ã€ŠSILENT DESIRESã€‹


 1

    Savannah Carson stared at her engagement ring for the millionth time and smiled, joy bubbling through her chest. She felt like she was a teenager all over again¡­ In high school. Except this time she would be dating the most popr, and most handsome guy in school.

    But she wasn¡¯t a teenager. She was twenty six years old, and her life had taken a whole different turn when she met Matt Bradford five months ago.

    Savannah Carson had never been in love. She had been in a few rtionships, but never been in love.

    You know, movie kind of love. The kind of love that steals your breath and zaps away yourmon sense. The kind that makes your toes tingle and your skin prickle and your body actually throb. The kind that includes a lot of slow deep kisses and long, lingering touches. The kind of love that Lionel Richie sang about. The kind makes you want to spend the rest of your life with someone.

    Savannah had never felt that way about anyone -well, until Matt Bradford.

    Five months wasn¡¯t a really long time. She knew that. But what the hell did it matter? It doesn¡¯t matter how long you have known someone, but how well you know them, right? And Savannah knew Matt Bradford.

    He was a sensitive, caring loving man who would do anything for her. He wanted her happiness as much as he wanted his own and he never failed to tell her how much he loved her. During the five months they had been together, they had often talked of their desire to start a family¡­. They both wanted the same thing.

    And so two days ago, Matt had popped the question, and Savannah had said yes immediately. She was going to marry the love of her life and they were going to live happily ever after¡­ what more could she want?

    They weren¡¯t living together, although Savannah spent so much time in his ce and she had some of her stuff there, it was like she was living with him. And that was something that Victoria, her roommate and best friend never stopped teasing her about.

    She was at his house now. After she returned from work early, she had decided to make him dinner, which was something Matt really liked. He appreciated every little thing she did for him, and Savannah loved that too. She couldn¡¯t wait for him toe home. She searched her memory for what he had going on at the office today. He didn¡¯t have any important meetings and he was supposed to be in his office for the entirety of that afternoon. That meant he would be back early today.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    She hugged herself in excitement, nearly dancing across the floor of his bedroom. They were both happy¡­ They were engaged. They would be married soon¡­. Nothing could go wrong now.

    A noise from the living room halted her. Then she smiled. Oh, this would be perfect. Matt was home. She hadn¡¯t even called him toe home, but here he was. Today his timing was impable.

    She started to call out to him when Lorenzo, his brother, appeared in the doorway to the bedroom.

    She was momentarily speechless. While Enzo popped in frequently, he always did so when Matt was at home. He had to know Matt was working today.

    ¡°Enzo,¡± Savannah said. ¡°What are you doing here? Matt is at work. I don¡¯t know when he is going to be home¡­ hopefully soon¡±

    ¡°I came to talk to you,¡± Enzo said.

    She cocked her head to the side. She and Enzo didn¡¯t really talk much, especially when she knew he and his mom weren¡¯t really in support of her rtionship with Matt. It had bothered her at first, but Matt had assured her that they woulde around, as they were only looking out for him.

 2

    ¡°Okay.¡± she said. ¡°What¡¯s up? Let¡¯s go into the living room.¡±

    He ignored her and took another step into the bedroom. Unease prickled down her spine. Something was definitely off with him. She could see it in his eyes and in his bodynguage.

    ¡°How much would it take for you to walk away from Matt?¡± he asked.

    Her eyes widened in shock. She couldn¡¯t have heard him correctly. ¡°Excuse me?¡± she said, unable to believe what she had just heard.

    ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb. You¡¯re a smart girl. How much would it take for you to dump Matt and take off?¡± Enzo asked.

    ¡°You¡¯re offering me money to leave your brother?¡± Savannah asked.

    He nodded. Something that looked like genuine regret flickered across his face. He fidgeted nervously and then pinned her with his stare. ¡°I¡¯d hoped you¡¯d make this easy. It¡¯s not a small amount of money we¡¯re offering.¡± he said.

    The ¡°we¡± in that statement confirmed Savannah¡¯s suspicions that Matt¡¯s mother was indeed the mastermind of this operation. ¡°Did your mother put you up to this?¡± she asked him. ¡°You¡¯re both out of your minds. I love Matt. He loves me. We¡¯re getting married.¡±

    He didn¡¯t reply, just grinned at her.

    She was about to tell Enzo exactly where he and his mother could get off when he took another step toward her. The look in his eyes had her hastily backing away.

    ¡°I think you should go now,¡± she said even as she reached for the phone.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    Enzo lunged across the bed, knocking the phone from her hand. She was so stunned by the sudden attack that for a moment she didn¡¯t- couldn¡¯t-defend herself.

    He shoved her down on the bed, his hands moving roughly over her body, pushing up her skirt, pulling at her pants. She drew her knee up, trying to catch him in the groin, but he dodged and then rolled her underneath him.

    She cried out in pain at the rough mauling. She was furious and terrified. He fully intended to rape her in Matt¡¯s bed. Had he lost his mind? Matt would kill him for this.

    His hands moved over her skin with bruising force. Knowing if she wasn¡¯t able to fight him off that he¡¯d assault her in Matt¡¯s home, she began struggling with renewed force.

    She finally managed tond a blow between his legs, which had him doubling over, clutching at himself. She rolled, falling to the floor, her hands desperately grabbing at her clothing. She got to her feet, her hand clutching her bruised throat.

    ¡°He¡¯ll kill you for this,¡± she gasped. ¡°How did you think you¡¯d get away with it? My God, you¡¯re his brother! You bastard.¡±

    She started for the door, her only thought to get to Matt, but Enzo¡¯s words gave her pause.

    ¡°He¡¯ll never believe you,¡± he said.

    ¡°You¡¯re insane,¡± she choked out even as she ran for the door.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    Savannah had been very wrong, and Enzo had been right. By the time she rushed to Matt¡¯s office, she was toote.

    Matt was standing in his office, his hands in his pocket, his head resting on the office wall, his body stiff. When she called his name and he turned around to look at her, she knew something was seriously wrong. Matt had never looked at her that way before.

    She tried to exin what had happened, but Matt hadn¡¯t believed her. Enzo had called his brother from Matt¡¯s own apartment before she could arrive at Matt¡¯s office.

    He had given Matt his own ounting of what happened, and the genius of his story was that he told Matt exactly what Savannah would tell him. Only Enzo told Matt that Savannah had been the instigator and that when he told her he was going to tell Matt that she had cheated on him, she had concocted a smug story that he had assaulted her.

 3

    Enzo yed his part to the hilt. That he was the victim of Savannah¡¯s lies and maniptions. So when Savannah ran to Matt¡¯s office and rted the exact story that Enzo warned Matt she would tell, Matt had been coldly furious.

    He hadn¡¯t believed her, just as Enzo had said. He believed his brother. Enzo was family of course. And for a while Savannah was shocked that he had such little faith and trust in her. Why would he even want to marry her if he could believe this about her. He strongly believed that his brother wouldn¡¯t lie about something like that.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    She had tried to exin , even begged him. But he didn¡¯t want to listen. Hadn¡¯t even stopped to listen.

    Worse part, as if the pain wasn¡¯t enough, he wrote her a damn check and then he threw her out of his life.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    PRESENT DAY

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    ¡°Almost enough to make you believe in the fine institution of marriage, isn¡¯t it?¡± Matt Bradford said as he watched his friend, David Forbes, dance with his radiant new bride, Emily.

    The reception was taking ce inside Moon Ind¡¯s small, nondescript municipal building. It wasn¡¯t exactly where Matt imagined any of his friends would host a wedding reception, but he supposed it was fitting that David and Emily would marry here on the ind where so much of their rtionship had been forged.

    The bride positively glowed, happiness written all over her face. They stood in the middle of the makeshift dance floor, Emily tucked into David¡¯s protective hold, and they were so focused on each other that they doubted the world around them existed. David looked like he¡¯d been handed the universe, and maybe he had.

    ¡°They look disgustingly happy,¡± Dash ck, Matt¡¯s best friend, said next to him.

    Matt chuckled and looked up to see Dash holding a ss of wine in one hand, his other shoved into the pocket of his cks.

    ¡°Yeah, they do.¡± Matt agreed.

    Dash¡¯s mouth twisted in annoyance and Matt chuckled again. Dash himself wasn¡¯t very far away from a trip down the aisle, and he wasn¡¯t taking it with good grace. Still, he couldn¡¯t resist needling his friend.

    ¡°Patchett still putting the screws to you?¡± Matt asked.

    ¡°Yeah, he is,¡± Dash muttered. ¡°He¡¯s determined for me to marry Tess. He won¡¯t budge on the deal unless I agree. And now that we¡¯ve relocated the resort and begun construction, I¡¯m ready to get on with the next step. I don¡¯t want him to lose confidence over this blown deal. Problem is, he¡¯s insisted on a dating period. He wants Tess to befortable around me. I swear I think the man believes he lives in the eighteen hundreds. Who the hell arranges a marriage for their daughter anymore? And why the hell would you make marriage a condition of business? I can¡¯t wrap my head around it.¡±

    ¡°There are worse women to marry, I¡¯m sure,¡± Matt said, thinking of his own narrow escape.

    Dash winced in sympathy. ¡°Still no word on Savannah?¡± he asked.

    Matt frowned and shook his head. ¡°No. But I only just started looking. She¡¯ll turn up¡­ Somehow.¡± he said.

    ¡°Why the hell are you looking for her, man?¡± Dash asked.¡± Why would you even want to go back down that road? Forget about her. Move on. You¡¯re better off without her. You know I¡¯m right about this. And I think you are out of your mind to pursue this.¡±

    Matt curled his lip and turned to look at his friend. ¡°I have no doubt I¡¯m better off. I¡¯m not looking for her so I can wee her back into my life.¡± he said.

    ¡°Then why did you hire an investigator to find her, for God¡¯s sake? You¡¯d be better off letting the past stay in the past. Get over her. Move on.¡± Dash insisted.

 4

    Matt was silent for a long moment. It wasn¡¯t a question he could entirely answer. How could he exin the burning desire to know where she was? What she was doing. If she was all right. It had been a year for crying out loud. He shouldn¡¯t care, damn it. He should forget all about her, but he couldn¡¯t.

    ¡°I want some answers,¡± he finally muttered. ¡°She never cashed the check I gave her. I¡¯d just like to know that nothing has happened to her.¡±

    The excuse soundedme even to him.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    Dash raised an eyebrow and sipped at the expensive wine. ¡°After what she pulled, I¡¯d imagine she¡¯s feeling pretty damn stupid.¡± he said.¡±I wouldn¡¯t want to show my face either.¡±

    Matt shrugged. ¡°Maybe.¡± But he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that it was something more. Why was he even worried? Why should he care? Why hadn¡¯t she cashed the check? Why couldn¡¯t he get her out of his mind? She haunted him. For a year, he had cursed her, lying awake at night wondering where she was and if she was safe. And he hated that he cared, even though he convinced himself he¡¯d worry about any woman under the same circumstances. He had tried to forget about her, it took him a whole year to realize that he couldn¡¯t¡­ And then he had decided to find her and at least know that she was okay. Because he was definitely going crazy with curiosity and wondering if she was okay.

    She didn¡¯t make finding her easy though. She had disconnected her number and stopped using her social media ounts. Her friend Victoria said she didn¡¯t know where she was and he didn¡¯t know if she was telling him the truth or just covering up for Savannah. All Victoria had told him after a lot of pestering was that Savannah said she needed her break from everything and she had just dropped off the face of the earth. He was worried¡­ Even when he knew he shouldn¡¯t be. She didn¡¯t deserve his care.

    Dash shrugged. ¡°Your time and your dime, man. Oh, look, there¡¯s Stefan. Wasn¡¯t sure Mr. Reclusive would actually crawl out of that fortress for the event.¡± he said.

    Stefan Codge shouldered his way through the crowd, and people instinctively moved to get out of his way. He was tall and broad chested, and he wore power and refinement like most other people wore clothing. The stone set of his demeanor made him unapproachable by most. He could be a mean son of a bitch, but he could usually be counted on to rx around his friends.

    Stefan emitted a dry chuckle. ¡°Poor bastard. I don¡¯t know whether to offer my condolences or my congrattions.¡± he said.

    Matt grinned. ¡°Emily is a good woman.¡± he said.¡±David is lucky to have her.¡±

    Dash nodded and even Stefan smiled, if you could call the tiny lift at the corner of his mouth a true smile. Then Stefan turned to Dash, his eyes gleaming with unholy amusement.

    ¡°Word is you¡¯re not far from taking a trip down the aisle yourself,¡± he said.

    Dash muttered a crude expletive and flipped up his middle finger along the side of his wine ss.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not ruin David¡¯s wedding by talking about mine.¡± he said.¡±I¡¯m more interested in knowing whether you were able to acquire the site for the new location of our hotel since Moon Ind is now officially a bust.¡±

    Stefan¡¯s eyebrows went up in exaggerated shock.

    ¡°You doubt me? I¡¯ll have you know that twenty prime acres of beachfront property on St. Michael¡¯s is now ours. And I got a damn good deal. Better yet, construction willmence as soon as we can move crews in. If we really dig in, we¡¯lle close to hitting our original deadline for the grand opening.¡±

 5

    Their gazes automatically went to David, who was still wrapped around his bride. Yeah, the man had caused them a major setback when he pulled the plug on the Moon Ind venture, but it was hard for Matt to get up in arms about it when David looked so damn happy.

    Matt¡¯s pocket vibrated, and he reached down to pull his phone out. He was about to hit the ignore button when he saw who was calling. He frowned.

    ¡°Excuse me, I need to take this,¡± he said.

    Stefan and Dash waved him off and returned to their bantering as Matt hurried out of the building. As soon as he stepped outside, the sea breeze ruffled his hair and the tang of salt filled his nose. The weather was seasonable but by no means hot. It was about as perfect a day as you could ask for, especially for a wedding on the beach. He turned to look at the distant waves and brought the phone to his ear.

    ¡°Bradford,¡± he said by way of a terse greeting.

    ¡°I think I¡¯ve found her,¡± his lead investigator said with no preamble.

    Matt tensed, his hand gripping the phone until his fingers went numb. ¡°Where?¡± he asked.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t had time to send a man to get a visual confirmation yet. I only just got the information a few minutes ago. I felt strongly enough about her identity to give you a heads-up. I should know more by tomorrow.¡± the man on the other line said.

    ¡°Where?¡± Matt demanded again.

    ¡°Right here in town. I think she just moved back into town. She¡¯s working in a diner here. Logan¡¯s to be exact. I will check it out to be sure and then I will have photos and a full report for you by tomorrow afternoon.¡±

    She was right here. Matt couldn¡¯t believe it. The irony wasn¡¯t lost on him. He¡¯d been close to her all this time and never known it. How long had she been around? When did she get back?

    ¡°No,¡± Matt interjected. ¡°I¡¯ll go. I will go see her. I¡¯m already here¡­ Not far away. I can be at the diner tomorrow.¡±

    There was a long silence over the phone. ¡°Sir, it might not be her. I prefer to get confirmation before you take a needless trip.¡±

    ¡°You said it was most likely her,¡± Matt said impatiently. ¡°If it turns out not to be, I won¡¯t hold you responsible. And there¡¯s no point since I¡¯m very close to the ce where she is supposed to be¡±

    ¡°Should I hold off my man then?¡±

    Matt paused, his lips tight, his grip on the phone even tighter. ¡°If it¡¯s Savannah, I¡¯ll know. If it¡¯s not, I¡¯ll inform you so you can continue your search. There¡¯s no need for you to send anyone down. I¡¯ll go myself.¡± he said.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    ¡°Will you guys please just stop and find some other ce and some other time to¡­.. Do whatever it is that you guys are doing?¡± Savannah Carson asked.

    She dropped the dishes she was carrying on a table and turned to look at her friend Victoria Ryan, who was standing with her boyfriend, Bruce Wesley.

    Victoria pulled herself away from Bruce¡¯s embrace and turned to look at Savannah. A mischievous smile on her face.

    ¡°Rx babe,¡± she said. ¡°You are so uptight¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not uptight,¡± Savannah said. ¡°I just don¡¯t think that¡± she shifted her gaze to Bruce. ¡± he should be back here¡±

    Victoria simply smiled.

    ¡°I mean, no offense, Bruce,¡± Savannah continued, ignoring Victoria¡¯s smile, ¡°But I don¡¯t think being back here is a good idea. What if our boss, Lamar,es back here suddenly? You know how annoying he can be. He seems to always be in a bad mood and I don¡¯t want anyone yelling at me. Today was a good day and I definitely want it to stay that way¡±

    From the corner of her eyes, Savannah could see Victoria moving her eyes, head and mouth in a mocking way as she spoke. She inhaled deeply and turned her attention to Victoria.

    ¡°Vicky, you know that I can see you right?¡± she asked.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°You know I don¡¯t care right?¡± Victoria retorted.

    Savannah dropped the towel in her hands on the table as well. ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± she said, pointing her index finger at her friend. ¡°I¡¯m teaching you a lesson¡±

    She moved forward to grab Vicky, and she would have seeded, if Bruce didn¡¯t step between them, blocking her ess to Vicky.

    ¡°Okay. Okay¡± he said,ughing. Vicky stood behind himughing.

    ¡°There is no need for this.¡±  Bruce continued. ¡°Savannah, I understand your concern about me being here, and you are right. I shouldn¡¯t be here. I will be leaving now. Wouldn¡¯t want to put you girls in trouble¡±.

    ¡°Thank you, Bruce,¡± Savannah said. ¡°For being so understanding¡±

    Bruce smiled at her, and after he kissed Vicky goodbye, he was gone.

 6

    ¡°Jeez, girl¡± Vicky said. ¡°You say Lamar is uptight. But sometimes, you are too. Learn to loosen up a bit, girl. Since you got back, you seem different. I let you have your one year¡­ One year of doing God knows what in God knows where. But you¡¯re back now, and I want my friend back¡±N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    ¡°Yeah I¡¯m back,¡± Savannah said. ¡°But it doesn¡¯t mean I want to watch you shack up with your boyfriend¡±

    Victoriaughed. ¡°Jealous much?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Nope I¡¯m not jealous¡± Savannah replied. ¡°I¡¯m happy for you actually. Not easy finding true, undying love¡± She remembered hers which had ended a year ago and shook her head to get the thought of her head. She had promised herself she was finally going to move on.

    ¡°Just don¡¯t rub your happiness in my face¡± she said jokingly, grinning at Victoria. ¡°And definitely not in here where Lamar can just walk in anytime. You will get me in trouble too, you know?¡±

    ¡°Fine, fine¡± Victoria said. ¡°enough with the lecture¡±

    Savannah smiled and picked up the tes she had dropped earlier and went to drop them in the kitchen.

    ¡°By the way¡± she said to Victoria when she returned to the room. ¡°Are youing home today?¡±

    Savannah and Victoria were best friends and roommates and Victoria had thankfully not found another roommate when Savannah left, so when she returned a week ago, she had just returned back to her old life and with Victoria¡¯s help, they had convinced Lamar to give Savannah her job back. Which Lamar had done reluctantly, and that was one of the reasons why Savannah did everything possible to avoid getting on his bad side.

    ¡°No I¡¯m not,¡± Vicky replied. ¡°I will be spending the night at Bruce¡¯s ce¡±

    ¡°Wow,¡± Savannah said, rolling her eyes yfully. ¡°You hardlye home nowadays. You are practically living with him. Maybe you should just move in with him and get the whole thing over with¡±

    ¡°Hey¡± Vicky said. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare start with me. You did worse when you were with Matt¡±

    Savannah picked up her towel and faced Vicky. ¡°I thought I told you that I didn¡¯t want to hear that name ever again¡± she said.

    ¡°Oh please. It¡¯s just the in truth¡± Victoria said. ¡°And please, screw this ¡®don¡¯t ever mention his name¡¯ shit you are going through. I know he hurt you and used you falsely. But you will never be able to move onpletely from him if you don¡¯t face it. Stop living in denial. Jeez, babe, when was thest time you¡­ You know¡­. Gotid ¡±

    Savannah gave her a look.¡± Ew. Mind your business ¡± she said.

    ¡± Just asking babe, ¡± Victoria said, not caring about the look on Savannah¡¯s face. She continued.¡±And judging by the way you are uptight all the time, it seems like it¡¯s been a really long time. I don¡¯t need a fortune teller to tell me that¡±

    ¡°Screw you. I¡¯m not having this conversation with you¡± Savannah said as she grabbed a tray and walked out of the room. She could hear Vicky giggling.

    But that was just how her friend Vicky was. She teased a lot and it sucked most times¡­ Especially when she knew that Vicky was right.

    She didn¡¯t want any reminders of Matt Bradford. Her brief rtionship with him was her best but it had also ended horribly. The rtionship had juststed five months, but she felt they had known each other well enough to trust each other. Clearly she had been wrong¡­ Because the moment a test of that trust came, he had used her of sleeping with his brother. He wouldn¡¯t even listen to her exnations no matter how much she tried. But instead he had jumped into conclusions, ended their rtionship and asked her to leave. He had even gone to the extent of insulting her even more by writing a check. The audacity! The nerve of the man.

    She had taken the check, but she never cashed it. Ity in her drawer now. And she didn¡¯t even know why she was keeping it. She couldn¡¯t stand the break up, couldn¡¯t stand running into him, so she had left town¡­ Went to live with a cousin for a year.

    She had returned because she thought she was finally in a good ce. She definitely didn¡¯t want to see Matt, but at least she was sure she could face him now without wanting to burst into tears. But sometimes she doubted that too, because merely hearing someone mention his name brought back memories, memories she had sworn to put behind her.

    And Vicky was right, because she hadn¡¯t been able to develop any romantic interest in any other man since Matt Bradford.

    She shook her head, willing the thoughts to go away. She was a little tired after her shift and she couldn¡¯t wait to go home, take a shower and climb into bed with a good novel before getting some rest.

    Savannah loved reading novels, romantic ones to be precise. Books that made her wish love that true could actually happen. And she had believed it could at a time, but now she knew that would never happen. At least for her. She knew better now.

    For just a moment, Savannah had wondered if her resolution was foolish-if swearing off frivolous dating was simply a masochistic exercise that would do nothing more than keep her frustrated.

    No it wasn¡¯t. She reminded herself. She was just being careful this time. She wasn¡¯t swearing off men, just foolish dating of the wrong sort of man. Her door was wide open to Mr. Right. Maybeter¡­ But not now though.  And Mr right seemed to be nowhere to be found. So definitely no need trying to force herself to feel something for someone.

    And if she met a guy with Mr. Right potential, they¡¯d just have to take it slow and steady. She wasn¡¯t going to rush into a rtionship like she did with Matt. That was a mistake she wasn¡¯t going to repeat.

 7

    That might leave her frustrated, but that was a state of being Savannah could take care of on her own.

    She shivered, and then, pulling herself together, out of her day dream and began to clear the tables on the side of the diner assigned to her.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    Matt drove through town in the blinding rain. His destination was Logan¡¯s diner where Savannah was waitressing. It shouldn¡¯t surprise him. It was the ce she was working before she had left.  She¡¯d been waitressing there when they¡¯d met. And during their rtionship, he had offered to get her a job in hispany but she had refused, insisting that she would be ufortable working for him while they were sleeping together.

    He had insisted but had given up when he realized that he couldn¡¯t change her mind about her decision. But he had tried his best to ensure that she got everything she wanted.

    Savannah Carson¡¯s parents had died when she was in college and she didn¡¯t really have a lot of family around. She had dropped out of school in her third year and began to fend for herself. She was independent and liked to work, refusing to depend on him or anyone else¡­ and that was one of the things that he loved about her.

    When they broke up, he was very angry. But he still cared about her and was worried about her and he still wanted her tock nothing. So he had written her a check. If she could cheat on him¡­ With his own brother, she had obviously never loved him. She had obviously just stayed for the money. He couldn¡¯t believe he had fallen for that act. The woman was a really good actress, because she had fooled himpletely.

    The check he¡¯d written her would have prevented her from needing to work for quite some time. He figured she would have returned to school. Even when they were dating, she¡¯d expressed the desire to finish her degree. He hadn¡¯t understood it, but he¡¯d supported her decision. The selfish part of him had wanted her to bepletely reliant on him, but since it was what she wanted he tried to support her.

    Why then hadn¡¯t she cashed the check? He asked himself for the millionth time. He had been asking himself that question for months and he was beginning to think that he might go crazy.

    He had headed straight for the diner immediately after giving David and Emily his best wishes. He hadn¡¯t told Dash or Stefan that he¡¯d found Savannah. He had just told them that he had an important business matter to attend to. By the time he¡¯d gotten into town it had beente in the evening, and her shift must have ended, so he¡¯d spent a sleepless night in a downtown hotel.

    When he¡¯d gotten up this morning, the skies had been gray and overcast and there hadn¡¯t been a single break in the rain since he¡¯d left his hotel. At least the weather had been beautiful for David¡¯s wedding. He thought. By now the happy couple would be off on their honeymoon-somece where there was an abundance of blue skies.

    He nced over at his GPS and saw he was still several blocks from his destination. To his frustration, he hit every single red light on the way down the busy street. Why he was in a hurry, he didn¡¯t know. ording to his investigator, she was working there, probably living close to the diner too. She wasn¡¯t going anywhere.

    A million questions hovered in his mind, but he knew he wouldn¡¯t have the answers to any of them until he confronted her.

    A few minutester he pulled up and parked at the diner that sported a lopsided doughnut sign. He stared at the ce, remembering the first time he saw her. It had been here¡­ Their story had begun right here in this diner. And with the way he had felt when he first saw her. He had thought it was meant to be. What an idiot he had been then.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    With a shake of his head, he ducked out of the BMW and dashed toward the entrance, shaking the rain from his cor as he stepped under the small awning over the door.

    Once inside, he looked around before taking a seat in a booth on the far side of the caf¨¦. A waitress who was not Savannah came over with a menu and pped it down on the table in front of him.

    He looked around. He knew this was the part of the diner where Savannah served, so she was the one who should be attending to him. Unless she had changed ces. Or maybe she wasn¡¯t the one his investigator had seen. A huge feeling of disappointment descended on him.

    ¡°Just coffee,¡± he murmured to the waitress.

    ¡°Suit yourself,¡± she said as she sashayed off to the bar to pour the coffee.

    She returned a momentter and put the cup down with enough of a jolt to slosh the dark brew over the rim. With an apologetic smile, she tossed down a napkin.

    ¡°If there¡¯s anything I can get you, just let me know.¡± she said.

    It was on the tip of his tongue to ask her about Savannah when he looked beyond her and saw a waitress with her back to him standing across the room at another table.

    He waved his waitress off and honed in on the table across the caf¨¦. It was her. He knew it was her.

 8

    The honey blond hair was longer and pulled into a ponytail, but it was her. He felt, more than visualized her, and his body quickened in response even after all these months.

    Then she turned and presented her profile, and he felt every ounce of blood drain from his face.

    What the everloving hell?

    She was beautiful. Maybe even more beautiful than she was when they were together. Okay, maybe it was because he hadn¡¯t seen her for so damn long. But hell, she was stunning.

    She looked simple, as she always liked to look, but somehow that simplicity made her stand out. She was wearing her uniform, a short blue skirt and fitted white shirt, with a white apron tied around her waist.

    He had always hated that skirt. Not because she didn¡¯t look good in it. It was actually because she looked too good in it, the skirt exposed her smooth, straight, shapely legs and all he could think about that moment was how good it had felt to have those legs wrapped around him when they made love.

    Even now, he could see that a number of men were staring, some not even bothering to hide their hungry gazes. He had a sudden urge to take her out of the diner, but he remembered almost immediately that he had no right to do that and that Savannah hated it when he tried to make her quit her job.

    His gaze lifted slowly from her body just as she turned fully and their eyes met. Shock widened her blue eyes as she stared across the room at him. Recognition was instant, but then why would she have forgotten him anymore than he couldn¡¯t have forgotten her?

    Before he could react, stand, say anything, fury turned those blue orbs ice-cold. Her delicate features tightened and he could see her jaw clench from where he sat.

    What the hell did she have to be so angry about? He was the one who had been betrayed. He was the one who should be angry.

    But there she was. Her fingers curled into tight balls at her sides, almost as if she¡¯d love nothing better than to deck him. Then, without a word, she turned and stalked toward the kitchen, disappearing behind the swinging door.

    His eyes narrowed. Okay, that hadn¡¯t gone as he¡¯d imagined. He wasn¡¯t sure what he¡¯d expected.

    A weeping apology? A plea to take her back? He damn sure hadn¡¯t expected to find her this angry.

    He took a deep, steadying breath. Anxiety took hold of his throat and squeezed until his nostrils twitched with the effort of drawing air.

    He sat there and waited for her toe back.

    She didn¡¯t.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Savannah Carson burst into the kitchen, struggling to untie her apron. She swore under her breath when she fumbled uselessly at the strings. Her hands shook so bad she couldn¡¯t even manage this simple of a task.

    Finally she yanked hard enough that the material ripped. She all but threw it on the hook where the other waitresses hung their aprons.

    Why was he here? She hadn¡¯t done a whole lot to cover her tracks. Yes, she¡¯d left the city and at the time she hadn¡¯t known where she¡¯d end up. She hadn¡¯t cared. But neither had she done anything to hide. Okay, maybe she had but it wasn¡¯t because she was running away from him, but because she wanted to let go and move on.

    That meant he could have found her at any time.

    Why now? After a year, what possible reason could he have for looking for her?

    She refused to believe in coincidences. ording to Vicky, Matt stoppeding to the diner after their break up. He couldn¡¯t just happen to be here now that she was back. His presence annoyed her. She wanted to spill something on him.

    Wow, Savannah, bitter much?

    She shook her head, furious with herself for reacting this strongly to the man¡¯s presence.

    ¡°Hey, Savannah, what¡¯s going on?¡± Vicky asked.

    Savannah turned to see her friend standing in the doorway to the kitchen, her brow creased with concern.

    ¡°Close the door,¡± Savannah hissed as she motioned Victoria inside.

    Vicky quicklyplied and the door swung shut.

    ¡°Is everything alright? You don¡¯t look good, babe. Are you sick?

    Savannah didn¡¯t know exactly how she felt. She just knew that she had to get out of here.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not well at all,¡± she said, grasping for an exnation. ¡°Tell Lamar I had to leave.. If he asks. He¡¯s not here now so I should be fine. Could you just cover for me?¡±

    Victoria frowned. ¡°He¡¯s not going to like it. You know how he is about us missing work. Unless we¡¯re missing a limb or vomiting blood, he¡¯s not going to be forgiving.¡± She said,

    ¡°Then tell him I quit,¡± Savannah muttered as she hurried toward the alley exit. She paused at the rickety door and turned anxiously back to Victoria. ¡°Do me a favor, Vicky. This is important, okay? If anyone in the diner asks about me-anyone at all-you don¡¯t know anything.¡± She said,

    Vicky¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Savannah, are you in some kind of trouble?¡± she asked.

    Savannah shook her head impatiently. ¡°I¡¯m not in trouble. I swear it. It¡¯s¡­it¡¯s Matt. That bastard. I saw him in the diner a minute ago.¡±

    Victoria¡¯s lips tightened and her eyes zed with indignation. ¡°Really?¡± she asked.¡± He¡¯s here right now? ¡±

    Savannah nodded.

    ¡°You go on ahead, hon. I¡¯ll take care of things here.¡± Vicky said.

    ¡°Bless you,¡± Savannah murmured.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    She ducked out the back door of the diner and headed down the alley. Her apartment was only two blocks away. She could go there and figure out what the heck to do next.

    She almost stopped halfway there. Why was she running? She had nothing to hide. She¡¯d done nothing wrong. What she should have done was march across that diner and bloodied his nose.

    Instead she was running.

    She took the flimsy stairs to her second-story apartment two at a time. When she was inside, she closed the door and leaned heavily against it.

 9

    Tears pricked her eyelids and it only made her more furious that she was actually upset over seeing Matt Bradford again. So much for getting over him.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    No, she didn¡¯t want to face him. She never wanted to see him again. Never did she want anyone to have the kind of power he had to hurt her. Never again.

    She buried her head in her hands, trying tofort  herself.

    ¡°I was a fool to love him,¡± she whispered. ¡°I was a fool to think I could ever fit in and that his family would ept me. I was so wrong and so stupid.¡±

    She jumped when the door behind her vibrated with a knock. Her heart leaped into her throat, and she put a shaky hand to her chest. She stared at the door as if she could see through it.

    ¡°Savvie, open the damn door. I know you¡¯re in there.¡±

    Matt. God. The veryst person she wanted to open the door to.

    She put a hand to the wood and leaned forward, unsure of whether she should ignore him or respond.

    The force of his second knock bumped her hand and she snatched it away.

    ¡°Go away, Matt,¡± she finally shouted. ¡°I have nothing to say to you.¡±

    Suddenly the door shuddered and flew open. She took several hasty steps backward. ¡°You asshole,¡± she said. ¡°You could have hurt me¡±.

    He didn¡¯t reply. He filled the doorway, looking as big and formidable as ever. Nothing had changed except for new lines around his mouth and eyes. His gaze stroked over her, piercing through any protective barriers she thought to construct. He¡¯d always had a way of seeing right to the heart of her.

    Fresh grief flooded through her chest. Damn him. What else could he possibly want to do to hurt her? What else could he possibly want from her? He had already destroyed her.

    ¡°Get out,¡± she said, proud of how steady her voice sounded. ¡°Get out or I¡¯ll call the police. I have nothing to talk to you about. Not now. Not ever.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s too bad,¡± Matt said as he stalked forward, ¡°because I have plenty to talk to you about. Starting with where the hell you have been these past months.¡±

    Savannah willed herself not to rage at him. Instead, she looked calmly at him, coolly, while emotions boiled beneath the surface like moltenva ready to erupt.

    ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± She said, ¡°You know you have a lot of nerve barging in here like you own the ce. How did you even find me?¡±

    His nostrils red. ¡°It wasn¡¯t so hard to figure out,¡± he said. ¡°You are still working in the same ce, and I thought, why not check out your old apartment. And here you are. Do you even have any idea how long I have been looking for you?¡±

    She crossed her arms over her chest and stared him down. ¡°Now why would you be looking for me? I don¡¯t have anything that belongs to you and I¡¯m not your responsibility?¡±

    Matt resisted the urge to tell her just how wrong she was. She had something that belonged to him. His heart. And no matter how much he had tried to move on, she had stayed with him.

    Savannah wanted to hit him. For a man only too willing to believe she¡¯d slept around, it seemed pretty damn ridiculous that he¡¯d barge into her apartment demanding to know where she had been after he falsely used her, insulted her and kicked her out of his life. He certainly had a lot of nerve.

    ¡°Damn it, Savvie , we were engaged. We lived together and we were already nning our wedding. It might not have ended well, but I truly cared about you. And yes, I was worried about you since you seemed to have just dropped off the face of the earth¡±.

    She raised an eyebrow and studied him for a moment. ¡°There is no need to care or worry about where I was or what I was doing. I was probably off hooking up with a lot of guys. After all, I was with so many other men when we were together, your brother included.¡± She shrugged nonchntly and turned away from him, going into the kitchen.

    He was close on her heels and she could feel the anger emanating from him. ¡°You¡¯re a bitch, Savvie. A cold, calcting bitch. I gave you everything and you threw it away for a little gratuitous sex on the side.¡± he said.

    She whipped around, the urge to hit him so strong that she had to curl her fingers into a fist to keep from doing just that. ¡°Get out. Get out and don¡¯t evere back.¡± She yelled.

    His eyes glittered with anger and frustration. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere, Savvie, not until you tell me what I want to know,¡± he said.

    She bared her teeth. ¡°I wasn¡¯t homeless or lying in a ditch somewhere as you can see.¡± she said.¡± I went to live with my cousin. And yes I found a way to survive without you or your money. You seemed very convinced that that was the only reason why I was with you. There I told you. Happy? Now go.¡±

    ¡°Did you keep in touch with Enzo?¡± he asked softly, like he was scared of the answer.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask him?¡± Savannah replied, angry that he still thought that she would want anything to do with his stupid, lying brother.

    ¡°We don¡¯t talk about you,¡± he bit out..

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t want to talk about either of you. I want you out of my apartment. It isn¡¯t your business where I was or what I have been doing. Get out of my life. I did as you asked. I got out of yours.¡± She said,

    ¡°You didn¡¯t give me a choice.¡±

    She looked scornfully at him. ¡°Choice? I don¡¯t remember having a choice either. You made that choice for both of us.¡±

    He stared at her in disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re a piece of work, Savvie. Still the innocent martyr, I see.¡± he said.

    She walked over to the door and opened it, looking expectantly at him.

 10

    He didn¡¯t move. ¡°Why are you living this way, Savvie?¡± he asked. ¡°I can¡¯t wrap my head around why you did what you did. I would have given you everything. Hell, I still gave you a hefty amount of money when we broke up because I didn¡¯t like to think of you being without. But now I find you still living in squalor working a job that is far beneath your abilities.¡± he said.

    A wave of hatred hit her hard. In this moment she realized that she truly loved and hated him in equal measure. Her chest hurt so bad that she couldn¡¯t breathe. Her mind went back to the day when she¡¯d stood in front of him, devastated,pletely and utterly broken, while he scribbled his signature on a bank draft and disdainfully shoved it toward her.

    The look in his eyes had told her that he didn¡¯t love her, had never loved her. He didn¡¯t trust her. He didn¡¯t have faith in her.

    When she¡¯d needed him the absolute most, he¡¯d let her down and treated her like a paid whore. She would never forgive him for that.

    She slowly turned and dragged herself over to the kitchen drawer where she kept the crumpled envelope containing the check. A reminder of broken dreams and ultimate betrayal. She¡¯d looked at it often but had sworn she would never walk into a bank and cash it.

    She picked it up and walked back over to where he stood, his expression inscrutable. She crumpled the envelope into a ball and hurled it at him, hitting him in the cheek.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    ¡°There¡¯s your check,¡± she hissed. ¡°Take it and get the hell out of my life.¡±

    He bent slowly and retrieved the balled-up envelope. He unfolded it and then opened it, taking out the worn check. He frowned and then stared back at her. ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± he said.

    ¡°You¡¯ve never understood,¡± she whispered. ¡°Since you won¡¯t leave, I¡¯m out of here.¡±

    She tried to walk past him but he stopped her by grabbing her arm gently.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that,¡± he said softly. ¡°I will leave¡±

    ¡°Then leave,¡± she said.

    Matt let go of her arm and walked slowly out of her apartment and into his car. Once inside, he stared at the check in his hand in stunned disbelief, unable to formte his thoughts. Why?

    She acted as though he was a piece of scum. What the hell had he ever done to her but make sure she was taken care of? He thought about her apartment, still the same as it had always been. Simple and neat. But still cheap.

    How was she surviving? Furthermore, why was she living like this?

    He nced back down at the check and shook his head. There were enough zeros in the amount for her to live a good, modest life for years toe. The ink had run in several ces and it was smudged with fingerprints. But she¡¯d never tried to cash it. Why? There were so many questions running around in his head that he couldn¡¯t process them all.

    Did she feel guilty over what she¡¯d done? Had she been ashamed to take money from him after betraying him?

    Not the best time to develop a conscience.

    One thing was for certain. He wasn¡¯t leaving. There were too many unanswered questions and he wanted answers. Plus, something just didn¡¯t feel right. Why was she here in this  ce with a job that obviously didn¡¯t her enough money to feed herself, much less live afortable life? What in the world was she going to do with those dreams she had ofpleting her education?

    For some reason he just couldn¡¯t get himself to walk away, even when he knew that was the smart thing to do. Not when she had meant so much to him.

    She wasn¡¯t taking care of herself. He had always taken care of her in the past and he would do it again. Whether she liked it or not.

    On his way home, he thought of those amazing, beautiful blue eyes of hers and he was thrown back to the very first time they met.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    It was Dash¡¯s birthday and he, Dash and Stefan hade over to the diner for a bite since Dash had insisted that he didn¡¯t want anything fancy and they had all been tired and hungry after a long day of work.

    He had been distracted with something concerning his mom and they were having a disagreement. So his attention had been on his phone immediately they sat down. After Stefan and Dash checked the menu, Dash touched him on the elbow.

    ¡°What do you want to order, man?¡± Dash had asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Matt replied. ¡°Can¡¯t we just order the usual?¡±

    ¡°Nah¡± Stefan said. ¡°I want something different today¡±

    ¡°Yeah me too,¡± Dash agreed.

    Matt simply shook his head and returned his attention back to his phone. Stefan  motioned for the waitress toe take their orders and when Savannah came to their table, Matt¡¯s head was still bent, staring at his phone.

    ¡°Good evening¡± her beautiful voice said. ¡°What can I get for you¡±

    Her voice was what made him look away from his phone. And he found himself staring at a very beautiful young woman. She didn¡¯t have much makeup on, but she had lip gloss on the most kissable set of lips he had ever seen.

    She was blond with sexy blue eyes. She was writing down Dash and Stefan¡¯s order on the little pad, then she turned to him and said. ¡°Ermmm¡­ And what would you like me to get for you¡±

    Matt resisted the urge to say ¡°Your phone number¡± because he knew that would be reallyme. But as he stared at her, he knew that he wanted to get to know thisdy.

