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personality vibrated, filled a room. Energy pinged around her, even as her obvious intelligence grounded her. She had a lot of warmth without being syrupy. Really unlike Tiffany, who'd been a Precious Moments kind of woman.
    "Do you like Precious Moments dolls?" he blurted.
    She hesitated, staring at him as if he'd lost his mind. Given all he'd said about his past, followed by this inane question, he'd have to agree.
    "Not really. Why?"
    Mark shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Just curious. Some women do."
    "I've heard that. They're too sweet for me. I'm known as Commando Bitch around here."
    As he laughed at her remark, the oddest relief slid through him. Not that a woman refusing to fall for the marketing spiels of PMC Doll Company exempted her from selfishness or greed. But maybe it was a good sign.
    Then again, it really didn't matter. The goal here was getting inside her books. Getting inside her body was a secondary goal--no matter how urgent it felt.
    Ultimately, her character was irrelevant. It wasn't like they were going to have a relationship. After all, he had really, really bad taste in women. Given the fact he liked her, he'd bet Nicki had some horrible flaw, like being an ax murderer, that he just didn't see yet. And he wouldn't until it was too late.
    "Do I look like the type who collects Precious Moments to you?" she asked, a frown settling right between her brows.
    She looked insulted that he believed she did.
    "Not really. If you collect anything, my guess is shoes." He picked up one of the strappy, sexy black sandals off the table. "Bet you got a pair of these in just about every color."
    "No, just the black there ... along with red, lime, and white."
    Mark couldn't resist laughing at that female bit of rationale as he set her sandal back on the table--and eased closer. "Bet I can guess how many pairs of shoes you have, give or take five."
    Challenge lit her eyes. "Bet you can't."
    "You're on. What do I win if I'm right?"
    "The privilege of knowing you're right." She tried to put him in his place with a dismissive gaze.
    He wasn't about to let her.
    "Let's make this interesting. I want a kiss."
    Nicki tensed. "I don't think that's a good idea."
    "Backing out?" he taunted.
    He was betting a lot here, gambling that Nicki wasn't the kind of woman to retreat from a challenge. If he was wrong ... well, she'd likely throw him out on his ass, tell him to screw himself, and hire someone else to work in her club. He held his breath, waiting.
    "I'm not backing out," she insisted. "I'm being reasonable."
    "How is one tiny peck being unreasonable?"
    Her eyes narrowed. "I get the feeling you're a give-an-inch-take-a-mile sort of guy."
    Oh, she had him pegged. "I swear, one kiss. I won't put a single finger out of line." At least not right away. "Besides, you could always win. What do you want if you do?"
    "For you to get the hell out of my office and stop shamelessly flirting."
    "You might get your way. All you've got to do is agree to play the game."
    Nicki rolled her eyes. "Men and their little contests. Fine. I'm in."
    "Excellent."
    "Why do I feel like I'm going to regret this?"
    "Are you a pessimist?"
    "I'm a realist, thank you."
    "All right, Ms. Realist, write down the number of pairs of shoes you own. Then I'll guess, and we'll compare. Sound fair?"
    Pausing, Nicki seemed to be examining his words, looking for the flaw in the plan. Finding none, she finally nodded. Mark watched her cross the room to her desk, hips swaying beneath the sexy-as-sin short skirt that had his mouth watering. With a quick flourish, she wrote on a scrap of paper, folded it in half, and handed it to him.
    "This is the truth?"
    "Why would I lie about something this insignificant?"
    "Point taken."
    "What's your guess, Mr. Gabriel?"
    Mark closed her scrap of paper in his hand and glanced at her sandals again. They had to be a bitch to walk in for long, which explained why she was holding them rather than wearing them when he entered the room.