The Man In Her Life 

of commercial land development - but nothing about the complexities of being in love with a sexy, long-legged chiseler. Just because she has betrayed him doesn't mean he can't still be completely seduced by her - or go the limit to protect her!

Reviews

"THE MAN IN HER LIFE is a delightful mix of romance, comedy, and light suspense. It opens with the breaking of the engagement and the hurt and betrayal both Shelby and Nick feel toward each other. It's clear to readers that someone is framing Shelby, and the whodunit of THE MAN IN HER LIFE is the backdrop for the passionate rediscovering of the romance between them. From construction sites to the Ozark Mountains, THE MAN IN HER LIFE sizzles with a winning blend of sexual tension and snappy dialogue. Will it only be a matter of time before Nick realizes his mistake in accusing Shelby? What about the attempts on Shelby's life -- are they all connected?

Shelby and Nick may be independent in their occupations, but it's clear they're dependent on each other for love. THE MAN IN HER LIFE revolves around their continual running into each other. One minute Shelby and Nick are growling at each other, and the next they're purring. What will they finally decide to do? New author P.J. Womack has penned a winning combination of sensual romance blended with a touch of suspense. I highly recommend the well-written and highly entertaining THE MAN IN HER LIFE." - Patti Fischer

Excerpt 

Shelby was grateful Nick wouldn't be breathing down her neck for an entire day. With all the freedom, she could drop in to visit her father, or go back to the office and download months of entries in her computer. If there was the slightest chance Nick was telling her the truth, she had to know how it happened and who was responsible.

All of her high-blown idealistic plans were cast aside when Nick's apartment building loomed up on the crest of a hill. The busy thoroughfare would take her straight to his penthouse. Her hand went out to silence the keys that jangled against the ignition.

The plot that came from nowhere was evil and it made her smile. She took mental inventory. Nick's apartment. Nick's door key. Nick out of town. The musical notes from the swinging keys were like tolling bells with a message. So dishonest, so foolish and so easy. Her course was set. She would break into his pad and commit petty something. Well, not really. She did have a key.

After parking three blocks away just like she had seen done in a Detective television series, Shelby got into the building and up to his apartment without incident. The cute little doorman waved her on and went back to his racing form.

Hot blood pumped through her veins with a roar. She could hear her pulse beating in her ears and it made her dizzy. Flushed with guilt and sense of adventure, Shelby got off the elevator and skulked to his door. There it was, number 601. A grin wavered over her lips when she worked the fancy brass key in the lock. Smooth like cream and quiet as snowfall. The door swung open on well-oiled hinges like a silent gargoyle had been waiting for her.

Ransacking a place would be a new experience. It began to be a source of amusement after she had let herself into the quiet confines of Nick's place. What was she looking for? She had no idea and let the rumbling in her stomach lead her into the kitchen. He always had a nice supply of bagels or muffins and a quick search gained her a fragrant banana-nut muffin. She took it with her and walked straight to his bedroom and to the nightstand. While devouring her food, a plan of action jelled in her mind. Search everything with a drawer and pick locks if necessary. She had seen it done in movies and figured it could be done with a nail file.

With the confidence of a cat burglar, she opened each drawer and rummaged the contents. Nothing but the usual stuff except for a cellophane wrapped fun condom that featured bumps for extra oomph left over from their last party time and a piece of bubble gum that she popped into her mouth. She chewed furiously while working over his personal phone book and frowned after discovering nothing but business numbers. There were no secrets since she already knew what was in every drawer and on every shelf in the place after having spent a lot of time there. But, this was the first time she had been deliberately searching for incriminating evidence. For all her searching, she found nothing.

His massive bed was the one thing in the room she had not touched. But, it beckoned her like a sinfully rich dessert. What the hell? One last romp on it wouldn't hurt a thing. Stepping out of her shoes, she walked to the bed and sank down on it. Oh, the comfort and memories. She rolled back and forth across the firm mattress until the mammoth walnut wardrobe caught her eye.

She knew the contents were neatly hung on wooden hangers and shoetrees with actual shoes on them. When it came to his personal grooming and his apartment, the man was no slob. The place had a sensual yet clean scent, a place where she could go to sleep if she didn't stop daydreaming.

After a moment of letting familiar sounds and scents deter her from her pillaging, she got up and opened the heavy doors of the wardrobe, swinging them wide. Fingering the fine cloth of a shirt, she thought of Nick's smiling face.

Off in the distance, she heard a door opening and closing. Her head swiveled like an owl's to look behind her. That sound had come from the living room. Nick was home.

She dove into the wardrobe and pulled the doors closed behind her. While she choked on her gum and cursed herself for being a coward, new panic set in. What should she do if he wasn't alone? He wouldn't dare drag a woman to his apartment so soon after their breakup. The interior of the wardrobe heated like an oven. She was furious over the possibility and barely got her anger under control before she heard him coming into the bedroom.

Scuffing sounds outside her lair meant Nick was close. Her skin prickled. He was too quiet and she was squeezing back a sneeze and was going to pee herself. To make matters worse, the doors of her hiding place were slowly opening. Everything happened at once. She let go a healthy sneeze and crossed her legs. The tension in her throat burst out in a shrill scream when the doors were yanked open and she found herself looking at a Colt .45.