    His eyes traveled the length of her body. Her uniform fitted her perfectly, showing off her beautiful, smooth, shapely legs. The first button of her shirt was open and as she was bent slightly towards him, he could see her cleavage. He swallowed hard. Damn, did the woman know how sexy she was?

 11

    What the hell? He scolded himself. You¡¯re not some horny teenager. He reminded himself. No staring down her blouse.

    ¡°What would you like me to get for you?¡± she repeated in that sexy voice of hers.

    Damn, that mouth.

    He dragged his fascinated gaze away from it with a strength that deserved a gold medal. But nothing, not even God Himself, could cleanse his mind of the acts those curves and lips elicited. Acts that left him throbbing and greedy.

    ¡°The usual¡± he said stupidly.

    ¡°Oh ermmm¡­ I¡¯m kinda new here.¡± she said. ¡°So I don¡¯t really know what your usual is¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± he said, and grinned at her. He didn¡¯t know exactly what he expected from her, but he certainly wasn¡¯t prepared for her shy smile.

    She had pale creamy skin and it suddenly bloomed with color. Matt couldn¡¯t remember any women of his acquaintance ever blushing. He found it quite entrancing.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    He checked her left hand. No ring. Thank God. He thought.

    Finally, when she allowed herself to meet his gaze directly, all words dried up in his mouth. Because those eyes were so blue, warm, so friendly and approachable, open and engaging. Correction, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever met.

    There was merriment in those eyes, and warmth and friendliness. Not jaded awareness, not arrogance. Just¡­niceness. And pureid-back sex appeal.

    ¡°Are you going to tell me what your usual is now?¡± she asked, still smiling.

    ¡°oh! The usual?¡± he asked, sounding as though he¡¯d never heard the word.

    Well, maybe he hadn¡¯t. Everything seemed to have flown right out of his head. Savannah lifted her chin, her beautiful eyes shown, that half smile still on her sensual mouth, and shook her head, as if forcing herself to remember that she was working.

    Matt ordered what he wanted and watched as she wrote it down.

    ¡°Alright¡± she said. ¡°Coming right up¡±

    She gave a throaty chuckle with the words, and he absorbed the sound, reveling in the delicious heat it inspired in his body. He was so focused on that sound that he almost missed the meaning of her words.

    And even after she brought their orders to them and while they ate and talked, his gaze and attention remained on her.

    When Savannah brought them their bill, Matt ceased the opportunity.

    ¡°Ermm, where¡¯s the men¡¯s room?¡± he asked her. Even if he knew exactly where it was since this wasn¡¯t his first time at the diner.

    Savannah looked like she was about to ask how he didn¡¯t know where the men¡¯s room was, since he obviously came there a lot, but she obviously changed her mind because she didn¡¯t.

    So she said instead. ¡°Take that door over there¡± she said, gesturing with her hand. ¡°Then go left, you will find the men¡¯s room¡±

    Matt nodded, the grin still on his face and Savannah frowned, which made him want tough. After she left and disappeared through the same door, obviously to return some tes, he stood up and followed her, after telling Dash and Stefan that he would be back soon.

    ¡°Oh get a grip man¡± Stefan said when Matt stood and Dashughed.

    ¡°What?¡± Matt said as he turned around.

    ¡°Come on, man,¡± Stefan continued. ¡°We know you are after that cute little waitress¡±

    ¡°Shut up¡± Matt said, but that didn¡¯t stop him from going after her. It was like a pull. Some kind of force drew him to her and he wasn¡¯t sure anything could have stopped him.

    He took right instead of left, as Savannah had directed him and sure enough, he bumped into her as she wasing out of one of the rooms.

    ¡°Oh¡± she said, as she bumped hard into his chest. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry¡±

    Matt held her gently by the shoulders to steady her, only that after she was standing on her own, he didn¡¯t release her¡­ He didn¡¯t want to.

    ¡°Soft¡± he whispered huskily. ¡°Just like I thought¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Savannah asked, clearly confused and her sexy blue eyes widened.

    He grinned at her, but she didn¡¯t smile this time, which was too bad. Matt thought. He liked seeing her smile. There was something about her smile that made him want to lose himself in it. She frowned up at him, as he was a lot taller than she was.

    ¡°Hi,¡± Matt said. ¡°again¡±

    ¡°Hi¡­ Ermmm¡­ What are you doing here?¡± Savannah asked.

    ¡°Ermmm¡­ Looking for the bathroom¡± Matt replied.

    Savannah frowned again. ¡°You don¡¯t sound so sure,¡± she said. ¡°Was that a statement or a question?¡±

    ¡°Does it matter?¡± Matt asked.

    ¡°Yes actually it does¡± Savannah said. ¡°You see customers aren¡¯t allowed here¡±

    ¡°You directed me here,¡± Matt lied.

    ¡°No. I didn¡¯t¡± Savannah said. ¡°I said to go left. You went right¡±

    ¡°Oh! did I now?¡± Matt said, feigning ignorance. Though he was pretty sure she didn¡¯t buy any of it as he was such a terrible actor.

    Savannah flexed her shoulders. ¡°Ermmm¡­ Could you let go now?¡± she asked, her gaze moved to his hands which were still on her shoulders, which he dropped immediately but already missing the feel of her body against his palm.

    He let go of her, but his gaze never wavered from the tantalizing view in front of him. Her skirt fit snugly over very voluptuous hips. He didn¡¯t see enough curves in his life. Even the models and women he met at parties he attended looked so damn skinny he kept wanting to cook them pasta. He¡¯d never admitted it, but the women in his circle weren¡¯t exactly his taste. Heresy, but what can you do? He liked a woman who looked real. Shapely. Someone he could hold on to.

    ¡°I guess I must have had a lot to drink then,¡± he said. ¡°Must be the reason why I got your direction wrong. Must have slipped my mind¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Savannah said. ¡°I served you, remember? I don¡¯t think you had that much to drink¡±

    He smiled. ¡°This isn¡¯t working, is it?¡± he asked.

    ¡°No I¡¯m sorry it¡¯s not¡± Savannah replied, a smile on her face. ¡°But nice try, though¡±

 12

    ¡°Okay,¡± Matt said. ¡°Let me start over then. Hi, my name is Matt Bradford, and I didn¡¯t really want to go to the bathroom¡± He said it like he was in one of those ¡°talk about your feelings sses¡± and Savannah smiled.

    ¡°Yeah I figured¡± Savannah said, theughter had reached her eyes now, it shone and all Matt could think about was how beautiful her smile was.  Sheughed again, a rich, throaty, uninhibited sound.

    He smiled. Screw it. He thought..

    When was thest time he¡¯d had sex? Jeez, he couldn¡¯t remember. It had been a while. While women threw themselves at him, especially because of his financial status, it would be really easy to pick up any woman he wanted. But that just wasn¡¯t the way he was wired. But right now, as he stared at this woman, he was having thoughts. Really wild thoughts. When was thest time he met a woman who made him feel this way? It had been a long time ago¡­ And he definitely wasn¡¯t going to let her go.

    She sighed, then nibbled a bit on her lower lip. Damn, but he¡¯d like to see those lips wrapped around his cock. He averted his gaze. It had been a long time since he¡¯d had this kind of reaction to a woman. Not that he was immune to the considerable charms of thedies he usually met, but this was something unrehearsed. A surprise in a world that held very few. And that was very appealing.

    ¡°I wanted to talk to you¡± Matt continued, ¡°And I am now¡­. So I wanted to ask, would you like to go out with me sometime?¡±

    ¡°With you?¡± Savannah repeated, almost like she didn¡¯t hear him clearly. ¡°Like on a date?¡± she asked.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    ¡°Yeah¡± Matt replied, he couldn¡¯t  help his smile. ¡°Exactly¡­ Like a date. You know.. Just the two of us. I can¡¯t seem to be able to get you out of my head, and I don¡¯t usually feel this way about people, so I just felt like I¡­ Like I had to know you¡±

    Savannah shook her head. ¡°Ermm¡­ I don¡¯t know¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m usually very busy¡­ And I honestly don¡¯t know if I will have the time¡± she said.

    Matt nodded, still smiling. Then he reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out his card. ¡°Fine. I understand, ¡°he said. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just give me a call then, whenever you are¡­ You know¡­ Less busy.¡±

    ¡°Alright then¡± Savannah said, and once again shed him that sexy smile of hers that messed with his insides. She reached out and took the card, which she tucked in her apron.

    ¡°Good,¡± Matt said. ¡°Now that my work is done here, which way did you say the bathroom was again?¡±

    Savannah chuckled, her eyes glittering. ¡°That way. Just don¡¯t get¡­ You know¡­ lost again¡± she said sarcastically. ¡°And I really should get back to work. It was nice meeting you¡­.¡± she paused, then added ¡°Matt¡±

    He loved the way his name rolled out her tongue and speaking of names..

    ¡°Wait¡± he said. His hand touched her arm gently, and she turned around. ¡°I didn¡¯t get your name¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t ask,¡± Savannah said. ¡°So I didn¡¯t see any need to tell you¡±

    He grinned. ¡°Okay my bad. I¡¯m sorry. I was really interested in talking to you and asking you out. But from the looks of things, I screwed up and you are probably not nning to call, am I right?¡± he asked.

    Savannah didn¡¯t reply, and her silence gave him his answer.

    ¡°Oh!¡± he said, and lowered his eyes.

    ¡°I will call,¡± Savannah said softly. ¡°And it¡¯s Savannah¡­ My name is Savannah¡±.

    Matt smiled then. ¡°Savvie,¡± he said. Savoring it as if it were one of the delicious dishes served at the diner. Her name rolling off his tongue as though tasting it. ¡°It¡¯s a lovely name. And it suits you perfectly.¡±

    Her eyes widened, an emotion he would¡¯vebeled panic ring in their depths before she lowered hershes, hiding her gaze from him.  ¡°Thank you,¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t mind me calling you Savvie, do you?¡± he asked. Even as the question rolled off his tongue, her head tilted back and she stared at him, her lovely eyes looked¡­hotter. In that moment, he¡¯d stand under a damn balcony and serenade her if she continued looking at him like that. He curled his fingers into his palm, and the only sound that reached his ears was the quick, soft pants breaking on her pretty lips.

    As ridiculous as it seemed, he swore each breath slid under his clothes, swept over his skin. He ached to have each moist puff dampen his shoulders, his chest as her fingernails twisted in his hair, dug into his muscles, clinging to him as he drove them both to the point of carnal madness.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t mind at all,¡± she replied.

    They stood there for a few seconds not saying anything, just staring at each other until Savannah said finally, ¡°I really need to get back to work¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah. He said.¡±See youter¡±

    She nodded and left while he returned to his friends.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    What a man!

    Part of Savannah¡¯s mind kept buzzing over him even as she carried through her job of serving the customers.

    A big man in every sense, she decided-strength, authority, sophistication as well as having a fabulous physique emitting so much male power, her female hormones were leaping around in a frenzy of interest. Definitely a prince of a man, and she would just love to be his princess, she thought dizzily.

    She¡¯d caught a glimpse of himing into the diner with his friends and instantly liked what she saw-very impressive. When he¡¯d settled in the seat with his friends, it had been impossible to resist the impulse to show off to him, like bing flirty or overly friendly. Which was really silly because he was an absolute stranger with no chance of their meeting ever again, unless he ever came to the diner again and she served him.

 13

    When she hade to his table, Savannah was conscious of her pulse leaping into a gallop as she met his steady gaze when he looked up from his phone.

    There was a riveting quality about his dark eyes, giving her the weird sensation of aser probe straight to her heart.

    Her skin tingled as though hit by an electric charge. She¡¯d met a lot of different men in her waitressing career. Not one of them had made this kind of impact on her. She wanted to say,  ¡°Don¡¯t walk out of my life,¡± but such a plea seemed too embarrassingly presumptuous. Given that she didn¡¯t know the guy and he wasn¡¯t even in her life. They were simply passersby, not upying the same world, only this bit of serving him on a cool evening.

    He smiled a lot, she observed, showing off the sh of perfect white teeth. He was just trying to be friendly with the waitress. Some people were like that. She had told herself that so she wouldn¡¯t dwell on the way he made her feel. Yep. Definitely wasn¡¯t the kind of man who would go for her. But she was surprised when he followed her and asked her out. And while her brain warned her that getting involved with this kind of man was definitely not going to end well, she found herself saying yes and agreeing to call him.

    ¡°I have to go,¡± she had said, but she had felt a sickening irony in having to act on those words. Considering the way he called her Savvie made her heart flutter. Only herte parents had ever called her that.

    She was incredibly conscious of her body as she walked away from Matt Bradford.

    It was as though she could feel him watching her, assessing everything about her. It made her shoulders square up to a straighter carriage, caused her bottom to feel twitchy, and her knees actually threatened to wobble. She didn¡¯t look back, telling herself to maintain some dignity and not moon over the man like some star-struck teenager. His card was in her apron. That guaranteed another connection with him.

    ¡°Where the hell have you been?¡± Victoria asked when she returned to the kitchen. ¡°I had to serve some of your customers to avoid themining¡±

    ¡°Yeah I noticed,¡± Savannah said. ¡°Thank you. I was kinda upied¡±

    ¡°Doing what?¡±

    ¡°Talking to one of the guys from table five. The big man in the white shirt. His name is Matt Bradford. He gave me his business card¡­¡±

    She ced it right in front of the coffee cup on the kitchen counter, hitching her bottom onto the front edge of the tablesrge surface as she exined the card¡¯s purpose.

    ¡°He asked me out¡± she said. ¡°He said to call him when I¡¯m free¡±

    ¡°Wow¡± Victoria said. ¡°Will you?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know yet.¡± Savannah replied. ¡°He seemed really nice though, and funny¡­ He smelt really good. And his eyes were really dark and pretty¡±

    Victoria giggled. ¡°You noticed all that after one conversation?¡± she teased.

    ¡°Shut up¡± Savannah said and tucked the card back in her apron.

    The diner was closed now and all the customers had gone. She had to clean up. She didn¡¯t walk far. Her feet automatically took her back to the chair Matt Bradford had upied with his friends. She sat precisely where he had sat, her mind running hot with thoughts about him.

    He hadn¡¯t acted like a yboy. He seemed serious and caring. Though she had to admit that with yboys you couldn¡¯t really tell. She didn¡¯t date a lot. She hadn¡¯t even really been in love with anyone. All she had had were brief rtionships and she wasn¡¯t even really looking for something serious.

    But there was something about Matt Bradford. Something wild and dangerous that appealed to her.

    Because, really, how could any woman stare into those midnight eyes and not forget everything but how she could willingly drown in them, even as he submerged her in a pleasure as dark and stunning as his gaze?

    As he¡¯d stated so tly, he didn¡¯t get to like people that easily. She believed him. She didn¡¯t know why. But it only deepened her confusion over why he¡¯d approached her of all people. To most of the people in the diner, she¡¯d been in-visible, inconsequential. Just another staff member there to serve them.

    But not to him.

    Even in a room full of people he stood out. In the way a sleek, silent shark would stand out in a pool of clown fish.

    He wanted to see her again. And she  wanted to be with him. How many times in her life had she felt like this about a man?

    None!

    Seize the day, she fiercely told herself. If she got the chance to seize it, she would. No matter how brief it would be.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    ¡°Matt Bradford¡±

    His voice held a clipped self-assurance, demanding an efficient reply.

    Savannah took a deep breath to calm her jiggling heart. Speak to the man. Reach out to him, she told herself. You have this one chance! She had waited an entire week before calling. Not that she hadn¡¯t wanted to go out with him, but because she didn¡¯t want to seem too eager and she had honestly been busy at the diner. And Matt hadn¡¯t shown up again since then.

    ¡°Hi! It¡¯s Savannah¡­ Savannah Carson.¡± The words spilled out in a breathy rush. Oh great! she thought. He¡¯s probably hearing the pant of a gold-digger who hopes she¡¯s onto a good thing with this call.

    ¡°You do have a very distinctive voice,¡± he said, and it sounded as though he was smiling through the words.

    Smiling with pleasure!Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    A wild, wonderful hope danced through her mind.¡±You asked me to call,¡± she reminded him.

    ¡°Oh! I have been expecting you to call me, Savvie. It cameter than I expected. I thought you weren¡¯t going to contact me. I¡¯m d you have. I was beginning to get worried honestly¡±

    It was a pleasure. Warm pleasure. A smile burst across Savannah¡¯s face. ¡°I apologize for calling sote,¡± she said. ¡°I have just been really busy here at the diner¡±

 14

    ¡°Ah!¡± He said. The sound of satisfaction. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I understand how work can be. There must be a lot to tell me about yourself and I do want to know all of it. Would you join me for dinner, Savvie? I¡¯ve been really busy with work myself and I think spending the evening with a beautiful woman like yourself would be amazing.¡±Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    ¡°Dinner¡­¡± she repeated dazedly. The invitation hade so fast her head was spinning.

    ¡°Yes¡­ Dinner. Regardless of what you might think I promise I¡¯m not a big bad wolf, and you don¡¯t have to fear my gobbling you up on the spot,¡± he assured her with dry mockery.

    ¡°Right!¡± she said, though the idea of being gobbled up by Matt Bradford had actually sent her pulse-rate zooming. ¡°Where and when?¡± she asked, trying to sound efficient and not too eager.

    ¡°Whatever suits you, Savvie.¡±

    Which lobbed the ball straight into her court. Was it a test of how much she would try to screw out of him? What did he expect her to choose? She was overthinking this.

    Best to go for her ownfort zone, she swiftly decided, given she was in an absolute tizz about meeting him again. The intimidation of a ritzy restaurant would only make her more nervous.

    ¡°Are you okay with a down market ce?¡± she asked, wondering if he preferred the privileges that went with being in trendy surroundings.

    ¡°No problem,¡± he assured her. So he didn¡¯t need ego-stroking. Good. She thought.

    ¡°Do you like Thai food?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Fine with me.¡± he said.

    He was being very amodating. She thought. Glowing happily, Savannah gave directions.¡±Along Oxford Street, between the end of Hyde Park and Taylor Square, there¡¯s a little restaurant called Titanic Thai. I could meet you there at seven-thirty.¡±

    ¡°Should I book a table?¡± he asked.

    ¡°No. I¡¯ll drop in and ask them to keep me one.¡± Savannah said.

    ¡°You live nearby?¡±

    ¡°More or less,¡± she answered vaguely, not wanting to divulge too much about herself at this point.¡±I¡¯ll see you there then?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Seven-thirty, Oxford Street, a Thai restaurant called Titanic but it¡¯s only little,¡± he said in a tone of amusement.

    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± she confirmed and rang off, feeling pleased with herself for not only seizing the chance he¡¯d held out, but for takingmand of proceedings, as well.

    Her feet wanted to skip all the way to the bus stop.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Got her!

    Back at his office, Matt¡¯s hand clenched in exhrating triumph.

    Then heughed at himself for being so absurdly excited over another meeting with a woman whose life was so remote from his, they¡¯d probably have nothing to talk about. God! He hoped that wouldn¡¯t be the case.

    Nevertheless, that bit of reality did not dim his desire to experience all there was to know of Savannah Carson. He¡¯d been in the mood to embrace the wildly improbable ever since she¡¯d smiled at him at the diner, and tonight was another step in the same vein.

    Knowing who he was, she could have taken him for an expensive dinner at a top ss restaurant. He wouldn¡¯t have cared if she had, but he was delighted with her choice. It was in keeping with this whole encounter-totally off-the-wall.

    ¡°Titanic Thai, here Ie!¡± he said out loud, grinning to himself as he bounded up the stairs to the master bedroom of his  apartment.

    Shower, shave, change clothes, get to Taylor Square, scout the restaurant¡­tonight he was going to get the princess with the magic rainbow smile and the heart of gold!

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    Savannah knew that the most sensible course was to y it cool with Matt Bradford, not look as if she expected anything from him, turn up in jeans and pretend she wasn¡¯t madly wishing he found her too desirable to pass up. Their lives were too different to envisage any serious rtionship between them.

    On the other hand, she¡¯d never been so captivated by a man. Even if it could only be a mad fling with him¡­ Temptation wove its own more exciting path aroundmon sense and was in full swing by the time she reached the apartment where she invariably lived with Victoria.

    It was within easy walking distance of the Thai restaurant.

    As she showered, washed and blow-dried her hair into a silky mane that rippled over her shoulders, her mind moved into a totally reckless whirl of wanting to make something happen between her and Matt Bradford.

    Her hands reached into the clothes cupboard and pulled out the lemon, lime and green dress. It was a gorgeous dress. She loved the colors and the colors loved her.

    It was also a wicked little dress. In fact, one of the guys who also worked at the diner, who regrly tried to move their rtionship into a sexual one, had described it as a bed-me-dress.

    It was halter-necked, virtually backless, and had to be worn braless, the low V-neckline in front showing a seductive hint of cleavage. A wide tan leather belt drew attention to the curvy lines of her figure, and the soft fabric flowed into a frothy skirt that was deliciously feminine. Teamed with strappy tan leather sandals and no jewelry, it wasn¡¯t too, too dressy, Savannah decided.

    And so what if it did stir the pot tonight!

    Matt Bradford had appeared like magic in her life. Wouldn¡¯t be such a bad thing if she had a little fun.

    Why not use a bit of female witchery to keep him in it, at least for long enough to explore the feelings he¡¯d aroused?

    She was twenty six years old and had virtually perfected the role of an onlooker of life, a passer-by who¡¯d never felt truly wanted enough by anyone to be enmeshed in a deep involvement. Asting attachment to Matt Bradford was not really within the bounds of reason, but a brief one¡­a fiercelypelling conviction surged through her¡­that was worth going for, given that no other man had ever made such a deep impact on her.

 15

    Savannah wasn¡¯t quite sure what to make of this as she paced a safe distance from the restaurant, trying to leave herself out if she needed to save face and just disappear. A sinkhole might have been better, but she couldn¡¯t conjure one at will. Running away in shame, though, she was familiar with-so she skulked three storefronts from the entrance.

    They had agreed to meet at the restaurant by seven thirty and it was a few minutes to eight. A few minutes normally meant nothing in terms of the wheel of life. But right now each second felt like torture and those tortures were adding up to to one big ball of fear. And it all rested right in her gut where desire should be right now, where happiness should be right now, where joy and, well-not quite love, but at least lust should be residing. Not this pit of despair.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    It¡¯s only a few minutes Savannah , it¡¯s only seven minutes Savannah, she said repeatedly to herself. She was overthinking this.

    The seconds ticked on until her smartphone clicked over and now it was ten minutes to eight. Just ten minutes. It¡¯s only ten minutes Savannah, it¡¯s only eight minutes Savannah, it¡¯s only eight minutes. It had turned into a song in her head.

    A thin bead of sweat burst under her lip, and on her cheeks, and in that valley between her breasts in a way that only the cold irrational anxiety of dating could bring out in her.

    Oh, fuck this, she said to herself. I don¡¯t think I can do this anymore, even Mr. Hotty Hot Hot Matt Bradford isn¡¯t worth this. I¡¯m just gonna go home and have a date with one of my friends, or maybe curl up in bed with a book. That is myfort zone, right there baby. Maybe the most dependable thing on Earth because this, this is bullsh-.

    Zzzz, her phone buzzed suddenly. She had it on vibrate and she startled and it fell out of her hands, ttering to the ground.

    ¡°Shit,¡± she shouted, reaching down, scrambling after it and hoping that the screen hadn¡¯t broken. Luckily, she had a protective case on it, and grabbed it and slid her finger across the screen to answer the call.

    ¡°Hello? Hello?¡± she said, trying desperately to keep her eagerness out of her voice.

    ¡°Hello,¡± a deep man¡¯s baritone greeted her, with a friendliness that he had no right to offer her right now- yet she was so d he did.  It was Matt.

    ¡°Uh,¡± he hesitated, ¡°Savvie?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Yeah, Hi Matt¡± she answered brightly, her voice a little too high-pitched, her anxiety a little too intense right now, but she trudged on.

    ¡°Oh, yeah, Hi Savvie?¡± his voice stammered. ¡°Yeah, Savvie. I am so sorry,¡± he said, and she hoped that the sincerity was true. Hoped it was true, needed it to be true with a part of her that knew¡­ that knew that there was no way of knowing.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry.¡± Matt continued.¡± I¡¯m runningte. I am walking down Oxford Street right now, and, in fact, I can see the entrance to the restaurant and, wait a minute, ooh, I don¡¯t know.¡± A low wolf whistle. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m going to be able to make it.¡±

    ¡°What? What? What did you say?¡± Savannah asked.

    ¡°Well, yeah,¡± Matt continued. ¡°There is this gorgeous woman just standing out there and, and I don¡¯t know, I mean, I think, let¡¯s see, she¡¯s wearing this amazing beautiful green dress, she has a damn fine shape and her legs seem to go on forever. And, I don¡¯t know, you know, Savannah, I may have to date her tonight instead of you.¡±

    Savannah nearly dropped her phone again. Oh, my God, her brain burned, her internal voice screaming like a rat stuck in a cage with Napalm all over it and lit on fire. What kind of sick person did something like that?

    And then she got it, calming down instantly. Oh, oh, he wasplimenting her. He was joking. He liked her. Who the hell was this guy? He had messed with her head. She almostughed.

    Now she could see him. Deep breaths, Savannah , she told herself. He was joking around. Being yful. Not mean. He was a block and a half away, walking toward her with a swagger, with a confidence she didn¡¯t see in many men. One hand in his pocket, just marching down the street like he had all the time in the world. And boy, were his eyes eating her up. She could feel it from a block and a half, a block and a quarter away.

    And she was giving it right back.

    Her heart was beating a million times a minute from the fear about his joke, and the anxiety that the joke had triggered. But now-but now it was like the electrons were ying between them. Molecules were flying millions and millions of miles a second between the two of them.

    She wasn¡¯t sure what she was going to do when they actually stood two feet from each other, because she was ready to take him right there, right then on the street, public indecency be damned.

    Pretty soon, just secondster, he was down to a block, half a block, and he took his hand out of his pocket, giving her a wave.

    Then she realized that he had been talking to her the entire time and she had no idea what he was saying.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    ¡°Savvie? Savvie? Hello, hello-are you there? I can see you and you¡¯re just standing there. I am waving at you right now¡­ Savvie, have I mistaken you for a human being or are you a really hot store mannequin?¡±

    He heard herugh. Aha.

    Keep going, Matt told himself. Recover from the terrible joke.

    ¡°Or part of some performance thing that guys like me don¡¯t understand? Because I really don¡¯t understand the silence. I¡¯m getting a little bit freaked out¡± he said.

    She suddenly folded and bent overughing. He breathed a sigh of relief. Sweet! He thought. Good thing he hadn¡¯t pissed her off with that stupid joke from hell.

 16

    That was it-she was forcing him to use every remaining brain cell in his body to process basic bodily functions as every red blood cell rushed to his groin. He couldn¡¯t stop raking her body with his eyes. He couldn¡¯t stop eating her with his retinas.

    She was some kind of Matt ma. Her entire appearance was luscious and her eyes-as he got closer he saw the kindness, the sweetness in them he had seen in the diner and there was that beauty, a full body, full-fledged gorgeousness about her that made him hard instantly.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    ¡°Stupid business casual,¡± he muttered to himself, mouth tilted away from his phone. He was wearing the kind of pants where his arousal could be very obvious.

    Now that he stood in front of her, no more than a foot and a half separating them, he felt like the biggest idiot on the for even joking about not dating her. She was stunning, all curves and woman and he wanted to smell her, bury his face in that sweet neck, feel her in his arms and listen to her breath as he made her happy.

    What did her cries of ecstasy sound like? Would she turn her face away? Bite the pillow? Rake lines of ownership into his back with those glossy nails?

    He wanted to find out so bad. Later. Later, he would find out. The same confidence that had always been there for him told him so. Like a second person living in his head, it just knew.

    She was his, and she didn¡¯t know it yet. But she would, and he had all the time in the world to teach her that.

    With his tongue.

    He just stood there and stared at her and didn¡¯t know what to say; he couldn¡¯t recite what went through his head as his eyes roamed over the perfect topography of her body. She stood there and stared back and didn¡¯t seem to know what to say, either.

    This silent dance needed a better beat. One he could drive home with his- Finally, she said, pointing to the door, ¡°Do you like the restaurant?¡±  she asked. Her voice was as breathless as he felt. Except she was actually talking and he was standing there looking like a fish out of water, his mouth opening and closing as he tried desperately to get something like a linear thought going.

    Where the hell was that confidence now? He wasn¡¯t awkward or worried or any of those namby-pamby feelings some guys always described having. It was more that his brain had gone nk at the sight of her and everything but his arousal went into hibernate mode.

    She smiled and seemed to expect something intelligible toe out of his mouth, but first he had to dig his way out of the enormous, gaping hole of lust he¡¯d just tripped into.

    How in the hell was she still single? At least he hoped she wasn¡¯t. He remembered that she wore no ring on her finger. Why hadn¡¯t someone snatched her up?

    ¡°We could go to some other ce if you don¡¯t like it here¡± she continued. ¡°I have been here a few times. I just thought it would be a good idea to bring a first date here. I thought it was impressive. And the food is actually amazing¡±

    Oh God. Savannah thought. She was rambling like an idiot. And why hadn¡¯t he said anything. She hoped he wasn¡¯t disappointed or something like that.

    She seemed so nervous. Matt thought, those glittering eyes wary, already on guard from hisme attempt at humor on the phone.

    He felt like an ass, could sense he was losing her, and his charm system went into overdrive, not the shallow Matt so used to getting a woman to step out of her pants within an hour of their first drink in a bar, but the slower burning Matt who stumbled across Monica in college years ago and who felt sucker punched and euphoric all at once.

    ¡°So impressing me is more important than the food?¡± he asked.

    Savannahughed and looked at him with an uncertain caution in her eyes, a caution that he actually did not like but that spoke of something he couldn¡¯t put his finger on.

    ¡°Yeah, I guess¡± she said, a slow smile stretching over her face, the word more a promise than an answer.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think you have to worry about  me,¡± he said.

    She stared at him for a while and then looked away with a bashful smile, her blond ponytail sliding down the side of her creamy neck as if guarding her, creating a safe barrier and holding her in ce.

    He cocked his head, looked her over again and wondered what on earth she was smiling about. Standing outside the restaurant babbling like an idiot wasn¡¯t exactly his idea of a good date, though, so he just motioned her toward the door and said ¡°Shall we?¡± he said.

    As she walked past him, impulse took over and he put one hand on the small of her back as the maitre d¡¯ held the door open.

    The feeling was so electrifying, his hand on her body, that he grew harder, which he didn¡¯t think was possible. This was already more promising than he had ever expected.

    Even if this dinner was going to cost him half of an entire paycheck, he did not care.

    Not that he was worried about money. That wasn¡¯t an issue. Tonight was all about Savannah.

    As they were led to their table in a smoky-grey environment, all he could do was stare at her ass, trying to to figure out how not to sound like another one of those guys who is desperate enough to go on a date just to find somebody to fuck.

    Neither one of them seemed to know what to say, so he figured, being the guy, he would take the lead. That¡¯s how it would work in bed¡­ and then his mind went nk at the sh of a vision of his face buried between Savannah¡¯s soft thighs.

 17

    He practically threw the folded napkin in hisp to hide what he thought must be the tallest raging hard-on ever.

    He coughed. ¡°You took so long to call. I honestly got worried that you wouldn¡¯t?¡±

    Savannah smiled at him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about that,¡± she said. ¡°But honestly, I just couldn¡¯t seem to make up my mind about calling¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Well, I guess I was worried about looking desperate¡­ Or something like that¡± she replied honestly.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to feel that way,¡± he said. ¡°Believe me, if there anyone who is desperate between the both of us, it¡¯s definitely me¡±

    Savannah smiled. ¡°Yeah, I highly doubt that,¡± she said.

    ¡°I¡¯m serious.¡± Matt said. ¡°I kept thinking about you. Wanting you to call. And if you didn¡¯t¡­¡± he stopped talking.

    ¡°What would have happened?¡± Savannah asked, still smiling.

    ¡°Well, I would have returned to the diner to ask again,¡± he said. ¡°But this time, I would have asked publicly, so everyone would hear me¡­ And then you wouldn¡¯t be able to say no. You are very beautiful¡­ Who wouldn¡¯t want to go out with you¡±

    Savannahughed. ¡°You are very good with words. I see, ¡± she said.

    ¡°I¡¯m not ttering you,¡± he said simply. ¡°I don¡¯t tter¡± and then he gave her a look that made her silly heart somersault.

    Just then, the waitress interrupted as if on cue and asked them if they wanted a drink. Savannah ordered a sake.

    ¡°Make it two,¡± he added. If she was going to go for the harder stuff, so would he. Boy, this could end up being a much more interesting date than he ever expected.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    Savannah felt like she had lost her entire vocabry all in the past three minutes.

    This guy was incredible. He had respected her choice and hade to the restaurant she chose.

    He seemed to care, to take the time to make a good first impression, and she loved his sense of humor even if it did nearly lead to her early demise from a heart attack via misunderstanding. And he was so nice.

    Of course she could never tell him that. Most of the guys who dated her took her to a restaurant that had 50-inch sma televisions sting five different sporting events all at once, and the most gourmet item on the menu was fried mozzare sticks.

    She nked when the waitress asked her what she wanted to drink, so she blurted out sake, because it was the one drink she had ever had in an Asian restaurant years ago, when her mother had taken her to a Hibachi ce for her twenty-first birthday. So she ordered it most of the time. Well, hey, sake it was.

    She figured one shot would loosen her up and then she could show more of herself. With Matt joining her, she knew she¡¯d ordered appropriately for this type of restaurant and began to let herself unclench a little.

    She nced at the table and saw that she was revealing more of herself already. Her sweater had dipped down a little too much to show the ckce of her bra and when she looked up, she found that she did not meet Matt¡¯s eyes with her own, but that he, in fact, was staring at the same spot she had just been looking at.

    Apparently he was not enough of a gentleman to pretend that he wasn¡¯t staring-until he cut his eyes away abruptly. He threw his napkin in hisp, looked down at the menu, and said ¡°I have no idea what any of this stuff is.¡± he said. ¡°I don¡¯t do Thai a lot¡±

    Then he turned and craned his head to watch one of the servers take a tray over to a nearby table. ¡°Whatever it is, though, it smells incredible.¡±

    That loosened her up more, her nervousughter shifting into something more genuine. These startlingly special few minutes felt like they had already altered reality for her and she couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on it, but was trying very, very hard not to make more meaning out of these few perfect moments with Matt.

    A giddiness, unfamiliar and not fleeting (to her utter shock, filled her skin and her thoughts as she shyly caught his eye and let it settle, not looking away.

    Their stare deepened into something more primal, more knowing, and her insecurity faded as theymunicated without words.

    Interrupted by the waitress, she pulled her eyes away with regret as the woman brought their drinks. Matt held his up in a toast and said, ¡°To¡­ You, Savannah¡±

    She nodded acknowledgment, and answered, ¡°To you¡± clinking sses before they drank and put down the empty shot sses. She fingered the rim of her ss and then they both leaned forward on the table with great expectation.

    They discussed their jobs and families and by the time the waitress brought his meal, which was something that he could not only not pronounce properly, but, by the looks of it, couldn¡¯t even guess at about half the ingredients in it.

    She began to eat her food. He dug into his. He weed the silence. He watched her. He took the dinner as an opportunity to just keep an eye on her. To see what she was like. To see what her bodynguage would give away.

    She kept pulling on the shoulder of her sweater, correcting everything so that the edge of her ck silk bra wouldn¡¯t show, and every time she did it, a little part of him tugged. Mostly in the crotch area. But also in his heart.

    Because, man, was he loving that little piece of ckce right now.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    He put a mouthful of food in his mouth. And then, ¡°Mmmm!¡± he groaned. ¡°This is incredible.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, mine¡¯s luscious.¡± Savannah said.

    So are you, he thought, spearing a piece of fish and holding out his fork.

    ¡°Do you want a bite of mine?¡± he asked.

    He held the fork out for her and she looked at him in a certain way, eyes narrowing a bit while cocking her head, one little curl floating out of her ponytail as she tucked it behind her ear and leaned forward.

 18

    He had his own thing about paying.

    When he was taking women on dates, he made sure he had more than enough money  which he had always viewed as a bit of a curse-but now he viewed as one hell of a blessing, because if it meant that he could treat a woman like Savannah right, then maybe he could have the future that he had hoped for, then it wasn¡¯t just a blessing. It was everything.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Difort gnawed away at him. As Matt caught Savannah stealing shy looks at him, his money thoughts faded and he started to wonder if she could keep them happy for the rest of their-

    ¡°Matt? Ready to go?¡± Savannah asked him.

    The waitress had taken the check, cleared the table, and was practically pulling out the vacuum to clean their spot.

    The meal paid for, they stood and he put his arm around her waist. She leaned into him just enough to finally send him a signal that told him, Oh, yeah, and off they went outside. He reached for her hand, intertwining his fingers in hers. As they walked toward the boardwalk, he realized they weren¡¯t going on that cruise.

    Her scent was intoxicating. He couldn¡¯t believe that her unique mixture of perfume, musk, and soap fused together to produce this. Even better-he knew that there were other scents, other tastes that would be even more divine if he could get there tonight.

    Matt stopped, finally, bursting at the seams with his own internal dialogue, his own body¡¯s cravings, and just looked at her and decided that he needed to be as forthright with her as he had been with most people throughout his life, because these games weren¡¯t cutting it anymore.

    Time to make his move.

    He leaned down, caressed her jawline with his right hand, and brought his lips to hers. She responded, pressing her body against his until everything, from breast to hip, was his, pushed into him, and anything he felt for her was extremely obvious right now.

    They definitely were not going on that cruise.

    Cruise, what cruise? Savannah had no intentions of going on a cruise. As his kiss deepened, lips parted, as their tongues danced, she found herself roiling in ecstasy inside, going so far as to be twisted into a clich¨¦, one leg lifting up as she stood on her tiptoes, needing to stand on tiptoes to match him in his kiss.

    His hands roamed her back. She returned the motion, her fingers syed across the broad, muscr expanse of his shoulders, his hands cupping her jaw now, pushing, needing, craving¡­.

    ¡°Ah,¡± he said, his voice gravely and thick with desire, ¡°Can we take a pass on that cruise?¡±

    She dipped her head down andughed softly. ¡°Yeah -good thing you didn¡¯t buy those tickets after all.¡± She said,

    Cocking his head, he looked at her with smoky eyes and asked, ¡°Do you have a car parked nearby?¡±

    She knew what he was asking, his words code for Can I take you home and fuck you without worrying about your car getting ticketed or towed?

    How sweet. Most guys didn¡¯t care.

    ¡°No car. I walked here.¡± She said,

    Nodding, his smile widened. ¡°I drove, so let¡¯s take my car to my ce? For drinks?¡± he said.

    Whoo-eee. Savannah swallowed hard, knowing that this was really it. He wanted to sleep with her, was inviting her back to his ce for it, and she ran through her mental inventory. Clean lingerie? Yes. Shaved legs? Yes-she¡¯d been optimistic. No car? Yes.

    Birth control?

    Oh, shit. She was on the pill, but had forgotten to take it a few days ago. Missing one day shouldn¡¯t hurt, right? Hopefully he had a condom.

    His puzzled look told her she was taking too long to think. ¡°I would love a drink.¡± She said finally. And then he leaned in for another kiss, the move more certain now, his hands on her more demanding and visceral, iming her and marking her arms, her neck, her lips and ass with his hands, his touch, his caress.

    She was his tonight, and that had to be enough for her. He was hers for whatever he gave, and as the kiss heated she felt her core warm, clit throbbing and eager for what his tongue was promising right now, exploring her as his hands roamed her back and neck.

    People were staring now; as she opened her eyes the onlookers tittered. She pulled back and wiped her mouth, embarrassed.

    Matt just grinned, leaned in and said, ¡°Let¡¯s stop giving the jealous bastards a show.¡± he said.

    Herughter rang down the street to the parking lot where his car sat. When she climbed in it smelled like a campfire.

    sting the local 80s station on the radio, they rode back to his ce in silence, his hand nted on her knee whenever he wasn¡¯t shifting, the fingers ying a melody of lust and creeping higher up her thigh until they arrived at his apartmentplex.

    It was a skyscraper made of ss and steel and screamed money. Getting out of the car, walking up two flights of stairs and wandering down Matt¡¯s hallway was a blur.

    Savannah vaguely heard his keys rattling and then a fierce, hot mouth was on hers, Matt¡¯s thick forearms scraping her shoulders as his hands slid up her jawline, behind her ears, fingers nestling in her hair and pulling her blond curls loose.

    His tongue explored her mouth with such precision and his hips pressed into hers with intent. Gasping, she inhaled sharply as he pushed her up against his open door and took her mouth greedily.

    Without a word he maneuvered their entangled bodies, closed the front door, tossed his keys on the floor and had her in his bedroom in seconds¡­. how they got naked she wasn¡¯t quite sure. Noints here, Savannah thought, and that was thest rational idea she had as he went straight for her clit.

