Out Of The Blue. Jill Shalvis

a man.”

      Utter silence.

      “Michael?”

      “I couldn’t possibly have heard you correctly.”

      “I think you probably did.”

      He swore. “Okay, let’s pretend it’s perfectly normal for you to ask that of me, I’d like to know why you want to seduce someone. Now. After snubbing your nose at men for years.”

      “Because I’ve matured?”

      “You’ve always been mature.”

      “Okay, then because I just realized what I was missing.”

      “Hannah. Seriously. Why?”

      “Isn’t that obvious?”

      “Humor me.”

      She sighed and took another glance at the closed door, hoping Zach couldn’t hear her. “I don’t want to be a virgin anymore,” she whispered.

      There. She’d said it. “Now will you help me or not?”

      “Hannah—” He swore again, and she imagined him sitting up in bed, hair as wild as hers, frustrated because he couldn’t strangle her. “Why are you doing this to me?”

      “So you don’t know how to do it either.” Disappointment hit her like a wave. Now what?

      A choked sound came over the phone. “Oh, I know how to seduce someone,” Michael assured her. “I’m just not sure I want you to know.”

      “Karrie told me all I have to do is flash skin, then kiss him, then flash more skin. That’s all. But it didn’t quite work, and now I’m wondering if—”

      “Wait a second. Back the train up. You flashed some guy skin?”

      “I tried,” she admitted miserably.

      “Who, Hannah?” He sounded tense. “Who is this you’re attempting to seduce? And why now, all of a sudden, are you tired of being a...a—”

      “A virgin,” she hissed. “See? You can’t even say it, you must understand why I don’t want to be it!”

      “Okay, look. I’ve got some time coming. I’ll fly in for the weekend, we can talk—”

      “No!” God, that was the last thing she needed right now, her big brother going all big brother on her. “Can’t you just tell me where I went wrong?”

      “Hannah—”

      “Please, Michael,” she whispered, suddenly, ridiculously close to tears. “I have to do this. I want to do this. I just need a...a tip. That’s all.”

      He let out a long, slow breath. “I can be there in a few days—”

      “No.”

      “I want to discuss this with you—”

      “No. Either give me a tip or go back to bed.”

      “Use a condom,” he said through his teeth. “Promise me.”

      “Done.”

      “Okay. What Karrie said.” He sounded strained. “It should work. God. I can’t believe I’m telling you this, but despite what women think, we...men like a little romance too. Music, candles... Dammit, this is so stupid—”

      “No, it isn’t!” Excitement and renewed hope filled her. “I have candles—” She broke off at the knock at the bathroom door.

      Then came Zach’s low, unbearably sexy voice. “Hannah?”

      “Thanks, Michael,” she said quickly. “I’ve got to go.”

      “Hannah, wait—”

      “Love you.” She disconnected, stared at the door, chewing on her bottom lip.

      Romance. Music. Candles.

      She could do that.