Wicked Games

Melanie Craine knows romance isn't in the cards for her. She's ambitious, and has no time for a man in her busy life. With all of the other women at the funky gIRL-gEAR.com Web site meeting Mr. Right, someone has to keep things afloat! Then, when hot videographer Jacob Faulkner films her behavior at her friend's wedding, she's livid. Determined to make him see what's beneath her attitude, she tapes herself doing a steamy striptease...for Jacob's eyes only.

Jacob never expected Melanie to retaliate the way she did when he sent that tape! Watching her slowly remove each item of clothing from her body is the most erotic thing he's ever seen. Now that he's on board to film the gIRL-gEAR group for a documentary on successful businesswomen, there's no way he can keep things "professional." And it can't get any better when he finds out she doesn't want anything more than a sexual relationship. But will it be enough in the end?

gIRL-gEAR vice president Annabel "Poe" Lee needs a change. That means telling her recent fling, Patrick Coffey, that it's over. In theory, it's an easy task. In reality, Patrick's the best lover she's ever had, so saying goodbye is tougher than she'd thought. But it's time to move on, and falling for Patrick isn't in the cards...or is it?

When Annabel tells Patrick she can't see him anymore, he's not thrilled. He may not be ready for anything more than great sex either, but she's the best thing that's ever happened to him. Since Annabel's letting him stick around for a few more weeks, though, he's determined to show her why it's so good between them--day and night!

Chloe Zuniga, VP of gIRL-gEAR cosmetics and accessories divisions, needed a man to save her reputation--even though her enjoyment of the opposite sex and her potty mouth was what got her into trouble in the first place. Her old friend Eric Haydon agreed to be her "steady date" for three company events--if she granted him three wishes.

Eric just knew that he and Chloe were going to be lovers sooner or later. He simply had to figure out when and how. And once he'd done that, there was nothing left to wish for...except Chloe's heart along with her body.

A relaxing vacation with the winner of the gIRL-gEAR.com scavenger hunt becomes downright sticky for CEO Sydney Ford when Ray Coffey--her one-time lover--claims the prize! Now she and her fellow gIRL gEAR partners are stuck together with Ray and his friends in this exotic locale for an entire week. For Sydney, the memory of her one steamy night with Ray is distracting her from running her business. He couldn't have been all that, could he? Well, only one way to find out!

For Ray, being marooned with Sydney is sheer torture--from seeing her gorgeous body on the beach in her bikini, and out of it in his dreams! He can't understand how that one night--albeit one incredible night--has lingered for so long in his mind. It was only sex, right? One more night with Sydney should be a reality check. But Ray's beginning to worry that once simply won't be enough....

The gIRL: When it comes to playing games, Webzine editor Macy Webb is the absolute best. Her latest idea for her girl-games column--an adult scavenger hunt where each half of a couple has to discover their partner's deepest secrets of mind...and body.

The gUY: Attorney Leo Redding wouldn't have been Macy's first choice for a playmate. Not that he isn't gorgeous and sexy--actually, maybe he's too much of all that. And while she's certain she can get into his head, she's got her work cut out for her getting into his bed...and staying out of love!

OBSESSION...?

Sage Matthews's fascination with hacking into computers and creating bugs got her into deep trouble. Just ask special agent Ian Chandler, who handcuffed the fiery redhead--and has been monitoring her every sexy teasing move since.

POSSESSION...?

Ian has now formed his own crack crime-busting team--The HotWires. His first case? None other than Sage, fresh off probation, but seemingly up to her old tricks. Ian's hot on her tail, but his plans backfire one sultry steamy night.

REDEMPTION...?

He tangles with Sage between the sheets--breaking every rule in his personal code of honor. And he's about to break a few more as his gut instinct tells him she's been framed again--and only he can prove her innocence....

Isabella Natale is living a double life. By day she turns out desserts in the family bakery. But at night she transforms into The Crimson Rose, Chicago's hottest exotic dancer, an enigmatic siren whose velvet mask and G-string drive men wild. Nobody knows about her secret-- not even Nick Santori, the strip club's hot new bodyguard-- and her first crush. He'd always treated little "Izzy" as just another sweet kid. But there's nothing sweet about his sizzling reaction to Rose...

So what's a girl to do but show the man of her dreams that while it's okay to look, it's much better to touch?

Kate Jones: This sexy, successful businesswoman has getting even on her mind--and a target in her sights....

Jack Winfield: He has a dysfunctional family, a demanding career...and a bad case of the hots for the gorgeous new stranger in town....

This place isn't big enough for both of them. Kate Jones, the girl from the wrong side of the tracks, is home--and she's got an agenda. To get revenge on the man who humiliated her mother, Kate's going to seduce that man's son--the town's golden boy, John Winfield Jr.--and then leave him drooling in a puddle of lust. Only, little does she guess when she finds herself seduced by a sexy stranger named Jack that the tables have just been turned....

The thrill of the unexpected...

Caley Lambert didn't expect that a few nights at the family cottage for her sister Emma's wedding would turn her life upside down. But that was before she got lost in the dark, was propositioned by a cop and ended up in the wrong bed with the brother of the groom.

When she and Jake Burton were teenagers, Jake had been the perfect boy next door-and the object of Caley's most daring fantasies. But that was back when she was a kid. Caley's definitely over him now. Or so she thinks...

Because the perfect boy is all man now. Not to mention an endlessly inventive lover...

Looking for more red-hot reads? We've got four new Harlequin Blaze titles available every month!

"Cool, calm and collected" is how Abby Archer always thought of herself--on a down day she might even have used the word repressed. Well, not anymore. Not since her fiancé ran off with an exotic dancer. Now it's Abby's turn to try "wild and wicked." But that will take a very special kind of guy, like the one she turned on--and turned down--ten years ago. When she fantasizes, he's still the ultimate bad boy who comes to mind and, luckily, her best friend knows exactly where he is....

Durango Creed has been marking time, guiding tourists through the desert until his former teen angel arrives in Sedona, and suddenly he's a rebel obsessed with a cause. He's got an itinerary in mind that will rock Abby's tidy little world--and her first stop is a one-on-one sexual encounter with him!