    He gently kissed herbia, a soft touch like a promise, so profound she nearly came in his mouth, the thought and feel of this giant, gentle man wanting her such a balm.

    Should she be doing this?- Was she going to regret this? The thought slipped into her mind-nearly ruined the moment for her, but she pushed it away and let Matt continue, surrendering to what was before her.

 19

    A man who very much desired her-and who was showing it, touch by touch.

    ¡°Oh, oh!¡± she whispered, his hands slipping between her ass and the nket, her naked bottom half exposed. Modesty disappeared, rational thinking went right out the window, they were just two people enjoying each others¡¯ bodies and minds.

    Muscled arms pressed in the right ces, his fingertips gently folding back herbia and his hot breath teasing her just before his tongue did its dance, flicking against the tender, red skin that craved his mouth so much.

    She bloomed with lust, every pulse of energy focused on her womanhood as he sucked her clit, slowly extracting the release within, entering and pulling back with two perfect fingers as he seemed to know exactly what to do to make her build to a climax. This wasn¡¯t some shy guy who didn¡¯t know his way around a woman¡¯s body; she couldn¡¯t control her shaking legs, a sign she was getting so close and, moreso, that he was a master at triggering a woman¡¯s touch points, making the different parts fall into ce for the grand finale.

    Letting go was so hard, but at one point Matt¡¯s hand came up and touched her hip bone, the simple, non-sexual gesture a symbol of a bond here-that this wasn¡¯t just sex, but it was something more. A connection.

    She looked down- something she never, ever did during oral sex-and her hands found their way into his hair again, her eyes wide open.

    ¡°Please, please!¡± she said.

    The words came out of her so abruptly she nearly pulsated as she came, her pussy walls mming against each other as the orgasm hit her without warning. She groaned, pelvis grinding into his mouth and tongue, which danced maddeningly right where she needed it most. Then hepped her, erging the surface area of his amazing tongue, changing between t and pointed to tweak every pixel of flesh he could.

    Feeling both sensations led to a screaming rush as a huge, muscr wave tightened every part of her, her dripping hole clinging to his finger, fucking his face, his tongue eagerly catching up to her clit.

    ¡°No! Keep going!¡± she groaned, hands curling into fists of orgasm, her pussy crammed into his tongue as she hissed, ¡°You are so-oh, Matt!¡± The vortex of lust, the churn of hope and disbelief and pleasure, didn¡¯t stop and she didn¡¯t think it was possible to feel so much so fast, his fingers strumming her and his tongue licking exactly what she wanted and where she needed, the nket beneath her ass soaked, his breathing in little pants now as she imagined he was ready to explode, too.

    Keeping her pussy on his tongue, he maintained a steady pace, littleps followed by faster, eager strokes, tonguing her, working to extract everyst bit as she came and came and came,fortable enough to let her face contort and her body twist as she reveled in what he could do to her. One deep, full-body clench as she closed her eyes so hard she saw fireworks behind them and she was done, the peak ended, her prayers nearly silent, the breath leaving her body.

    He grinned, then climbed up her body, his long,nky runner¡¯s frame a muscled wall as he made his journey up to her. One hot kiss full of her taste made her red and engorged again, her clit tightening so much she came right there from just a kiss, her hips pushing into him, her own musk covering her lips, her nose, the intoxicating odor so powerful that she couldn¡¯t believe she wasing again. What kind of man could do this to her?

    This kind.

    Frantic hands that didn¡¯t feel like hers, but were, pulled at his waist. She wanted him in her now. Preliminaries first, of course-she had to give him some attention, too, as a wildflower patch nearly mingled with a low breeze to send an incredible, heady rush of pollen and perfume their way.

    She gasped when she looked down at his cock, pausing a moment to really appreciate it, rising up to meet him.

    ¡°Savvie,¡± he said, his voice gravelly and tight.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°You are beautiful,¡± he said. ¡°Perfect and real.¡± He pulled her hand and brought her down to the nket, kissed the nape of her neck, and she melted.

    She was real.

    As she grinned, she pushed him down on the bed, then she took one experienced hand, making sure she had his full, erect attention now. She ran her tongue over her lips, savoring the pleasure she was about to give, so the first touch would be perfect, not too dry or bothersome-and, of course, all-too-real.

    She clutched his swollen rod in one hand and teased his tip with her tongue, ripples of muscle under his rib cage going crazy. Flicking the tip until he groaned, she perfected the friction level all the way down,pletely aroused by his excitement.

    His thick legs shifted, hair against hair like the sound of light sandpaper, and his face was open,nguid, even, as she touched him.

    No one had made her feel thisfortable with her own sexuality. So pure. So real. So alive. Matt was so present with his arousal, so into the moment of her hand, her mouth-her.

    Returning her attention to the tip, firming her grip and tonguing the soft rim of his mushroom, she knew he was getting close. Her hand rubbed the base of his cock while she very gradually moved her mouth up and down on him, entuating the sensation of the roof of her mouth, her tongue and her lips, pumping him with her hand and hoping that she could give him the same pleasure he¡¯d so beautifully given her just moments ago.

    One of his hands touched her head, stroking her hair encouragingly, the fingers trying to tell her something she already knew-this was good. Great.

    Amazing. She took her time to extend his pleasure, for this might be a once-in-a-lifetime event. She wanted to make it perfect.

 20

    She continued this motion, going gradually faster and faster as his fingers tightened in her hair. She gently touched his balls, knowing she was on the right track when she began to taste him as he released that little drop of fluid, and she groaned with enjoyment. She took him into her mouth as far as she could, as her fingers clutched the base of his cock while continuing to stroke it, his athlete¡¯s body tensing and mping without regard for anything but the pending release.

    She blew more air on the sensitive skin while milking him, and he groaned, neck muscles tense with the agony of holding back. She was ready to give him the release he so desperately needed and licked her palm to get ready for more when a firm hand covered hers.

    ¡°No. Not like this. I want to be in you,¡± hemanded. It wasn¡¯t a request. Savannah was more than ready toply, but he beat her to it.

    He searched for her clit, finding her willing again. ¡°You make me want to take you right now, Savvie¡± Apletely new wave of arousal came out of nowhere, mming her, making her want to fuck him for the rest of time. Or, at least, for the next hour. She wanted to straddle him, to ride him, to feel that Greek-God body on top of hers, to be together ande together and so much more.

    ¡°Climb on me, Savvie. I want to touch you,¡± he said, pulling her gently onto his hips. She was so wet as she reached beneath her, straddling his hips now, the little scalloped edges of muscle where his abs met his hips too tempting not to touch. As her fingertips brushed there he shivered and nudged her just so- making the tip of him go in her. It felt like sinking into the perfect, hot bath, like the first bite of a chocte torte in a cafe in Paris, like-so cliched!-likeing home.

    To a home you didn¡¯t know you had.

    He pulsated and she moaned with pleasure as her thighs hit his balls. ¡°You are so amazing,¡± she moaned.

    Her entire body stretched up, catlike, her breasts thrusting forward and instantly covered with his enormous palms, the feeling of his fingers pinching her nipples like a direct, hot route to her clit. Something zinged on her arm, then again on her thigh, and she felt more inside her pussy walls, her body ovee with little zaps that hurt, then faded.

    As she rocketed herself up to the mushroom cap, the friction made her shiver, growing an orgasm that felt like it might just very well be more supernova than any before. He licked one hand and stroked her nipple, then repeated on the other side, the pale pink skin pebbling at his touch, making her throat tighten and her passage wetter than she thought it could be. He was making her G-spot scream for attention. She shifted, changing her weight distribution, then drew him all the way out to the tip, mped her pussy, hard, then impaled herself.

    ¡°How did you-What are you doing?¡± he groaned. ¡°Do more,¡± he urged, his hips thrusting up to catch her now, the rhythm clear. He was close, and so was she. She was at a loss, the feeling too intense.

    Matt took charge, his hands on her ass, guiding her in rhythm as he used his glutes and thigh muscles to push up, then pull back. If he angled her hips just so, he could hit her- ¡°Ah, God, right there, Matt!¡± she gasped.

    She needed to touch herself, as he widened her pleasure zone by stretching his legs open a bit. Sitting up, she gave herself ess to her clit, a bit shy. Some guys didn¡¯t like it when she touched herself, but- ¡°Yes,¡± he urged. ¡°Take the pleasure you deserve, Savvie,¡± he added, kissing the hand that had just touched her clit. She grinned and parted the soft, thick skin of her mons, finding her clit standing at attention and ready for explosion.

    A few strokes down to her hot cave, where Matt thrust in and out and moaned and clenched, and she had liquid to move and circle, to- She ground into him, the feeling so maddening, pounding beautifully into her cervix. And then she just¡­ tipped over. That was it, and the release was there with very little warning, her hitched breath and sudden mping the only clue poor Matt had. ¡°Oooooohhhh!¡± she moaned. She hollered and wriggled and thrust back, hot cream and sex bursting as their juices flowed, gushing.

    ¡°The heat! You are so warm, so-¡± Fading out, Matt¡¯s voice disappeared but he bucked up, fucking her hard and fast as he drained himself of his orgasm, too, their bodies twitching and pushing against each other to use whatever thews of physics would give them. Her body made here repeatedly, her flesh too weak to manage anything but release.

    He pounded and pounded, she mmed back, he stroked her belly, and took one hand to tweak her right nipple, the pain mixing with the thrusting and the explosion to make her scream an animal sound-and then it was just a tired feeling, all cock and slick and mouth.

    They slowed, little clenches from the remainders of their sex slowing down.

    Savvie was still full of him as Matt rxed, trapping her, their wetness and his muscled body all she felt now. She had no thoughts, her body surrendered, everything good, allplete.

    Neither said a word. Not one. They fell asleep and by the time Savannah woke up, it was morning.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Savannah drifted slowly from a lovelynguorous sleep, a deep sense of well-being seeping into her consciousness, her body uncurling and stretching, reveling in feeling good. She lifted her arms up over her head, arched her back and opened her eyes.

    Shock mmed into her heart.

    Matt Bradford was standing at the end of the bed, watching her, a satisfied little smile lurking on his lips, his hair wet, slicked back, his dark eyes taking their fill of her, his magnificent body unashamedly naked except for a white towel slung over one shoulder.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    He was definitely real.

    And she was in his bed, his apartment.

 21

    Memories of all they¡¯d done togetherst night flooded through Savannah¡¯s mind.

    Her vaginal muscles instantly squinched, recalling the incredible pleasure of the amazing climax the previous night. It had been so fantastic, but¡­what happens now?

    ¡°Sleeping beauty awakes,¡± Matt drawled in an indulgent tone.¡±You could have waited for my kiss.¡±

    Relief poured into her smile. He wasn¡¯t setting their fantasy aside yet. Maybe there would be more than one night. Lots of nights.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t slept for a hundred years, have I?¡± she tossed back at him, wondering what time it was and if he had any ns for today-ns that included her.

    ¡°No. But it¡¯s time you were up if you want toe to the races with me.¡± he said.

    ¡°Races?¡± Savannah asked.¡± What races? ¡±

    ¡°I have a horse running¡­ thingy this afternoon. It¡¯s the maiden race and I said I¡¯d be there to watch.¡± he replied.

    Horse-racing! Billionaire yground, she thought. It had never been a part of her world but she was up for any new experience shared with this man. More adventure. Colorful, too.

    ¡°Do people dress up for that?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that,¡± he said, arrogantly dismissive of the clothes aspect, strolling around the bed to sit beside her, smiling as he stroked the mussed tresses of her hair away from her face.¡±I¡¯ll dress you like a princess.¡±

    The connection to their fantasy didn¡¯t work for Savannah this time. It was okay for Matt to invite her to go along with him. She wanted to. But dressing her¡­ did he mean what she thought he meant?

    ¡°How do you intend to do that?¡± she asked warily.

    He shrugged.¡±I¡¯m acquainted with the top designers in town. All it takes is a call to get something suitable brought here. What style of clothes appeals to you¡­Lisa Ho, Peter Morrisey, Colette Dinnegan ¡­?¡±

    He hung the celebrity names out with such a s¨¦ air of confidence, Savannah felt herself bridling against his assumption that she would fall in with his n- be his mannequin-because he had the power and the wealth to dress her any way he pleased.

    ¡°No, thank you,¡± she said decisively.

    ¡°No?¡± The caressing hand stilled. He frowned in disbelief.¡±You¡¯re saying no?¡± he asked.

    His eyes zed into hers, determined to reignite the intimate connection they had madest night. It had been good¡­great¡­incredibly fantastic¡­and her body instantly rebelled against any negative dictate that might end it right here. She wanted to be with him, wanted what they¡¯d shared to continue, yet some gritty part of her brain would not let her be taken over or made over by anyone.

    If Matt thought he could buy herpliance¡­where was any respect for her in that?

    ¡°You don¡¯t own me, Matt. Let me make that clear,¡± she said quietly.  ¡°Last night I chose to be with you and I still have the right to choose what works for me.¡±

    His frown deepened. ¡°You can¡¯t want it to end now,¡± he said.

    They were fighting words. He was gearing up to battle any barrier she threw at him. Which was certainly proof that he cared about keeping her, though whether that was for the sex or driven by an attraction on a deeper level, Savannah couldn¡¯t tell.

    The tension emanating from him tore along her own nerves. She didn¡¯t want to be in conflict with this man. He was special. Uniquely special. But this was real life, not an impulsive adventure, and real life had taught her that any kind of domination was bad.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    She¡¯d had experiences with men who expected her to fall into line with them, following wherever they led, not even considering or respecting the fact that she had a mind of her own-a mind that would not y second fiddle to anyone else¡¯s. As powerful as Matt Bradford undoubtedly was, Savannah was not about to crumble under his will.

    ¡°I¡¯d be happy to apany you to the races, but not as your doll,¡± she said determinedly.

    ¡°Doll?¡± he repeated.

    He didn¡¯t like the description, but Savannah couldn¡¯t think of anything more apt.

    They weren¡¯t ¡°clicking¡± this morning. Maybe it was only fantasy that had brought about the ¡°click¡±st night. Disappointment cramped her heart. She couldn¡¯t stay in his bed if he didn¡¯t respect the person she was.

    ¡°I can dress myself, Matt. I was just checking with you what would be suitable for the asion.¡± She said,

    He grimaced, annoyed at not having read the stand she was making. The dark eyes softened with apologetic appeal. ¡°I only meant to smooth the way, not offend you, Savannah. I didn¡¯t want you to feel out of ce with the people who¡¯ll be there.¡± he said.

    Protecting her?

    The knots in her stomach loosened. That wasn¡¯t so bad. But the means of doing it was uneptable. And there could be another motive behind his intention to put her in designer clothes. ¡°You think I might shame you in front of them?¡± she challenged, watching his eyes to see if she¡¯d hit a chord of pride.

    Cindere was fine for the bedroom but not to be paraded out in public?

    His chin lifted in dismissive scorn. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t care if you wear jeans.¡± A cynical mockery glittered in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s the women who enjoy pecking other women apart. It didn¡¯t seem like a good idea to subject you to that, but if you can let it float over your head¡­¡±

    ¡°Fine!¡± She said, A joyous relief poured into a smile so wide Matt looked as though he waspletely thrown by it. ¡°What time is it?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Almost nine,¡± he answered somewhat absently.

    ¡°And what time do we have to be at the races?¡±

    ¡°About noon.¡±

    ¡°I can do it.¡± She hurled off the bedclothes, leapt out of bed and headed for a door, which stood ajar and obviously led to an ensuite bathroom. ¡°Would you call me a taxi, Matt?¡± she tossed over her shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll be showered and dressed, ready to go in fifteen minutes.¡±

    ¡°Go where?¡± He was on his feet, ready to take preventative action if he didn¡¯t like her reply.

 22

    Definitely a warrior, Savannah thought, happily revelling in the secure knowledge that Matt Bradford was not about to ept an ending to their rtionship at this point and didn¡¯t care what anyone else thought of it.

    ¡°Home,¡± she instructed. ¡°And thenter to a department store. You can pick me up at the taxi rank outside the store at eleven-thirty. I will call you.¡±

    It was only then that she remembered that she had to be at work. She paused, then decided she would call Victoria and ask her to cover for her. She did the same for her most times.

    Matt¡¯s whole body clenched with frustration as she walked towards the bathroom, her blond silky bedmussed hair tumbling over her shoulders, the sexy curve of her spine drawing his gaze down to the even sexier derriere, its voluptuous sway reminding him of how provocatively exciting it had beenst night. And the supple strength in those long legs¡­winding around him, inviting, inciting a possession which she now denied.

    You don¡¯t own me.

    He¡¯d meant to have her again this morning. The sight of her stretching so sensuously had paused him short of the bed, desire for her kicking in so strongly he was amazed by how deeply she stirred him. Then seeing her initial shock at the recollection of where she was, he¡¯d thought a quick assurance that what they¡¯d shared was not a one-night aberration on his part would please her.

    The hell of it was, he still wasn¡¯t sure he¡¯d recovered the ground he¡¯d lost with the clothes issue.

    You don¡¯t own me.

    The urge to stride into the bathroom and make her his again was burning through him-kiss her until passion exploded between them and she was happy for them to spend the whole day in bed together.

    Forget the damned horse and its maiden race! He didn¡¯t want anything getting in the way of what he¡¯d found with Savannah Carson.

    But his rational mind warned that sex might not hold her. His wealth wouldn¡¯t hold her, either. There¡¯d been no lure whatsoever in having designer gear freely showered on her. Quite the contrary. She hadn¡¯t liked that idea one bit. Hadn¡¯t even flirted with it for a moment. Savannah Carson was up and running her way and that proud streak of independence in her was not about to bend.

    Okay, so roll with her n.

    But no taxi.

    He¡¯d drive her to home himself, talk with her on the way, make sure she wasn¡¯t running out on him. Matt frowned over that thought as he strode into his dressing room to throw on some clothes. Women invariably hung onto him as long as they could. Why was he feeling ack of confidence in Savannah¡¯s interest in him?

    Because she was different.

    Everything about her was different. Which made it new to him. And undoubtedly he was new to her, too. If she had reservations about that this morning-seeing no real future for this rtionship -he had to ay them, because one thing was certain in his mind. He didn¡¯t want her walking out of his life. Not at this point.

    He had taken her home that day. Picked her up as she had requested and she went with him to horse race. That been the beginning of their rtionship.

    It had just started. Soon he was picking her up from work, having amazing talks with her, spending almost every spare time he had with her, waking up next to her almost every morning, and five monthster, he asked her to marry him¡­ which she had dly said yes to. Or pretended to be d -he didn¡¯t really know anymore. Were any of those moments real for her? Had she just been pretending the whole time?

    They had been happy -at least he had thought they were. So he just couldn¡¯t understand why she threw all that away. With his brother for that matter. Her betrayal stung¡­ Hurt like hell.

    Matt got to his apartment without knowing how he got there. His head was full of thoughts of her. She had hurt him and she still acted like he was the one who had something to be sorry about. She was the one who had thrown away their love.. Their rtionship.

    He knew he had to walk away from her. For his own peace of mind. But he couldn¡¯t. Because no matter how angry he was at her, he couldn¡¯t deny the fact that he was still in love with her¡­. and he wanted to help her.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    ¡°Have you heard? He¡¯s trying to buy her a husband.¡± Feminineughter trilled mockingly.

    ¡°With his millions, it shouldn¡¯t be hard.¡± the man thedy was speaking to replied.

    ¡°The old man will live to see a hundred and five and keep control of hispany right up until he dies,¡± the woman said. ¡°That means over fourty years married to a woman who is hopelessly introverted, hopelessly ordinary and probably hopeless in bed, to boot. Practically a lifetime before her future husband will see any fruit for hisbor.¡±

    ¡°Put in that light,¡± the man drawled sardonically, ¡°the return on investment does seem pretty low.¡±

    ¡°Why, darling, were you thinking of applying for the job?¡± Scornful disbeliefced the woman¡¯s too knowing voice.

    The masculineughter that came in reply grated on Dash¡¯s nerves. He had arrivedte to the party hosted by multimillionaire, Neal Patchett. Nevertheless, he knew exactly whom the cynical woman and her male cohort were discussing: Tess Patchett-the daughter of their host.

    Dash ck hadn¡¯t realized the man had decided to procure her a husband-until Neal told him during theirst meeting.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    Hell, that wasn¡¯t even the crazy thing about Neal¡¯s idea. The crazy thing was that the man had chosen him to marry his daughter and Dash thought it was the craziest thing he had ever heard in his life.

    People didn¡¯t do things like that anymore. This arranged marriage thing was a thing of the past. And Dash wasn¡¯t the rtionship kind of guy. Rtionships were for guys like his friend, Matt Bradford, and judging from the way his rtionship with Savannah had ended, Dash was sure he was doing the right thing by staying away from anymitment with a woman.

    He loved women, that was true. But he didn¡¯t really date and marriage was thest thing on his mind.

 23

    He wasn¡¯t expecting Neal toe up with such a ridiculous business proposal. Of course, he had rejected the offer, but he still wanted that business deal. And he needed to get Neal to drop the marriage idea. That was the reason why he was at the party actually.

    It shoulde as no surprise. Neal Patchett was getting old, and it shouldn¡¯t be too surprising that he would want his only child to get married. Dash just didn¡¯t understand why Neal would pick him. He had met Tess just once, and while she had the innocence of an eighteen-year-old, she must be twenty six or twenty seven, havingpleted her degree at university three years ago.

    He remembered attending a formal dinner to celebrate. It was at that dinner that he had seen Tess, and he hadn¡¯t really spoken to her, apart from the time he had offered his congrattions to her and they had talked for like one minute. And that was why he couldn¡¯t understand why Neal would want him to marry his daughter. There was no sort of rtionship between them.

    The dinner, like any other social gathering hosted by Neal Patchett, had turned into a business discussion and the guest of honor had disappeared long before the evening was over. He had thought at the time he might be the only person to have noticed. Certainly her father had not, nor had any of the other businessmen present remarked upon Tess¡¯s absence. And today, it was the same -Tess wasn¡¯t in the room.

    He wondered if she knew about her father¡¯s idea that they get married. How would she react? Would she agree to that sort of thing?

    Dash turned away from the gossiping couple and stepped around a potted nt easily as tall as most men. Its bushy foliage obstructed his view of what was behind it, which was why he didn¡¯t realize Tess Patchett was standing there in frozen mortification until he had all but stepped on her.

    She gasped and moved backward, her corkscrew curls catching on the leaves behind her, their chestnut color a startling contrast to the nt¡¯s bright green shrubbery. ¡°Mr ck!¡±

    He reached out to stop her fromnding on her bottom in the big Chinese pot housing the nt.

    Wide violet eyes blinked in an attempt to dispel suspicious moisture. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. How clumsy I am.¡± She said,

    ¡°Not at all, Miss Patchett.¡± Dash said. The skin beneath his fingers was soft and warm. ¡°I am the one who must apologize. I walked without looking ahead of myself and am at your feet in regret for my precipitous behavior.¡±

    As he had hoped it would, his overly formal, old-fashioned apology brought a small smile to tilt the generous lips that had a moment before been trembling.

    ¡°You are very kind, sir.¡± She said,

    She was one of the few people who believed this to be so. He let go of her arms, finding it surprisingly difficult to make his fingers release their captive.

    ¡°And you are very lovely tonight.¡± Dash said

    It had been the wrong thing to say. Her gaze flitted to the shrub and the still gossiping couple beyond, her expression turning pained. Their voices carried quite clearly, now discussing an adulterous affair between two of their acquaintances. No doubt Tess had heard their earlier words.

    She affirmed his thoughts when she softly said, ¡°Not lovely, I think, but hopelessly average,¡± telling him too that she knew he had heard the untteringments.

    He did not like the sadness in her eyes and he once again took her arm, leading her toward the library. It was the one room unlikely to have a lot of guests milling about. ¡°Come, Tess.¡±

    He liked her name. It suited her.

    She did not demur and she looked like a peaceful sort of person. They reached the library. He guided her inside, quickly ascertaining he had been right and no one else was present. He shut the door to keep it that way. She needed a few moments to collect herself.

    Once again he was surprised by a desire to maintain his hold on her, but she tugged slightly on her arm and he released her. She faced him, her stature entuated by her three-inch heels. She really did look lovely in her formal gown of deep purple. The bodice outlined small, but perfectly proportioned curves while the shimmery fabric of the full skirt floated around her ankles in a very feminine way. She was not ravishingly sexy like the women he dated, but pretty in a very innocent and startlingly tantalizing way.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯s trying to buy me a husband, you know.¡± She tucked a reddish-brown curl behind her ear. ¡°He¡¯s tried to buy me pretty much everything else since his heart attack, but I think even father would draw the line at buying a husband.¡±

    So she didn¡¯t know then. He thought. He wouldn¡¯t put anything past the man, but forbore saying so. ¡°It is natural for him to want to buy you things.¡± he said instead.

    She grimaced. ¡°Yes, I suppose so, but in the past he¡¯s always been impersonal with it.¡±

    A husband would be a pretty personal purchase, Dash had to admit. ¡°What do you mean, Miss Patchett?¡±

    ¡°Oh please, you must call me Tess. We¡¯ve known each other for three years after all¡­ Even if this is the first time we are actually having a conversation¡±

    Has it been that long?Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    ¡°Tess then.¡± He said. He smiled and watched in some fascination as her skin took on a distinctly rosy hue.

    She averted her face, so she was looking at the overfull bookcase on her left.

    ¡°It¡¯s been just me and dad  since I was five.¡±

    ¡°I did not know this.¡± Dash said.

    She nodded. ¡°But I don¡¯t think he noticed I even lived in his house except to instruct the servants to buy me what I needed, clothes when I grew out of them, books when I wanted them, an education, that sort of thing.¡±

    It was as he had always surmised. Tess had been relegated to the background of Patchett¡¯s life and she had known it.

    ¡°But justtely, he¡¯s been buying things for me himself. My birthday was a month ago and he bought me a car.¡± She sounded shocked by the fact. ¡°I mean he went to the car dealership and picked it out himself. The housekeeper told me.¡±

 24

    ¡°This bothers you?¡± he asked. Most women of his acquaintance would find a car a very appropriate birthday gift.

    Her pansy eyes focused back on him. ¡°No. Not really. Well, except that I don¡¯t drive, but that¡¯s not the point. It¡¯s just that I think he¡¯s trying to make up for something.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps he regrets spending so little time with you through your formative years.¡± Dash said.

    Her soft, feminineughter affected his libido in a most unexpected way.

    ¡°He had the housekeeper take me out to dinner for my birthday after having the Porsche delivered by the dealership.¡± She said.

    ¡°He bought you a Porsche?¡± That was hardly a suitable gift for a young woman who did not even know how to drive. She could kill herself her first time behind the wheel with such a powerful car. He would have to speak to Patchett about making sure she had received proper driving instruction before she was allowed onto the roads alone. Though why he suddenly cared so much he didn¡¯t know.

    ¡°Yes. He also bought me a mink coat. Not a fake one, but the real thing.¡± She sighed and sat down in one of the burgundy leather reading chairs. ¡°I just can¡¯t help thinking that something is up¡± She peeked up at him through hershes. ¡°Though I have no idea what it could be.¡±

    He shook his head and leaned back against the desk, wondering how she would react if he told her her father¡¯s n. Would she still want to be seated here talking to him? ¡°I¡¯m sure your father loves you very much, and in his own way just wants the best for you¡±

    Tess smiled. ¡°I guess. I¡¯m really excited about the six-week European tour he gave me, though. Even if I won¡¯t be leaving for six months. He booked it early.¡± Her eyes shone with undisguised delight at the prospect. ¡°I¡¯ll be traveling with a group of college students and a tour guide.¡± She added.

    ¡°How many other young women will there be?¡± Dash asked.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    She shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know. There will be ten of us in all, not including the guide of course.¡± She crossed one leg over the other and started to swing the ankle back and forth, making her dress swish with each movement. ¡°I don¡¯t know what the ratio of men to women will be.¡±

    ¡°You are traveling with men?¡±

    ¡°Oh, yes. It¡¯s all coed. Something I would have loved to do in college, but betterte than never, don¡¯t they say?¡± she asked.

    He didn¡¯t know about that, but the idea of this naive creature spending six weeks with a group of libidinous, college age men did not please him. Why he should care, he did not stop to analyze. It was his nature to act on not only his behalf, but that of others as well. That should be the reason.

    ¡°I do not think it is wise for you to go on such a trip. Surely a wholly female group would be more enjoyable for you.¡± he said.

    Her leg stopped swinging and she stared at him, clearly dumbfounded.

    ¡°You¡¯re kidding, right? Half the reason for going on the trip is to spend some time with men close to my own age.¡± She said,

    ¡°Are you saying you object to your father buying you a husband, but not when ites to him buying you a lover?¡± He didn¡¯t know what had made him say it.

    Only that he had been angry, an inexplicable reaction to the news she was interested in malepanionship.

    She nched and sat back in her chair as if trying to put distance between them. ¡°I didn¡¯t say that. I¡¯m not looking for a¡­a lover.¡± She said,

    Then in a whirl of purple chiffon, she jumped up. ¡°I¡¯ll just get back to the party.¡± She eased around him toward the door as if he were an angry animal threatening to pounce.

    He cursed himself as she opened the door and fled. There had been tears in hervender eyes. What the gossiping duo had not been able to do with their nastymentary, he had managed with one sentence. He had made her cry.

    Two now familiar hands grabbed her shoulders from behind. ¡°Please, Tess, you must allow me to once again apologize.¡±

    She said nothing, but she didn¡¯t try to get away. How could she? The moment he touched her, she lost all sense of self-will. And he did not have a clue, but then why should he? Business tycoons did not look to hopelessly average, twenty-six-year-old virgins for an alliance¡­of any sort.

    She blinked furiously at the wetness that had already trickled down to her cheeks. Wasn¡¯t it enough that she had been forced to overhear her shorings cataloged by two of her father¡¯s guests? That Dash ck of all people should have heard as well had increased the hurt exponentially. Then to have him use her of wanting her father to buy her a lover! As if the idea that any man would desire her for herself was too impossible to contemte.

    ¡°Let me go,¡± she whispered. ¡°I need to check on my dad.¡±

    ¡°Neal has an entire household of servants to see to his needs. I have only you.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need me.¡± She said,

    He turned her to face him. Then keeping one restraining hand on her shoulder, he tipped her chin up with his forefinger. His eyes were dark with remorse. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it, Tess. I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    She just shook her head, not wanting to speak and betray how much his careless words had hurt. She was not s¨¦ enough to take the type of sophisticated joking he had been indulging in with equanimity.

    He said something low and wiped at her cheeks with a ck silk handkerchief he had pulled from his pocket. ¡°Don¡¯t distress yourself like this. It was nothing more than a poorly worded jest. Not something for which you should upset yourself.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m being stupidly emotional.¡± Tess said.

    His gorgeous brown eyes narrowed. ¡°You are not stupid, Tess, merely easily hurt. You must learn to control this or others will take advantage of your weakness.¡±

 25

    ¡°I-¡±

    ¡°Consider¡­The words of that gossiping pair distressed you and yet you know them to be false. Your father has no need to buy you either a husband or a lover.¡± He entuated his words with a small squeeze of her shoulder. ¡°You are lovely and gentle, a woman any man would be lucky to im.¡±

    Now she¡¯d forced him to fabrication to get out of the sticky situation. She made herself smile. ¡°Thank you.¡± she said.

    The stunning angles of his face rxed in relief and he returned the smile.

    Good. If she could convince him she was fine, he would let her leave and she could find somece to lick her wounds in private.

    No one else would notice if she disappeared from the party. Well, perhaps Edward, her colleague from the women¡¯s shelter would notice. Only she had left him thoroughly engrossed in a debate over archeological method with one of her father¡¯s colleagues and doubted he would surface before the party ended.

    She stepped back from Dash¡¯s touch, as much out of self-preservation as her need to get awaypletely. His proximity affected her to a frightening degree.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure there are other guests you would like to talk to.¡± Again the small polite smile. ¡°If you¡¯re anything like my dad, you see every social asion as an opportunity to advance your business interests. Most of the guests are his business contacts.¡±

    ¡°You are a poor prevaricator, Tess.¡± He stepped toward her, invading her space with his presence and the scent of his expensive cologne. She wondered if he had it mixed especially for him because she¡¯d never smelled anything as wonderful on another man.

    ¡°P-prevaricator?¡± she asked, stumbling over the word because he was so close.

    ¡°It means one who deviates from the truth.¡±  he exined. His mouth firmed with grim resolve that warned her she would not get away so easily. ¡°Rather than discuss business with men I can see any day of the week, I would prefer you to show me to the buffet table. I camete and did not eat dinner tonight.¡±

    She¡¯d already known he hadete. Actually, she had thought he was noting at all. The first she had known of his arrival had been the debacle by the banana tree. ¡°Then, by all means, allow me to show you to the food table.¡± She said

    It was her duty as hostess, after all.

    She turned to lead the way and almost stopped in shock as she felt his hand rest lightly against her waist. By the time they reached the buffet, her emotions and heart rate were both chaotic.

    ¡°The food,¡± she croaked out and waved her hand toward the table.

    ¡°Will you sit with me while I eat? I prefer not to do so alone.¡± Dash said.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    What choice had she? To refuse would be churlish. ¡°Yes, of course.¡± She replied.

    She stifled a sigh. She had thought he would let her escape once they arrived in the reception room of the Patchett mansion, but she¡¯d been wrong. The only thing that equaled revenge was guilt.

    She wondered how much penance Dash¡¯s guilt would require before he would feelfortable relegating her to the background once more.

    Usually, she would be rejoicing at the opportunity to spend time in hispany. He had fascinated her since their first meeting three years ago. She had seen him two or three times a year since as he and her father had many business interests inmon but they never spoke to each other.

    Even now, she found being the focus of his attention a heady experience, no matter thatpassion and guilt were the reasons for it.

    She waited until he had filled a te and then led him to one of the many small duet tables surrounding the room. There wererger tables where someone else would undoubtedly join them, but selfishly she thought that if these few moments were all she would have of him, she wanted them private.

    ¡°Are you still working as a bookkeeper at the women¡¯s shelter?¡± he asked.

    Surprised he had remembered since she had told him that three years ago at the party held for her, she said, ¡°Yes. We¡¯re opening another facility  in a few weeks.¡±

    He asked her about it and then spent the next twenty minutes listening to her talk about the women¡¯s shelter and the work they were doing. They catered to victims of domestic violence, but did a great deal for single mothers down on their luck as well. Tess loved her job and could talk about the shelter for hours.

    ¡°I suppose they can always use donations?¡± Dash asked.

    So, that was how he nned to finish mitigating his guilt for making her cry.

    Not that it was really his fault. He could not be med for herck of urbanity, but she wouldn¡¯t refuse him regardless.

    He had plenty of money to donate to such a worthy cause. He was so rich.

    ¡°Yes. They bought the furniture for the upstairs with my fur coat, but there¡¯s still the downstairs to furnish.¡±She replied.

    He smiled and her insides did that imitation of melting chocte they always did when those sensual lips curved in humor.

    ¡°So, you sold the mink, hmm?¡± he asked

    ¡°Oh no. That wouldn¡¯t be right. It was a gift after all. I gave it to the shelter.¡±

    She winked and then felt herself blushing at her own temerity. ¡°They sold it.¡± she said.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got a streak of minx in you I think.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps, Mr ck. Perhaps.¡±

    ¡°If you want me to call you Tess, then you should probably call me Dash too.¡±he said.

    Tess smiled and nodded. ¡°Alright.. Dash¡± she said.

    ¡°Do you have contact information for the shelter?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Naturally.¡±

    ¡°I should like to give it to my P. A., and instruct that a donationrge enough to furnish several rooms is made on my behalf.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got a business card upstairs in my room, if you¡¯ll wait a moment while I get it?¡± she said. What she would never do on her own behalf, she did for the shelter with total equanimity.

    ¡°I will wait.¡±  Dash said.

 26

    Tess pulled a white business card for the women¡¯s shelter from the top drawer of the escritoire in the small study attached to her suite of rooms.

    As she turned to head back downstairs, she realized it was less than ten minutes before midnight. The party would be over soon. She stopped and stared at the ornamental desk clock, biting her lip.

    She had to admit she was enjoying this little time with Dash ck. She had always admired him¡­ From a distance of course. Like everyone else, Dash hardly took any notice of her, and she had been very surprised when he had spoken to her and even asked her to keep himpany.

    He was very handsome and she was sure women threw themselves at him. Her stomach tightened at the thought of watching Dash with some gorgeous woman. And there were plenty of them downstairs.

    Rich businessmen attracted beautiful women who had a chic she envied and could not hope to emte, no matter how rich her father was. Her mother had passed away when she was little, leaving her with her father who never paid much attention to her. Not that he didn¡¯t love her. She knew he did.

    She wasn¡¯t worried about leaving Dash to his own devices. Even now, she had no doubt he was no longer sitting alone while he waited for her. He might not even wait at the table, but expect her toe find him once she returned downstairs. Now that his guilt had been appeased, she would no longer qualify for his undivided attention.

    Going back downstairs at this moment in time would serve no purpose other than to further underscore the humiliating fact that she did not fit amidst her father¡¯s guests. She might have been born to his world, but she could never feel like she belonged in it.

    From the clock, her gaze shifted to the que hanging on the wall. It was a saying by Eleanor Roosevelt and it reminded her that she might not be able to help her shyness, but she did not have to be craven as well.

    She would just hand him the card and return to her room, she decided.

    Dash became aware of Tess instantly when she arrived once again in the periphery of his vision. She said and did nothing, but the sweet scent he associated with her reached out to surround him. He turned from the cover model who had approached him within seconds of Tess¡¯s disappearance from their table.

    ¡°You¡¯re back.¡± he said.

    Her gaze flicked to the model and back to him. ¡°Yes.¡± Tess replied.

    She was right, she thought. Barely two minutes since she left him and he was already in the arms of another woman. Not that that was any of her business. She reached her hand out, a small white card between her delicate thumb and forefinger. ¡°Here¡¯s the contact information for the shelter.¡± She said.

    He took it and tucked it into the inner pocket of his formal dinner jacket.

    ¡°Thanks.¡± he said

    ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡±

    The lights dimmed and the orchestra slipped into a song. It was a slow, romantic one, chosen to encourage physical and conversational intimacy. Tess turned to leave, but not before an expression he did not understand crossed her features. Why should it make her sad to give him the card? Had something happened to her?

    He couldn¡¯t stop himself from thinking about the almost tragic apprehension that turned her beautiful eyes so dark, they appeared ck. The blonde put her hand on his arm and he realized that men and women were pairing off.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    Ah, the dance, he thought. And in a split second of rity he understood Tess¡¯s sadness and that he had a choice. He could dance with the sexy, extremely world savvy woman to his left, or he could dance with Tess.

    ¡°Tess¡± he called, and went after her.

    She stopped and turned, her expression was carefully guarded, but he could tell that she expected him to be with the model. She had grown ustomed to neglect and although she seemed more than willing to talk to him, she was terribly shy around others. She expected to dance with no one. And the expectation had put that sadness in her eyes. It was not right.

    She was gentle and generous. What was the matter with the men in this room that they overlooked this delicate but exotic bloom?

    He shook off the blonde¡¯s hold and stepped toward Tess. Her eyes grew wide and her mouth formed a perfect little O.

    Dash didn¡¯t ask or give her a chance to say no. He just gritted his teeth, took her hand and molded her close, struggling to remain unaffected now that she was so close to him. She brushed against him as they drifted across the floor and his entire body clenched in response.

    He wasn¡¯t the only one affected, he realized in the next instant. Delicate color tinted Tess¡¯s cheeks and her breathing quickened. She was very beautiful, Dash thought. She had full red hair and big green eyes. The kind that seemed to look into your soul.

    She shivered slightly in his arms and his body reacted ordingly. He wondered if she was seeing someone. She wouldn¡¯t react to him like this if she were in love with another man came the furious thought. Unless, of course, she wasn¡¯t really in love. Not that it was any of his business though

    But curious to test his theory anyways, Dash slid his hand down the length of her spine, his palm settling into the hollow above her backside. The slightest amount of pressure set her tight against him.

    And then he slowed their dance until it was no more than a pretext, a subtle form of forey. In the space of a few steps, it went from subtle to searing as her movements aligned themselves with his. He was practically making love to her right there on the floor-and she to him. Each step became part of a mating dance, her breasts crushed against his chest, her hips and thighs melded to his. She moaned softly, the sound barely more than a breathless sigh.

    But he heard it. He heard it and knew what she wanted. cing his hands on both sides of her face, he tilted it up for his kiss and then he lowered his mouth to hers.

    .

 27

    He would kiss her gently, nothing too involved.

    He did not want to frighten her, but he owed her this small concession for having made her cry. Buying furniture for her women¡¯s shelter would not cut it.

    That was money, but the insult had been personal and this was personal atonement.

    His lips touched hers and she trembled. He gently tasted her with his tongue.

    She was sweet and her lips were soft. They were still parted and he decided to go a step further. He wanted to taste the warmth and wetness of her mouth. So he did.

