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Chapter One

“Drink, miss?”

Stephanie Shaw plucked the yu cocktail off the waiter’s tray and polished off half of it in one s The alcohol blazed a path of stinging heat down her throat and she forced a sh “Thanks,” she croaked

The waiter rolled his eyes and walked away

Pursing her lips, she glanced about the crowded club The place was packed, full of San Francisco’s young and successful and she felt totally out of place

What else was new?

This was Stephanie’s first invitation to one of the azine received on a daily basis Her editor Zoe had see Stephanie of her new assignested she could look for potential subject matter while at the party

And already she was failing God she wanted to kick herself Finally, finally she’d been given an opportunity to have her own colu to blow it before the article was ever written She needed to put the invitation to good use and conduct proper, real-life research

As in researching the top female sexual fantasies in an up close and personal way It sounded crazy, she’d balked when Zoe suggested it but then she realized what could it hurt? She needed a little excitement in her life

But could she go through with it?

A couple of hours ago she would’ve said no way Now she felt as if she had no choice

She took another, slower sip of her French Kiss cocktail The drink was rich, crea through her veins She wasn’t a big drinker, but right now she needed it to calitated nerves

“Shrimp?”

Another waiter ically appeared with a tray of appetizers in his hands They smelled and looked delicious, spicy and succulent and she took just one though she would’ve loved to grab a handful, she was so hungry

Considering the deathly skinny, ultra gla her, she decided restraint was key tonight Soood at

“Thank you,” shea careful bite A ue and she chewed slowly, desperate to make it last She’d been too nervous to eat dinner and now her stomach harassed her for it

Her gaze drifted around the cozy bar, the newest and hottest night spot to open in San Francisco The establishment was partially backed by someone famous She couldn’t remember who and she didn’t really care anyway A forrown up in the Bay Area and his na social circle the city had to offer

Stephanie glanced down, feeling decidedly undressed In her vintage-style red and white polka dot and floral patterned dress, she knew the other wo at her with disdain

She knew that look too well—had suffered through it countless times from her overtly posh sisters and their snooty friends

The women who surrounded her all seeht jeans and flimsy tank tops Their hair was perfect, e, sparkly and expensive One of them stared at Stephanie as she took another bite of her shri look in her narrowed eyes iuilt

Oh yeah, they definitely reminded her of her two older sisters Her sle way sisters Talk about depressing

God, as she doing here? Despair tinged with irritation filled her No wonder she rarely went to these types of parties They rowing up years She didn’t fit in, she never would She’d definitely been fooling herself to think she could pick up a ht

What a joke It so wasn’t going to happen, at least not here She didn’t understand how she thought it ever would

With a loud sigh, Stephanie shoved the rest of the shri froh the crowd, the quick alcoholic buzz e-heeled feet She set the e waiter’s tray and shook her head

There was no point hanging out here anymore No one would even talk to her, let alone look at her She let her self-doubt get the best of her, as always