Seducing the Girl Next Door: A novella

By Inara Scott

When Jenna Kellington was fourteen, her first high school boyfriend—her first love—moved away. Now a divorced mom, she never expected to see Simon Hastings again...until a business trip to China brings them face-to-face, and their connection explodes beyond her wildest fantasies.

When he was young, Simon swore he would never be like his father, moving from place to place and never settling down. As a billionaire venture capitalist, however, he's every bit the wanderer, never tying himself down. Seeing Jenna again reminds him of who he once was, even as their old spark intensifies into very adult desire. With every touch, every caress, Simon teaches Jenna how to let go. To own her own pleasure.

He wasn't supposed to fall in love. Neither was she...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
• Release date: Nov 24, 2014
• ISBN: 9781633751392

Book preview

Chapter One

Jenna Kellington? Is that really you?

Confused, Jenna looked up from the stack of papers she’d been reviewing in preparation for her afternoon meeting. One didn’t expect to hear the old, don’t I know you from somewhere? line while six thousand miles from home in a conference room in Beijing, China.

I’m sorry, do I… She lost her breath for a moment as she gazed up at the unholy vision of masculinity that walked through the door. He was tall and lean, and his tailored suit looked like it had been made for his broad-shouldered, narrow-hipped frame. Thick, sandy-colored hair framed a strong jaw and piercing hazel eyes. She swallowed hard and tried to pretend her body hadn’t revved into overdrive. Know you?

Nice. Did you actually just drool, Jenna?

The man’s tiger eyes held her fast, even as a mouth made for sin quirked in a half-smile. Really? He grinned. "I guess it has been a while."

She squinted harder, fighting to squash the rush of lust that was making it difficult to think clearly. There was something familiar about him, something about his eyes. The color maybe, or the shape? Or was it the tawny brows she’d seen somewhere before?

Add glasses and braces, leave the height, but take away about fifty pounds, he said.

The memories flooded back all at once, and her mouth dropped open. In an instant, she forgot she was surrounded by the strangers and businesspeople she was supposed to be impressing. She forgot that she was divorced, hadn’t dated in years, and was currently sporting a pair of granny panties, and slipped back into the body of her fifteen-year-old self.

Simon Hastings? she squealed. Ignoring how much her clients valued decorum and manners, she thrust back her chair and dashed across the room, hurtling herself into his arms. Arms closed around her, and she buried her face into the smooth wool of his suit. For the first minute, the flood of memories blackened out any hint of the world around her. Simon Hastings, the boy next door.

Her first kiss.

Her first love.

Her first heartbreak.

And then, very slowly, it occurred to her that the teenage boy in her memory was different from the man she was currently pressed against.

She forced herself to pull away, realizing all at once the breadth of his chest, the smell of spice and masculinity, and the hardness of the muscles beneath the expensive jacket. I’m, I’m…so sorry for attacking you, she stuttered. I didn’t mean to…

His hands slipped down to her waist, and he didn’t let go for a moment. Then, slowly, he backed away. Little Jenna, he mused. Eyes flecked green and gold examined her from boring black pumps to poorly fitting, below-the-knee skirt. All grown up. You look fantastic.

Her heart thumped at his nearness. Then reality flooded back in an unpleasant rush. Simon had turned into a Greek god, and she looked like she’d just stepped out of a minivan.

So do you, she said. A hot flush coursed from her cheeks down her neck at the unthinkingly fervent sound of her voice. Damn it, he did look fantastic. Her old boyfriend had developed a magnetic gaze and had finally grown into the long arms and legs that had once earned him the nickname Stretch.

She, on the other hand, looked like hell. No matter how much she tried to convince herself that her loose bun looked chic and sophisticated, it really just served to hide the fact that she hadn’t had a haircut for months. And her outfit… She forced a smile to cover her inner desire to run screaming from the room.

How cruel could Fate possibly be? To send the guy she hadn’t seen for more than fifteen years into her life looking like he’d just stepped off a movie set, while she resembled a before picture from What Not to Wear?

Jenna, you and Simon know each other? Chao Yin, the manager of Beijing Next, the company she’d been sent to China to work with, leaned forward with polite interest.

We were next door neighbors when we were kids, Simon said.

But he moved, Jenna said, unable to look away from him. When we were fifteen.

My dad liked to travel, Simon said, almost apologetically. I moved around quite a bit when I was younger.

Every three or four years, Jenna recalled Simon saying bitterly. Every three or four years his father would grow tired of his job and look for a new opportunity. He always promised they’d stay put, but the promises were meaningless. As soon as Simon would get settled into a new school, make new friends, and finally start to feel a part of something, he’d be uprooted again.

What do you do now? she asked him, forcing a mask of pleasantness over her features.

Chao’s eyes widened briefly in shock. Simon’s company Exista purchased Beijing Next a few months ago.

Jenna blinked. Her mouth formed a small O of surprise as she processed her own idiocy. She turned to Simon. "Exista is your

Reviews for Seducing the Girl Next Door

[bette_hansen · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A very enjoyable read! Imagine what he would be like to have your teenage flame walk into the room when you are half way around the world. Great storyline, great writing. This one is short so everything moves fast but I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything. I recommend this one.