    And it was good, better than he would have thought possible.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Her tongue tentatively brushed against his and heat surged through his male flesh. He wanted more, so he took it, moving one hand to her back and pressing her into him. She wentpletely pliant against him, molding her body to his like molten metal over a cast figure. Using the hand on her back, he lifted her off the floor until her face was even with his own and he could kiss her as urgently as he wanted to do.

    She wrapped her arms around his neck and moaned, kissing him back with a passion that more than matched his own.

    The small noises emanating from her drove him on. He deepened the kiss further, oblivious now to his surroundings.

    He wanted to do more than kiss her. He wanted to strip her naked and taste every centimeter of her delectable little body. The library. He could take her back to the library.

    His hand was actually moving to catch her knees so he could carry her off when a booming voice broke through the daze of hisscivious thoughts.

    ¡°With a kiss like that, you¡¯re both bound to have more good luck than a Chinese dragon.¡±

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Dash¡¯s head snapped up at the sound of Neal Patchett¡¯s humor-filled voice and reality came back with a painful thud.

    Tess was still clinging to him, her expression dazed, but the rest of the room was very much aware. And what they were aware of was that he¡¯d been caught kissing the host¡¯s daughter like a horny teenager on his first date with an older woman.

    He set Tess down with more speed than finesse, putting her away from him with a brusque movement.

    She stared up at him, eyes darkened with passion and still unfocused.

    ¡°Dash?¡± she said.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t know you two knew each other so well.¡± A crafty expression entered Neal¡¯s eyes that Dash did not like.

    ¡°It is not a requirement to know someone really well to kiss,¡± he replied firmly, wanting to immediately squelch any ideas the man might have regarding he and Tess as anything other than passing acquaintances. He had already brought up the ridiculous idea of them getting married and Dash did not want to give him the impression that it was a good idea.

    He shouldn¡¯t have kissed Tess. He realized that now.

    ¡°Is that right?¡± Neal turned to Tess. ¡°What do you say, pumpkin?¡±

    Tess stared at her father as if she did not recognize him. Then her eyes sought out Dash once again, the question in them making him defensive.

    He frowned at her. ¡°She is your daughter.¡±  he said. ¡°You know as well as anyone how little I have seen of her over the years.¡± His eyes willed Tess to snap out of her reverie and affirm his stand to her father.

    At first, she just looked confused, but then her expression seemed to transform with the speed of light. She went from dazed to hurt to horrified, but within a second she was doing her best to look unaffected.

    It was not apletely sessful effort with her generous lips swollen from the consuming kiss.

    She forced a smile that hurt him to see because it was so obviously not the direction those lips wanted to go. ¡°It wasn¡¯t anything, Dad. Less than nothing.¡± She said. She spun on her heel without looking back at Dash. ¡°I¡¯ve got to check on the champagne.¡± And she was gone.

    He watched her go, feeling he should have handled that situation better and wishing he¡¯d nevere to the party in the first ce.

    ¡°It didn¡¯t look like less than nothing to me, but I¡¯m an old man. What do I know?¡± Neal said.

    The spective tone of Neal Patchett voice sent an arrow of wariness arcing through Dash. He remembered the gossip he had overheard earlier. People knew of his ns already. He wondered who else Neal had told.

    Rumors often started from a kernel of truth. The  man could forget trying to buy him as a husband for his shy daughter. It wasn¡¯t going to happen.

    She might kiss with more passion than many women made love, but Dash ck was not for sale.

    He had no intention of marrying for years yet and when he did, it wouldn¡¯t be to Tess Patchett and no one was going to make him do it before he was ready. No one made decisions for him and definitely not this kind of decision.

    Even if kissing Tess Patchett was as close to making love with his clothes on as he¡¯d evere.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    Tess mmed the door of her bedroom behind her and then spun around to lock it for good measure.

    It was after three o¡¯clock and thest guest had finally departed. She¡¯d made herself stay downstairs for the remainder of the party because she was guiltily aware her father had arranged it for her benefit rather than business.

    He¡¯d said as much when he told her he nned to have a bash at the mansion.

    She wished he had not bothered. She wasn¡¯t even sure why he did it, but she guessed it was his own way of making up for his shorings as a father

    Yet she wished he hadn¡¯t gone through the trouble of doing it, since he had invited his friends and it had turned into a business party as usual. Not that she cared though. These kinda parties didn¡¯t usually interest her.

    The other part of her, the sensual woman that lurked inside her was reveling in her first taste of passion.

    Dash ck had kissed her. Like he meant it.

 28

    She was fairly certain the whole thing had started as a pity kiss, but somewhere along the way, he¡¯d actually gotten involved. So had she, but that was not so surprising.

    She¡¯d wanted to kiss the tycoon for the better part of three years. It had been an impossible fantasy¡­until tonight. Then abination of events had led to a kiss so devastating, it would haunt her dreams for years toe.

    She plopped down onto the side of her bed and grabbed a throw pillow, hugging it to herself.

    He had tasted wonderful.

    Had felt hard and infinitely masculine against her. Had smelled like the lover she desired above all others.

    And then he had thrust her from him like a disease ridden rodent. She punched the cushion in herp. He had been enjoying the kiss. She was sure of it, but then her father had interrupted and Dash had acted embarrassed to be caught kissing her.

    Okay, maybe it did nothing for his sophisticated image to be caught taking pleasure in the kiss of an awkward twenty-six-year-old virgin who never dated. But surely it wasn¡¯t such a tragedy either. Not so bad that he had to shove her away like something he¡¯d found under his shoe in a cow pasture.

    The tears that had seemed to gue her for one reason or another all evening once again welled hot and stinging in her eyes. He¡¯d made her look like aplete fool. She¡¯d been forced to smile while cringing inside at the teasing and downright ribaldments tossed her way for thest three hours.

    People were saying that she¡¯d thrown herself at him. That he¡¯d had to practically manhandle her to get her off of him. That as desperate spinsters went, she had won the golden cup.

    Wetness sshed down her cheeks.

    She¡¯d heard it all while circting among the guests. People had gone out of their way to speak loudly enough so she could not help overhearing. Some had made jokes to her face. A few of the male guests had offered to take on where Dash had left off.

    Her father remained blissfully ignorant, having closeted himself in the study with a businessman from Japan after the official toast. If she had anything to say about it, he would remain that way.

    Dash ck, the rat, had left the party within minutes of his humiliating rejection of her.

    Even the joy of being kissed with such heady abandon by the one man she had ever wanted could not overshadow her degradation at his hands in front of a room filled with her father¡¯s guests. She hated Dash ck. She really did.

    She hoped she never saw him again.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    ¡°The shares are not for sale.¡± Neal Patchett said.

    Dash studied the man who had just spoken, looking for a chink in the man¡¯s business armor, but Neal was a wily campaigner and not a speck of interest or emotion reflected in his gray eyes.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I will pay you double what you gave my uncle for them.¡± Dash said.

    He¡¯d already offered a fifty-percent return on investment. To no avail.

    Neal shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t need more money.¡± he said.

    The words were said with just enough emphasis to make a very pertinent point. Whatever Neal Patchett wanted in exchange for those shares, it wasn¡¯t money and he could afford to turn down Dash¡¯s best offer.

    ¡°Then, Mr Patchett, what is that you do need?¡± he asked, taking the bait.

    ¡°A husband for my daughter.¡± Neal replied.

    Impossible! Dash was hoping Neal would drop this stupid idea by now.

    ¡°Are you serious?¡± Dash asked.

    Neal Patchett leaned back in his chair, his hands resting lightly on his oversize executive desk. ¡°I¡¯m getting on in years. I want to make sure I leave Tess taken care of. Regardless of what young women these days believe, and young men when ites to it-that means seeing her married.¡±

    ¡°I do not think your daughter would agree with you.¡± Dash replied.

    ¡°Getting her to agree is your job. The girl doesn¡¯t know what is best for her. She spends all her free time working for the women¡¯s shelter, or the local animal shelter, or doing things like answering phones for the annual MDA telethon. She¡¯s a worse bleeding heart than her mother ever was.¡±

    And it was unlikely she found the slightest understanding from the ruthless old bastard sitting across from him, Dash thought.

    ¡°So it is true that Tess doesn¡¯t know you¡¯re trying to buy her a husband?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not interested in discussing what my daughter knows or doesn¡¯t know. If you want those shares, you¡¯re going to have to marry her to get them.¡± Neal said.

    The shares in question were for the original family-held ck Shipping, apany started by his great-grandfather and passed through each sessive generation. While it rankled, having a nonfamily member holding a significant chunk of stock was not the end of the world.

    He stood. ¡°Keep the shares. I am not for sale.¡±

    ¡°But ck Shipping is.¡± Neal replied.

    The words stopped Dash at the door. He turned. ¡°It is not. I would never countenance the sale of my family¡¯spany.¡± he said.

    Although his interests in ck Shipping represented a miniscule portion of his business holdings, his family pride would never allow him to offload it.

    ¡°You won¡¯t be able to stop me.¡±

    ¡°My uncle did not hold majority stock in thepany.¡± Dash said

    But the fool had sold therge block he had held to Neal Patchett rather than approach his nephew when gambling debts had made him desperate for cash.

    ¡°No, but with the proxy of some of your distant cousins as well as the stock I have procured from those willing to sell, I do control enough shares in thepany to do what I damn well please with it.¡± Neal said.

    ¡°I do not believe you.¡±

    Many of those distant cousins had emigrated, but he could not believe they were so lost to family pride as to give an outsider their proxy or worse, sell their portion of ck Shipping to him.

    His uncle he could almost believe. The man was addicted to wine, women and casinos. He had the self-discipline of a four-year-old and that was probably giving the man more credit than he deserved.

 29

    Neal Patchett tossed a report on the desk. ¡°Read it.¡± he said.

    Dash hid his mounting fury as he crossed the room and then lifted the report to read. He did not sit down, but flipped through the pages while still standing. Outraged pride grew with each sessive page and coalesced intova like fury when he read the final page.

    It was a rmendation by Neal Patchett to merge with ck Shipping¡¯s number onepetitor. If that were not bad enough, it was clear that while the otherpany would maintain their business identity, ck Shipping would cease to exist.

    He tossed the report onto the gleaming surface of the walnut desk. ¡°You are not trying to buy your daughter a husband, you are trying to ckmail one.¡± he said angrily.

    Neal shrugged broad shoulders, not even slightly stooped by his more than Sixty three years. ¡°Call it what you like, but if you want to keep ck Shipping in the ck family and operating business under your family name, you will marry my daughter.¡±

    ¡°What is the matter with her that you have to resort to such tactics to get her a husband?¡± Dash asked.

    For the first time since Dash had entered the other man¡¯s office, Neal¡¯s guard dropped enough to let his reaction show.

    Dash¡¯s question had surprised him. It was in the widening of his eyes, the beetling of his steel gray brows.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with her. She¡¯s a little shy and a bleeding heart, I admit, but for all that she¡¯ll make a fine wife.¡± he said finally.

    ¡°To a husband you have to ckmail into marriage?¡± Dash asked.

    In many ways, he was a traditional male, but Neal Patchett made Dash look like a modern New Man.  Tess¡¯s father was more than old-fashioned in his views. He was prehistoric.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me, you were waiting for love eternal to get married, man?¡± Neal asked.

    Derisionced his voice. ¡°You¡¯re thirty two, not some young pup still dreaming of fairy tales and fantasies. And you¡¯re plenty old enough to be thinking about a wife and family. Your own father is gone, so cannot advise you, but I¡¯m here to tell you, you don¡¯t want to leave it toote to enjoy the benefits of family life.¡±

    Not only did Dash find the very idea of taking advice from a man trying to ckmail him offensive, but Neal Patchett was thest person to hand out titudes about enjoying family life. He¡¯d spent his Sixty  plus years almostpletely oblivious to his own family, even to his own daughter.

    ¡°I¡¯m offering you a straight forward business deal. Take it or leave it.¡±

    The tone of Neal¡¯s  voice left no doubt how seriously he felt about following through on his threats.

    ¡°And if I leave it my familypany ceases to exist.¡± Dash said.

    The other man looked unconcerned by the reminder. ¡°Nopanysts forever.¡± he said simply.

    Gritting his teeth, Dash forced himself not to take the other man by the throat and shake him. He never lost control and he would not give his adversary the benefit of doing so now.

    ¡°I will have to think about it.¡± he said.

    ¡°You do that and think about this while you are at it. My daughter left two weeks ago for a tour in thepany of four other girls, a tour guide and five young men. Thest time she called, she mentioned one of them several times. David something or other, i don¡¯t know. Apparently, they are developing quite the friendship. If you want Tess before she gets into something serious with someone else, you¡¯d better do something about it soon.¡±

    Dash frowned at him.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Savannah woke up early as a matter of habit. A quick check of her watch, however, told her she had overslept by fifteen minutes.

    At least she was feeling better today. Yesterday she had to leave the diner early as she had a terrible headache. She didn¡¯t know exactly what was causing her uneasinesstely, but she knew it had something to do with seeing Matt again. It had been two weeks since he showed up in her life again and he was totally messing with her head.

    She would have to hurry to get to the diner by six. After a brief shower, she pulled on her loose-fitting jumper over a shirt and headed for the door.

    She held her breath, almost expecting Matt to be outside. Somehow she knew he would show up again. She knew Matt, and she knew he didn¡¯t give up when he put his mind to something.

    She shook her head and walked down the stairs. He was messing with her head and making her paranoid. Any thought that she was over him and moving on had been shot to hell the moment he showed up in her diner. She didn¡¯t understand why he woulde to see her, like he hadn¡¯t done enough harm.

    A few minutester, she hustled into the diner to see that Vicky was already at work serving their early-morning breakfast customers.

    ¡°Hey babe¡± Vicky greeted. ¡°Feeling better today?¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡± Savannah replied. ¡°Thanks for helping me out and taking care of my customers. You didn¡¯te home yesterday¡±

    ¡°Yeah I spent the night at Bruce¡¯s ce¡± Victoria replied. ¡°But I gotta tell you. Lamar came around after you left yesterday and he was really pissed that you weren¡¯t here¡±

    Savannah sighed, knowing she was in trouble. ¡°That¡¯s okay. I will talk to him¡±

    She donned her apron, picked up her order tablet and headed toward her section of tables.

    For the first hour, she forced thoughts of Matt and the dread that he¡¯d make another appearance to the back of her mind. Unfortunately, it was obvious that she failed miserably after she messed up three orders, spilled coffee on a customer and retreated to the kitchen to get herself together.

    She¡¯d just given herself a stern lecture, reminded herself that it had been two weeks and she needed to pull herself together. She calmed her shaking hands and was preparing to return out front when Lamar burst through the doors, a scowl on his face.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°What the hell are you doing here?¡± he asked.

    Savannah frowned. ¡°I work here, remember?¡± she replied.

 30

    ¡°Not anymore you don¡¯t. You¡¯re out of here.¡± Lamar said.

    Savannah paled and stared at him as panic rolled through her chest. ¡°You¡¯re firing me?¡± she asked, dreading his reply.

    ¡°You walked out yesterday during our busiest time. No word, no nothing. You didn¡¯te back. What the hell did you expect? And now you¡¯re back here this morning and I have a diner full of pissed-off customers because you don¡¯t have your head on right. You did the same thing two weeks ago and I decided to ignore that.¡± Lamar hissed.

    She took a deep breath and tried to steady her nerves. ¡°Please Lamar, I need this job. Yesterday¡­ Yesterday I got sick, okay? It won¡¯t happen again.¡± She said.

    ¡°Damn right it won¡¯t. I never should have hired you back in the first ce.¡± He curled his lip in disgust. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t needed a waitress so desperately, I would have never hired you back to begin with.¡±

    Oh God, she didn¡¯t want to beg, but what choice did she have? The chances of her finding another job right now were slim. She didn¡¯t even have enough money to finish the rest of her sses so she could get her degree.

    ¡°Please,¡± she choked out. ¡°Give me another chance. You¡¯ve never heard a singleint from me. I¡¯ve never missed work for any reason. My head has just been messed uptely. I have to have this job.¡±

    He pulled out an envelope from his shirt pocket and thrust it toward her. ¡°Here¡¯s your final check, minus the hours for yesterday¡¯s disappearing act.¡±

    She took it with a shaking hand and he turned and walked out of the kitchen, the door swinging wildly behind him.

    Anger and frustration overwhelmed her. Matt was still ruining her life, even a yearter. Vicky was in the diner serving people so she hadn¡¯t seen what had happened, which was good because knowing Vicky, she would probably get mad at Lamar and end up getting fired too. And that was thest thing Savannah wanted.

    She would figure this out on her own. She yanked off her apron, tossed it in the direction of the hook and then left through the back entrance, squinting when she was nearly blinded by sunlight.

    As she walked back toward her apartment, she stared at the envelope in her hand. Despair weighed her down until each step felt unbearable. Her damn pride. She should have taken the check Matt had given her when they broke up. To hell with him and his nasty usations.

    That check represented a way for her to finish school and provide for herself.

    She had every reason to refuse it. To tear it up into little pieces and shove it under his nose. Maybe that¡¯s why she¡¯d held on to it for so long because a part of her wanted the satisfaction of throwing it back at him.

    It had been important to her that he know she wasn¡¯t some whore to be bought, but what had that got her? A dead end job that sucked the life out of her on a daily basis and a paycheck that wasn¡¯t even close to helping her fulfill her dreams.

    Enough with her pride. Matt Bradford could go to hell. She was going to cash that check.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Matt mounted the steps to Savannah¡¯s apartment, grimacing as he took in the missing handrail and the shaky stairs. It was a wonder she hadn¡¯t already fallen down them. He wasn¡¯t entirely expecting to find her home, and she wasn¡¯t so he had gone to the the diner in case she¡¯d gone to work, only to be told by a surly man named Lamar that she wasn¡¯t there and that she didn¡¯t work there anymore.

    A part of was worried she had left town again and so he decided to go back to her apartment. Only to find her walking home. He drove past her, parked his car and walked back toward her.

    She frowned and looked away when she saw him, but not before he had seen the wet in her eyes and her lips quiver. He knew instantly that something was wrong and that she was putting up that tough face for his benefit.

    ¡°Hey¡± he said.

    ¡°Hi¡± She replied, but she didn¡¯t stop walking and she walked right past him.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    Matt hissed and followed her. ¡°Are you alright?¡± he asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine¡± Savannah replied and kept walking.

    Matt walked past her and stopped in front of her. She tried to walk away again, but he blocked her path and held arms. ¡°I was just at the diner¡­ Where you work. Some guy said you didn¡¯t work there anymore and he wasn¡¯t so nice when he said it¡±

    ¡°Oh is Prince Matt hurt that someone wasn¡¯t nice to him?¡± she asked sarcastically. ¡°Not so much fun when someone else does it to you, right?¡±

    Matt rolled his eyes. ¡°You know what I mean¡± he said. ¡°Is everything okay? Why did you quit?¡­ Or are you leaving again?¡±

    ¡°Why? What does it matter to you?¡± Savannah asked. ¡°Last time I checked, I didn¡¯t have to ask your permission or run my life decisions by you first¡±

    Matt closed his eyes and sighed. ¡°Savannah¡­.¡±

    ¡°Not that it¡¯s any of your business¡± she continued. ¡°But I didn¡¯t get quit, I was fired, thanks to you. You Matt, have sessfully ruined my life one again. Are you happy now? Now please, go away. I never want to see you again¡±

    ¡°Wait, what?¡± Matt asked, blocking her path again as she tried to move. ¡°How does this have anything to do with me?¡±

    ¡°I was doing fine without you. Why did you have to show up and mess with my head? Just leave me alone, Matt. I want to be alone¡±

    Matt didn¡¯t quit understand how this could be his fault, but he could see that she was upset and close to tears. Asking further questions would only upset her more. So he said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for what happened. At least let me take you home. I was hoping to see you anyway¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t need your pity or your help¡± Savannah replied.

    ¡°It is not pity, trust me¡± Matt said. ¡°just let me give you a ride, please. I¡¯m sure you will feel a bit better when we get to your apartment¡±

    Savannah frowned. She looked like she was going to say no again, but then she turned and walked toward his car.

 31

    Neither of them said a word as Matt drove to her apartment. Which was fine with Savannah. Thest thing she wanted was to have any kind of conversation with him. The earlier she got away from him the better.

    She was d she epted the ride home though. She felt tired and emotionally drained, but she wasn¡¯t going to tell him that.

    As soon as he parked the car in front of her apartment she got out and mmed the door shut. Then she proceeded to go into the apartment.

    ¡°You are wee¡± Matt said sarcastically as he got out too. Wondering how her getting fired was his fault. He hadn¡¯t even seen her for two weeks. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to leave though, so he followed her into the apartment.

    It annoyed him that her door wasn¡¯t locked. Anyone could just walk in. He pushed it open to find her on her hands and knees, peering under the rickety recliner. She made a sound of frustration and then pushed herself upward.

    ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± he asked.

    She shrieked and whirled around. ¡°Get out!¡± she yelled at him.

    He held out a cating hand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I frightened you. Your door was unlocked.¡±

    ¡°And so you thought you¡¯d juste on in? Did the art of knocking escape you? Get a clue, Matt. I don¡¯t want you here. And you are definitely not wee. Now, thank you for the ride, but I would really appreciate it if you left me alone now¡±

    She went into the kitchen, opening and shutting cabs, obviously looking for something.

    He sighed. It wasn¡¯t that he¡¯d expected her to be any morepliant today, but he¡¯d hoped after the initial shock of seeing him again, she¡¯d be a little less¡­angry.

    He had felt weird too. Seeing her after all this time, and so he could understand her actions that day. But now he just didn¡¯t get her. What the hell did she have to be so angry about?

    When she got back down on the floor again, a surge of irritation hit him once more. He crossed the room and leaned down to help her to her feet. ¡°What are you looking for?¡± he asked.

    She shrugged off his hand, red at him and wiped her hair from her eyes. ¡°The check. I¡¯m looking for the check!¡± she replied.

    ¡°What check?¡±

    ¡°The check you wrote me.¡±

    He frowned and reached into his pocket for the folded, worn piece of paper. For some reason he hadn¡¯t thrown it away when she threw it at him and he wasn¡¯t even sure why he brought it with him today. Probably because he still couldn¡¯t understand why she hadn¡¯t cashed it. ¡°You mean this check?¡± he asked.

    She lunged for it but he held it higher out of her reach.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Savannah replied. ¡°I¡¯m d you still have it. I¡¯ve changed my mind. I¡¯m cashing it.¡±

    He put his hand out to ward her off and shook his head in confusion. ¡°Sit down, Savvie, before you fall. And then tell me what on earth is going on here. You wait this long, throw the check in my face and tell me to take my money to hell with me and now you¡¯ve changed your mind? Are you crazy?¡±

    She didn¡¯t reply and to his utter surprise, she slumped down onto one of the small chairs that apanied the two person table in the kitchen and buried her face in her hands. To his further dismay, her shoulders shook and quiet sobs erupted from her bowed head.

    For a moment he stood there, unsure what to do. He¡¯d never been able to stand it when she cried. An ufortable feeling settled in his stomach and he dropped down to one knee to gently pry her hands from her face.

    She looked away, seemingly difited by the fact he was witnessing her breakdown.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Savvie?¡± he asked gently. ¡°What happened to you?¡±

    ¡°I lost my job,¡± she choked out. ¡°Because of you.¡±

    He reared back. ¡°Because of me? What the hell did I do?¡±

    She whipped her head up, her eyes shing.

    ¡°Your standard line. What did I do? Of course you did nothing wrong. Why couldn¡¯t you just leave me alone? You told me to leave and I did. Why couldn¡¯t you just do the same. But it¡¯s fine. I¡¯m very sure you think this was all my fault, like everything else that went wrong in our rtionship. Just give me the check and get out. You won¡¯t ever have to be bothered with me again.¡± She said.

    He stared incredulously at her. ¡°Do you honestly expect me to just walk away now?¡± He shoved the check back into his pocket, his lips thin as he controlled the urge tosh out at her as she had done to him. ¡°I¡¯m here because no matter how mad I am at you -and I have every reason to be, I still care about you. We have a hell of a lot to talk about, Savvie. I¡¯m not going anywhere and neither are you. The very first thing we¡¯re going to do is talk about your job, why you lost it and how it¡¯s my fault, and then we are going to talk about why you didn¡¯t cash this check when I gave it to you. I can¡¯t be any more blunt than that.¡±This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    She slowly stood and stared him in the eye. ¡°I¡¯m not talking to you about anything. I don¡¯t even want to be close to you. If you won¡¯t give me the check, then get out. We have nothing more to discuss. Ever.¡±

    He fingered the paper in his pocket and then lifted his gaze to meet hers once more.

    ¡°I could get you a job at mypany¡± he said. ¡°There is an opening that will be perfect for you¡±

    Savannah blinked at him. That was a tempting offer. She really needed a job, but she hated him and would never ept anything from him¡­ Not anymore. He had already done enough harm.

    ¡°Thank you, but I¡¯m fine. You can give whatever job that is to someone else¡± she said.

    ¡°Fine. I will give you the check you want¡± Matt replied. ¡°But only after you agree to talk to me.¡±

    Disgust red in her eyes. ¡°Resorting to ckmail now, Matt?¡± she asked.

 32

    ¡°If that¡¯s what you want to call it. I really don¡¯t care. You need a job. And a better ce to live. To be honest I¡¯m d you don¡¯t work at that diner anymore. They don¡¯t pay you enough and I know you wanted to finish your sses back then. I don¡¯t know if you still do, but I want to help. I¡¯m not sure why, but no matter what has happened between us, I still care about you and I want to help you¡±

    Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. ¡°You just want to help? Just like that.¡±

    He nodded, not bothering to tell her that there wasn¡¯t any opening at his firm and he nned on creating one just for her. After what she did to him, he knew he was the biggest idiot on the face of the earth for wanting to help her but he couldn¡¯t help it. Dash was right. He was an idiot.

    Savannah hesitated for a while. Working for him was not a good idea. She was sure of that. She could barely stand seeing him now without thinking of how much he had hurt her. She was sure she couldn¡¯t handle seeing him everyday and she wasn¡¯t going to make the same mistake again.

    She would figure this out on her own. She would get another job on her own. He could keep his job offer and his check too.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Thank you¡± she said finally. ¡°But I don¡¯t need you to do anything for me anymore. Please leave. Now.¡±

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    Tess peered through the viewer of her state-of-the-art digital camera that had been a parting gift from her father before her trip. She knelt down on one knee, seeking the perfect shot of the Parthenon in the distance. The waning evening light cast it in purplish shadows she had been determined to catch on disc.

    It was a fantastic sight.

    ¡°It¡¯s going to be dark before you get the shot, Tess. Come on, honey, take your picture already.¡± David¡¯s  drawl intruded on her concentration, making her lose the shot she¡¯d been about to snap and it was all she could do not to ask him to take himself off.

    He¡¯d been so nice to her over the past three weeks, offering her friendship and a male escort when circumstances required it. She¡¯d been surprised how at ease she¡¯d felt with the group right off, but a lifetime of shyness did not dissipate overnight. Feelingfortable had not instantly tranted into her making overtures of friendship. David had approached her, his extroverted confidence and easy smile drawing her out of her shell.

    Because of that, she forced back a pithy reply, despite her surge of unustomed impatience. ¡°I¡¯ll just be a second. Why don¡¯t you wait for me back at the bus?¡±she said.

    ¡°I can¡¯t leave my best girl all by herself. Just hurry it up, honey.¡± David replied.

    She adjusted the focus of her camera and snapped off a series of shots, then stood. Interruptions and all, she thought the pictures were going to turn out pretty well and she smiled with satisfaction.

    Turning to David, she let that smile include him. ¡°There. All done.¡± She said. She closed the shutter before sliding her camera into its slim ck case and then she tucked that into her oversize shoulder bag.

    ¡°Okay, we can return to the bus now.¡± She couldn¡¯t keep the regret from sliding into her voice. She didn¡¯t want to leave.

    David shook his head. ¡°We¡¯re not scheduled to go back to the hotel for another twenty minutes.¡±

    ¡°Then why were you rushing me?¡± she demanded with some exasperation.

    His even white teeth shed in an engaging grin. ¡°I guess I just wanted your attention.¡± he said.

    She eyed the blond giant askance. In some ways he reminded her of a little boy, mostly kind but with the self-centeredness of youth. ¡°Why?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I thought we could go for a walk.¡± He put his hand out for her to take, clearly assuming her acquiescence to his n.

    After only a slight hesitation, she took it and let him lead her away from the others. A walk was a good idea. It was theirst day there and she wanted this final opportunity to soak this all in before they left.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    David¡¯s grip on her hand was a little tight and she wiggled her fingers until he rxed his. She was unused to physical affection in any sense and it had taken her a while to grow ustomed to David¡¯s casual touching. In some ways, she still wasn¡¯t. It helped knowing that he wasn¡¯t being overly familiar, just a typical male-right down to his calling her honey as often as he used her name.

    She stopped and stared in awe at a particrly entrancing view of the ancient Parthenon structure. ¡°It¡¯s so amazing.¡± She said.

    David smiled down at her. ¡°Seeing it through your eyes is more fun than experiencing it myself. You¡¯re a sweet little thing, Tess.¡±

    Sheughed. ¡°What does that make you, a sweet big thing?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Men aren¡¯t sweet. Didn¡¯t your daddy teach you anything?¡±

    She shrugged, not wanting to admit she and her father weren¡¯t too close.

    ¡°I stand corrected,¡± she said. ¡°I won¡¯t call you sweet ever again, but am I allowed to think it?¡±

    The easy banter continued and they were bothughing when they returned to the tour bus fifteen minutester, their sped hands swinging between them.

    ¡°Tess!¡± someone called.

    She looked away from David at the sound of her name being called. The tour operator was standing near the open door of the bus. She waved at Tess toe over.

    A tall man in a business suit stood beside her, dwarfing her with his huge frame. The growing darkness made it difficult to discern his features and Tess could not at first identify him. However, when he moved, she had a moment of blindingly sure recognition.

    No one moved like Dash ck except the man himself. He had always reminded her of a jaguar she¡¯d once seen in a nature special when she was an adolescent, all sleek, dark predatory male.

    David stopped when they were still several yards from the bus, pulling her to a halt beside him. ¡°Is that someone you know?¡± he asked.

 33

    Surprised by the aggressive tone in her friend¡¯s voice, Tess said, ¡°Yes. He¡¯s a business associate of my father¡¯s.¡±

    ¡°He looks more like a don in the Mafia to me.¡± David replied.

    ¡°Well, he is not,¡± she teased, ¡°he¡¯s a tycoon, not a loan shark.¡±

    ¡°Is there a difference?¡± David asked.

    She didn¡¯t get a chance to reply because Dash had started walking toward them the moment David stopped and he arrived at her side just as David finished speaking.

    Regardless of her wish to never see the man again, her eyes hungrily took in every detail of his face, the strong squarish jaw, the enigmatic expression in his dark brown eyes and the straight line of his sensual lips.

    ¡°I havee to take you to dinner,¡± he said without preamble or indeed even the semnce of having asked a question.

    ¡°But how in the world did youe to be here?¡± Tess asked. Bewilderment at seeing him in such a setting temporarily eclipsed her anger toward him.

    ¡°Your father knew I would be in Athens. He asked me to check on you.¡± Dash replied.

    ¡°Oh.¡± She said. Ridiculously deted by the knowledge he was there under her father¡¯s aegis rather than his own, she didn¡¯t immediately know what else to say.

    David had no such reticence. ¡°She¡¯s fine.¡± he said defensively.

    Thement reminding her of not only his presence, but her manners as well.

    ¡°Dash, this is David Holton. David, meet Dash ck.¡±

    Neither man seemed inclined to acknowledge the introduction. David eyed Dash suspiciously while the tycoon¡¯s gaze settled on their sped hands with unconcealed displeasure. Then those dark eyes were fixed on her and the expression in them was not pleasant. ¡°I see you have decided to go for option two after all.¡± he said.

    At first, she couldn¡¯t think what he meant and then their conversation in the library came back to her. Option one had been a husband, she supposed. Which meant that option two was a lover. He was implying she and David were lovers.

    Feeling both wary and guilty for no reason she could discern, she snatched her hand from David¡¯s. ¡°It¡¯s not like that,¡± she said defensively beforeing to the bted conclusion it wasn¡¯t his concern regardless.

    David red down at her as if she¡¯d mortally offended him when she let go of his hand. ¡°I nned to take you out this evening.¡± he said.

    ¡°I am sorry your ns will have to be postponed,¡± Dash said, sounding anything but. He inclined his head to her. ¡°I have apprised your tour guide that I will return you to your hotel this evening.¡±

    ¡°How nice, but a bit precipitous.¡± She replied. She didn¡¯t bother to smile to soften the uing rejection. After the way he had treated her at the party, he didn¡¯t deserve that kind of consideration. ¡°It was kind of my dad to be concerned, but there is no need for you to give up your entire evening in what amounts to an unnecessary favor to him.¡±

    ¡°I agreed to check on you for your father¡¯s sake. I wish to spend the evening with you for my own.¡± Dash replied.

    She couldn¡¯t believe what she was hearing. She refused to believe it. She red helplessly at him. Three weeks ago, he had kissed her to within an inch of her life, then thrust her away as if she were contaminated. He¡¯d left her to face hours of humiliatingments and loudly spoken asides. And¡­she hadn¡¯t heard word one from him in all the intervening weeks.

    David moved so that his body blocked her view of Dash. ¡°I thought I would take you to that restaurant you liked so much our first day here, honey.¡± he said.

    The usation in his voice implied he had exclusive rights to her time, not to mention the altogether unfamiliar inflection he gave the word honey.

    Nothing could be further from the truth.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    ¡°You could have said something earlier,¡± she censored him.

    ¡°I wanted it to be a surprise,¡± he responded sullenly. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect some arrogant guy to show up and try to spirit you away.¡±

    The situation was getting more unreal by the minute. Men never noticed her and yet here were two battling for herpany.

    She was tempted to tell Dash to take a flying leap, but part of her also wanted a chance to rake him over the coals for his callous treatment of her. An insidious curiosity about why he wanted to be with her after rejecting her sopletely was also niggling at her.

    It would probably be downright brainless to give in to that curiosity or her desire to get a little of her own back, however. She had the awful feeling that her stupidly impressionable heart would be only too ready to start pining for him again if she allowed herself the luxury of hispany.

    When did you stop pining for him? Was that before or after the ten times a day you forget what you¡¯re doing remembering how it felt to be kissed by him?

    She ignored the mocking voice of her conscience, infinitely d mind reading was not one of Dash¡¯s many aplishments.

    Going with Dash would not be a bright move.

    On the other hand, she was ufortable with the proprietary attitude David was exhibiting. It struck her suddenly that he¡¯d been growing increasingly possessive of her time over the past days. She hadn¡¯t minded because it meant she didn¡¯t have to put herself forward in unfamiliar situations, but they were just friends. It bothered her that he thought he could n her time without her input.

    She chewed her bottom lip, unsure what to do. She felt wedged between two unpleasant alternatives, neither of which was going to leave her unscathed at the end of the evening.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    ¡°Our reservations are for eight-thirty. We have to be on our way, Tess,¡± Dash said,pletely ignoring David.

    ¡°Are all tycoons so arrogant?¡± David asked her in direct retaliation.

    She shot a quick sideways nce to see how Dash had taken her friend¡¯s insolence. His expression was unreadable. ¡°Shall we go?¡± he asked her. Still ignoring David.

    David expelled an angry hiss.

    Sheid her hand on his forearm. This was getting ridiculous and if she didn¡¯t act soon, her friend would be well on his way to making an enemy of a very powerful man.

 34

    David was too young to realize the long term impact on his future business dealings such an action might have. Though she was irritated by David¡¯s behavior, she liked him too much to let him do something so stupid.

    Besides, if she went with Dash, she hoped David would get the message she wanted his friendship, but wasn¡¯t interested in anything more. She couldn¡¯t be. She might want to hate Dash ck, but he remained the only man she could think of in that way¡­ At least for now.

    She had no experience with brushing off a man¡¯s interest and this seemed the easiest way.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Can we make it another night?¡± she asked David by way of atonement.

    ¡°We won¡¯t be here another night,¡± he reminded her.

    ¡°I know.¡± She said.

    He would probably have said more, but the bus driver called the final boarding call, shouting specifically for David to get a move on.

    ¡°You¡¯d better go,¡± she said, relieved the confrontation could not be prolonged. ¡°I¡¯ll see you tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°All right, honey.¡± He bent down and kissed her briefly on the lips.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    Shocked, she stared at him speechless. He¡¯d never even kissed her cheek before. He smiled, not with his usual friendly grin, but with an implied intimacy that did not exist between them. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to wait for morning, you cane by my room tonight after your father¡¯s crony drops you off.¡± he added.

    The implication that Dash was old enough to be in her father¡¯s generation was enough to make her lips quirk despite the unwee kiss and male posturing.

    ¡°Perhaps your young friend¡¯s dates are used to going home unsatisfied and in need of further malepanionship,¡± Dash drawled silkily, ¡°but I can promise you, Tess, you will have no such need tonight.¡±

    She gasped, all humor fleeing, and glowered at both men. ¡°That¡¯s enough.

    Both of you. I have no intention of letting anyone satisfy me.¡± She blushed even as she said the words and was irritated with herself for doing so. ¡°I do not appreciate this petty male posturing either.¡± She added. She didn¡¯t have to choose the best of two poor options, she could make another one. ¡°I don¡¯t think I want to have dinner out at all. I¡¯d rather eat room service alone in my hotel room than be in thepany of any arrogant male.¡±

    With a triumphant re at Dash that did not endear him to her, David loped off toward the bus where the driver stood at the open door with obvious impatience. She started to follow him, determined to do just as she¡¯d threatened.

    David might think he¡¯d won, but he would find out differently if he tried to coax her out of her room tonight.

    She¡¯d gotten no further than a step when Dash¡¯s hands settled on her shoulder, arresting her in mid-flight. ¡°We need to discuss your regrettable tendency to leave before our conversations are finished. It is not polite, Tess.¡± he said.

    He pulled her into his side and waved the bus driver off in one fluid movement. She watched in impotent anger as the big vehicle pulled away. It was that, or scream like a mad woman for the bus driver to stop. She wasn¡¯t even sure he would hear her with the door closed and the rather noisy air-conditioning unit running full tilt. And she had absolutely no desire to make a spectacle of herself in front of the tourists milling about the parking area. His high handed tactics had effectively left her with no choice but to stay behind with Dash.

    She didn¡¯t have to like it however and she tore away from his side with unconcealed contempt. ¡°That was extremely discourteous, Dash. I don¡¯t appreciate being manhandled, nor do I ept you have the right or the reason to dictate my activities.¡± She said angrily.

    He frowned down at her. ¡°I may not yet have the right, but I do have the reason. I wish to spend time with you, Tess.¡±

    ¡°And my wishes count for nothing?¡± she demanded while reeling inside from such an admission from him.

    ¡°Your wishes are of utmost importance to me, but do you really prefer ordering room service to an evening spent in mypany?¡± he asked arrogantly.

    That was very much in question. It wasn¡¯t her preference, but her preservation she was concerned about. ¡°You were insufferably rude. You implied you were going to¡­That we¡­As if I would!¡± She could not make herself say the words aloud and that made her mad.

    Angry with him for implying he was going to take her to bed in the first ce and furious with herself for still being such a backward creature she couldn¡¯t discuss sex without blushing like the virgin she was.

    Hisughter was thest straw as far as she was concerned. She didn¡¯t have to stick around to be made fun of. She¡¯d suffered enough at his hands in that regard already.

    She turned on her heel with every intention of finding some sort of public transport to take her back to the hotel. Once again he stopped her. This time, he wrapped his arms around her middle and pulled her back into his body with a ruthless purpose.

    His lipsnded on her nape in a sensual caress that sent her thoughts scattering to the four winds. ¡°I admit part of the reason why I¡¯m here is because of your father, but I can¡¯t also deny the fact that I have ached to taste you again for three long weeks. You must forgive me if my enthusiasm for yourpany makes me act without proper courtesy.¡±

    Enthusiasm did not take six weeks to act, but she was too busy trying not to melt into a puddle of feminine need at his feet to tell him so. ¡°Dash?¡± she finally got out.

    He spun her around to face him. ¡°Spend the evening with me, Tess. You know you want to.¡±

    ¡°David was right. You are arrogant.¡± She said.

    ¡°I am also right.¡± he said confidently.

    She would have argued, but he kissed her. The moment his lips touched hers, she was lost. His mouth moved on hers with expert effect, drawing forth a response she could not hide or control.

 35

    She allowed his tongue inside her mouth after the first gentle pressure applied to the seam of her lips. He tasted like she remembered. Hot. Spicy. Masculine.

    When he pulled away, she was too lost in her own sensual reaction to his kiss to even notice he was leading her anywhere. It wasn¡¯t until he stopped at the waiting limo and rapped out instructions to the ever-present security team, that she once again became aware of her surroundings.

    Mary, mother of Joseph, it was just like at the party.

    He could have done anything to her and she would have let him. She was also aware that while she¡¯d beenpletely lost to reality, he had been in absolute control.

