Skintight

“A sexy, feel-good contemporary romance…Palpable escalating sexual tension between the pair, a dangerous criminal on the loose and a cast of well-developed secondary characters make this a winner.”

—Publishers Weekly on Bending the Rules

(an Amazon Top Ten Best Romance of 2009 pick)

“This start of Andersen’s new series has fun and interesting characters, solid action and a hot and sexy romance.”

—RT Book Reviews on Cutting Loose

“Snappy and sexy… Upbeat and fun, with a touch of danger and passion, this is a great summer read.”

—RT Book Reviews on Coming Undone

“Deft characters, smart dialogue, laugh-out-loud moments and sizzling sexual tension (you might want to read Chapter 15 twice) make this hard to put down…. Lovers of romance, passion and laughs should go all in for this one.”

—Publishers Weekly on Just for Kicks

“Andersen again injects magic into a story that would be clichéd in another’s hands, delivering warm, vulnerable characters in a touching yet suspenseful read.”

—Publishers Weekly, starred review, on Skintight

“A classic plot line receives a fresh, fun treatment…well-developed secondary characters add depth to this zesty novel, placing it a level beyond most of its competition.”

—Publishers Weekly on Hot & Bothered

“Sassy, snappy and sizzling hot!”

—New York Times bestselling author Janet Evanovich on Baby, I’m Yours

“Sizzling, snappy, sexy fun.”

—New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Crusie on Baby, Don’t Go

Dear Reader,

I’m so excited about the reissue of Skintight. This was the first of my Showgirls duo, featuring long-legged women who make their living dancing in a lavish Las Vegas revue.

Sounds pretty glam, right? Go tell it to Treena McCall. She’s worked hard to get where she is, but the past year has left her scrambling to hang on to her spot in the chorus line. Her sole aim is to pass the upcoming annual audition and gain another year’s employment.

Then professional poker player Jax Gallagher comes to town with his sexy eyes and private agenda—and their lives are suddenly turned upside down. He isn’t the man she thinks he is. She isn’t the woman he expected. He came to Vegas planning to rob Treena blind, only to have her steal his heart.

Figuring out how two people can forge a future from a relationship founded on lies was a roller coaster of ups, downs and loop-de-loops for me. I hope you enjoy the ride.

And be sure to check out Burning Up, coming August 31, just in time for Labor Day weekend. Video Queen Macy O’James is back in Sugarville, Washington, the small town that practically ran her out on a rail. The last thing she’s looking for is a man. But the first person she tangles with is fire chief Gabe Donovan.

And sparks fly.

Happy reading.

Susan

This book is dedicated, with love, to

Meg Ruley

for being the best, the greatest, the most fun agent a girl could ever have

My sister Rogue Authors

Victoria Alexander, Patti Berg, Stephanie Laurens and Linda Needham for laughter, commiseration, friendship and shared meals

and to

Boo and Mojo for warm fur, great purrs and stupid pet tricks

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

EPILOGUE

JACKSON GALLAGHER MCCALL set his drink down on the tiny cocktail table in front of him as a group of showgirls, clearly ready to party, strolled into the Las Vegas casino bar where he sat. How about that? Ask and ye shall receive.

This must be his lucky night; his target was right in the midst of things. He watched her wild tangle of pale red curls gently shift against her collarbone and spill over her shoulders to float out behind her. It had been a bitch trying to pick her out in la Stravaganza, the lavish revue he’d attended a short while ago in the hotel showroom. All the dancers on stage had killer bodies, seemed to be within an inch or two of each other in height, and wore heavy makeup and identical costumes. They either had matching wigs or the exact same lavish headdresses, give or take a plume or three.

He didn’t doubt for a minute it was the same group, however, for while they’d replaced all that theatrical greasepaint with the regular kind of makeup women wore, a few of the dancers were still in the skimpy costumes he’d last seen on stage in the final act.

Not her, though. He looked her over from head to foot, and decided it wouldn’t be a hardship to seduce his way into this one’s house. Not with that body, clad now in tall, barely-there sandals, peach-colored hip-hugging slacks, and a matching top, the entire back of which consisted of nothing more than a few skinny criss-cross straps. She had a bawdy laugh and a mouth that was now curved up on the left side in a slight, knowing, closed-lips smile. It was a look that said this woman had probably forgotten more tricks than most women ever learned.