"Shel!" His voice broke, but his eyes were flashing fire from Hades. "What the hell. I could have hurt you."

He didn't give her a chance to respond before pulling her from the safety of the wardrobe. She didn't need for him to voice his thoughts. His expression was pure contempt and said clearly he considered her an idiot.

With her thighs squeezed tight against a threatening embarrassment, she stumbled out into the light. In a display of maddening arrogance, he herded her back against the wardrobe and stared at her. She may as well have been wearing a clown suit, complete with bulbous red nose.

"So." He set the safety on gleaming weapon, handling it like a pro. "You're robbing me again?"

Her mind went blank, except for the flight button that was blinking red. Grasping for a safety net, Shelby answered in a rush. "I remembered some things I left here and I..."

Did he believe her? Not if his lip curling up in a sneer meant anything. And now, he was placing the Colt on top of the wardrobe, making a tisking sound of repudiation. He had obviously been changing clothes when he figured out he wasn't alone. The light blue shirt he wore was hanging open and she eyed his muscled-up chest, waiting for his next question.

"Un-uh. You don't give a damn about a pair of panties and a toothbrush." His smile was sardonic. "What were you really looking for?"

"Oh, all right. I was looking for money." The lie slipped off her tongue with ease, and she gave him a benign smile.

Imitating his power stance, Shelby crossed her arms over her breasts and gazed at him with no obvious regret over being caught like an unskilled criminal.

His laugh was quick and cynical. "Why did I ask? You lie too damned well to bother." He pressed forward, stealing her oxygen and his gaze fusing with hers. "Were you rifling my shorts drawer?"

"Move away from me, Nick." His scent penetrated her senses, rendering her wobbly kneed and excited. Spices from faraway islands intermingled with a sultry hint of myrrh. It all made her crazy. She closed her eyes and turned her face away from temptation.

"Shel," he breathed her name like a big cat purring and brushed his chest against hers. "So, you want me bad enough to break into my place?"

Waves of shameless want rolled over her and her lips parted to let it spill free. A pulse in her tongue slowed her answer and she regained a modicum of dignity. "You're self-importance far overshadows your desirability."

He shook his head and braced his hands on the wall, framing her face. "What's that? Should I pat you down or are we just going to jump right in the sack?"

"I took holy vows not do it with someone like you."

He moved forward until his hips touched hers. "Come on now, Shel. I'm a nice guy--you're a nice girl. We can discuss this."

It was time for her to leave before this hawk had her for lunch. Time to stop the game and save herself some embarrassment. He was making fun of her and she, being a weakling, would wind up giving in to anything he wanted before much more time passed. "There's nothing to discuss except I need to use the bathroom."

He looked at the ceiling for a split second before locking his gaze on hers. "Just as I suspected. You're not a nice girl."

"Well, since we can't agree on anything, I'll use the bathroom and get my shoes."

"I'll go with you."

"I said I have to use the bathroom."

"Go ahead. I've heard you pee before."

After a calculating glance, Nick stepped aside and she scurried into the marble and chrome bathroom. He tapped on the door before she had finished.

"Nick, I'll be out in a second."

"I'll be in to help you if it takes any longer than that."

Her hands were still wet when she pushed the door open and tried to rush by him. His wide hand caught her elbow and he ushered her into the living room and toward the door.

"I'll just walk you to the door, Ms. Rand, since you have sticky fingers. I'd hate to lose my wallet."

"Once again, Nick. You have nothing I want."

"And you're here - uninvited and hiding in my apartment. You're still pleading innocence?"

It was useless to struggle against his vise grip on her arm. "Even you can't blame me for avoiding you while I search for my things."

He huffed with scorn. "Your things again."

She managed to free his key from the jangling ring in her hand. "Here. Take your key."

He laughed aloud and shook his head. "No way in hell, lady. It's going to be too much fun catching you in the act of plundering the place."

"It will never happen again." Her face flushed with anger.

"You can't help yourself."

"Okay. I'm leaving now."

"I'll open the door."

"You're too considerate."

"And you're too much."

When her feet sank into the plush Chinese rug in his living room, Shelby dug her heels in. "My shoes."

"What about your shoes?"

She eyed him with a scowl of exasperation and flounced her arm against his controlling hand. "I left them in the bedroom."

Nick maneuvered her across the living room floor and to the door, ignoring her gasp of indignation. "The door, Madame." He pushed the brass handle down and the door swung open. "Good-bye."

Her cry of outrage bounced off the walls of the hallway. "My shoes. Damn you, Nick."

She was left alone to stare at the solid barrier of mahogany until it re-opened and he held her shoes out to her. His smile would have better suited a prowling lion.

"This could be an unending source of amusement. You won't disappoint me now, will you?"

With as much majesty as was left to her, Shelby stepped into her shoes and brushed at her hair.

"Nothing will ever get me back in that den of iniquity."

"It has been on occasion, thanks to you."

He gestured toward the elevator and she wanted to explode in his superior face. It sickened her, knowing she was crazy for the devil. That knew every one of her favorite sins.

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