    She tried to tell herself she was letting him hand her into the car because she didn¡¯t relish riding public transport alone at night. But she knew the truth.

    If she didn¡¯t sit down soon, she¡¯d fall down. Her legs were like jelly and no way did she want him realizing that betraying fact.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    Inside the car, she fiddled nervously with the strap of her brightly colored shoulder bag. It had a pattern of bright yellow and orange sunflowers all over it.

    She¡¯d bought it so that it would be easily spotted among the otherdies¡¯ bags on the tour, but it looked gauche sitting on the cool leather seat of the ultra-luxurious limo.

    She was also positive that her casual lemon yellow sundress and t leather sandals were not de rigueur for the types of restaurants he frequented.

    ¡°I think it would be best if you took me back to my hotel,¡± she said at the same time as he asked, ¡°Are you enjoying your holiday?¡±

    Her eyes met Dash¡¯s in the well-lit interior of the car. Apparently neither one of them wanted to discuss the recent kiss.

    His intense gaze mesmerized her. ¡°I do not wish to take you back to your hotel.¡± he replied her question.

    ¡°I¡¯m not dressed for dinner out.¡± She said. She indicated her casual, day worn clothes with a wave of her hand.

    ¡°You look fine.¡± Dash said

    She snorted in disbelief. ¡°Where are we eating, a hot dog stand?¡±

    ¡°I do not think they have those in here, Tess.¡±

    ¡°You know what I mean.¡± She said.

    She didn¡¯t even want to think how her hair looked. She¡¯d long ago given up trying for a chic hairstyle and wore her natural curls in an only slightly tamed riot. Most of the time it suited her, but she could imagine that after spending the day tramping the streets  it probably looked like she¡¯d never brushed her hair in her life.

    ¡°You must trust me, Tess. I would not embarrass you.¡±

    That was rich,ing from him. She thought.

    ¡°Now, please, won¡¯t you tell me how you are finding your holiday? I remember you looked forward to it very much.¡±

    He had closed the privacy window between them and the front seat and turned on the tiny lights that ran the entire length of the roof, giving off a surprisingly illuminating glow. A glow that cast his features in stark relief. The genuine interest reflected in his expression prompted her to answer.

    ¡°It¡¯s been wonderful.¡± She said finally.

    ¡°And what has been your favorite stop so far?¡±

    She couldn¡¯t believe a man of his extensive experiences would truly be interested in her first taste of Europe, but she answered nheless. ¡°I really can¡¯t say.¡± She smiled, remembering all the incredible things she¡¯d seen. ¡°I¡¯ve loved every moment. Well, maybe not the airports, but David and the others have made the waiting around in drab terminals fun.¡±

    Dash frowned at the mention of David¡¯s name. ¡°It is not serious between you two, is it?¡± he asked.

    ¡°If it were, you put a spanner in the works tonight, didn¡¯t you?¡± She replied. She might have preferred that spanner, but he didn¡¯t know that and his behavior had been unreasonable.

    He did not look in the least bit guilty. ¡°He implied you mighte back to his room tonight. Are you sleeping with him?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s none of your business!¡± she retorted.

    He leaned over her, the big torso of his six feet, four inch body intimidating at such close range. Suddenly he didn¡¯t remind her of just any old jaguar, but a hungry one intent on hunting his prey and moving in for the kill.

    She felt like the prey.

    ¡°Tell me.¡± he said.

    She was shy, but she wasn¡¯t a coward, or so she reminded herself frequently.

    ¡°No. And if you¡¯re going to act like some kind of Neanderthal brute all evening, you may as well tell your chauffeur to take me back to my hotel right now.¡± She said.

    She¡¯d said it so many times now, it was beginning to sound like an impotent litany.

    Amazingly, he backed off. Physically anyway.

    ¡°I am no brute, but I admit the thought you share your body with him does not predispose me to good temper.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°I have my reasons. I¡¯m surprised you don¡¯t know yet. But let¡¯s skip that for now. Surely after the kiss we shared only minutes ago, you do not have to ask this.¡± he replied.

    ¡°Are you saying you give the third degree to every woman you kiss?¡± She didn¡¯t believe it.

    ¡°You are not every woman.¡±

    ¡°No. I¡¯m the hopelessly introverted, hopelessly average and probably hopeless in bed daughter of your business associate.¡± The bitter memory rolled off her tongue before she became conscious what the word probably would reveal to him. Maybe he wouldn¡¯t notice she¡¯d all but told him she was not sleeping with David. ¡°I don¡¯t see where that makes me anything special to you.¡±

    It seemed he hadn¡¯tprehended the implication of her words when he spoke. ¡°You are not introverted with this David fellow. You wereughing with him and holding his hand.¡± he said.

    He made it sound like she¡¯d been caught in grante delicto with David.

    ¡°He¡¯s my friend.¡± Tess replied.

    ¡°I also am your friend, but you do not hold my hand.¡±

    ¡°For Heaven¡¯s sake, you wouldn¡¯t hold a woman¡¯s hand unless it was to lead her to bed.¡±

    Had she really said that?

    ¡°And are you trying to say this is not where your friend David was leading you?¡±

    She sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous!¡±

 36

    ¡°It is not ridiculous for me to think this. He looks at you with the eyes of a man who has im to you.¡± Dash said.

    ¡°There is  such a thing as the im of friendship.¡± Tess replied.

    ¡°And friendship requireste night visits to his hotel room?¡± he asked, making Tess even more angry.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never been to his hotel roomte at night, for goodness¡¯ sake. I¡¯m hardly the type to carry on a brief affair, or did you miss the hopeless-in-bed description?¡± she said. As the words left her mouth, she realized with chagrin she¡¯d given Dash what he wanted-a definite answer to whether or not she was sleeping with David.

    He didn¡¯t look smug, however. He was too busy ring at her. ¡°Stop repeating that bitch¡¯s words as if they are gospel. She knows nothing of you or your passions. You will be a consuming fire in my bed, of that I am certain.¡±

    ¡°Your bed?¡± Tess repeated, not sure if she had heard him correctly. What the hell brought that up.

    He sighed. ¡°I have no ns to seduce you tonight, so you can rx.¡±

    ¡°But you do n to seduce me?¡± She asked. What the hell was happening today? She pinched the inside of her elbow to make sure she was not sleeping and having some bizarre dream. Pain radiated to her wrist. She was awake.

    ¡°Perhaps you will care to tell me what restaurant caught your approval on your first day in the city?¡± he asked, ignoring her question.

    Certain she¡¯d had all the seduction talk she could take for one night, she eagerly epted his change of subject. She told him about their visit to the nightlife of the Psiri where she¡¯d sampled out of this world food at one of the many small caf¨¦s that did not even open until six in the evening.

    ¡°It was a lot like Soho, but I felt morefortable in Psiri than I ever did visiting that section of New York City. Maybe that¡¯s because I went there with my roommate from college. Her friends were all very gothic.¡± Tess could still remember how out of ce she¡¯d felt in the avant garde atmosphere.

    ¡°Psiri is fantastic and a lot moreid back. I didn¡¯t feel like I was on disy, if that makes any sense.¡± Her manners and introverted ways had made her feel out of ce in Soho, but the Psiri was patronized by so many different nationalities, no one person stood out.

    Dash shrugged, his broad shoulders moving fluidly. ¡°I have never been to Soho and it has been several years since I indulged in the nightlife of Athens.¡± he said.

    ¡°I suppose it¡¯s hard to do normal things like drink ouzo in a small bar on a busy street when you¡¯ve got a security team trailing you.¡± Like the one in the nondescript car behind the limousine, she thought.

    ¡°They don¡¯t follow all the time and there is ack of time as well. I have spent the better part of thest six years building my business holdings. My socializing has been of necessity targeted to that end.¡±

    ¡°Just like my dad.¡± Tess said.

    ¡°Perhaps.¡±

    ¡°Is that what tonight is about? Are you doing my father a favor in return for which you are angling for some kind of business coup?¡±

    Dash went curiously still. ¡°What makes you ask this?¡± he asked.

    It was her turn to shrug. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I guess it¡¯s just hard to believe you¡¯ve thought about me at all over the past three weeks¡±

    She ignored his threatened intent to seduce her as macho posturing. It must be a male thing. ¡°It¡¯s not as if you¡¯d called or anything. And I know I¡¯m not your average date.¡±

    He might socialize for business, but thepanions he chose to do it with were invariably gorgeous and terribly sophisticated. Much like the model he had turned away from at that party to dance with Tess instead. She still found that inexplicable. One of his previous lovers had been a dispossessed princess with a reputation for fast living. Histest was an Italian supermodel who gave sultry new meaning.

    Tess was as far from such a being as Dash was from an awkward teenager.

    ¡°ept that it pleases me to see you,¡± he said.

    ¡°Why should I?¡±

    ¡°Because I say it is so.¡± Exasperationced his every word and she wanted to kick him.

    ¡°You can say anything, but it¡¯s your actions that show what you really feel.¡±

    ¡°What is that supposed to mean?¡± he asked.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Their arrival at their destination prevented further conversation.

    Dash helped Tess out of the limousine. Who would believe such a shy little thing could be such a temagant as well? After her response to his kiss at the party, he had been sure wooing her would be the easy part of the deal with Neal Patchett. However, she was hardly falling into his arms in gratitude for his pursuit.

    By the saints, she was contrary. She melted against him when he took her in his arms, but she had the tongue of an asp.

    That tongue was silent during the elevator ride to his  penthouse. She kept her gaze averted too. He wondered at this. He wondered also if she was enamored of that blond buffoon who had put his lips on her.

    A definite rapport existed between them. She said she did not sleep with him, but it was not because the man was averse. Anger still simmered beneath the surface at the memory of another man touching the woman who was to be his.

    Okay maybe she wasn¡¯t his yet. And even if she was going to be for only a short time, it didn¡¯t mean that she could go around with other people. She was going to be fully his¡­. till he got his shares back. And then they were going to get a divorce. He wasn¡¯t ready to get married and definitely wasn¡¯t going to stick to one that he was ckmailed into.

    He found her very attractive, also nice to be with. So it wouldn¡¯t be so hard to do Neal¡¯s bidding. He would marry her to get his shares back, and since he found her intriguing, the idea of being married to her for a short while didn¡¯t seem like such a bad idea. And they could have some fun while the marriagested.

 37

    That she did not yet realize she belonged to him now was the only reason he had not ttened David, but soon both she and he would know it. And then let the blond man touch her at his peril.

    Her father obviously hadn¡¯t told her about this, so it was better to keep it that way. The elevator stopped and Tess looked up for the first time. ¡°Where are we?¡± she asked.

    The doors slid open and he stood back for her exit first. ¡°This is my headquarters,¡±he replied.

    They stepped through one of the two doors on thending.

    She looked around them. ¡°It looks more like a home to me, or are you trying to tell me that a tycoon does his business in the living room rather than the boardroom?¡±

    He felt his lips quirk at her sassiness. This unexpected side to her nature was not altogether unpleasant. A wife without spirit would not suit him.

    ¡°The apartment is located on the top floor of the building. My office is one floor below.¡±

    If Tess was ignorant of her father¡¯s machinations, her only guilt was by association. Tradition dictated the family held responsibility for the actions of one, but he was not such a dinosaur. If she knew nothing, he could not honorably include her in the vendetta and the marriage would have to stand. But he didn¡¯t want to think about that right now. He wanted his family¡¯spany back and he would do anything to get it. He didn¡¯t want to think about right or wrong¡­ Just what was necessary. And he wanted this done quickly.

    ¡°And the other door?¡± Tess asked him.

    ¡°Apany apartment,¡± he replied.

    Her brow quivered. ¡°Not the home of your mistress?¡±

    ¡°Wow. You are a spitting kitten tonight.¡± he said.

    She blushed and once again turned her face away from him. He had brought her with him tonight to determine the level of her guilt as much as to woo her to marriage. Her ongoing contrariness was a point in favor of her innocence. Surely if she wanted the marriage and were in league with her father, she would not be so difficult toward Dash.

    On the other hand, women had known since time memorial that to y hard to get intrigued the hunter in men.

    ¡°I thought you were taking me out to dinner. You said our reservations were for eight.¡± Tess said.

    ¡°And so they are. My chef has prepared a special meal to be served on the terrace. If we werete, the sauces would be ruined, the vegetables overcooked.¡±This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    She turned, herposure restored. ¡°What a tragedy,¡± she said facetiously.

    ¡°Yeah. A great tragedy.¡± he agreed.

    ¡°We¡¯re eating on the terrace?¡± she asked.

    ¡°It has a magnificent view of the city. I believe you will like it.¡±

    Her green eyes mirrored confusion. ¡°Why are you doing this? You can¡¯t be so hard up for a date that you must spend the evening with your business associate¡¯s daughter. So just tell me what is happening¡±

    ¡°I told you, it pleases me. Why do you find this so difficult to believe?¡± He asked. He was not used to having his word questioned and he found he did not like it, especially from her.

    She made a sound of disbelief. ¡°You date supermodels, sexy, sophisticated women. I¡¯m not your type.¡±

    For some reason her protestations on that point irritated him immensely. ¡°A man will taste many types of fruit before finding a tree he wishes to eat from for a lifetime.¡± he said.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying you were in the mood for an apple or something instead of the more exotic fruits?¡± The prospect did not appear to please her.

    He stepped forward until their bodies were only inches apart and reached out to cup her face. ¡°Perhaps you are the tree that will satisfy me for a lifetime.¡± he said softly.

    Tess felt herself go absolutely rigid in shock. She even stopped breathing.

    Her, the tree that could satisfy him for a lifetime? It was inconceivable, but why had he said it?

    His hands dropped away from her face and he stepped back, giving her room to breathe. ¡°Would you like to freshen up before dinner?¡± he asked.

    Sucking air into her oxygen-starved lungs, she nodded. Anything to get away from his enervating presence. He led her to a guest room and stood aside for her to enter. She could see an en suite off to the left.

    She paused in the doorway without looking at him. ¡°Please don¡¯t y with me, Dash.¡±  She said, ¡°I¡¯m not in your league.¡± She didn¡¯t want to be hurt again like she had been at that party. She didn¡¯t want to be just another fruit for his jaded pte. And she was confused as to why he suddenly wanted to spend time with her.

    Once again his hands were on her and he turned her to face him. She met his eyes, her own serious. He ran his finger over her bottom lip and her whole body trembled.

    ¡°I am not ying, Tess.¡± he said

    She so desperately wanted to believe him, but the memory of that party was still too fresh. ¡°Why¡­¡± She began but she found she could not force the rest of the question past the lump of hope and wariness in her throat.

    ¡°Why what?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Why did you shove me away like a disease-ridden rodent after our kiss at my dad¡¯s party?¡± The words tumbled out with all the pain and rejection she had felt that night three weeks ago.

    He looked outraged. ¡°I did not do this,¡± he said.

    ¡°Excuse me, you did. I was there.¡± She insisted.

    ¡°I was there too. Perhaps I let you go a trifle quickly. I did not wish to embarrass you with further intimacies.¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t want to embarrass me?¡± The irony of such an excuse was too great to be born. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it.¡±

    ¡°Believe it.¡± he said.

    ¡°So, to save me embarrassment, you chose to humiliate me instead?¡± she asked in incredulity. If that was how the male mind worked, no wonder women had such a hard time understanding them.

    ¡°To kiss Dash ck is not a humiliation.¡± he said.

    ¡°But to be publicly rejected by you is!¡±

 38

    A muscle ticked in his jaw. ¡°Exin.¡± he said.

    She was only too happy to do so. ¡°I spent three hours as the butt of every joke in the room. Poor hopeless Tess, throwing herself at the gorgeous Dash ck,¡± she mimicked with savage pain. ¡°Did you see how he had to practically tear her arms off of him? We always knew she was hopeless, but to be that desperate.¡±

    The cruel voices echoed in her head as if it had just happened and the painful mortification sliced her heart.

    ¡°This cannot be true. I kissed you. Surely the other guests saw that. Seriously! I rejected that tall blonde¡¯s advances to  be with you.¡±

    ¡°Oh, yes, the model.¡± Tess¡¯s body went taut with remembered emotion. ¡°You know that old saying about a woman scorned? Well, she epitomized it. She told anyone who would listen that I pushed her out of the way to get to you.¡±

    Without the model¡¯s interference, Dash¡¯s rejection would have remained a personal source of pain, not be a public humiliation.

    ¡°What is her name?¡± The chill in his voice surprised Tess.

    ¡°What difference does it make?¡± Did he think he could do something about it at thiste date? The time for his action on her behalf was past. ¡°Anyway, I don¡¯t know her name. I just hope I never see her again. I wish I never had to see any of them again.¡±

    Impossible when so many of the party guests had been her father¡¯s business associates and she often acted as his social hostess, albeit a quiet one.

    He swore. She didn¡¯t hear the word, but she knew that tone. It was the same one her father reserved for when he was angry or stressed about something.

    ¡°Do you know how many of the male guests offered to give me what you supposedly wouldn¡¯t?¡± she asked in driven tones. ¡°Strictly as an act of charity, mind you.¡±

    As if no man would ever want her enough to go after her. Well, David wanted her. He¡¯d told her she coulde to his room tonight. Maybe she would. At least he wouldn¡¯t think he was doing her some kind of favor.

    ¡°I want the names of these men.¡± The rage in him was a palpable force and quite frightening.

    She stepped back from him. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°They insulted you.¡± He said it as if those three words should exin everything.

    They didn¡¯t. ¡°So did you.¡± She said,

    ¡°Tell me their names.¡± He totally ignored his own culpability, but the deadly tone of his voice indicated he was far from ignoring the insult offered to her by the other guests. Why was he taking this so personally? He wasn¡¯t even sure himself

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I should.¡± Tess said.

    ¡°Nevertheless, you will.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t try to boss me around, Dash.¡± She would have sounded a lot more convincing if her voice hadn¡¯t broken on his name, but suddenly he was looming too close and she felt way more intimidated than she wanted to.

    ¡°I am a bossy guy by nature, ask your father. He knows me. It is something you will have to get used to, Tess¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± She replied. ¡°I don¡¯t see any reason why I should¡±

    ¡°I want the names of the men who made importunate remarks to you,¡± he repeated.

    ¡°There really weren¡¯t that many.¡± She said,

    Two to be exact, but at the time it had definitely been two too many.

    ¡°So recalling their names should not be a difficulty, right?¡±

    She sighed. ¡°What are you going to do if I tell you?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I will have words with them.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s all? Just words.¡± She repeated.

    His expression was unreadable. ¡°Just words.¡±

    She named the two men who had gone out of their way to be so objectionable. One had even trapped her in the hallway and kissed her. After Dash¡¯s kiss, any other man¡¯s mouth was a repugnance and she had kicked him in the shin, leaving him hopping on one leg and cursing her.

    ¡°You must believe I did not intend such a thing to happen.¡± Dash said.

    ¡°I know.¡± Tess replied. At least she did now. His shock and rage were too real. ¡°However, you have got to see that it would be better for me if you just left me alone. I know I¡¯m introverted and my looks are nothing to speak of, but I¡¯m a woman with feelings and I don¡¯t want to be hurt any more.¡±

    And he was the only man with the real power to hurt her. The others had caused her embarrassment, but Dash¡¯s rejection had cut deeply into her heart and left her bleeding.

    ¡°I did not hurt you.¡± he said

    How could he say that? ¡°You pushed me away like I was diseased! You left! You didn¡¯te back. I don¡¯t know what you are up to now, but I¡¯m not such a believer in fairy tales that I would entertain for one minute the thought I could be someone special in your life.¡±

    A charming smile tilted his lips. ¡°So you see me as Prince Charming and yourself the frog? I assure you, I am more than willing to kiss you and turn you into a princess.¡±

    His mockery was the limit. The man was just too arrogant. Her eyes burned with tears she did not want to shed in front of him. ¡°Leave me alone, Dash. Just leave me alone.¡± She spun on her heel and this time she made her escape good. She made it to the bathroom and mmed the door only to discover it had no lock.

    She looked around wildly, but there was no escape. She stared at the knob and willed it to stay immobile epting she had absolutely no telekic powers when the knob turned.

    The door opened and Dash filled the doorway, his dark gaze probing her with tactile intensity. ¡°You have taken me wrong, Tess. It was a little joke. A poor one, but only a joke. I don¡¯t know why I seem to make a lot of them with you.¡±

    ¡°Get out,¡± she said, her voice breaking on a sob, ¡°I want to freshen up.¡±

    He shook his head. ¡°I cannot leave you in such distress.¡±

    ¡°Why not? You did three weeks ago.¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°But I did not know that at the time,¡± he replied.

 39

    ¡°Are you trying to say that if you had, you would have stayed? That you would not have rejected me so publicly and treated me like the kiss meant nothing to you?¡± Tess asked.

    His face was tight with frustration, but he did not answer. Probably because a truthful answer would put him even further in the wrong.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think so,¡± she said, sounding every bit as cynical as the women who had mocked her at the party.

    In a move that shocked her, he reached out and pulled her to him. ¡°That is in the past. This is now. We begin from here, Tess.¡±

    Begin what exactly? She thought, not that she had enough time to think. She hated her treacherous body that longed to melt against him. ¡°I¡¯m not up to your speed.¡± She said, Miserably aware that it was too true, she tried to pull away. ¡°I belong with someone like David.¡±

    She stared in mesmerized fascination as his rage went nuclear. ¡°You belong with me,¡± he said with lethal intensity. Then his mouth crashed down on hers.

    She thought the kiss at the party had been hot, but it was nothing like this. Nothing.

    Dash was branding her with his mouth. There was no other way to describe how his lips molded her own, the way his tongue forced entry into her too willing mouth. He tasted the same and yet different. No champagne to dilute the impact of the vor that was uniquely him.

    Hard masculine hands mped to her waist and lifted. Shended stered from lips to toe-tips against the ungiving contours of an aroused male body. He aligned her with him so that the evidence of his arousal was pressed into the apex of her thighs.

    Sliding one hand to her bottom, he manipted her so that his hardness teased the sensitive flesh of her femininity right through theyers of her clothes.

    She¡¯d never known anything so intimate in her life.

    She tried to put some distance between them, but she had no leverage with her feetpletely off the floor. His hold was too firm to wiggle out of his arms and her efforts in that direction only increased the strange sensations arcing through her from the friction at the juncture of her thighs.

    He wrapped his arm around the small of her back and pressed her firmly against him while increasing the intimacy of their kiss. And she melted. Just like she¡¯d done before. Unlike before, however, there was no voice to interrupt and Dash did not pull away.

    The urgency in his kiss grew along with the rising passion in her.

    She became aware of his hand on her thigh, under her dress. How had it gotten there? She should protest, but that would mean breaking the kiss. Besides, his hand on her bare skin felt good. Too good to fight.

    Knowing fingers burned a trail of erotic caresses up the unprotected skin of her leg until they reached her bottom. He cupped her there and his mouth swallowed the sound of her shock.

    Feelings so intense they frightened her coursed through every nerve ending.

    She ached to touch him. She ached for more of his touch. She lost all sense of self-preservation in the face of such overwhelming pleasure and ran her hands over his face, his shoulders, his neck, everywhere she could reach from her position locked against him.

    He groaned and moved.

    She realized he¡¯d backed up to lean against the vanity when one of her feet bumped the cab. He pressed her legs apart and over his thighs, pushing the hard ridge of his arousal into impossibly intimate contact with her body. She didn¡¯t have time to contemte this because suddenly his hand was inside the silk of her panties, touching the naked flesh of her bottom. Goosebumps shed over her flesh, apanied by involuntary shivers that had nothing to do with being cold.

    In fact, she¡¯d never been so hot in all her life.

    That devastating hand went lower to the underside of her bottom. Sliding centimeters to the left, fingers stealthily found her most intimate flesh from an unexpected direction and this time even his mouth covering hers could not stifle the shriek of shock at contact.

    The feel of a man¡¯s finger pressing into flesh that had never known anyone¡¯s touch before was so alien that it shocked her out of the sensual reverie she¡¯d sunk into with his kiss. She squirmed, trying to get away from that intimate touch, but that caused an amazing friction between Dash¡¯s excited male flesh and her sweetest spot.

    His big body shuddered. She tore her mouth from his. ¡°Dash. Please!¡± she said, not even knowing what she was begging for.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    He swore and started kissing her neck, using his tongue and teeth in a form of erotic teasing that made her squirm even more, but with pleasure this time, not shock.

    His head lifted and dark eyes burned her with their sensual force. ¡°You belong to me, Tess. Admit it.¡± he said.

    She couldn¡¯t deny a truth she¡¯d known somewhere in her heart since the first time she met him. He had stayed in her head ever since, and now she was in his arms. ¡°Yes, Dash, yes.¡± She said, When had she not?

    ¡°Tess!¡± His mouth rocked back over hers in another soul-shaking kiss.

    It went on and on and she lost all touch with reality. She could feel only his body beneath hers. She could taste only his mouth. She could smell only his scent. She could hear nothing but their joined heartbeats and a ringing in her ears.

    He groaned, breaking his mouth away from hers. It was the sound of a man facing Purdah when Heaven had been within his grasp.

    Her head was too heavy for her neck and it dropped forward into the hollow of his neck.

    A momentter a discreet cough sounded from the doorway to the guest room.

    ¡°Mr ck.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡± Dash said. His voice sounded strained.

    ¡°It¡¯s your mother on the phone. She says she has been trying to reach you but you haven¡¯t been picking up.¡±

    The simple phrase prated her brain through the fog of arousal still blunting her thinking process.

    He swore again and said to her, ¡°I must take the call, Tess.¡±

    She made a halfhearted attempt at a nod, still too enervated to speak.

 40

    He slowly withdrew his hand from intimate contact with her body as if it pained him to do so. She buried her face against him until he gently set her away from him. She kept her eyes fixed on the floor. How could she have made the same mistake twice? She hadn¡¯t just let him kiss her, she¡¯d responded with all the wantonness of a woman who routinely shared her body with men. She didn¡¯t even know she was capable of that level of abandon to the physical. It both scared and shamed her.

    ¡°Look at me, Tess.¡± Dash said.

    She shook her head. The memory of the way she had allowed him to touch her and where she had let him touch her was sending arrows of mortification into her conscience with bull¡¯s-eye uracy.

    ¡°You have nothing to be guilty about,¡± he said again.

    That was easy for him to say. He was just fruit tasting. She¡¯d never done any of this before. ¡°You would say that,¡± she used. ¡°You¡¯ve probably seduced enough women to popte a small town.¡±

    Hisughter brought her head snapping up as nothing else could have.

    She red at him. ¡°Don¡¯t youugh at me, Dash ck. You don¡¯t have any right to.¡±

    He put his hands out in a gesture of surrender. ¡°I am not the rogue you think I am and I was not trying to seduce you.¡±

    ¡°Right.¡± What the heck had he been doing then, practicing his technique? She thought.

    He brushed her hair behind her ear in a tender gesture that made her treacherous heart melt. ¡°You belong to me as no woman has. Do not regret the passion the good God has given us as a gift.¡±

    He didn¡¯t mean it the way it sounded. He couldn¡¯t. He was implying a special rtionship. After that party and how easily he had turned away and stayed away, she could not afford to let herself read too much into his words. Belong to him? How? What did that even mean?

    ¡°You have to answer the phone. You mustn¡¯t keep your mother waiting.¡± Tess said. She wanted time to regroup her defenses.

    He looked at her as if contemting saying something more, but in the end, he said only, ¡°I will be with you as quickly as I can,¡± before turning to leave.

    Tess availed herself of the toiletries in the well-stocked guest bathroom and tried to ignore the fact they had probably been put there for the convenience of his female friends. Like her. How much importance could she put on his avowal? She was different? Her supposed difference could stem entirely from the fact that she was a virgin, undoubtedly a rare experience in the life of a male who dated such sophisticated women.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    Dash stopped a few feet from where Tess sat surrounded by the lush greenery and night-blooming flowers in his terrace garden. Strings of small white lights illuminated the dining area giving Tess, with her curls and amazing features, the appearance of a fairy in her element.

    Something untamed twisted inside him at the thought she could disappear from his life like the fey wood creature she resembled, leaving nothing behind but his unsatisfied and unabated arousal. If he had been shocked by the deliciousness of her response at her father¡¯s party, he was poleaxed by the living me he¡¯d held in his arms tonight.

    He wanted her.

    She wanted him too, but she didn¡¯t trust him.

    Anger surfaced to mix with the desire simmering inside him as he considered her reasons for feeling the way she did. She¡¯d been savaged by her father¡¯s guests after he had left the party. His clumsy response to the unexpected carnality of their kiss had been read as a repudiation of her advances, when she had made no advances at all.

    How had that blonde thought she would get away with spreading such lies?

    Had she thought they would never reach his ears, or that he would not care? She would learn to regret the mistaken assumption. Dash ck did not tolerate being the subject of a tissue of lies. More importantly, Tess was his now and he protected his own¡­ Even if she would be his for only a short period of time.

    His hands curled at his sides and atavistic anticipation curled through him at the thought of dealing with the two men who had propositioned her. They would repent treating an innocent, shy creature with such ack of respect.

    There was a certain amount of gratification in knowing that the marriage would redress the wrong he had done to her. His pride still balked at submitting to her father¡¯s ckmail, but Dash could not deny he owed Tess for the humiliation she had suffered at his unwitting hands. Their marriage would even the scales, a very important issue for him.

    The divorce wouldn¡¯t be a problem, he thought.

    He was sure she wouldn¡¯t want to remain married to him since it was her father¡¯s decision and not hers. The time woulde to tell her about it but it wasn¡¯t now. Right now, he would focus on getting hispany back. He couldn¡¯t let anything ruin his ns.

    There was again no denying that their marriage bed would be a satisfying one. Even now, he wanted to go over there and lift her from the chair, carry her to his bed and finish what they had begun earlier.

    Tess felt a prickling sensation on the back of her neck and turned in her chair.

    Dash stood a few feet away, a look in his eyes that made the fine hairs on her body stand up. In an instant of primal awareness she could not anticipate or block, all theposure and self-control she had managed to gather around herself in his absence dissipated with the ease of water on a highway.

    ¡°I am sorry to have left you so long.¡± He came toward her, the muscles in his thighs flexing under the perfectly tailored Italian suit he was wearing.

    Did the guy ever wear jeans? Probably not and most likely her heart couldn¡¯t stand the sight of him in the tight-fitting denim anyway.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ve been enjoying the view. It¡¯s incredible up here.¡± She said,

    Dash¡¯s terrace covered the entire portion of the top story of the ck building not upied by his or thepany apartments.

 41

    Someone had turned it into a garden, giving the impression of being in an enchanted bower high above the streets of the city. The view over the wall was spectacr. The moment she¡¯d seen it she¡¯d been d she came with him, if only for the opportunity to spend her final evening in Greece in such magical surroundings.

    He sat down in the chair opposite hers. No sooner than he had done and a drink was ced in front of him by a discreet servant. The first course was served momentster.

    Their conversation flowed, Dash asking her questions about her life and he answered her questions about his.

    ¡°So, what are you doing in Athens, or is it top-secret business stuff?¡± She was used to her father keeping tight lips about many areas of his life.

    ¡°I make frequent trips to my headquarters here and elsewhere,¡± he replied.

    He was as driven as her father, she thought. ¡°Do you ever take time off to rx?¡± Tess asked.

    His smile sent sensations quivering through her. ¡°I am rxing now, with you,¡± he replied.

    ¡°But even this,¡± she indicated their almost finished dinners, ¡°is prompted by your business interests.¡±

    ¡°I assure you, business has not been in the forefront of my mind since I spied you walking back toward your tour busughing with yourpanion, your hand in his.¡± His voice had taken on the hardness of tempered steel.

    She didn¡¯t want a reenactment of their earlier argument, so she opted not to reply to hisment. She chose instead, to change the subject. ¡°How is your mother? Your sister is twenty now, isn¡¯t she? Is she dating anyone special?¡±

    For a moment he actually looked bemused. ¡°You know a great deal about me.¡± he said.

    ¡°It is inevitable after a three-year acquaintanceship.¡± Or rather three years of infatuation, she thought with some sadness.

    ¡°My mother is fine,¡± he replied. Heid his fork down and leaned back against his chair. ¡°She is pressing me to marry soon.¡±

    An irrational sense of loss suffused her at his words-irrational because you could not lose what you had never had. He would oblige his mother, she was sure. At thirty two, Dash was of an age to start making babies.

    The thought of another woman big with his child was enough to destroy what remained of her appetite.

    ¡°And your sister?¡± she asked, pushing away her half-finished te, trying not to dwell on the prospect of him marrying soon.

    Warm indulgence lit his almost ck eyes. ¡°Elena is enjoying university too much to allow any one male to seriously engage her interest,¡± he replied. ¡°She enjoys it very much. Mamma worries she will not wish to return home when she is done.¡±Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    Tess had nothing to say in reply to that. She had no experience of siblings and daughters and mothers. Hers had died when she was much too young.

    ¡°It is understandable,¡± Dash brooded. ¡°My family can be very traditional in some ways. And sometimes I get tired of the marriage talk. You hold someone¡¯s hand and boom, mom is talking about something serious going on. I guess it has affected me in some ways too¡­ I didn¡¯t know that till I saw you and your friend¡±

    Why did he keep harping on that? It had to be because of the kiss they had shared not too long ago. ¡°David is a friend,¡± she tried to exin. ¡°He¡¯s very affectionate, but he doesn¡¯t mean anything by it.¡±

    His brows rose in mockery. ¡°This is why he invited you back to his room,¡± he asked.

    Oh, dear. Dash was back to looking dangerous. ¡°He¡¯s never done that before. He was just reacting to your arrogant im on me. It¡¯s a guy thing, I guess.¡± Tess replied.

    ¡°Are you truly so naive you do not realize this man wants you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not naive.¡± Introverted did not equal stupid.

    His dark eyes narrowed. ¡°Your inexperience of men and their ways shows in your foolish belief that the touches of a man who pays you particr attention mean nothing.¡± he said

    He didn¡¯t need to rub in how gauche she must appear inparison to his usual date. So, she seemed like a fool to him. She must have allowed herself to enjoy his kisses and conversation when he thought so little of her. ¡°If you¡¯re finished insulting me, I¡¯d like to go back to my hotel now.¡± She said,

    ¡°We have not yet had dessert.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry.¡± She indicated her unfinished dinner. ¡°And we have an early start tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Is it that, or is that you wish to return and keep your liaison with David?¡±

    Unbelievably, Dash sounded jealous.

    ¡°I¡¯ve already told you, I have no intention of sharing David¡¯s room tonight.¡± She spoke slowly and through gritted teeth, not understanding why she wanted him to believe her. ¡°But if I did, it wouldn¡¯t be any of your business,¡± she added for good measure.

    ¡°You can say this after the way you allowed me to touch you not an hour ago?¡± he asked. Outrage vibrated off of him.

    Wasn¡¯t that just like an arrogant guy used to getting his own way? He¡¯d done the kissing and now held her ountable for it. ¡°I didn¡¯t let you touch me. You just did it.¡± She retorted.

    ¡°You did not protest.¡± He was six feet, four inches of offended masculine pride. ¡°You were with me all the way.¡±

    Heat scorched into her cheeks at the reminder. ¡°A gentleman would not rub my face in it.¡±

    ¡°Ady would not go from one man¡¯s arms to the bed of another.¡±

    She jumped up from her chair, so furious, she could barely speak. ¡°Are you saying I¡¯m some sort of tramp because I let you kiss me?¡±

    He rose to tower over her. ¡°I am saying I will not tolerate you returning to David¡¯spany now that you belong to me.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t belong to you!¡± she said angrily. ¡°Why do you keep saying that?¡±

    ¡°You do and you will stay here with me.¡±

    Tess couldn¡¯t believe what she was hearing.

    She knew about the possessive streak in men, but to say she belonged to him just because they¡¯d kissed was ludicrous. Not only was it ridiculous, it was inconsistent as anything. He certainly hadn¡¯t been singing that tune at her dad¡¯s party.

 42

    ¡°Then why didn¡¯t I belong to you three weeks ago? Why did you leave and note back? I¡¯ll tell you why,¡± Tess went on before he had a chance to answer, ¡°because those kisses meant no more to you than eating a chocte bar. You found them pleasant, but not enough to buy the candy store.¡±

    ¡°You expected marriage after one kiss?¡± His derision hit her on the raw.

    ¡°You¡¯re deliberately misunderstanding me. I didn¡¯t say anything of the kind. You¡¯re the one who has been rabbiting on about me belonging to you because of an inconsequential kiss.¡± She said,

    ¡°Hardly inconsequential. I could have had you and you would not have murmured so much as a protest.¡±

    Oh. She wanted to scream. ¡°No doubt your skills in the area of seduction are ster, but what does that signify? With my limited experience in the area, any man with a halfway decent knowledge of a woman¡¯s reactions could have affected me just as strongly.¡±

    She didn¡¯t believe it for a minute, but Dash¡¯s conceit was staggering. His assertion she would not have protested him taking her to bed might be true, but it was also demeaning. And she wanted to put him in his ce.

    ¡°You think this?¡± he demanded, his eyes terrifying in their feral intensity. ¡°Perhaps you intend to experiment with this friend of yours, this David?¡±

    A tactical retreat was called for. ¡°No. I don¡¯t want to experiment with anybody, including you.¡±

    He didn¡¯t look even remotely appeased by her denial.

    Good judgment required she not dwell on this particr argument. ¡°I am merely trying to point out that kissing me didn¡¯t give you any rights over me. If all the women you kissed belonged to you, you¡¯d have a bigger harem than any Arabian prince in history.¡±

    Instead of looking insulted by her indictment of his character, he appeared pleased by her assessment of his masculinity. The fury in his expression faded.

    ¡°You are different from the other women I have known,¡± he said.

    ¡°Known as a discreet euphemism, I assume?¡± She replied. She thought of all the beautiful women he had been photographed with for scandal rags and society pages. It left a hollow ce where her heart should have been beating and it made her doubly determined to deny him any im to her loyalty. ¡°Only you haven¡¯t known me and I don¡¯t belong to you.¡±

    ¡°This crudeness is not bing.¡±

    She couldn¡¯t deny it. Crude was not her style and she¡¯d probably blush with embarrassmentter, but right now she was fighting the effect he had on her with every weapon at her disposal. ¡°Neither is a dog in-the-manger possessiveness.¡± She retorted.

    ¡°What is this canine in a stable?¡±

    She stared at him. Canine in a stable? Suddenly the humor of the situation overcame her. She started tough. Here she was arguing with Mr. Cool himself that he didn¡¯t have any hold on her when she wanted more than anything for him to im her as his own. She was nuts, but then so was he.

    ¡°You find me amusing?¡± He didn¡¯t look happy about the possibility.

    She grabbed at her self-control and reined in herughter, humor that had taken on a slightly hysterical twinge. ¡°It¡¯s not you. It¡¯s this situation. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s funny that you¡¯re standing here asserting rights over me you can¡¯t possibly want?¡± she asked.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°If I assert them, I want them,¡± was his arrogant rejoinder.

    All the humor fled, hysterical or otherwise, and she swallowed the words that would beg him to repeat what he¡¯d just said. He simply could not mean it the way she wanted him to.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t about me. This is about David and your reaction to him. You acted like two dogs fighting over a bone back at the Parthenon. Now, you are trying to bury the bone, not because you really want it, but because you don¡¯t want him to have it. Well, I¡¯m not going to stay buried just to please your sense of male superiority.¡±

    She¡¯d spent most of her life in the background and she was tired of it. Why the realization shoulde now, she didn¡¯t know and she didn¡¯t care. Dash didn¡¯t really want her. He wanted to one-up David. She wasn¡¯t entirely sure about David¡¯s motives, but that wasn¡¯t the issue. The issue was her life and what she was going to do with it.

    The simple answer was live it.

    On her terms.

    Starting now.

    ¡°I¡¯m going back to my hotel. You can have your chauffeur drive me or I can catch a cab, but I¡¯m ready to leave.¡± She said,

    Her determination must have gotten through to him because his jaw tightened, but he nodded. ¡°I will return you to your hotel.¡±

    ¡°There is no need for you to apany me.¡±

    ¡°There is every need,¡± he growled.

    Since she was getting her way about leaving, she decided not to argue about this. If he wanted to waste his time riding in the limo with her to see her to her hotel, then let him. She was also trying to protect everyone but herself from being put upon.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    The ride back to her hotel happened in silence. Dash was too angry to talk without giving away the state of his emotions and no way was he going to allow her to know the extent of her effect on him. Shy she might be. Innocent sexually, even. But still she was a woman and emotions were the weapons of choice for the female of the species.

    He could not believe the turn the evening had taken. He had thought after their kiss, she would recognize his im on her. Her assertion that she did not belong to him had both shocked and enraged him. His quiet little kitten had ws and an independence he would not have suspected.

    He needed to rethink his campaign. The time limit her father had set was fast approaching. He had to get her agreement soon in order to have sufficient weeks to n a wedding.

    Tess reached out to open the door the minute the car stopped. Dash allowed her to exit the car without protest, but he followed her.

    She turned, her pansy eyes widening when she realized he was right behind her rather than seated safely in the car. She would not get rid of him so easily.

