some holiday party this was turning out to be. She'd made a fool of herself in front of her wildly rich and supremely handsome host, downed enough whisky to light a fire with her breath, and now she was watching one of her closest friends have a meltdown all over the guy she loved but couldn't have. Another regret to add to the steaming pile she was creating this evening.

Janna turned away from the window overlooking the balcony and back to the festivities. The crème de la crème of the Pacific Northwest were dancing, hob-knobbing, and sampling the appetizers and champagne their host had laid out for what would be known as the shindig of the year. Janna blushed, remembering her introduction to Brice Masterson, millionaire entrepreneur and owner of the mansion that was currently packed to the gills with partiers.

In true Janna fashion, she'd immediately fucked up. Babbling about the excesses of the rich to Dani, she hadn't realized that Masterson had been standing beside her through the entire diatribe. Now, attempting to banish her embarrassment, she was hitting the bottle like it owed her money. The champagne flute she currently held was drained with no time wasted. Liquid courage imbibed, she headed off in the direction of the kitchen.

Janna smiled as she made her way through the crowd. Moments ago Dean Fischer had burst through the balcony door, his hands cupping a nose that was dripping blood. Masterson noticed his guest's distress and had come to the rescue, leading the dean off to see to his wound. It was Fischer's condition that had led Janna to spy on her friend Danielle. She made her way in the direction she'd last seen Masterson and Fischer heading. After passing down a wide hallway, she poked her head into the kitchen and found the object of her curiosity.

Dean Fischer was sitting on a stool at the granite-topped island, his head back, an ice pack pressed on the bridge of his nose. Tissues were pushed into both nostrils to stop the flow of blood. Brice Masterson stood beside him, flanked by two large men in black suit jackets who had the look of security guards.

Janna couldn't help smiling at Fischer's pain. He was a grade-A asshole, one who had taken advantage of his position to attempt the seduction of Dr. Danielle French, her friend and a professor under the dean's supervision. Before she could hide her inappropriate grin, her host looked up and met her eyes. He shot her a confused half-smile, and a strange bolt of electricity jolted her system.

He really was inordinately handsome. Straight white teeth, wavy blond hair that was mussed just right, and green eyes that seemed to shine with an inner light. Mix in an exceedingly sexy body and a handful of millions, and you had the total package.

Janna tiptoed forward, drawn in by the look in his eyes. She stood close enough to Fischer to hear him groan in pain. "That little Jezebel broke my nose! I demand that she be removed from the party. In fact, call the authorities. I want her arrested for assault!"

Clutching her chest, Janna's mouth dropped open. Dani had done this, and not her forest ranger? Dani had said how worried she was about confronting Caleb, the man she'd fallen for while doing fieldwork in his park. But neither of them had been expecting to see Fischer, and when the dean fled the balcony, Janna assumed his injury was at the hands of the handsome ranger.

For a moment she wanted to laugh hysterically, but she brought herself under control. Brice wouldn't let Dani get arrested, would he? Catching his eyes, she saw reassurance and calmed herself.

"Dean Fischer, I don't believe we need to involve the authorities. I'm sure it was just a misunderstanding."

Fischer's brows shot up at his words. "My nose is broken! What is there to misunderstand?"

Brice put a lean hand on the dean's shaking shoulder. "I'd hate for that story to get around campus. A female professor who isn't even five foot five gets the drop on the esteemed Dean of Sciences. It could make for quite a nasty piece of gossip."

Dean Fischer narrowed his eyes at Masterson but had no ready comeback. "Good," Brice said with a smile. "I'm glad that's settled. Now, if you'll allow my men to escort you to your vehicle, I'm sure you'll feel better after a good night's rest."

"Rest? Masterson, you're trying to hush this up! Afraid I'll make a scene?" Janna had never seen the dean so livid. His normal distant arrogance was gone, burned away by righteous indignation.

"No," Brice said, his smile turning fierce. "Such a well-respected academic like yourself knows better than to air his dirty laundry in public. Consider this purely a financial move. I wouldn't want my insurance premiums to go up if your antics end up provoking a real fight between you and Caleb Hunt. Now, gentlemen, if you would show Dean Fischer the way out...?"

The large men moved to either side of the furious dean, each grabbing an arm and pulling him toward the door on the opposite side of the kitchen. Janna could hear Fischer griping as he was shuffled toward the exit and her smile returned. She glanced over and found that her good mood was mirrored by her host. When Brice Masterson smiled real wide, he exposed a hidden dimple in his chin. For a split second, Janna wanted to lick it. This thought sent a high-pitched giggle through her system that she was unable to stop before it passed her lips.

Brice stepped closer until he was standing in front of her and she had to crane her neck to look up at him. "Something funny?" he asked, his voice slow and sweet like maple syrup.

Janna nodded, not trusting herself to get a word out without slurring.

"You gonna let me in on the joke?"

This time Janna shook her head, her smile saying that she'd take the secret to the grave. "Ah, so it's like that, is it? You're going to make me drag it out of you, huh?"

Suddenly his hands were around her waist, and he was pulling tight against his body. "You're a puzzle, Janna," he whispered, staring into her face with a heated look in his eyes. "One I think I'd like to solve." He lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers.

Her whole body lit up at the contact between him. Her nipples were instantly hard, her body flushed, and a near-painful clenching rocked her feminine core. Damn, this man can kiss, was the last thought she remembered having before his touch washed them all away. Brice's soft lips moved against hers, gently, and he drew her bottom lip into his mouth and sucked on it teasingly. Janna's legs started shaking at the sexiness of it.

He gripped her waist tighter, pressing her against his hard body. One part of his body seemed especially hard, and it was throbbing against her. That realization brought her back to consciousness long enough to pull away.

"Well," Brice said, his green eyes twinkling. "That was interesting."

Janna laughed. Interesting, indeed. Brice smiled and pulled her arm into the crook of his larger one. "I believe you promised me a dance earlier. Don't think the dramatic events of the last half an hour have excused you from your promise."

Masterson led her from the kitchen and back toward the Great Room and the dance floor. He met no resistance when he pulled her into his arms as the band started playing I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.