 43

    She put her hand out. ¡°Thank you for an interesting evening. The food was wonderful and you could charge admission on the view from your terrace.¡± She said,

    She said nothing about thepany and he felt the urge to smile at her spirit in spite of his anger.

    He took her hand, but instead of shaking it, used it to pull her into his body, so he could walk her inside. ¡°I will take you to your room.¡±

    Her small body was stiff in his hold. ¡°I won¡¯t argue because it won¡¯t do me any good to tell you I would rather walk alone.¡± She said,

    His lips twisted wryly. ¡°You have said it.¡±

    ¡°And it didn¡¯t do me any good.¡±

    ¡°I would be a poor escort if I did not see you to your door.¡± he said.

    ¡°Cro-Magnon man has nothing on you for primitive.¡± Tess replied.

    ¡°Good manners are the mark of civilization, not theck of it.¡±

    Her response to that was a disdainful sound that could only be described as a snort. He ignored that and led her into the elevator, not displeased by theck of other guests in the small space. He had indicated to his security that he should wait outside, so no one was with them to witness her obvious irritation. She was staying on the fourth floor and the ride up in the elevator was charged with silence.

    As the doors slid open, he asked, ¡°Which room?¡±

    ¡°Four-twenty-two.¡± She pointed the way with a flick of her hand.

    As they walked to her door, he noticed another one further along the hall opening. Blond hair above glowering masculine features identified the spying neighbor as David. Tess might not ept his possession, but he was determined that David would recognize the fact of it.

    He pulled her to a stop just inside the door and turned her to face him.

    ¡°Good night,¡± she said in an obvious attempt at dismissal.

    ¡°Good night,¡± he replied as his head lowered toward hers.

    He watched as her eyes widened and her mouth opened to protest, but his lips prevented the words from expelling. Taking advantage of her open mouth, he slid his tongue inside to taste the sweetness he had quickly learned to crave.

    She blinked, her green eyes darkening even as she tried to push away from him. He moved his hands down her back, pressing one against her ribs and using the other to cup her behind. Her eyes went unfocused and then slid shut as she surrendered to his touch. He kissed her with the intent of iming her body even if her mind denied the truth of his possession.

    He kissed her until he heard a distinct  curse and a mming door. He kissed her until her body was totally pliant against him and her mouth moved in innocent arousal against his own.

    He was tempted to push her back two feet, shut the door and make love to her until she agreed to marry him. He sensed, though, that she would be ashamed afterward, that it would hurt her to be won by such means.

    He did not want to hurt her. She was not part of her father¡¯s scheme. He was sure of it now. He was almost sorry about his n to divorce her in the future, but he had no choice. It had to be done for him to get what he wanted.

    But he would treat her right. He would would treat her with the respect she deserved.

    It was harder than anything he had done since burying his father, but he gently disengaged their bodies and set her away from him.

    Her eyes opened. ¡°What¡­¡± she began.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    He smiled and touched her lips with his forefinger. ¡°You belong to me. Your body knows it and soon your mind will ept it as well.¡± he said.

    ¡°What about my heart?¡± she whispered, her expression dazed.

    ¡°It is only right for a woman to love her husband.¡±

    Her mouth dropped open. ¡°Husband?¡± she repeated.

    Now would be a good time for a strategic withdrawal. ¡°Yes. Husband. Think about it, Tess.¡± he said.

    He waited to hear the bolt slide home before he left.

    As he walked by the door that had opened earlier, he thought a few words with David would not go amiss.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    Think about it, Tess thought.

    She shoved her suitcase closed and zipped it shut with undue force.

    The fiend.

    That was all she¡¯d been doing sincest night.

    He¡¯d kissed her until her hard-wonposure had melted in the heat of their mutual desire. Then he¡¯d pushed her away and left, but not before making the disturbing announcement he intended to marry her.

    Well, he hadn¡¯t actually said that. He¡¯d said a wife should love her husband, but they¡¯d been talking about him and her, so didn¡¯t it follow he meant he was thinking of her as his wife?

    Only what if he hadn¡¯t? What if she was reading all sorts of things into ament he¡¯d meant in jest. He¡¯d admitted at her father¡¯s party that his jokes didn¡¯t alwayse off right.

    But she could have sworn he wasn¡¯t joking. What if he had meant it? What if Dash ck became her husband? The mind boggled. Could she survive marriage to such a devastating man? She¡¯d decided to stop living in the shadows, but she hadn¡¯t considered a move so close to the burning power of the sun.

    What was that saying about being careful what you wished for? She¡¯d been dreaming of Dash for the past three years, but she had never considered those dreams could be a reality. They had been safe, a way for her to ay her loneliness. Dash ck in the flesh was not safe, as he¡¯d proven each time he had kissed her.

    She lost her soul when they kissed. Or found it. Either way, they terrified her -these feelings he could evoke.

    He was so arrogant and possessive. Look how he had reacted to David just holding her hand. While she was a modern, if slightly introverted, woman. How could a marriage between them work?

    She knew the answer. It wouldn¡¯t work.

    She was too independent to ept the long-established role of his wife. He was too bossy not to interfere in her life in ways that would no doubt infuriate her.

    It was crazy.

 44

    She pulled her suitcase off the bed and left it outside the room for the porter to pick up and add to the tour¡¯s luggage on the bus.

    Contemting marriage with Dash was an exercise in futility. He was probably already regretting the kisses they¡¯d shared and the implications he had made. He couldn¡¯t mean all that shit he said.

    She walked into the hotel dining room and seeing David at a table by the window, she went toward him. They¡¯d been sharing breakfast since the second day of the tour, sometimes alone and other times joined by their fellow tour members. This morning, he was sitting alone at a table for four.

    She slid into the seat opposite him. ¡°Good morning.¡± She said,

    He looked up from the paper he¡¯d been reading. He had it specially delivered because he said he couldn¡¯t stand too many days without news from back home.

    His usually mobile face remained impassive. ¡°Is it?¡± he asked.

    He was still angry about her choosing to go with Dash instead of him the night before.

    ¡°Did you end up going back to the Psiri?¡± she asked with a tentative smile.

    ¡°What¡¯s it to you if I did?¡± he retorted.

    She started at the belligerence in his voice. ¡°I think I¡¯ll order my breakfast.¡± She said, She signaled for the waiter.

    ¡°Are you sure you want to do that?¡±

    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡± Tess asked. What was the matter with him this morning?

    ¡°Your boyfriend might take offense to you eating breakfast with me.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have a boyfriend.¡± she replied.

    ¡°That¡¯s not the way it lookedst night.¡±

    She sighed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry if you were disappointed I didn¡¯t have dinner with youst night, but you shouldn¡¯t have taken for granted that you could schedule my time.¡±

    ¡°I realize that now.¡±

    Good. At least that had worked out fromst night¡¯s fiasco. She smiled. ¡°No harm done.¡± she said.

    ¡°Not for you. It must be nice having two men fighting for your attention, but personally I think your ploy was juvenile.¡±

    ¡°What ploy?¡± she demanded, getting irritated by his continued innuendo that she did not understand.

    ¡°You should have told me you belonged to someone else. You let me think you were unattached.¡± David said.

    ¡°I am unattached.¡± She replied. Did all men think in terms of belonging? Perhaps only the strong, arrogant ones. ¡°Furthermore, I belong to myself for heaven¡¯s sake, thank you very much.¡±

    David snorted at that. ¡°Not ording to your rich boyfriend.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s not my boyfriend,¡± she gritted out between clenched teeth.

    ¡°Right. That¡¯s why you went with himst night instead of having dinner with me.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t going to admit she¡¯d been virtually kidnapped after making her grand deration about eating alone. It made her seem feeble and she wasn¡¯t, but she had been outnked.

    ¡°Are you saying that having dinner with a man automatically makes him my boyfriend?¡± He was more medieval than Dash, she thought.

    ¡°It was a hell of a lot more than dinner from where I stood.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I was in my room when you returned to the hotelst night.¡±

    ¡°So?¡±

    ¡°I saw him kiss you. Afterward he paid me a visit and told me in very clear terms just whose woman you are.¡± he said. Anger and wounded pride vibrated in David¡¯s voice.

    ¡°He had no right to do that.¡± Tess said. More importantly though was why had he? She could not wrap her mind around the concept of Dash being so possessive of her all of a sudden.

    David¡¯s blue eyes narrowed. ¡°He had his hand on your butt and his tongue down your throat. If he¡¯s not your boyfriend, what does that make you?¡±

    The offensive description of Dash¡¯s passionate good-night kiss shocked her. Up until the night before, David had been an affable and rather mildpanion.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    ¡°What exactly are you implying?¡± she asked angrily.

    David tossed the paper on the table and stood up. ¡°You let him paw you in a public hallway and you¡¯ve never even given me the green light to kiss you good-night. You figure it out.¡± he said.

    She watched David walk away feeling both grief and anger. It hurt that David was willing to dismiss their friendship so easily, but his implication that shecked morals really rankled. She was an anachronistic virgin in a world of sexual gluttony, for goodness¡¯ sake. She did not sleep around.

    Had Dash been right in his assessment of David¡¯s motives? David had not reacted as a simple friend to the events ofst night. Had he been angling to share her bed?

    It wouldn¡¯t be the first such rtionship to develop in their tour group, but she would have considered herself the least likely candidate for one. She didn¡¯t have any experience with men wanting her.

    David certainly seemed offended this morning that she¡¯d allowed Dash to kiss herst night, but she still could not quite believe it was about David wanting her. More likely it was that dog fighting over a bone thing again.

    However Dash¡¯s actions weren¡¯t as easy to exin, at least not in a way that didn¡¯t seem too far-fetched.

    Dash ck wanting to marry Tess Patchett? Not likely. Yet, that is what he had implied. Then he had gone out of his way to warn David off.

    Put together, those two items were enough to prevent rxed slumber over the next four nights.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    ¡°You are really going to do this? This is crazy¡± Victoria said as she watched Savannah get dressed. ¡°I honestly thought you were joking when you said it yesterday¡±

    Savannah sighed. ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s why I¡¯m doing it now, to get it over with. And I don¡¯t want to think, because if I do, I¡¯m going to start thinking about why this is a bad idea and all the reasons why I shouldn¡¯t do it.¡± She turned from the mirror and stared at Victoria. ¡°I need to do this babe, I need this job. It¡¯s not like I haven¡¯t tried to get another. I have. And that isn¡¯t working out so well for me. I don¡¯t even have any hope of getting one. I need the money¡­. I rejected this offer from Matt, I just hope he will still give me the job when I get there. He doesn¡¯t even know I¡¯ming ¡°

 45

    Victoria sighed and looked at Savannah like she was crazy, which she probably was.

    ¡°I have to tell you, I don¡¯t think you should do this,¡± Victoria said. ¡°I mean it¡¯s Matt, remember. In case you have forgotten, it¡¯s Matt. The man who broke your heart so badly that you had to leave and I had no idea if I was going to see you again. I know you need this job, but he¡¯s your ex and I honestly don¡¯t see any gooding out of this. You are my best friend, and I hate seeing you hurt.¡±

    Savannah understood. Vicky had a point, but she had no choice. She was tired of being a waitress and no reasonable office was willing to offer her a job without her degree. Matt seemed like the only one who was willing to offer her one. It was a bad idea, but she was going to do it anyway. How bad could it be? Really bad, but she didn¡¯t want to think about that.

    The reason why she hadn¡¯t called to tell him that she wasing was because she was terrified of him rejecting her. She had rejected the job when he had offered it and she hadn¡¯t seen or spoken to him ever since.

    But it had been more than one week now and the little money she had put away was running out. She needed that job. It was a bigpany and it wouldn¡¯t be so bad¡­ As long as she avoided him.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I understand why you would say that, Vicky.¡± Savannah said. ¡°But you also know that I wouldn¡¯t do this if I had any other choice. Just wish me good luck. I¡¯m nervous enough already¡­ Please don¡¯t make it worse¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry honey,¡± Victoria said. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to look out for you. Good luck, and I hope you get the job.¡±

    Savannah smiled and hugged her friend and five minutester, she was on her way to Matt¡¯s office.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    Savannah sat glued to the seat Matt¡¯s secretary had offered her. She smoothed her skirt over her knees and wished she¡¯d worn trousers. At least she would have been morefortable in those.

    This was ridiculous, she thought. She shouldn¡¯t havee here, but she was no coward and she would see this through. Better to try and not get the job than to go home wondering what would have happened if she had tried.

    Matt was sure taking his sweet time before asking her into his office. She had a feeling that he was making her wait on purpose. Maybe some kind of punishment for rejecting the job offer in the first ce.

    His secretary, a nice middle aged woman noticed her uneasiness and smiled at her. ¡°Rx dear¡± she said to Savannah. ¡°He will be ready to see you soon. He just said he needed a few minutes¡±

    Savannah nodded and smiled back at the nicedy. So her nervousness was so obvious. Urggh.. She hated this. She contemted leaving, but it waspletely ridiculous to havee all this way just to leave again.

    She didn¡¯t have a choice. There was no way she was giving up. Her one hope was that he wouldn¡¯t make this too hard on her.

    She thought of their rtionship. The one he had ended without giving her a chance to exin. She shook her head. Now was not the time to think about that. She had to stay focused.

    She wouldn¡¯t look at him, she promised herself. If she didn¡¯t look at him she wouldn¡¯t be tongue-tied or stammer. She¡¯d just pretend that she was in her small sitting room at home, talking to the mirror as she always did when she had something important to do that made her nervous.

    Savannah felt her stomach lurch again and this time the feeling of sickness that enveloped her had nothing to do with the fact that she didn¡¯t have breakfast that morning and everything to do with facing Matt and their past. At times like this-times that really mattered-the memories rolled up behind her like a giant wave, waiting to engulf her.

    For her this was the ultimate test. And she wouldn¡¯t fail. She just couldn¡¯t. She could use this as a chance to prove to herself that she wasn¡¯t so affected by him anymore.

    There was no reason to be afraid of Matt Bradford, she assured herself as she stroked a hand over her straight, formal skirt and forced herself to look unaffected.

    It was all in the past, their personal life, no matter how dark, shouldn¡¯t concern her this much anymore. This meeting was about business and, whatever murk hovered around the man, he was a businessman. Surely he would let his personal life affect his work.

    The  heat made her suit stick to her body and suddenly she realized just how woefully ill-prepared she was to meet him.  She wasn¡¯t evenfortable in her clothes.

    ¡°Mr Bradford is ready to see you now¡± the secretary said, and Savannah jerked back into reality

    ¡°Thank you¡± she said. She stood up and began to walk in the direction of his office. As she got close to the office, she almost lost her bnce. Stupid shoes, she muttered. Although she knew that it had nothing to do with her shoes but the fact that she was nervous as hell.

    Stooping to adjust her shoes, Savannah clutched her bag in her hand and wished she had listened to Vicky. But what difference would that have made? That wouldn¡¯t help her in any way. She regained her bnce and straightened.

    And saw him.

    He stood directly in front of her, as dark and dangerous as anything that might have sprawled out of the jungle, his bodypletely still, his eyes watchful.

    And he was watching her.

    Savannah swallowed hard, suddenly at loss for words. She was d when he tilted his head in the direction of his office door and said. ¡°Come in¡±

    ¡°Have a seat¡± Matt said when they got into the office. Savannah did as he said, while Matt sat in his chair, facing her. He waited for her to talk.

    ¡°Hi,¡± Savannah said awkwardly.

    Matt frowned and lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Hi,¡± he replied.

    ¡°Ermmm, I¡¯m sorry that I didn¡¯t call you beforeing,¡± Savannah began. ¡°I know that I should have¡±

    ¡°Yeah, you should have¡± Matt said, the frown still on his face.

 46

    Savannah sighed.

    Okay, she thought. So he wasn¡¯t going to make this easy for her. She knew she deserved it¡­ Kinda. She had practically yelled at him when he had offered her the job and then she had asked him to leave with his job and his check.

    She hated that she had toe back to ask for the job but she had no choice and he was the only one willing to offer her one.

    ¡°I know that I should have called,¡± she said. ¡°I was just scared that if I did this on the phone, you would turn me away or worse, you might even refuse to talk to me¡±

    He leaned closer, resting his elbows on his desk. ¡°You were scared that I would turn you away if you did what exactly?¡± he asked.

    Savannah took a deep breath. ¡°The job¡± she said. ¡°The one you offered a week ago. I know I said that I didn¡¯t want it but I do now. And I¡¯m sorry that I turned it down before. I know that¡¯s it¡¯s really crazy to just walk in here and ask for it back, but I just thought that¡­¡± She stopped talking and stared at him. He stared right back at her and Savannah wished the ground would just open and swallow her up. This was just too humiliating.

    ¡°What exactly did you think?¡± Matt asked. ¡°You thought I would just leave the position open for you? Because?¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting you to do that¡± Savannah said, almost losing her cool, but trying really hard to control herself.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Then why are you here? This is a ce of work. You can¡¯t just expect the job to be sitting there waiting for you¡±

    She knew that she needed the job, she needed him to help her, but she wasn¡¯t going to sit there and watch him gloat. ¡°I came because I wanted to know if I could still get the job. I came because this was the only chance I had. But I get the message, Matt. I¡¯m sorry I disturbed you. I¡¯m sorry I came here and bothered you in the first ce¡± she said.

    She got up from her chair, intending to leave his office. ¡°Thank you for your time, Matt,¡± she said. What exactly was she thinkinging here and thinking he would just help her? She thought. The same man who had hurt her so much. Vicky was right and she should have listened to her. This was clearly a bad idea and for some reasons, she was just really good at making bad decisions.

    Matt was at her side before she even got to the door. He grabbed her arm gently. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Savvie¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to make you feel that way. That wasn¡¯t such a nice thing to say. I¡¯m just a little surprised that you came, that¡¯s all. Pleasee sit down¡±

    Savannah stared at him for a moment, then she let him lead her back to her seat. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s just that I haven¡¯t been able to get another job and I was just hoping that you could still offer me one. I just want to know, am I toote? Can I still have the job?¡± she asked.

    Matt shook his head. ¡°Kinda,¡± he said.

    Savannah gave him a look. ¡°I don¡¯t understand what that means,¡± she said. ¡°You never even told me what the job was¡±

    ¡°I was offering for you to be my secretary¡±

    Savannah frowned. ¡°But you already have one.¡± she said. ¡°Thedy I talked to when I was waiting for you¡­ Isn¡¯t she your secretary?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Matt replied. ¡°She is. It¡¯s just there¡¯s a lot of work to be done around here and I thought that it was bing much for Caroline. So I thought I could just hire someone else so you guys could split up the work¡±

    ¡°Oh¡± Savannah said. ¡°Oh alright.¡±

    Matt grinned at her. ¡°So, do you still want the job?¡± he asked.

    Savannah said nothing for a while. Being his secretary meant being around him a lot, and when she had decided toe ask for the job back, she had been hoping that she wouldn¡¯t have to work so close to him.

    ¡°Savannah?¡±

    She heard Matt call her and she snapped back to reality.

    ¡°Are you going to take the job?¡± he asked.

    Savannah nodded slowly, a lot of things going on in her head. ¡°Yes,¡± she said finally. If she rejected this again, she wasn¡¯t sure she would get another opportunity. Things would just have to work themselves out¡­ Somehow.

    ¡°There¡¯s a teeny tiny thing that I should probably mention too,¡± Matt said.

    Savannah lifted an eyebrow. She knew Matt Bradford enough to know that she wasn¡¯t going to like the next words that would leave his mouth just from the expression on his face.

    ¡°I will be leaving town in a week or so. It¡¯s a business trip actually. Although the business part of the trip is going tost for only a few days, I want to stay for two weeks¡­ Three tops. I feel like I need a vacation¡­ Some get away time¡± he said.

    ¡°And?¡± Savannah asked, wondering how this information was supposed to be any of her business.

    ¡°I want you toe with me,¡± Matt replied.

    Savannah stared at him like he was out of his mind for saying such a thing, and he probably was.

    ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°I can¡¯te with you. You know that¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡± Matt asked.

    Savannah stood up and clutched her bag. ¡°How can you ask me that?¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s bad enough that we are going to be working together and now this. We have a history, Matt. And it didn¡¯t end well, in case you have forgotten.¡±

    Matt stood up and began to walk towards her. Savannah took a few steps backwards and then she stopped. Determined not to let him see how much he affected her. He stopped right in front of her.

    ¡°No, I haven¡¯t forgotten,¡± he said. ¡°And that is the reason why I want you toe with me¡±

 47

    Savannah stared at him wide eyed. ¡°Why?¡± she asked. ¡°Why would you want to do that? I remember what you said to me that day when we broke up. I remember everything vividly. You made it clear that you didn¡¯t want anything to do with me. You said you never wanted to see me again, which was one of the reasons why I was surprised when you came to the diner and then offered me a job.¡±

    ¡°I know what I said¡± Matt said, interrupting her. ¡°But I was the one who came to look for you, regardless of what I said¡±

    Savannah was silent. She paced the room for a while. That didn¡¯t make much sense to her either. She never understood why he came to find her. ¡°So what exactly are you doing?¡± she asked finally. ¡°Is this some kind of sick game you are ying to hurt me?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t wish to exin anything to you right now,¡± Matt said,¡±And I¡¯m not trying to hurt you. I won¡¯t get anything out of that. The point right now is that you need me to give you this job, and if you really want it, all you have to do is go on this trip with me. You will be getting paid as it will be counted as part of your work time. Besides, I need someone to handle some of the work for me. There¡¯s an investor who is threatening to withdraw his funding, and I need all the help I can get. I¡¯m the boss, so you don¡¯t get to ask any questions. I get to ask them, and my question right now is, are you willing to take this job or not?¡±

    His eyes locked on hers with the lethal uracy of a deadly weapon and the breath left her body and every thought was sucked from her mind. For a wildly unsettling moment she couldn¡¯t think straight. She couldn¡¯t even remember what she was doing here in the first ce. Her body felt strangely lethargic and warmth as thick as treacle spread slowly through her limbs. She should have listened to Vicky this morning, but she was here already.

    ¡°Savannah?¡± The hard bite of his deep, masculine voice was sufficient to wake her from her thoughts and she gave a little start, desperately hoping that he hadn¡¯t noticed her embarrassing reaction.

    So much for being cool and businesslike, she thought. And so much for her n not to look at him. But she couldn¡¯t me herself, this meeting with him had taken a whole different turn. His physical presence and his film-star looks demanded attention.

    Matt watched her. He knew he could handle talking to that investor on his own. But he saw an opportunity¡­ An opportunity to spend time with her again and he was taking it. Which was crazy, considering her betrayal and how much she had hurt him. He should have listened to Dash and let this woman go, but he couldn¡¯t. He wasn¡¯t going to tell her that was the reason why he wanted her toe with him though.

    As Savannah stood there gaping, a lot of thoughts went through her head. She wanted the job, but this was ridiculous¡­. And kind of exciting too. She had to admit that. It was a struggle to remind herself that this man was ruthless and cold-hearted. The way he had treated her in the past was enough proof of that. For her, that wasn¡¯t a winningbination of character traits.

    Looking into his deep-set, cynical eyes, she decided that there was something about his cool scrutiny that made him more menacing and intimidating than all the jungle predators put together and she knew  that agreeing to this was a terrible idea.

    But even as she knew that she was going to regret this, she made that bad decision anyway.

    ¡°Fine,¡± she said in a voice that didn¡¯t sound like hers. She could understand that, because she knew this decision wasn¡¯t one she would make if she was in her right senses.

    Forcing her legs to move, she walked towards him, her bag in one hand, the other seeking the reassurance of the headrest of one of the chairs.

    Even without the benefit of billions of dors, Matt Bradford would have attracted women. His dark hair was swept back from a face that was as hard as it was handsome. The golden sheen of his bronzed skin was wildly attractive and the soft fabric of his casual shirt clung to shoulders that were wide and powerful.

    She was still damn attracted to him. Which was another reason why she shouldn¡¯t do this, but she didn¡¯t want to think right now.

    She watched for his reaction to her arrival but he revealed nothing.

    His mouth didn¡¯t shift into a smile and his eyes, so dark and brooding, showed no sign of wee or relief that she was epting his crazy proposal. It seemed that he was as unfriendly as he was handsome and the way he was looking at her made her want to sprint back to the door and run home.

    If she hadn¡¯t known better she would have thought she¡¯d upset him in some way but she knew that wasn¡¯t possible. How could she possibly have upset him? This idea was all his.

    Their bad break up had been all his fault. He obviously didn¡¯t like her anymore which made his offer all the more weird. But she wasn¡¯t going to think about that. She was just going to go with the flow. What did she have to lose? She had already lost everything.

    And it didn¡¯t matter, she told herself firmly.

    She didn¡¯t need him to like her. She just needed to get this job. Maybe get a little experience, save a little, and then she would quit.

    Keeping that in mind, she took thest few steps until she was standing directly in front of him. ¡°I will go with you then, Matt,¡± she said.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    Tess woke up feeling cranky and out of sorts the day they were scheduled to tour Pompeii. This was the fifth day since Dash had¡­ She didn¡¯t know what to call what he had done. That was definitely not a proposal, but it had been almost a week and he had not made another appearance.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

 48

    He¡¯d managed to find her in Greece when she wasn¡¯t expecting him to, but now that she wanted him to¡­nothing. The man was a billionaire. He had a helicopter, not to mention a jet. He hadn¡¯t even bothered to call her on the phone.

    If it were important for him to see her, as he¡¯d implied, wouldn¡¯t he have used one of them? This was the reason why she didn¡¯t want to take his words seriously at first, but despite her good intentions, she couldn¡¯t stop herself. She was angry with herself as well as him.

    David had gotten over his snit by the time they arrived in Rome and apologized sweetly for his usations. They¡¯d agreed to resume their friendship and had toured the Vatican together.

    Their rtionship wasn¡¯t as free and easy as it had been. She was careful to avoid his casual touches, afraid Dash had been right. In allowing it, perhaps she had encouraged David to think she wanted something from their friendship that she didn¡¯t.

    She yawned behind her hand as she entered the hotel dining room. If she didn¡¯t start getting some sleep soon, she was in trouble, but her dreams were filled with a tall, handsome man and her waking thoughts were tormented by hisment about marriage.

    ¡°You are tired, Tess. This tour is perhaps not such a good thing for you.¡±

    Her head whipped around when she heard that and there he stood.

    ¡°Dash, what are you doing here?¡± she asked. As greetings went, it was not original.

    She excused herself with her fatigue and shock at seeing him right when she was thinking of him. But meanwhile, the guy obviously had a thing for appearing out of nowhere. First at the party when he had bumped into her, then at the Parthenon when she was with David, and now.

    ¡°Surely you are not surprised to see me.¡± Dash said as he watched the expression on her face.

    ¡°But I am. It¡¯s been almost a week.¡± Tess replied.

    His brow rose in mockery. ¡°And you expected me to show up before this?¡±

    ¡°No. Well¡­¡± She began. She didn¡¯t want to lie, but she wasn¡¯t handing it to him in hisp either.

    ¡°I was called to home on a business emergency.¡± he said.

    ¡°You could have called. My father has my phone number, and I¡¯m sure that since he had no problem telling you where I was, he probably gave that to you too.¡± He was the one, after all, who had said she was different.

    ¡°I did not think of that, honestly. I have been very busytely¡­ And I wanted to give you some space to¡­ You know, think¡± He looked chagrined by the admission.

    She should be pissed that he just admitted that he didn¡¯t even remember to call her, but instead, she felt a smile spreading over her face. Dash ck behaved in such an old fashioned way, even in the way he spoke sometimes.

    ¡°That¡¯s all right then, but why have youe today?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I desire to escort you around Pompeii.¡± he replied.

    ¡°I¡¯d like that.¡± Nearly five days had been enough time for her to realize that if Dash wanted to pursue a rtionship with her, she would be the world¡¯s biggest fool to deny him.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    A love¡­ Or feelings, whatever it was, that had not abated in three years was not going to go away. If she wanted a chance at a husband and a family, she epted it would be with him, or not at all. If nothing else, her renewed friendship with David had taught her that. She had no desire to pursue anything personal with him and had not been the least bit jealous when another woman on the tour had begun flirting with him.

    They were together now, at a table for two.

    Dash proved his gaze had followed hers when he said, ¡°So, he epted he could not have you and has transferred his interests to someone else.¡± he said.

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have gone to his room that night,¡± she chided.

    ¡°You did not yet recognize you were mine, but I made certain he did. It was necessary to avoidplications.¡±

    She sighed. It was no use arguing with him about it. What was done was done and she couldn¡¯t say she was sorry.

    ¡°Noeback?¡± Dark brown eyes pinned her own gaze with probing concentration.

    She rolled her eyes and shook her head.

    ¡°You are mine?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Are you asking me?¡± That was new, she thought. Before he had just been stating it.

    ¡°I am asking if you ept it.¡± he replied

    If she denied it, she would be lying to both of them.

    He hadn¡¯t meant to hurt her with his rejection at her father¡¯s party and she had to trust him not to hurt her now. She had no choice. She wanted him beyond pride or reason, so she took the plunge. ¡°Yes.¡± she said.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    Dash dismissed the emotion he experienced at her acknowledgment as natural relief that his n was back on course. The sooner Tess became his, the closer he would be to regaining control of ck Shipping. His n was working fine.

    ¡°Atst, we progress,¡± he said.

    She grimaced at his choice of words, but did not demur.

    Smiling, he took her arm and led her to a table. Her acquiescence now was in marked contrast to her vehement protest a week ago when he had been forced to practically kidnap her in order to secure herpany for the evening. He helped her into her seat brushing a light kiss against her temple as he did so. Startled green eyes took him in as he crossed to sit on the other side of the intimate table for two.

    Even after the intimacies they had shared, she still acted surprised when he touched her.

    He liked the shyness.

    He had already ordered breakfast for them, but he waved the waiter over to fill her coffee cup. ¡°You do look tired, Tess,¡± he said.

    Her eyes were bruised and herplexion pale from an obviousck of sleep.

    ¡°Perhaps we should put the tour of Pompeii off for another day,¡± he suggested.

    She hid a yawn behind one small hand. ¡°I can¡¯t. Today¡¯s ourst day here. We are supposed to tour some other ce tomorrow, though I have forgotten where that is¡±

    ¡°I do not wish for you to leave yet.¡± Dash said.

 49

    Her eyes widened, but she did not fly at him in anger as she had done before when he told her he wanted her to leave the tour.

    ¡°I have two weeks left of my European visit.¡± Tess said.

    ¡°Spend them with my family. My mom wishes to meet you and Elena is home from the university. I¡¯m sure she will enjoy yourpany.¡±

    ¡°You told your mother about me?¡± Tess asked.

    ¡°Yes.¡± he replied

    His mother  would have been very hurt if he had sprung a bride on her out of the blue. And she was very excited about the prospect of grandchildren¡­ Something Dash wasn¡¯t even sure that he was ready for. But one thing at a time.

    ¡°What did you tell her?¡± Tess asked, looking at him as if he¡¯d grown donkey ears.

    ¡°Why the shock?¡± He had told Tess his intentions. ¡°I told my mother that I had met a woman I wanted for my wife.¡± She looked like she wasn¡¯t listening so he said, ¡°Tess?¡±

    ¡°Yeah I heard you.¡± She said, She took a gulp of coffee and then started coughing.

    He was around the table in a moment, pressing a ss of water into her hands.

    ¡°Are you all right?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Yes. It was too hot.¡± She replied.

    ¡°Be more careful, Tess. If you burn your mouth, how can I kiss it?¡±

    She blushed and set the ss of water down with a trembling hand as he resumed his seat.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure you were serious, about marriage I mean.¡± Again the charming blush.

    ¡°I am.¡± he said.

    She nodded, the soft curls around her face bouncing. ¡°I can see that, but it¡¯s such a shock.¡±

    To him as well. He had not been anticipating marriage just yet, particrly to a shy virgin. ¡°Life is not so easily predicted,¡± he said.

    ¡°I suppose you¡¯re right.¡±

    ¡°So, will youe with me and stay in my home with my mother and sister? At least for a while so you can get to know them¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Tess replied.

    He stifled his impatience. She was skittish, like an untried mare. He did not want to spook her when his ns were finally working out as he had originally expected. Perhaps the emergency in New York had been a gift from the good God because it had given her time to make up her mind to him.

    ¡°What makes you hesitate?¡± he asked, allowing none of his impatience to show in his voice. ¡°Are you concerned for your virtue? My mom will act as sufficient chaperone surely, like I told you before, she is very old fashioned.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not worried about that. I am twenty six years old. I don¡¯t need your mother¡¯s protection.¡±

    He smiled at her feistiness. ¡°What then?¡±

    ¡°My dad might not like it.¡± She said,

    ¡°I have already spoken to your father.¡±

    ¡°You have?¡± Once again she looked like a doe startled by an unexpected sound.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    ¡°Yes. It is only natural that I should speak to him when I wish to marry his daughter.¡±

    He said nothing of the fact Neal Patchett had been the one to instigate the meeting. That was not relevant to him and Tess. He wanted to marry her. That was the only issue she needed to be concerned with.

    ¡°How can you say that so calmly?¡±

    ¡°Say what?¡± he asked.

    ¡°That bit about wanting to marry me. I mean we haven¡¯t even led up to it and suddenly, boom, here you are saying you want to marry me like it¡¯s a foregone conclusion. You haven¡¯t even asked me.¡±

    Nor had he courted her and a woman deserved to be courted to marriage.

    ¡°Have we not led up to it? The kiss we shared at that party, the kisses we sharedst week, they lead to bed and bed with a virgin means marriage for me¡±

    Her pale skin took on a fiercely rosy hue. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± She said

    ¡°Do you still deny the way we kissed gave me im to you?¡± He had thought they were past that. He hated going backwards.

    ¡°No, but marriage is not necessarily the next inevitable step.¡±

    ¡°It is.¡± he said.

    ¡°Come on, Dash. Like I¡¯ve said before, you can¡¯t tell me you marry every woman you kiss passionately.¡±

    Had he ever shared a passion so vtile with another woman? He did not think so. But a marriage to her was necessary right now.

    ¡°I have never kissed another virgin.¡± he said, which was true. But that wasn¡¯t his only reason for wanting to marry her.

    ¡°Hush!¡± She looked around, her expression almostical. ¡°This is not the ce to discuss my sexual experience, orck thereof.¡± She said,

    ¡°I agree.¡± Even if this marriage wasn¡¯t his idea, It was exciting for him to think of introducing her into the pleasures of the flesh. He wanted to be able to walk when they left the restaurant, but if they didn¡¯t change the subject he wasn¡¯t going to be able to.

    ¡°When we return home,e stay at my ce and let me convince you.¡±

    ¡°You mean like a courtship?¡± Tess asked.

    ¡°Yes. Exactly.¡± he replied.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think men still did that.¡±

    ¡°It is a ritual that will continue through the millennia, whatever you choose to call it. Men will pursue their chosen mate with whatever means at their disposal.¡±

    ¡°And your means are a couple of weeks with your family?¡± She sounded bemused, shocked even.

    ¡°Yes,¡± he replied.

    ¡°All right.¡±

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to look as though your world hase to an end,¡± Matt ground out as he watched Savannah.

    ¡°I think I¡¯m allowed to when I know that I¡¯m making the worst decision ever¡± Savannah replied.

    ¡°Do you have to be sarcastic about everything?¡± Matt asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m not being sarcastic. This is a bad idea. We both know it¡±

    ¡°You really think being with me is a bad idea?¡± he asked

    ¡°Yes I do¡± Savannah replied. ¡°And you know why. You know, you didn¡¯t have to bring up this ridiculous requirement to give me that job. You are just trying to torment me. I think you¡¯re incredibly mean.¡± she turned to look out of the window.

    ¡°Mean?¡± he repeated. Fighting an inexplicable urge tough, Matt stared at the back of her head. ¡°I haven¡¯t heard that word since I started at boarding school.¡±

    ¡°And I bet you were aplete nightmare at boarding school, and I¡¯m sure they would agree with me¡±

 50

    ¡°I had my moments. And for your information, I wasn¡¯t trying to be ¡°mean¡± or anything like that. To be honest, I just wanted you toe with me¡­. Because I wanted us to spend some time together.

    Her shoulders grew a little stiffer and she turned to look at him. Her steady gaze suggested that she wasn¡¯t convinced.

    Savannah decided not to dwell on that statement he had just made.

    ¡°So this ind-¡± she began. The thought of this brief adventure cheered her up slightly, so she would just focus on enjoying it. ¡°Where is it? And why did you decide toe there of all ces?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a tropical ind off the coast of South America. And the reason I decided that we should go there is because it¡¯s peaceful, and we¡¯ll be the only two people on the ind.¡±

    ¡°Just us?¡± Her voice was a horrified squeak. ¡°You expect me to spend two weeks without a single person to talk to?¡±

    ¡°Well, I will be there. You can talk to me¡± Matt said, grinning.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know if there is really anything for us to talk about¡­ Especially if we are going to be alone for so long¡±

    ¡°Well then, I believe there are two species of parrot found on the ind. If you y your cards right, one of them might talk to you.¡± he said.

    ¡°You may think you¡¯re funny, but I¡¯m the sort of person who likespany. If you¡¯re the only person on the ind-¡± her eyes narrowed

    ¡°Just talk to me then¡± he interrupted. ¡°It¡¯s the reason why I wanted toe. I think we have a lot to talk about¡±

    ¡°Talk away. Just don¡¯t expect me to answer.¡± she said

    Matt watched her through the dark shield of hisshes. ¡°On the other hand,¡± he said smiling. ¡°If it¡¯spany you want and no talking, I¡¯m sure we can find some way of passing the time that doesn¡¯t include conversation.¡±

    Savannah didn¡¯t even want to think about what he meant by that, and she was too terrified to ask. So she didn¡¯t.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    He was arrogant, overbearing-Savannah sighed. And insanely sexy. It had been one of the reasons why she had fallen so hard for him back then.

    How could he be sexy when he was asleep? Strands of dark hair flopped over his forehead giving him a dangerous, rakish look. The bold ck brows and darkened jaw were wholly masculine and as for that mouth- She looked away quickly, her heart thudding against her chest.

    No, no, no.

    She wasn¡¯t going to do that to herself. Not again. No more fantasies about Matt Bradford or other unobtainable guys. She knew who she was now and she knew entertaining those kinds of thoughts would do her no good. Going on this trip with him didn¡¯t change anything.

    Blind with tiredness but totally unable to rx enough to sleep, Savannah stared out of the window at the tropical inds that studded the sparkling ocean below.

    Some of the tiredness sloughed away as she gazed beneath her. The sea was dotted with emerald-green inds, each framed by white sands and coral reefs. It was beautiful.

    Clear turquoise waterpped at secluded coves. Paradise, she thought, with a twist.

    She sneaked a nce at Matt, still sleeping beside her.

    He was the twist.

    What did he want to discuss now? He made it clear back then that he had heard enough. Then suddenly seeking her out after a year. And why did he feel the need to do this on a deserted ind?

    The questions spiraled in her head until sheer exhaustion made her fall asleep. When she woke it was to find Matt staring out of the window.

    For a few seconds she thought saw torment and anguish in his eyes and then he realized she was awake and quickly nked it.

    What could possibly be tormenting him? Nothing. His life was perfect.

    ¡°Have we arrived?¡± she asked.

    ¡°We¡¯re in Rio de Janeiro. It¡¯s a short helicopter hop to the Ind.¡±

    ¡°This ind-¡± she began as she retrieved her bag from under her seat ¡°-is it yours?¡±

    ¡°Ermmm¡­ Actually it belongs to my family¡± he said. ¡°Very convenient at times like this. You know, in case you want to get away from¡­ You know, everything¡±

    Savannah stared at him for a moment, wondering how she could have failed to make the connection. ¡°Your family?¡± she repeated. His family didn¡¯t really approve of her.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± he said. ¡°Ermmm, I don¡¯t think we should talk about them though¡±

    ¡°Oh I don¡¯t intend to,¡± she said. A part of her already regretteding here with him.

    He must have seen the difort on her face because he said, ¡°Look, you don¡¯t have to think about them. We are going to be alone throughout our stay. Just feel free.

    Do anything you want. You look tense¡­ You should try to relieve yourself¡±

    ¡°Talking is how I relieve tension.¡± Savannah said, ¡°And like I said, I don¡¯t think I want to talk to you¡­ Especially not about this¡±

    He grinned and leaned towards her, his dark eyes two narrow, dangerous slits of simmering sensuality. ¡°Fine. Don¡¯t talk. There are other ways to relieve tension. Want to know how I relieve tension when I don¡¯t want to talk?¡±

    She knew. ¡°No, I do not.¡± she said quickly.

    Trapped by his gaze, she found it hard to breathe. He was a man who clearly understood the effect he had on women¡­ He knew the effect he had on her

    As if to confirm that, his smile was slow and confident. ¡°Sure?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Completely sure.¡±

    ¡°But you¡¯re curious,¡± he said. His voice was soft and seductive. ¡°Admit it- you¡¯ve been wondering how it is going to feel when we eventually stop all this self-control nonsense and kiss each other.¡±

    Savannah swallowed. ¡°I haven¡¯t. It hasn¡¯t crossed my mind.¡± she said.

    ¡°You forget that I know you, Savvie.¡± Matt said. ¡°You¡¯re a terrible liar.¡±

    ¡°And you¡¯re impossibly arrogant. And arrogance,¡± she said breathlessly, ¡°is never an attractive trait, even for the Sexiest Man Alive.¡± Her heart was pounding and the blood hummed in her ears. ¡°The Savannah you used to know is gone. You made sure of that¡±

    ¡°You think I¡¯m the sexiest man alive?¡± he asked, ignoring herst statement.

    ¡°I was quoting opinion polls.¡± she replied.

    Thoroughly flustered, Savannah looked out of the window again. ¡°We¡¯rending.¡±  she said.

 51

    Thank goodness, she thought.

    At least they could give each other some space now. Howe he always knew what to say and she never did? Howe he never seemed to feel awkward?

    He unbuckled his seat belt and leaned across to do hers. ¡°Let¡¯s move,¡± he said. ¡°The helicopter is waiting.¡±

    The first thing that hit her when she stepped out onto the ind was the intense heat and the colors. Deep green palm trees shaded milky white sand, and a parrot added a sh of exotic red as it took refuge in the trees clustered in the center of the ind. The hot sun was a ball of orange and the sea was a magic carpet of glittering jeweled blue.

    ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful,¡± she said. Matt nodded and took her arm and drew her away from the helicopter. ¡°Here we are. Home sweet home¡­ well, not really home home, but you get it. Otherwise known as Paradise Vi. All the bedrooms open onto the terrace and overlook the sea. Take your pick.¡±

    Feeling hot and sticky in her jeans, Savannah walked into the house and stopped dead, stunned by what she saw.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s-beautiful,¡± she said.

    ¡°Yes it is¡± Matt said.

    Savannah gazed around her. The outdoor living area was cleverly designed to offer maximum shade while making the most of the breathtaking views. Exotic nts swayedzily in the breeze and deep cream sofas invited rxation and indulgence. The only sound was the swish of the sea as it rushed onto the sand. It was another world.

    ¡°Who can afford to stay here?¡±

    ¡°We can.¡± Matt urged her forward. ¡°Most of the living space is outdoors, obviously, because of the view. Terrace, infinity pool, hammocks-you¡¯ll find everything you need to chill out and do nothing. If you get bored doing nothing, there are water sports.¡±

    Savannah felt faint. ¡°So when peoplee here, they book the whole ind?¡±

    ¡°Indeed they do. Theye here for peace and quiet and to experience the unique challenges of having hot sweaty sex in a hammock.¡± His smile was slow and sexy. ¡°Ever tried sex in a hammock?¡± he asked.

    Savannah gave him a look. ¡°You¡¯re not funny.¡± she said. Feeling as though she¡¯d been plunged into a furnace, she pulled off her jumper. ¡°Is there somewhere I can buy some clothes? Next time you intend to force someone into going on a trip with you, warn them to pack for hot weather. I¡¯m boiling to death wearing jeans in this heat.¡±

    Or maybe it wasn¡¯t the heat. Maybe it was him ¡­ That disturbing dark gaze was slumberous.

    ¡°The staff were instructed to put some clothes in your room.¡± Matt said.

    Great. Her worst nightmare. Someone else choosing her clothes.

    Specting on the sort of woman the staff would have expected to see with Matt Bradford and sensing major embarrassment, Savannah¡¯s heart sank. She¡¯d rather wear jeans and risk heatstroke. ¡°I can tell you now that nothing will fit.¡± she said.

    ¡°If nothing fits, then you can walk around naked,¡± he replied.

    ¡°You¡¯re still not funny.¡±  Savannah replied.

    Lifting her chin, she walked across the terrace and back into the vi. ¡°I presume the bedrooms are this way?¡± she asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s the master suite. Unless you want to share it with me, you need to turn left.¡±

    Savannah turned left so sharply she almost fell over. She heard Matt giggle but decided to ignore that.

    The door to another bedroom suite was open and she escaped inside, her eyebrows lifting as she saw the rose petals sprinkled on the white silk bedcover and the candles clustered around bowls of scented flowers.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    It was a room for romance. A room for loving.

    ¡°Miss Savannah?¡± A smiling woman ambled slowly into the room carrying soft fluffy towels. ¡°I¡¯m Rosa, and if there¡¯s anything you need during your stay, you just have to ask.¡±

    Savannah frowned, confused. ¡°I thought-He said¡­. Matt said we were on our own.¡± she said.

    Rosaughed, her smooth brown face alight with amusement. ¡°Bless you. This ce has a staff of twenty. But we all live on the maind. We arrive in time to make breakfast and leave after supper. So you have the best of both worlds. I arranged for some clothes for you, but if they¡¯re not right just let me know.¡±

    They were going to be too tight, all the wrong colors and it was going to be hideously embarrassing. Coming here with Matt was one thing, but letting him get her a whole new wardrobe? This was beginning to get a bit much. But Savannah was too polite toin to the nicedy.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll be perfect. Thanks very much.¡± she said. Perfect or not, it was a relief to peel off her jeans. After a deliciously cool shower in a luxurious bathroom with one side open to the beach, she wrapped herself in a soft fluffy white towel and wandered into the walk-in closet. Oh, to live like this. An array of colorful bikinis had been spread out for her and she gave them a single horrified nce and reached for a primrose sundress.

    Yellow was too bold a color for her, but it was better than squeezing into a bikini in front of Matt.

    She slipped on the dress, relieved to find it fitted perfectly. It was extremely pretty-in fact, the only thing wrong with it was the color. It was so bright. And she never wore bright clothes. She preferred to blend into the background.

    With a shortugh, Savannah looked in the mirror and shook her head.

    No chance of blending in dressed in yellow. Slipping her feet into a pair of pretty flip-flops, she walked back onto the terrace feeling as conspicuous as a sunflower in a vegetable patch.

    Matt had stripped off his shirt and was sprawled unselfconsciously on the white sun lounger in nothing but a pair of low-slung board shorts that showed off his rippling abs.

    ¡°It¡¯s going to be hard to swim in a dress, wardrobe.¡± he said.

    Feeling about as appealing as a piece of uncooked pasta, Savannah sat down neatly on the sun lounger furthest away from him. ¡°I¡¯m not swimming.¡± she replied

    Strip almost naked and parade in front of him. Hell no, she thought. Definitely not a good idea and there was no point in making this situation worse.

 52

    He nced up from his phone. ¡°You don¡¯t wanna swim?¡± he asked her.

    She nodded. ¡°Yeah. I don¡¯t want to.¡±

    ¡°Why not? Swimming is the only way to stay cool. You said you were hot¡±

    Savannah slid off her sandals. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m not that hot.¡± She lied.

    A sardonic smile touched the corners of his mouth. ¡°You look hot to me,¡± he said. Leaving that ambiguousment floating in the air, he leaned across and passed her a ss of chilled lemonade. ¡°What was wrong with the selection of bikinis Rosa bought you?¡±

    ¡°Nothing was wrong with them.¡±

    ¡°Then why aren¡¯t you wearing one of them?¡± he asked

    Abandoning subtlety in favor of honesty, Savannah red at him. ¡°Because there is no way I¡¯m wearing a bikini in front of you!¡± she said.

    He frowned. ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°Is that a serious question?¡± Judging from his nk expression, she decided it was. ¡°Matt, there are basically two types of women-the padded version and the unpadded version. You hang out with the unpadded version. I¡¯m the padded version. You know that already¡±

    ¡°The padded version?¡± he repeated, nodding his head.

    ¡°I¡¯m designed with extra cushioning,¡± she muttered, ¡°built forfort, not speed. And now can we please talk about something else?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why you won¡¯t wear the bikini?¡± he asked. A slow smile spread across his face. ¡°Because you¡¯re worried about your body?¡±

    Savannah rolled her eyes. ¡°Call me vain, but I don¡¯t want to spend the whole day sucking in my stomach.¡±

    ¡°So don¡¯t.¡± he said. Smiling, he leaned back against the lounge and closed his eyes. ¡°Women have such a distorted view of what a guy finds sexy. And you are right, I do know you. And I have always thought you have a very sexy stomach¡­ And body. I know it¡¯s been a while, but I still think so. Put the bikini on, and I¡¯ll give you my verdict.¡±

    Her gaze drifted to his wide shoulders and hard chest. He looked as he always had¡­ Sexy. ¡°I¡¯d rather boil alive than let you see my stomach.¡± she said.

    ¡°Sweetheart, if you¡¯re going to spend two weeks on a tropical ind, fully clothed, then you will boil alive.¡± he grinned then added. ¡°And besides, it doesn¡¯t matter, I can see your stomach anytime I want¡±

    Savannah gasped. ¡°what?¡± she asked him, wide-eyed.

    Mattughed. ¡°Yeah¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s one of the benefits of being your ex boyfriend. I can see you naked anytime I want¡­ All I have to do is close my eyes¡±

    The fact that he wasughing at her doubled her tension. ¡°Don¡¯t make fun of me.¡± she said. ¡°And stop it. I don¡¯t want you thinking about me like that anymore¡±

    He kept grinning. ¡°Sorry. But there is nothing you can do about it.¡± he paused, raised a finger, closed his eyes and added. ¡°Oh now, in my imagination, there are thousands of you in bikini and I¡¯m the king¡±

    Savannah gasped. She reached out and hit him on the shoulder. ¡°Oh, stop it Matt.¡± she said. ¡°You are making me ufortable¡±

    ¡°Fine. Fine¡± he said, and opened his eyes. ¡°But seriously, you have to rx, Savvie.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    And for what it¡¯s worth, I think you¡¯re extremely pretty. I always have¡± he drawled, ¡°So all this insecurity about yourself is misced.¡±

    Savannah didn¡¯t know what to say to that. This wasn¡¯t the kind of conversation she wanted to have with him. They made certain memories flood back into her head. Memories she had tried so hard to put behind her.

    Her fingers tightened on herp. She decided to change the subject. ¡°So¡­. How long until dinner?¡± she asked.

    He stared at her for a few seconds, and for a while she thought he wouldn¡¯t listen and keep taking, but she was relieved when he got up and said, ¡°Let¡¯s find out¡±

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    When Savannah woke the next morning, she struggled to make sense of her surroundings. Then she remembered. She was on a beautiful ind-with Matt.

    After dinner with Matt, she had retired to bed almost immediately. She was tired from the trip and spending that much time with Matt again after all this while was a bit hard. No matter how much she wanted to deny it, she knew she still felt something for him. It had reminded her too much of their time together back then, and she didn¡¯t want to remember it.

    Once again, she¡¯d been reminded of how much of an idiot she was toe here with him.

    But this morning she felt resigned to her fate. After a quick shower, she dressed and padded into the living room where Matt was already sitting typing on aptop. He looked up when he heard here in.

    ¡°Breakfast is ready. I wanted to wait for you but I was so damn hungry¡±

    ¡°Fine,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s okay. I¡¯m sorry I woke up sote¡±

    She went into the kitchen. Taking a tter off the warmer, she carried it over to the table and began spooning healthy portions of eggs, toast and ham onto her te.

    As she sat down, she was forced to admit that she felt better than she had in weeks. She felt rxed and she had certainly gotten more rest in the past hours than she had in a long time.

    She concentrated on the delicious food in front of her and when she was done, she wandered aimlessly back into the living room, she stopped in front of therge window offering a view of the skyline.

    ¡°Hey,¡± Matt said from behind her.

    She sighed and turned around, shocked to see him in just a towel. She swiveled back to the window, but the image burned in her eyes. His broad chest rippled with well-defined muscles and his lean abdomen was sculpted like a fine work of art. She used to spend hours exploring the dips and curves of his body. This was one of the memories she was trying to get rid of.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I embarrassed you,¡± he said in a low voice. ¡°I guess I didn¡¯t give it a thought considering our past rtionship.¡±

    She had the ridiculous urge tough. Embarrass her? The only embarrassing thing was how her mind was currently wandering way below the makeshift waistline of his towel.

    And of course, in his arrogance, he would assume -considering the ¡°nature of their rtionship¡±-that he could cavort about in the nude.

 53

    Drawing up her shoulders, she turned around again and stared coolly at him. ¡°If you think because we were once lovers that you can take up where we left off, you¡¯re sadly mistaken.¡±

    He blinked in surprise and then anger reced the surprise. ¡°God, Savvie. Do you think so little of me that I would try to force you into a sexual rtionship?¡± he asked. ¡°What exactly do you take me for?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t want to know the answer to that.¡± She replied. ¡°What do you expect me to think? You are the one who has been¡­. I don¡¯t know¡­ Flirting¡±

    He swore long and hard. He knew she was right though. He had been flirting, because he still wanted her, but he never nned on making her do anything she didn¡¯t want to. But her statements annoyed him so much. ¡°What makes you think I would ever want to sample my brother¡¯s secondhand goods anyway?¡± he said without thinking.

    She balled her hands into fists and forced a careless reply. ¡°Well, since your brother didn¡¯t mind, I assumed it was a family trait.¡±

    His dark eyes became even darker and his jaw twitched spasmodically. Then he spun around and disappeared into his bedroom, the sound of the door mming reverberating throughout the house.

    Savannah sighed and sank into a nearby armchair. That did not go well, she thought. She knew she shouldn¡¯t have said that. What demon had forced her to throw more fuel on the mes she would never know. Like they didn¡¯t have enough issues between them. The need to defend herself had long since fled. He should have believed in her then. She didn¡¯t really care what he chose to do now. The desire for him to stand behind her and protect her had fizzled when she realized that she¡¯d never had his love or his faith. The memories hurt too much.

    God, what was she doing here? Just being with him again brought back too many memories she would be better off forgetting. And yet a part of her knew that she had agreed toe with him because she wanted to, and not because he made her. She didn¡¯t want to admit that to herself though.

    Restless and sick at heart, she made her way around the house, angry at herself and at him. When she returned to the living room, he showed up again.

    He seemed calm. And she was calm, too-at least for now. It was time to get things out in the open. ¡°Matt, we need to talk.¡± She said.

    He looked surprised and a little wary over her change in tone, but he sat down across from her and regarded her with open curiosity. ¡°Okay, talk.¡± he replied.

    ¡°I want to know why you came to find me¡­ After a year. I really don¡¯t understand why you did that after making it clear that you wanted me out of your life.¡± She was careful to keep her emotions in check as she waited for his response.

    He didn¡¯t look pleased with her question. He looked away, at the wall, his jaw tight.

    ¡°And how did you know where to find me?¡± she continued when he remained silent.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    ¡°I hired an investigator,¡± he said after a moment¡¯s pause.

    Her mouth fell open. So much for being calm.

    ¡°Why? So you could use me of being a whore all over again? So you could sweep in and upend my life? I don¡¯t get it Matt. You hate me. I know what you think of me. You made it very clear when you threw me out of your life. Why the hell would youe back? Are looking to dig up the past again? I keep asking myself these questions over and over again¡±

    ¡°Damn it, Savvie!¡± he exploded. ¡°You disappeared without a word to anyone. You didn¡¯t cash the check. I thought you were out there hurt and scared-or dead.¡±

    ¡°Too bad for you I wasn¡¯t.¡± She retorted.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you make this about me,¡± he growled. It was obvious he had only a tenuous grip on his control. ¡°You took what we had and threw it in my face. You decided I wasn¡¯t enough for you. I looked for you because no matter what you had done or how badly I wanted to forget you, I couldn¡¯t stand the thought of you being out there somewhere scared and alone.¡±

    He broke off and looked away. When he looked back at her, his eyes were shuttered. ¡°I¡¯ve answered your questions, now I want mine answered.¡± he said.

    They both nced up at the sound of the front door opening and, to Savannah¡¯s horror, Matt¡¯s brother, Lorenzo, stood in the entryway.

    ¡°Hey Matt, I didn¡¯t even know you were here¡­.¡± he began. His voice died when he saw her. ¡°Uh¡­hi, Savannah.¡±

    Matt watched as Savannah¡¯s expression became cial. Damn it, she was going to think he nned this. And while yes, the three of them certainly needed to hash out a few things, now wasn¡¯t the time. He rose from his seat and headed in his brother¡¯s direction. Wow, Enzo really had bad timing.

    After what happened between Savannah and Enzo, It had taken Matt months to see beyond his rage and jealousy to be able to entertain resuming a normal rtionship with his younger brother. Before Matt hadn¡¯t given a second thought to Enzoing to his house and going at will. He had a key. Matt had always encouraged him to drop in and had looked forward to his visits. But that was before Enzo had slept with Savannah.

    Before the two most important people in his life had betrayed him. When he finally talked himself around to forgiving Enzo and allowing him back into his life, he¡¯d also considered that if he was willing to forgive his brother then perhaps he should also find Savannah and at least listen to her reasons why.

    Things weren¡¯t perfect between him and his brother now. Maybe they never would be. But they were better and Enzo had starteding around him more, even if he was more cautious than he¡¯d ever been in the past.

 54

    Now he had brought Savannah to the ind and  now they¡¯d all be forced to face the inevitable confrontation. A part of him dreaded it, but the other part of him knew he¡¯d never be able to move forward unless this was fully resolved. But it would be done when he decided and not before. He and Savannah had too much to work out between them before they tackled the issue of Enzo and her infidelity.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t a good time, man,¡± he said in a low voice when he reached his brother.

    Unease flickered across Enzo¡¯s face, and he nced nervously over Matt¡¯s shoulder toward Savannah. ¡°I can see that.¡± he said. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you would be here honestly.¡±

    Matt turned and saw Savannah tremble and then her fingers flexed and curled into fists. She was as pale as death, her eyesrge and haunted. ¡°It¡¯s okay¡± he prompted when Enzo made no move to leave. ¡°The ind is big enough for all of us anyways¡±

    ¡°No. No¡± Enzo replied. ¡°I will give you some privacy. I¡­. urmmm.. I was nning to give you a call anyways. Mom has been saying she wants us to have dinner sometime and I suggested we alle here for some family time. I decided toe a little early¡­. You know.. Have sometime to myself. I thought it was a good idea and I was going to call and let you know of our ns¡­ I haven¡¯t seen you in a while. I know you¡¯ve been busy with a lot of worktely, and I hoped this would be an opportunity for us to get together like old times.¡±

    Matt sighed. He and Enzo had always been close. Until Savannah. He hated this. Hated it all. Hated that a woman hade between him and the brother he¡¯d all but raised after their father died.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I¡¯ll call Momter, okay? And we¡¯ll get together. Just not right now.¡± Matt said.

    ¡°Yeah, I understand.¡± Enzo said. ¡°I guess I will see youter. It seems like you guys would prefer being alone, so I will just find some ce to stay on the maind¡± He backed toward the door, and Matt followed.

    As Matt gripped the doorknob to close it after Enzo, his brother whispered, ¡°Are you taking her back after what happened?¡± he asked Matt.

    Matt drew his brows together. ¡°I don¡¯t want to discuss that right now¡± he replied.

    Enzo flinched and his cheeks lost color. ¡°I¡¯m just concerned. Do you think this is a good idea?¡±

    Matt studied him for a moment, his brows drawing together as he observed Enzo¡¯s reaction to seeing Savannah. ¡°No¡­. I mean¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­ I¡¯m still trying to figure out some things.¡±

    ¡°Uh-uh, can¡¯t be a good idea.. Whatever you are trying to figure out. Believe me¡± Enzo said, shaking his head emphatically.

    ¡°So you say.¡± Matt replied.

    Enzo stepped into the hall and then shoved his hands into his pockets as he stared back at Matt.

    But he didn¡¯t quite meet Matt¡¯s gaze. ¡°Look, I¡¯m sorry. I know this is a bad situation. But I¡¯m your brother, and I only want what is best for you. I know how you felt when you guys broke up and I don¡¯t want to see you hurt that way again.¡±

    Matt said nothing and watched him walk toward the door and leave, the same frustrated helplessness clutching his throat. He stepped back and shut the door, angry. Angry at Savannah, angry at Enzo and angry with himself all over again. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Savannah had other partners besides him and Enzo.

    He wouldn¡¯t even give that consideration. It made him sick just considering it. When he returned to the couch he wasn¡¯t prepared for the absolute hatred and revulsion in Savannah¡¯s expression.

    Before he could say anything she fixed him with a look that froze him to the bone.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know why he¡¯s here and I know this ce belongs to your family but If I ever see him here again, I¡¯m out of here. I won¡¯t be in the same room with him.¡± She said.

    Matt was taken aback. ¡°You know he mighte back.¡± he said. ¡°I can¡¯t stop him froming if he wants to¡±

    Her teeth were clenched and her knuckles white. ¡°Fine. Then I won¡¯t stay here if he does.¡± She said.

    Why the hell was she so angry with Enzo? Matt thought. If anyone deserved to be angry it was Enzo, after Savannah had used him of trying to rape her. Nothing about this entire situation made sense. And he was tired of trying to figure it out.

    ¡°Enzo is just trying to put this behind him¡± he said, gauging her reaction. ¡°He¡¯s trying to let this go¡±

    Pain rippled across her face. Not the reaction he¡¯d imagined. ¡°And of course you believe him,¡± she said in a voice that sounded like she was dangerously close to tears.

    ¡°Are you saying he lied? Are you saying nothing happened between the both of you?¡± He had no idea how badly he wanted to put all this behind him till now. He had no idea how badly he wanted this to not be true. His eyes pleaded with her to confirm it.

    The indecipherable mask was back on her face again. ¡°I don¡¯t have to tell you anything,¡± she said, frost dripping from her voice.

    Frustration hit him like a ton of bricks. She had shut herself off again and nothing was going to open her to him. He wanted to put his fist through the wall.

    ¡°I¡¯m going out for a while, I need to take a walk¡± he finally ground out. ¡°We can have lunch together when I get back.¡±

    He turned and stalked out before he said things he¡¯d only regret.

    As he made his way slowly around the ind, his  phone rang, rudely intruding on his thoughts. ¡°What?¡± he barked into the receiver.

    ¡°Matt?¡± His mom¡¯s voice bled through his dour mood.

    ¡°Sorry, Mom, didn¡¯t mean to snap.¡± He said. He slid into one of the seats by the swimming pool, settling back, not knowing what to do or think.

    ¡°Matt, what¡¯s wrong?¡± his mother asked.

    ¡°Nothing, Mom, just a busy day. What¡¯s up?¡±

    ¡°I was hoping to spend some time with you and Enzo. Enzo suggested we all go spend some time together at the ind and I think it¡¯s a great idea.¡±

 55

    Matt closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose between two fingers.

    There was no easy way to say this and his mom would know soon enough now that Savannah was with him. Best she knows now so she could get used to it.

    ¡°Mom, you should know¡­ I¡¯m at the ind already¡­. And I¡¯m not alone¡­ Savannah is with me.¡± he said.

    There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end followed by thick silence. ¡°I see,¡± she finally said.

    ¡°I guess inviting Le is out of the question then.¡± She said,

    Matt blew out his breath at his mother¡¯s snippy tone. Le Donavan was a woman his mom had been shoving at him ever since Savannah had disappeared.

    Though his mother had nevere out and said I told you so, she didn¡¯t have to. It was there as in as if she¡¯d hung a banner.

    She¡¯d never approved of Savannah . Never liked that Matt was marrying her. She¡¯d been polite, though.

    Matt had demanded it of her. He wouldn¡¯t allow any of his family to disrespect the woman he¡¯d chosen to be his wife.

    After what had happened with Enzo and Savannah, he¡¯d expected his mother to be more smug; but she¡¯d been oddly sympathetic. Thest thing he wanted at the moment, though, was to bring Savannah to an awkward dinner where his mom would sit with that pinched look on her face and Enzo would say God knows what.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    He¡¯d wondered what would happen when the inevitable confrontation with Enzo urred. Now he knew, and it hadn¡¯t gone at all as he¡¯d imagined.

    ¡°I think we¡¯ll have dinner another time. Savannah and I aren¡¯t up to it at the moment.¡± he said.

    He said his goodbyes and hung up. He walked around aimlessly for a while before he returned to the house. He waved off his butler, Jansen¡¯s question of whether or not he needed anything and shut the door to his room.

    Then he flopped into his chair and swiveled around to stare out the window.

    The weather had turned cold and gray, much more suited to his mood.

    His cell phone rang, and he almost didn¡¯t answer. It was Stefan, and Stefan would want to know what had prompted his departure from Moon Ind. Matt was supposed to meet up with Stefan and Dash some weeks ago but he hadn¡¯t really gotten the time since after David and Emily¡¯s wedding, which he had left in a hurry with a flimsily uttered excuse.

    Deciding not to dy the inevitable, he put the phone to his ear.

    ¡°Hey, man. What¡¯s up?¡± he said.

    ¡°There you are. Been trying to get a hold of you since God knows when. Where the hell have you been ?¡± Stefan demanded.

    Matt sighed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I have been moving our meeting. I have been kinda busytely.. With work.. And urmmmm, My investigator called me when we were at David¡¯s wedding. It¡¯s the reason why I left so early. He found Savannah.¡± There was dead silence and then he heard Stefan murmuring to someone else. Probably Dash, he thought.

    ¡°And?¡± Stefan finally said.

    ¡°She was in New York. I left the wedding to go and see if it was her.¡±

    ¡°And?¡± Stefan asked again.

    ¡°It was. I brought her back to Paradise Ind with me. That¡¯s where we are now¡±

    ¡°You did what? Why the hell did you do that?¡± Stefan asked.

    Matt sighed at the incredulity in Stefan¡¯s voice. And then because he needed to unload on someone, he said, ¡°I¡¯m still in love with her, Stefan.¡±

    ¡°Oh, Christ. What is with you? I¡¯ll ask you the same question I asked you when you told me you were looking for her. What makes you think she feels the same way about you? She is just gonna hurt you again man¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe I said she was in love with me,¡± Matt said mildly. ¡°What I said was that I¡¯m still in love with her.¡±

    ¡°Uh-huh, and you¡¯d just bring your ex-fianc¨¦e who cheated on you back to your ind with you because you still have a thing for her? That doesn¡¯t sound right. What you should be doing is avoiding her, not going after her for God¡¯s sake¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be a smart-ass. I know how ridiculous it sounds. You don¡¯t have to tell me. The thing is, for some reason I can¡¯t get her out of my head. I know it¡¯s been a year but I can¡¯t help how I feel. Are you seeing my problem now?¡±

    ¡°Man, I¡¯d say you have a whole hell of a lot of problems that I¡¯m d I don¡¯t have. What does she say about all of this?¡± Stefan replied.

    ¡°That¡¯s just it. She¡¯s pissed. At me. She acts like I¡¯ve wronged her. I don¡¯t get it. She hasn¡¯t said anything about Enzo though

    She hasn¡¯t denied that she had a thing with him.¡±

    ¡°Has it ever urred to you that maybe this is just the way she is and she might never change?¡± Stefan asked dryly. ¡°What if it wasn¡¯t only your brother she had a thing with?¡±

    Matt scowled and then pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers.

    ¡°Sorry, man, it had to be said. If she was sleeping with you and your brother plus God knows who else, you just can¡¯t trust her not to do something like this again.¡± Stefan continued

    ¡°God, stop with the snark. You¡¯re giving me a headache. Savannah isn¡¯t some whore.¡± Matt said

    ¡°I never said she was.¡±

    ¡°You implied it.¡±

    ¡°Look, you¡¯re getting pissed at the wrong person here. I¡¯m just asking-as a friend-whether you¡¯ve lost your everloving mind. But then again, I thought you were insane for hiring an investigator to find her.

    Well, you found her and now you have to deal with the fallout. I don¡¯t want you to get hurt again. Please, just move on and cut her out forever.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want it toe to that,¡± Matt said quietly. ¡°Damn it, I just want to know what went wrong.¡± He broke off and shook his head. This was a pointless conversation to be having. Stefan was an unforgiving bastard on his best day. As soon as he heard what Savannah had done, he¡¯d basically written her off. Stefan might be a hard-ass but he was a loyal hard-ass.

 56

    Stefan was silent for a moment. ¡°Look man, I¡¯m sorry. I get that this has you tied in knots. Personally, I think you ought to go out, have a few drinks and getid. Come off that self-imposed celibacy stint you¡¯ve been on since you threw her out. I know you so I won¡¯t go there.¡±

    Mattughed and shook his head.

    ¡°Dash wants to talk to you for a minute so hang on. Both of you have women in your lives now and I don¡¯t understand you guys anymore. Dash has been God knows where for how long now.¡±

    ¡°See ya,¡± Matt muttered to empty air.

    A secondter, Dash came on the phone.

    ¡°I won¡¯t repeat all Stefan has said other than to ditto everything. What I wanted to tell you is that I won¡¯t be around for a while either.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Eloping with Tess?¡± Matt asked yfully.

    Dash muttered a not-so-nice directive and Matt chuckled.

    ¡°No. I mean not really. I just haven¡¯t had this whole marriage thing figured out yet so I want to spend some time with her.¡±

    Matt smiled and then leaned back in his chair. He could understand that.

    ¡°That¡¯s okay,¡± Matt said. ¡°How is it going with Neal and Tess? You are really going to do this?¡±

    ¡°Yeah I guess I am. It¡¯s the only way to get my family¡¯spany back¡± Dash said, and Matt noticed that he seemed much better with the idea of getting married than he had before.

    ¡°I want Tess to spend some time with my family,¡± Dash said. ¡°You know¡­ Get to know them and stuff like that.¡±

    ¡°I understand. Well, I hope it works out for you. I¡¯m sorry I haven¡¯t been aroundtely ¡±

    ¡°Well, Stefan can do without us for now. The guy has nothing in his head except work¡±

    Mattughed. ¡°Yeah¡± he agreed.

    ¡°Just be careful, you know. With Savannah.¡± Dash said.

    ¡°Yeah, I will. I brought her here because I thought it would give us time away from¡­ It¡¯ll give us some time alone to sort things out.¡±

    Matt could hear Dash sigh all the way through the phone.

    ¡°What exactly do you want to sort out? You honestly want her back? After everything that¡¯s happened?¡± Dash asked.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    Matt gripped the phone and stared out his window. ¡°I don¡¯t know yet. I need some answers before I make that kind of decision. I tried to move on from her and I couldn¡¯t, so I decided to try this. Look, I know you and Stefan think I¡¯m nuts, and maybe I am, but I would really appreciate you guys having my back.¡±

    Dash¡¯s dry response was immediate. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re nuts. But whatever makes you happy, man.¡± he said.

    Matt hung up and stared at the phone for a long moment. He had nned for he and Savannah  to spend a few days alone. And that was what they were going to do. Maybe they could start putting the pieces back together. And if they couldn¡¯t, well, as least he would know that they tried.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    Savannah sat cross-legged on her bed, staring into empty space. It was evening already and she hadn¡¯te out of her room since that stupid encounter with Matt and his brother.

    This was definitely a bad idea. She couldn¡¯t stay here. She¡¯d been stupid to think that she could exist in an environment where she was exposed to Matt. To hell with that job¡­ This thing with Enzo wasn¡¯t worth it.

    It had been all she could do to keep it together. She was furious that she¡¯d sat there while that bastard stood in the doorway with his bewildered look of innocence, but she¡¯d been paralyzed the moment he¡¯d walked into the house.

    She hated the feeling of helplessness and she¡¯d never, never allow herself to be such a passive respondent again. Going forward, if she saw the bastard, she¡¯d kick his ass. She didn¡¯t care if she was on his family¡¯s property. And then she¡¯d tell Matt precisely what he could do with his precious brother.

    She hated Enzo with a passion she reserved for few things in her life. And she hated Matt for turning his back on her when she absolutely needed him the most.

    No, she couldn¡¯t stay here. Not a minute longer. She forced herself to consider her alternatives.

    This time she wasn¡¯t fleeing on a ragged impulse without caring which way the wind blew her. No, she woulde up with a solid n of action. She¡¯d go somece quiet and safe-and start her life all over again. She should have nevere back.

    ¡°You¡¯re leaving, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Matt¡¯s voice came from the door. She started guiltily and finally raised her eyes to him. Angry because she allowed herself to feel guilt even for a second, she hardened her gaze as she stared back at him.

    ¡°There¡¯s no reason for me to stay.¡± She said,

    ¡°Come with me into the living room,¡± he said, holding his hand out to her. For a long moment she simply stared at his outstretched hand. She should refuse, but something in his voice made herply and she slipped her hand into his muchrger one.

    He pulled her up from the bed and led her into the living room.

    Sitting on the couch, he pulled her down beside him. He ran an agitated hand through his hair. ¡°I¡¯ve been an ass and I¡¯m sorry. You¡¯re in no condition to bear this stress and pressure and I¡¯ve only added to your burden.¡±

    She opened her mouth to speak and he ced a finger over her lips. ¡°Let me finish. I¡¯ve been doing a lot of thinking about us. And I want you to know that the reason why I actually brought you here is because I wanted us to spend some time together¡­. Maybe¡­ Fix our rtionship¡­ Or what is left of it. I know it sounds stupid and crazy, but I want you to give it a try¡±

    Savannah stared nkly at him. Why? She didn¡¯t get it.

    Why torture themselves? Why was he so persistent in flogging the dead horse that was their rtionship? He¡¯d been the one to end it. He had rendered judgment and tossed her aside like she¡¯d never meant anything to him.

    She opened her mouth to ask him just that, but again, he silenced her with his finger.

 57

    ¡°Let me take care of you, Savvie. Let¡¯s forget for the time being all the problems in the past and just concentrate on the present.¡± Matt said.

    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious.¡± She replied.

    ¡°I¡¯m very serious. I¡¯ve never been more serious in my life. We have a lot to work out. We can¡¯t do that if we aren¡¯t willing to spend the time together and talk.¡±

    She¡¯d never wanted to break down and cry more in her entire life. If only he¡¯d been willing to listen before. If only he¡¯d been willing to talk, to understand then. The one person she should have been able to count on above all others had coldly looked through her and called her a liar. And now he wanted to kiss and make up?

    He touched her face with his fingers, and she was surprised that they trembled against her skin. His eyes were imploring her and she wavered on the edge of indecision.

    God, was she actually contemting this farce? Even as she posed the question to herself she was shaking her head in automatic refusal.

    He stopped the negative sway of her head by cupping her cheek and stroking his thumb lightly over her lips.

    ¡°No pressure, no promises, no obligations. Just you and me and a restful week or weeks on this ind. It¡¯s a start. That¡¯s all I¡¯m asking for. I¡¯ll only ask for what you¡¯re willing to give.¡±

    ¡°But we can¡¯t-¡± she said. ¡°One of us could end up getting hurt again¡­¡±

    ¡°I would never do anything to hurt you,¡± he said quietly.

    Her eyes dropped to her hands knotted in herp. He had hurt her before, she thought.

    It was tempting, so very tempting. He was asking, not demanding, and for a moment she was transported back to their time together-to the wonderfully tender and caring Matt she had been engaged to. Could she leave him again after spending all this time with him? Because she had no future with a man who could so coldly discard their rtionship over the word of another.

    The silence stretched out between them as she grappled with the decision. Yes, she would do it. She wasn¡¯t sure why. Nothing coulde of it, but she wanted this time with him before she left to get on with her life. She nodded her assent and relief was stark in Matt¡¯s eyes.

    It was so easy to pretend he cared when he put on such a good act. But clearly he didn¡¯t. If he had, they would still be together, married, maybe even awaiting the birth of their first child right now.

    ¡°I¡¯m so d that you agreed to this, Savvie¡± he said.

    She frowned slightly but she said nothing.

    ¡°You won¡¯t regret this, Savvie,¡± he said

    She had the strangest urge to weep. How had they gotten so far away from the ns they had made a year ago?

    ¡°We can do this. We can work it out.¡± he said.

    She closed her eyes. The thing was, it was easy to be seduced by the intensity in those words. But going forward would be impossible until they¡¯d addressed their past. And she never ever wanted to go back to that horrible day when her world had been so brutally upended.

    They had dinner together and then he walked with her to her room. Though she didn¡¯t really understand why he did. For a long moment she stood in front of him, her gaze stroking softly over the chiseled lines of his face. It was the first time she¡¯d allowed herself to stare unguardedly at him since they split up.

    ¡°Good night, Matt,¡± she whispered softly.

    He looked as though he wanted to kiss her and for a moment she wondered how she would react if he did. But finally he said, ¡°Good night, Savvie. Sleep well.¡±

    She turned to go into her bedroom, little twinges of regret nagging her the entire way.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    Savannah didn¡¯t sleep that night. Not that it should havee as any surprise to her. Shey awake in her bed, reliving the past. The first time she met Matt .

    How he¡¯d swept her off her feet and into a passionate and all-consuming rtionship.

    From the day he first asked her out, they hadn¡¯t spent a single day apart for several weeks. By the end of the second month, she¡¯d practically moved into his apartment, and by the end of the fifth month of their whirlwind courtship, his ring was on her finger. It had all happened so fast.

    She had never been quite sure why he¡¯d chosen her. It wasn¡¯t as if she thought she was inferior, but Matt Bradford was an extremely wealthy man. He could have his pick of women. Why Savannah?

    She didn¡¯t have family connections. She didn¡¯t have money or prestige. She was a simple girl eking out a living on a waitress¡¯s sry.

    Until Matt.

    Everything had changed for her, and maybe she¡¯d been too caught up in the fairy tale that was her rtionship with Matt to ever question the important things. Like whether he loved and trusted her.

    How would he react now if once again she tried to tell him what had really happened the day he¡¯d tossed her out of his life? He hadn¡¯t believed her then. Why would now be any different?

    Tears blurred her vision as her thoughts drifted back to that day. She didn¡¯t think she could ever bring herself to forgive Enzo for what he did. She wasn¡¯t even sure if she hadpletely forgiven Matt either.

    Shey in her bed, numbed by the painful memories. And now, here on this ind, she was supposed to forget the past. Put it behind her. Move forward and pick up where she and Matt had left off.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Forgetting that she¡¯d been horribly betrayed by people she trusted.

    When Matt knocked softly at her door, she roused herself from the weight of her thoughts, cursing that it was already morning and she¡¯d done little better than catnap.

    She struggled out of bed and hauled her robe around her body then staggered to the door to open it.

    Matt stood outside, dressed in cks and a dress shirt. He had impending business written all over him.

 58

    His eyes took her in for a few seconds before he said. ¡°Good morning¡±

    ¡°Good morning,¡± Savannah replied.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I won¡¯t be able to have breakfast with you. I have to run out to go see that investor for a few hours.¡± he paused then added. ¡°Would you like toe with me?¡±

    Savannah shook her head. ¡°Aren¡¯t you kind of in a hurry?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Yes¡± he said, ¡°Will you be alright alone?¡±

    She nodded, relieved that she wouldn¡¯t immediately have to face him. She needed time to regain herposure. Time to mentally reconstruct her defenses.

    ¡°Yes, of course. When will you be back?¡± she asked.

    He checked his watch. ¡°It¡¯s almost eight now. I shouldn¡¯t beter than noon. We can go to the maind together and have lunch in a restaurant there and then maybe go for a walkter if you like.¡±

    There wasn¡¯t much she could say to that, or maybe she just didn¡¯t know what to say, so she nodded. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll see you at lunch.¡± She replied.

    He lifted his hand in a wave and then walked away. For a moment she stared after him and then she closed the door, leaning against it.

    Day one of attempting to forget the past and forge ahead.

    ¡°How¡¯s that working out for you?¡± she muttered as she traipsed into the bathroom.

    After drawing a tub full of steaming water, she sank up to her ears and sighed inplete bliss. She hadn¡¯t made the water too hot, and she wouldn¡¯t stay long. Then she¡¯d go bake in the sun for a bit.

    After twenty minutes, regretfully, she toed the lever for the drain and then hauled herself out of the tub.

    Her stomach growled and she hurriedly went through the motions of dressing and putting on enough makeup to look presentable in public.

    She ate the food in the kitchen. After downing an entire ss of juice, she smacked her lips in pleasure and went in search of a beach towel she could spread out on the sand.

    After months of being on her feet for hours on end, working a thankless job for paltry wages, a day lounging on the beach sounded about as decadent as it got. She was going to enjoy every minute.

    She didn¡¯t bother with sandals since she wasn¡¯t going far. The sand felt luxurious beneath her feet. So warm and soft. She sighed in contentment as she headed for one of the umbres.

    The sound of the ocean filled her ears, beautiful and so peaceful. Here was a ce where she could forget the pain of her past. It was a ce made for being soothed. A vacation for the soul. It sounded ridiculous and a little corny but she liked it and quickly adopted it as her motto for this trip.

    She spread the towel out over the sand, positioned the umbre just so and then sank down, drawing her knees up as she stared over the rolling waves.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply and enjoyed the breeze dancing across her face. Her sleepless night quickly caught up to her as tight muscles rxed and the tension she¡¯d held for so long gradually fell away.

    Soon it was hard to keep her eyes open, so she stretched out on the towel and turned on her side to face the ocean. The umbre provided plenty of shade. A nap was too tempting to pass up. She¡¯d simply wait for Matt here.

    Shortly after noon, Matt let himself into the house and looked around for Savannah. He called out to her but got no answer. He checked the bedroom in case she was napping, but found that Rosa had alreadye through to make the beds.

    He sighed and stepped out onto the patio and scanned the beach, looking for any sign of her. When he didn¡¯t immediately spot her, he began walking toward the umbres that dotted the sand.

    When he got to the third, he saw her lying on her side, eyes closed and looking so damn beautiful- and vulnerable-that it made his chest ache.

    He watched the soft rise and fall of her chest. Her feet were bare and she looked so beautiful and peaceful. He eased down onto the towel beside her and stroked his hand through her silky blond hair. He slid his fingers down her arm, over the curve of her hip and then he shook her gently to wake her up.

    She sighed in her sleep and shifted closer to his hand. The urge to pull her into his arms was so strong that he jerked his hand away so he wouldn¡¯t do just that.

    If only he could erase the past months and have things back the way they were. But he had to deal with her betrayal.

    Reaching out, he shook her again , not wanting her to be exposed to the midday rays of sun, umbre or not.

    She came awake slowly and blinked sleepily at him. Her soft smile of pleasure warmed him to his toes.

    ¡°When did you get back?¡± she asked in a groggy, sleep filled voice.

    ¡°A few minutes ago,¡± he said, smiling at her. ¡°Are you ready to go eat?¡±

    She nodded and pushed herself up. He reached down to help her up, and she slid her fingers into his, allowing him to pull her to her feet. Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he guided her back to the suite, enjoying the few moments of intimacy afforded him.

    While she showered and changed, he called Stefan to give him an update on the construction schedule at St Michael¡¯s. The two men talked for a few minutes and Stefan didn¡¯t mention Savannah once. Something Matt was d for.

    No matter that his friends and his family thought he was crazy, this was something he simply had to do. He hadn¡¯t been able to stop thinking about Savannah since their rtionship had ended. He might be the biggest fool in the world for doing this, but he was determined to figure this out between them. Even if it meant eventually going their separate ways.

    When Savannah reemerged from her room, there was a lightness to her eyes that had been absent ever since he¡¯d found her in the diner back home.

 59

    She looked a lot like the old Savannah. The Savannah he¡¯d been crazy about. The one who always had a ready smile, was quick tough and who offered her affection freely.

    The reserved, angry Savannah was someone he didn¡¯t know.

    She seemed a little nervous and unsure as she came to stand by the bar, and he hated that there was a tangible barrier between them. Before she wouldn¡¯t have hesitated tounch herself into his arms and give him one of her big, squeezing hugs.

    Now? He ached to get close enough to her that she didn¡¯t withdraw.

    ¡°You ready?¡± he asked, forcing a casual note into his voice.

    She nodded. He put his hand to her back, noting the expanse of flesh bared by the sundress. Rosa had done well. The dress fit her like a dream, molding in all the right ces. The bodice was held up by ends tied at the nape of her neck; but her flesh was bare all the way down to the small of her back.

    Where his palm rested, he itched to caress and stroke until she responded to him, until he proved that the attraction between them hadn¡¯t died.

    As they looked over their menus when they got to the restaurant, Matt stole a nce at Savannah. Seeming to sense his perusal, she looked up and offered a tentative smile. He smiled back, captivated by the sparkle in her blue eyes.

    She was¡­beautiful. And this time when she looked at him, he didn¡¯t see the dark anger that had sparked so often since their reunion.

    The moment came to a shrieking halt a secondter.

    ¡°Matt! What are you doing here?¡± The feminine voice rang out over the secluded area, making him wince and Savannah jump in surprise.

    He nced up to see Le Donavan bearing down on their table and he muttered an appropriate expletive under his breath.

    As she approached the table, he rose to return her greeting. He brushed a polite kiss over her cheek when she presented it to him and tried to extricate his hand from hers when she grabbed on to it.

    ¡°I¡¯m here on business. The question is, what are you doing here?¡± he asked.

    Herughter tinkled out like fine china. ¡°Oh, Ermmm, I¡¯m actually here with Enzo. He told me he was here and that he needed somepany. I gotta say, Matt, this is one of my favorite ces to visit. I just love it here and I¡¯m so d that I came. The food is just divine, and I honestly can¡¯t wait to visit that ind of yours¡­ I was actually gonna call you because Enzo told me that you were here too.¡± As she said that she turned to Savannah who was eyeing Le warily. ¡°Who is this, Matt?¡± she asked.

    Like hell she didn¡¯t know who Savannah was and like hell she just happened to be here because Enzo invited her. She was shockingly transparent and didn¡¯t seem to give a damn. That could only mean she was here to cause trouble. His mother¡¯s name was written all over this and he was so furious he wanted to strangle Le¡¯s skinny neck. And then move on to his mother.

    He never should have informed his mother that he was with Savannah. But that wouldn¡¯t have mattered because Enzo would have told her anyway. Just great, he thought. Now this was going to ruin the little understanding he and Savannah were beginning to have. It was just too early for all this drama.

    He¡¯d hoped¡­ Well, it didn¡¯t really matter what he¡¯d hoped. Le was here and it was apparent it wasn¡¯t some damn coincidence.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    ¡°Le, meet Savannah Carson. Savvie, this is an acquaintance of mine, Le Donavan.¡± he said.

    Le¡¯s smile was dazzling and she yfully fluttered her fingers at Matt. ¡°Oh, darling. Surely I rate higher than an acquaintance.¡± She said,

    Savannah¡¯s eyes narrowed and Matt decided that politeness was overrated.

    ¡°We¡¯re having a private lunch, Le. If you¡¯ll excuse us, please?¡± he said.

    Undaunted, Le entwined her arm in his and her voice dropped to a low purr. ¡°We must get together while we are here. Perhaps have dinner ourselves. Spend some time together, you know. I can¡¯t be in a ce as amazing as this and not enjoy everything about it. And who better to do that with if not you. I was so sorry to have missed you thest time I had dinner with your mother. I do love her so much.¡±

    Matt extricated himself from her grasp and stepped back a few paces from her. ¡°I¡¯m afraid my time here is spoken for,¡± he said. ¡°Perhaps when we return to New York, Savannah and I can have you over for dinner.¡±

    He said thest pointedly, not that he really expected it to deter Le. It wasn¡¯t his fault she was as thick as a brick.

    Le¡¯s eyes shed with annoyance and her finely painted lips formed a full pout. ¡°Really, darling, when did you decide to take back the little cheater?¡± she said, suddenly letting go of her fake smile.

    Savannah¡¯s face nched and she threw down her napkin. Matt¡¯s hand shot up to silence Le. ¡°You know, I¡¯ve had about enough. It¡¯s time you left us alone. Give my regards to my mother, and while you¡¯re at it, tell her to stay the hell out of my affairs. Advice you¡¯d be well advised to take as well.¡± he said angrily.

    She twisted her pouty lips and ran a well-manicured set of nails down thepel of his suit. ¡°No need to get huffy, darling. I know you have to be polite to her after what she did. People will take advantage of you if you are too good. But just a little advice, you deserve better Matt. See youter.¡±

    With a careless wave, she walked gracefully away, leaving Matt so furious that he wanted to hurl his chair across the room. But his anger had nothing on the fury shing in Savannah¡¯s eyes when he turned to see her standing in front of her seat, her fists clenched and pressed to the top of the table.

    Great, he thought. This was just great.

 60

    Matt gripped the back of his seat with one hand and ran a hand through his hair with the other. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said.

    ¡°I¡¯ve lost my appetite,¡± Savannah stated tly as she pushed away from her seat.

    ¡°Savvie, don¡¯t do this,¡± he protested. ¡°You have to eat. Don¡¯t let that cat ruin our lunch.¡±

    Her lips tightened in fury. ¡°That cat seems to know an awful lot about our situation, wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡± she asked.

    She turned from the table and stalked toward the entrance of the restaurant. Matt followed her and stood in front of her when they got outside.

    ¡°Savvie¡± he began, but she held up her hand to stop him.

    ¡°I want to leave this ce, Matt,¡± she said. ¡°Just take me away from here¡±

    He said nothing and nodded. When they returned to the ind Savannah angrily rushed to her room, not giving Matt a chance to say anything. She didn¡¯t want to hear anything he had to say.

    Once inside, she bolted the door behind her and paced her bedroom for some seconds. She perched on the edge of the bed, and in the distance she heard knocking and then Matt¡¯s angry voice through the door.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    She was too angry to give a damn that he was shouting himself hoarse or that this could cause a scene as some of the staff were still around.

    She¡¯d had enough of this farcical¡­hell, she didn¡¯t even know what to call it this time around. Whatever it was, she wanted out.

    It was enough that she¡¯d been humiliated by Matt and his brother, but now she had to put up with some brainless airhead piling on as well? They could all go to hell.

    Her head came up when her bedroom door flew open, revealing a livid Matt. Yeah, well he wasn¡¯t the only one, and she wasn¡¯t backing down. She got to her feet and faced him head-on.

    ¡°What the hell is wrong with you, Savannah? It isn¡¯t like you to go to such extremes. What do you hope to aplish by locking me out? Ignoring our problems isn¡¯t going to make them go away.¡± he said angrily.

    ¡°How would you know what isn¡¯t like me?¡± she retorted. ¡°It would seem you never knew me at all.¡±

    His eyes shed and he nodded. ¡°That much is certainly true,¡± he said.

    Pissed at the innuendo in his response, she fixed him with a cold stare. ¡°I want out of here. I want the first flight out I can get. This is ridiculous. It¡¯s a waste of time. It¡¯s never going to work between us, Matt. It didn¡¯t work before and it¡¯s not going to work now.¡±

    He swore and moved to stand just in front of her, his hands gripping her shoulders. ¡°We had an agreement. Two weeks together and we forget the past.¡± he said.

    She gaped at him incredulously. ¡°Did you not witness that debacle in the restaurant? How on earth would she know so much about me and our rtionship unless you told her? How the hell are we supposed to forget the past when your little floozy is busy throwing it in my face? I don¡¯t appreciate being made a fool of. And I certainly don¡¯t appreciate being bandied about in conversation like yesterday¡¯s garbage.¡± She said,

    ¡°I never discussed you with her,¡± he said emphatically.

    ¡°Amazing then that she knew so much.¡±

    ¡°Why is it you have so little faith in me, Savvie? I didn¡¯t betray you. You were the one who did. And here I am, still trying to fix what you broke¡±

    She flinched. It always came back to this. No matter what, it always came back to the fact that he believed she had betrayed him and refused to entertain any other possibility.

    She turned away from him, trying to control the tide of rage boiling over her. Shaking with her attempts to tamp down her angry shouts, she clenched her hands and closed her eyes tightly.

    Suddenly she spun around to face him again and he crushed his lips to hers, cupping her face in his hands. She brought her hands up between them to push against his chest, but his arms went tightly around her back, pulling her even closer to him.

    He kissed her. Fiercely. Hungrily. Crushing, parting her lips beneath his as he deepened the kiss. His tongue surged past her lips and into the heated cavern of her mouth.

    The hands she had raised to hold Matt at bay instead clung to him. Her fingers curled into the front of his shirt as she met and returned the intensity of that kiss. Those fingers tightened and she held onto the material for support as desire ripped shockingly through her body. She could feel her breasts swelling, the nipples hard and aching, the warmth between her thighs bing a burning sensation as she felt herself bing wet and swollen with a need she had never known before.

    She could feel the pulse of Matt¡¯s arousal against the tness of her stomach as he pressed her even closer against him. Every long, thick, hard inch of him throbbed rhythmically against her, in a promise that would ease the increasing ache between Savannah¡¯s own thighs as he surged powerfully inside her.

    Matt knew he had to stop this. Now. Before things gotpletely out of control. Because he wasn¡¯t sure they were ready for this. Except she tasted so good. Felt so good. The softness of her curves was a perfect fit against the hardness of his. It brought back memories. And now that he had touched her again, he wasn¡¯t sure he would ever want to stop.

    All of her was perfect, always had been, Matt thought  as he moved his hand over the bare part of her dress to touch the silky heat of her bare flesh, caressing upwards, until his fingers curved about the soft, up-tilting swell of her breast. Not too small. Not toorge. Just a perfect fit in the palm of his hand.

    His own body throbbed anew as Savannah gave a throaty groan and her head dropped back to break the kiss. As Matt moved the soft pad of his thumb against the puckered pout of her nipple her breathing becamebored and ragged, and he kissed down the length of her creamy throat so that his tongue and teeth could seek out the hollows at the base of her neck.

 61

    She tasted better than anything Matt had ever experienced before. The feel of her skin against his lips was a beguilingbination of feminine softness and spice.

    He could feel the heat of Savannah¡¯s arousal as she pressed her hips into his, sensed how ready she was for him.

    So ready Matt wanted to take her right here and now. To thrust into her time and time again, until she screamed out his name as she climaxed, wildly, fiercely, as spasm after spasm of pleasure wrapped itself around him and she took him over that edge with her. Until she admitted that she was his.

    She moaned low in her throat as his kiss gentled and became exploratory. He moved her to the edge of the bed and lowered her onto the mattress, never ceasing his slow movement over her lips.

    He pushed her legs apart, grinding his arousal against her tempting heat in an effort to relieve some of the fierceness of his own need.

    He seeded only in increasing that need until he could only move rhythmically against her, the barrier of their clothing no hindrance to the heat, the satisfaction he found between Savannah¡¯s legs as he continued to surge against her. Again and again. Harder. Faster. Until Matt felt he would lose his mind if he didn¡¯t soon possess her for real!

    This was insane, Savannah acknowledged achingly, as she felt the thick length of Matt¡¯s shaft pressed against the swollen nub between her legs, creating a fire deep inside her that quickly spread and threatened to me totally out of control.

    She couldn¡¯t do this¡­ She wouldn¡¯t do this!

    That would be really stupid. She was supposed to be careful.

    She pushed against his chest gently. ¡°Matt¡­.¡± she began.

    ¡°Damn it, Savvie, just don¡¯t say anything for a while. No words.¡± Matt said, interrupting her. ¡°We can¡¯t seem to have a conversation without hurting each other, so for just a little while let¡¯smunicate without talking.¡±

    She gazed into his eyes as he drew away from her and studied his expression. How could she want him so much after all the mistrust and hurt? His fingertips caressed her cheek and she closed her eyes, arching further into his hand.

    What if she let him make love to her? Would it be so bad? Or would it just confirm his low opinion of her.

    Like a bucket of ice water, that thought quashed any desire she had to surrender to his lovemaking. He must have sensed her withdrawal because he drew away, looking at her in confusion.

    ¡°I can¡¯t do this,¡± she said, scrambling to sit up on the bed. ¡°Not knowing what you think of me.¡±

    The very air between them seemed to crackle with tension, and Savannah could only wait tensely to see if what she just said would have any effect. Because if they didn¡¯t and he kissed her again then she knew she was seriously in danger, because she knew she would not be able to stop him this time.

    Crushed as she was between Matt and the bed, every hard muscle and sinew of his body imprinted upon her own. There was no way, absolutely no way, that she would be able to resist him. And at this moment, breathing in his scent, still weak from the touch of his hands against the bareness of her flesh, she wasn¡¯t sure that she really wanted to.

    She continued to stare up at him for long, timeless seconds, not breathing, not moving, the palms of her hands damp with tension, her legs trembling beneath her.

    His jaw clenched even as the fierceness slowly left the dark unfathomable depths of his eyes. He stepped abruptly away from her, the muscles still tense in his back as he turned away from her to smooth the wildness of his hair back from his face and draw deep, controlling breaths into his lungs.

    Allowing Savannah to draw in a couple of much-needed breaths herself.

    What on earth had happened just now? More to the point, how did it happen?Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t have done that,¡± she said.

    The words caught and raggedly slipped from her lips. Drawing protective arms around her chest, she sat on the rumpled covers watching him warily.

    He turned to look at her and frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t stare at me like you expect me to pounce,¡± he said in disgust. ¡°I¡¯m not going to make you do anything you don¡¯t want to do.¡±

    He left the room, mming the door solidly behind him.

    Feeling more alone than she had when she left him the first time, she edged off the bed and walked into the bathroom to ssh cool water on her flushed face.

    She stared back at her reflection and saw the utter misery in her eyes. Tears welled. Her chest hurt. Her heart hurt. This was no way to live.

    She wouldn¡¯t beg him to believe her. She¡¯d already done that. On her knees no less. What was left? He didn¡¯t believe her. She wasn¡¯t going to beg him again. There was nowhere for this rtionship to go but straight to hell in a handbasket.

    Turning the water off, she put her elbows on the countertop and buried her face in her hands as sobs billowed from her throat.

    She hadn¡¯t been happy in months but now her misery was even more pronounced. Her circumstances hadn¡¯t been the best in New York, but she hadn¡¯t had to look at the man she loved and know that he thought the worst of her.

    Tears still sliding down her face, she went blindly back into the bedroom and curled into a ball on the bed. Her shoulders shook and the tears that she¡¯d held back for so long streamed down her cheeks in steady trails.

    After a few minutes, the bed dipped and Matt put a hand to her cheek. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Savvie,¡± he said hoarsely. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. Please don¡¯t cry.¡±

    Gently he lifted her into his arms and cradled her to his chest. She clung to him and buried her face in his neck as her tears soaked into his shirt.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. This isn¡¯t how I wanted things to go. I never meant to upset you or make you feel worthless. I swear it.¡± he said.

 62

    His voice was thick with regret and it trembled with emotion as he stroked his hand over her hair.

    ¡°You have to know that Le was here for the sole reason of causing trouble between us,¡± he said.

    She went still against him, knowing that what she was about to say would probably only piss him off more, but she was through pulling her punches.

    ¡°Are you ready to admit that your mother hates me and would do anything to get rid of me? If you didn¡¯t talk to Le about us, then who the hell do you think did?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I know,¡± he said quietly. ¡°It won¡¯t work, though. As soon as we return home, I¡¯ll put an end to this. I promise. She won¡¯t be allowed to hurt you like this.¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    She sagged against him. She wanted so desperately to believe him this time. His eyes were slowly being opened. Did this mean he would eventually ept her version of what happened a year ago?

    He pressed his lips to the top of her head and whispered softly. ¡°Stay with me, Savvie. We have so much to work out. God knows we¡¯ve been through a lot together. But in order to do that I need you here with me. Not away in some godforsaken hellhole where I can¡¯t take care of you or work things out with you.¡±

    He pulled her carefully away and wiped at the trails of wetness on her cheeks with his thumbs. His gaze was haunted, intense and dark with emotion.

    Honest to God, he looked like he was hurting every bit as much as she was. It had been on the tip of her tongue to tell him that it could never work out between them, but this time she didn¡¯t. It was pointless to argue with him, and besides, she wanted him too.

    He too was obviously expecting her to argue with him again because when she remained silent his eyes lit with hope.

    ¡°Give us a chance, Savannah. Let me take care of you. Whatever is wrong between us, we can fix it.¡± he said.

    ¡°I wish I had your optimism,¡± she murmured. How to exin that their problems were insurmountable in the face of hisck of trust in her?

    He lowered his lips to hers, kissing her so lovingly that she felt a resurgence of tears. She broke away and thenid her cheek against his chest. It felt so good to be back in his arms, for just a moment to let go of all the pain and resentment.

    He put a hand to her hair, his touch tentative.

    ¡°Savvie, we have to settle this matter between us.¡± he said

    She closed her eyes, feeling dread settle in the pit of her stomach. ¡°How exactly do you want us to do that? Would you even believe anything I say?¡±

    He went still against her, nodded and then he let all his breath out. He cupped his hand to the side of her face and held her against his chest.

    ¡°Was there anyone else, apart from my brother?¡± he asked.

    That wasn¡¯t the question she had been expecting. Slowly she pushed against his chest until she was eye level with him. How it hurt that he said he was willing to believe her now about this, but he hadn¡¯t been willing to believe her then when it came to his brother¡­. He still wasn¡¯t obviously. And there was no point in saying anything because he believed his brother¡¯s wordpletely, even till now.

    ¡°No, there wasn¡¯t,¡± she said in a quiet voice.

    Satisfaction was a savage light in his eyes. He framed her face tightly in his hands and then lowered his mouth to take hers in a possessive, fierce sweep.

    Her lips were swollen when she managed to tear her mouth away. Her pulse raced and they stared at each other in silence. She was afraid to believe in him. So afraid she was nearly paralyzed with it.

    ¡°Do you believe me? I have to know, Matt. We can¡¯t go forward unless you believe me.¡±

    ¡°I believe you.¡± he replied, still cupping her face.

    She bit her lip to keep from asking him if he¡¯d believe her about everything else. She knew he didn¡¯t, he hadn¡¯t. And maybe it was toote. Wasn¡¯t it?

    ¡°Savvie?¡± His soft entreaty broke through her musings. He stroked her cheek with the tip of one finger. ¡°I believe you. Okay? I won¡¯t believe you slept with anyone else. It was just that one time with Enzo, wasn¡¯t it?¡±

    The soft plea froze her to the bone. Hurt crashed through her heart-a heart she thought was already irreparably shattered. She was wrong. She hadn¡¯t thought there was anything Matt could do to hurt her further. She¡¯d been wrong about that too.

    ¡°Why does that make you cry?¡± he asked.

    Matt wiped at the tear that trailed down her cheek, his expression one ofplete bewilderment. Then he leaned in and kissed the moisture away.

    She braced her hands on his arms, her mind a chaotic twist of anger and wretched grief. It took every bit of her strength to gather her shatteredposure and speak to him when what she wanted to do was flee.

    ¡°If this has any hope of working, you¡¯ll never breathe his name to me again. You were the one who wanted this. I will stay. No past. Forget the past. It¡¯s what you said. I¡¯m holding you to it. You bring him up ever again, and I walk-no, I run. Are we clear?¡± she asked.

    He looked shocked by her vehemence. He opened his mouth as if he wanted to push further, but she shook her head and started to slide from hisp.

    He made a grab for her, pulling her close to him again. ¡°All right. All right. No past. I won¡¯t bring it up again. I promise. Will you stay, Savvie? Will you work things out with me?¡±

    She closed her eyes again and the fight left her. Her head dropped down and exhaustion crept in, gripping the back of her neck, squeezing until her entire head ached vilely.

    His fingers slid around her neck, rubbing and caressing with gentle pressure. Had she been that obvious?

    ¡°I still care about you, Savvie.¡± he said softly.

 63

    She leaned her forehead against his. His onught was relentless and he didn¡¯t y fair.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid,¡± she whispered.

    ¡°So am I.¡±

    Surprised by his admission, she retreated a few inches and flicked her gaze up and down, searching for the truth in his eyes.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. You aren¡¯t the only one hurting. I¡­ Damn it, I promised we wouldn¡¯t bring the past up. I¡¯m not going to. But you aren¡¯t the only one who got hurt in all this. I cared about you. I wanted to marry you. I¡­¡±

    He paused and dragged a hand through his hair. He suddenly looked haggard and tired, worn down by the dark emotion that flowed between the two of them.

    ¡°I still want to marry you,¡± he quietly admitted.

    The admission was stark, so inly and painfullyid out. Almost as if he wasn¡¯t happy with the truth of the words but said them all the same. He stared at her, his difort growing by the second.

    She stared back, baffled and unable to form a single-word response to his deration.

    He didn¡¯t love her. Didn¡¯t trust her. He believed the absolute worse about her.

    But he wanted to marry her.

    Sheughed. It was a hysterical, shrill, unpleasant sound.

    His eyes narrowed. ¡°That wasn¡¯t exactly the reaction I¡¯d hoped for.¡± he said.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    Her own eyes widened. ¡°Was that a proposal?¡± she asked.

    She swallowed theughter this time because he was wearing an extremely dark, agitated look.

    He gripped the back of his neck. ¡°No, yes, maybe. I¡¯d like that to be where we end up. But we¡¯ve got a long way to go before we get there. I just want you to say that you still care. Enough to want to stay and work things out. We¡¯ll take it slow. One day at a time. I won¡¯t let anything happen again like what happened at lunch.¡±

    ¡°And how are you going to do that?¡± she asked softly. ¡°How can you make your family or your acquaintances ept me? And they don¡¯t, Matt. You always told me I imagined it, but let¡¯s be honest here. Your mother couldn¡¯t stand me. They couldn¡¯t understand what you saw in me. And it¡¯s obvious your brother thought I was unfaithful. An opinion you adopted.¡±

    He rose abruptly. She slid off hisp and onto the mattress as he stood by the bed, his hand still at his nape.

    ¡°You said you didn¡¯t want to talk about the past. Either we¡¯re going to or we aren¡¯t, but none of this pick and choose your shots.¡± he said.

    He dropped his hand and then leaned over her, nting his hands on either side of her legs. ¡°Just answer the question, Savannah. Did you mean what you said? Are you going to stay? Do you even want to try? Are you willing to work this out so that maybe we can be happy together again?¡±

    He asked it as though it was something she could answer immediately. It wasn¡¯t a simple matter. No matter which way she answered, she would be hurt.

    She licked her lips. Her heart screamed at her that she was an idiot to get involved with him again.

    Her head told her that without trust their rtionship was doomed from the start, and he¡¯d already proved he had absolutely no faith in her.

    Was she willing to put herself in a position where everyone else¡¯s word would be taken above her own?

    But something deeper, beneath the pain and the anger and the betrayal, stirred and twisted within her at the thought of being together with Matt again.

    She told herself that there was nothing wrong with staying with him for now. But she also knew she couldn¡¯t stay with him without involving her heart again. So the decision was whether she wanted to forgive and forget and move on or whether she wanted to make a clean, permanent break and move on, whatever that entailed.

    Or maybe she should settle for a few stolen moments with a man she loved and hated with equal fervor.

    The longer she was silent, the more the hope faded in Matt¡¯s eyes. He seemed resigned to her inevitable rejection, and she couldn¡¯t help but draw the parallel between now and the time she¡¯d stood so vulnerable in front of him, begging for his trust, his love, his support.

    The idea of revenge didn¡¯t appeal. It left a heavy feeling of sadness and brought her no happiness and certainly no peace.

    She was a fool. And that too brought her no peace.

    ¡°I¡¯ll stay. I meant what I said¡± she said in a voice devoid of the joy the decision should have brought.

    Though it wascking in her own tone and expression, hope red back to life in Matt¡¯s eyes. He gripped her arms and then slid his hands up over her shoulders and neck to gently hold her in ce as he pressed a tender kiss to her lips.

    There was a wealth of emotion conveyed in the simplest touch of his mouth. His breath came in ragged spurts from his chest and for the first time she realized how much he¡¯d feared her rejection.

    She wasn¡¯t a huge believer in karma but now she wondered if this was his penance. To feel as she had felt so many months before. But that thought brought her no satisfaction either. She wouldn¡¯t wish that feeling on anyone.

    He drew away and brushed the hair from her cheek and continued to stroke the contours of her face.

    ¡°Spend the rest of the day with me, Savvie. You need to eat. I¡¯ll tell Rosa to prepare something for us and we can go eat on the beach. Watch the sun go down. You can get your bathing suit if you¡¯d like to go in the water.¡±

    She reached for the hand that rested against her cheek and curled her fingers around it, holding it there for a long moment.

    ¡°I¡¯d like that,¡± she finally said.

    She and Matt strolled to the same umbre she¡¯d used for her nap earlier that morning and he spread out a nket on the sand.

    After he was satisfied she would have afortable seat, he told her to sit down and then began unpacking the pic basket prepared by Rosa.

 64

    He settled beside her and they began to eat.

    Savannah stared out over the water as she munched on one of the tasty little confections whose name escaped her. It had cheese and shrimp. She wasn¡¯t sure of the other ingredients, but it was good and she was starving.

    The sky had started to soften. Wispy pastel tendrils flirted across the horizon as the sun sank lower. She closed her eyes and allowed the breeze to soothe her fried nerves.

    She¡¯d expended more emotional energy over the past months than she had in a lifetime. She was tired and wanted to exist free of distress. Just for a little while. She wanted to forget the nights she¡¯d been unable to sleep because she was crying or the nights she¡¯din awake hurting so much that she¡¯d wondered if it would ever stop.

    Here she just wanted to be. Here she could at least pretend that the past year hadn¡¯t happened. This could very well have been her honeymoon. A romantic ind getaway.

    Matt had certainly yed the part of the solicitous husband.

    ¡°Penny for your thoughts?¡± he said.

    Slowly she dropped her gaze from the vivid ssh of blue and turned her head to Matt.

    ¡°I was thinking that it¡¯s easy to pretend here.¡± She replied

    His dark eyes deepened until it ran darker than the water rolling onto shore.

    ¡°We could pretend,¡± he acknowledged. ¡°But we don¡¯t have to.¡±

    ¡°So did you get to talk to the investor?¡± she asked, not wanting to delve into pretend versus real. They were supposed to forget the past. At least for this week. That didn¡¯t leave a whole lot to talk about.

    ¡°Yeah I did. He won¡¯t withdraw his funding any more. Just a misunderstanding. I should have it cleared up by tomorrow. I have a joint meeting in the morning with him again. If all goes well, I¡¯ll be finished and we¡¯ll have a few days to do what we want.¡± Matt said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I used that as an excuse to make youe with me. I want you to know that there¡¯s still going to be a ce for you at mypany when we return¡±

    Savannah nodded. How her stay here with him turned out determined if she was going to take the job.

    ¡°Thanks. When are we going back to New York?¡± she asked carefully. Because she knew the whole fantasy woulde to a screeching halt once that happened.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know yet. I¡¯m not in a hurry,¡± he said as he studied her. ¡°Right now I prefer to concentrate on the time we have here together.¡±

    She nodded, her eptanceing a little easier now that she¡¯d had more time to grasp the idea.

    He reached over, took her hand and simply held it, their fingers wound tightly. He leaned back and positioned himself up on his elbow at an angle and then pulled her so she could rest against his chest.

    They remained that way until the workers came out to light the torches along the beach as dusk deepened and the stars began to pop in the sky.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Soft music floated from down the beach where an outdoor lounge area was located. The notes with the waves made for iparable music.

    She leaned her head back in the crook of his neck and gazed dreamily up at the sky now that the umbre had been folded down. He turned his face so that his lips brushed across her cheek in a kiss and then he too nced skyward.

    ¡°Make a wish,¡± she murmured.

    ¡°I have my wish. Now make yours.¡± he said.

    She took a deep breath and held it for a long second. Then she closed her eyes and made her wish. Sadness crept in and took hold because she knew that some wishes couldn¡¯te true.

    After a moment, Matt stirred under her and then carefully pushed her upward so he could move from behind her. He got to his feet, dusted sand from his jeans and reached down for her hand.

    Thinking he was ready to head back to the house, she let him pull her up. But instead of walking toward the house, he took her closer to the water¡¯s edge.

    Moonlight sshed like silver across the surface of the water. The sky was filling rapidly with stars, scattered like fairy dust across the horizon.

    How fanciful she was tonight. Wishes and fairy dust. It seemed appropriate for such a magical setting, though. Maybe she¡¯d wake up in the morning and this would have all been a dream.

    If that was the case, she was determined to exist in her dream world for as long as possible.

    Without a word, Matt took her in his arms and began to move to the distant strains of music. He gathered her close and she tucked her head beneath his chin, leaning into him as they swayed in time with the ocean and the soft melody lilting through the air.

    Closer and closer they melted together until they were barely moving at all. She was tucked securely against his body, a perfect fit. Heid his cheek atop her head and turned slowly, his feet guiding their rhythm.

    Finally they stopped moving at all and stood locked together as night fell around them. He ran his fingers through her hair and kissed the top of her head.

    She tilted back so that she looked into his eyes and she saw need and desire, but she also saw hope.

    Her eyelids grew heavy as he slowly, ever so slowly, lowered his head until their mouths were so close but not yet touching. The moment stretched on, their breaths mingling, their gazes never breaking apart.

    As the music drifted quietly away, he kissed her.

    It was the most romantic, exquisite kiss she¡¯d ever been given. It was a kiss that told her more than words ever could that this man cherished her. He wanted her. He would have her. And she wanted him too.

    And when he finally pulled his mouth away, he tugged her into his arms and stood holding her tight as the moon bathed them in pale light.

 65

    Tess stretchedzily beside the pool. Rhythmic sshing told her without having to look that Dash¡¯s sister was still swimmingps. Elena was a sweet girl. Two years Tess¡¯s junior, she was a lot like Dash in some ways, but more easy going.

    She didn¡¯t defer to her brother as if he were a deity and she had no desire to marry a man solely to secure her future. Tess admired and liked her a lot as they had a lot inmon.

    Smart and independent, Elena had made life in the ck household bearable for Tess. Not that Dash¡¯s mother was unbearable. Quite the opposite. She was kindness itself, but she took the marriage of her son and his girlfriend as a foregone conclusion. Just yesterday she hadpletely unnerved Tess by insisting she be measured for a wedding gown.

    When Tess had mentioned this to Dash, he had merely smiled andplimented his mother on her forward thinking. Evidently, neither he nor his mother had any doubt as to the oue of Tess¡¯s time with them.

    The prospect of a lifetime married to such a confident male was more than daunting, it was scary.

    Because Tess wasn¡¯t that confident. She should be. He made his desire to marry her very clear as well as his pleasure in herpany. In short, he was doing exactly as he said he would do and courting her.

    While he had to work several hours each day, he spent some time each morning and the evenings with her, either taking her out or having his friendse in to meet her.

    None of them seemed to find it as odd as she did that he¡¯d chosen a little peahen for his proposed bride rather than a bird of more exotic plumage. But then men of Dash¡¯s ie bracket didn¡¯t always consider their wives to be the one for show-off potential. They left that job to their mistresses. Did Dash intend to have a mistress? Did he have one now?

    It was a question she had to have answered before she could marry him, but she was afraid to ask. She spent an inordinate amount of time convincing herself she didn¡¯t need to. Sometimes it worked. Why wouldn¡¯t it?

    She had a room that resembled a romantic bower because of all the flowers he had given her, but flowers were the least of his offerings to convince her she wanted to marry him. He gave her gifts practically every day. The bikini she was sunbathing in had been yesterday¡¯s present.

    He was spoiling her rotten with both time and gifts.

    But he said nothing of love and had not kissed her again since her arrival in New York. He had said her virtue was safe, but she had not thought that meant all physical attention would cease.

    He avoided touching her which bothered her because she¡¯de to see that Dash was a tactile man. He hugged his sister frequently, kissed his mother¡¯s cheeksing and going and was veryfortable, easy going and considerate in his dealing with his friends.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Only she was left out of the magical circle of his affection. Should it be that way when a man wants to marry a woman? While she grew more aware of his physical perfection each day, she worried he had lost interest in her body. Yet, would a man as virile as Dash contemte marriage to a woman he didn¡¯t want? The answer had to be no.

    Unless he nned to have a mistress. But then why get married at all? Her mind spun in now familiar patterns.

    ¡°What are you thinking about so hard that you didn¡¯t hear me calling you?¡± Elena¡¯s voice said

    Elena stood above Tess, her beauty vibrant while she toweled the wetness from her long ck hair.

    Tess sighed. ¡°Guess.¡±

    ¡°My brother.¡± Elena said.

    ¡°Got it in one.¡±

    ¡°You are going to marry him, aren¡¯t you?¡± Unexpected anxietyced Elena¡¯s voice.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Tess replied.

    ¡°How can you not know? The man is besotted.¡± Elena said.

    Tess sighed. She was absolutely certain Dash had never said a single word about loving her, or being besotted even.

    Elena settled on the lounge next to Tess. ¡°You love him.¡± She said,

    ¡°I¡¯m not saying anything on the grounds it could incriminate me. It¡¯s in the Constitution, you know. Even nosy little sisters can¡¯t bypass fundamental rights.¡± Tess said yfully.

    Elenaughed. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to confirm it. Every time you look at him, you look like you are about to swallow him alive with your eyes. You are too sweet, not to mention deep, to have a simple lust infatuation for my brother. With a woman like you, desire is linked to love or it wouldn¡¯t be there.¡±

    And her desire was obvious to even Dash¡¯s sister. No wonder both Dash and his mother were so sure of her. ¡°A woman like me?¡± she repeated. What made her so different? ¡°Are you saying you¡¯re capable of wanting a man to make love to you that you don¡¯t love?¡±

    She¡¯d never felt free talking about this sort of stuff with her girlfriends at school. She¡¯d always been too shy, but Elena had steamrolled right over her reticence and they had be confidantes.

    Elena giggled. ¡°Maybe not make love, but I have kissed a few.¡±

    Tess¡¯s heart twitched. She could not say the same. She¡¯d hardly ever been kissed and never like Dash kissed her except by him. She¡¯d never wanted it with another man.

    ¡°I suppose it must be love.¡± Tess said finally.

    ¡°I knew it.¡± Elena pped her hands. ¡°You are going to marry him. Mamma¡¯s sure of it, you know.¡±

    ¡°I know.¡± Tess said. How could she miss it having been fitted for the wedding gown, for Heaven¡¯s sake?

    ¡°She¡¯s just dying for grandbabies.¡± Elena said.

    ¡°What if I don¡¯t want to get pregnant right away?¡± Tess asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think Dash would like that,¡± Elena said candidly, concern in her voice.

    Tess secretly agreed. She was bing more and more convinced that the reason he was considering marriage now, with her, was just to have babies. What other reasons could there be?

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s a nonissue at the moment. Your brother hasn¡¯t actually asked me to marry him. We decided to spend some time together for now. Until he does, this is all conjecture.¡± Tess said.

    ¡°Because you¡¯re not sure he¡¯s going to ask or because you¡¯re still trying to convince yourself you don¡¯t know if you¡¯ll say yes?¡±

 66

    ¡°Wow, Tess, if I had known that the swimsuit was so revealing I would have bought another one.¡± Dash said.

    They both turned.

    ¡°Hey, I think Tess looks smashing in the bikini, but you¡¯re right. It shows a lot more of her than the one-piece she brought with her.¡± Elena said.

    Tess looked up at Dash and smiled. ¡°You¡¯re both being silly. It¡¯s very conservative for a bikini.¡± she said.

    And it was. The tank style top showed the barest hint of her cleavage and the hip-hugging short bottoms didn¡¯t reveal anything like the thongs she¡¯d seen on the local beaches, or even the high-cut brief bottoms. On her figure, it was perfectly decent.

    ¡°Not conservative enough,¡± Dash muttered in a driven undertone.

    ¡°If it bothers you so much-¡± Tess began to say.

    ¡°Don¡¯t offer to change it. You must start as you mean to go on,¡± Elena eximed. ¡°If you let him dictate your clothes now, it will never end.¡±

    Dark gs of color entuated Dash¡¯s sculpted cheekbones and warning lights zed in his deep dark eyes.

    ¡°I was going to say, no one was forcing him to look, Miss Smarty Pants.¡± Tess said. She smiled up at Dash. ¡°You¡¯re back earlier than expected.¡±

    ¡°Yes. We have been invited to a pool party. My friend, Stefan is celebrating the close of a business deal that has given us some trouble. I told him there was no need for that, especially as Matt isn¡¯t around but it was of no use. When Stefan decides on something no one can make him change his mind. The guy is just so stubborn¡±

    ¡°Stefan is having a pool party?¡± Elena¡¯s interest was definitely piqued. She had always liked Stefan. Maybe even had a little crush on him.

    ¡°He is.¡± Dash replied.

    ¡°Am I invited?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    She jumped up from her lounge. ¡°I¡¯ll go get ready. When do we leave?¡±

    ¡°In less than an hour, Elena. Do not make uste applying makeup and effecting an borate hairstyle your first dive in the pool will wash away.¡± Dash said.

    Elena turned to Tess and rolled her lovely brown eyes so like her brother¡¯s. ¡°Men. Don¡¯t you go changing your swimsuit to make him happy.¡±

    ¡°How could I? It was a gift and it would undoubtedly offend your brother for me to reject it in favor of my old swimsuit.¡± Tess said.

    ¡°Do not bet on it,¡± Dash growled.

    Tessughed. Would a man who did not want her be so affected by her conservative suit? She hoped the answer was no, but she was definitely leaving the suit on. If she could tempt him, at least a little, maybe he would reveal some of his feelings regarding her.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªThis is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    That optimistic belief seemed in vain as Dash treated her to yet another dose of the courteous, non-touchingpanion of the past few days at the pool party.

    Feeling desperate to provoke some kind of response, Tess took off her swimsuit cover and dug in her bag for a bottle of high-factor sunscreen. She turned to Dash. Wearing only ck swim shorts, every rippling muscle in his body was on disy and it was all she could do not to drool.

    Or trip him and beat him to the ground.

    She extended the lotion to him. ¡°Would you do my back? I think what I applied earlier is wearing off and I don¡¯t want to burn.¡± She said,

    Dash took the bottle, a strange expression on his face. ¡°You cannot reach your own back?¡± he asked

    It wasn¡¯t her back she found impossible to reach. It was him! She tried for a nonchnt shrug. ¡°It¡¯s easier if you do it.¡± She replied.

    She turned and presented her back to him, pulling her hair from the nape of her neck.

    Then two things happened.

    Elena dropped gracefully on the lounge beside Tess. ¡°Isn¡¯t this great?¡± she asked.

    And Stefan waved from the other side of the pool, catching Dash¡¯s attention.

    He dropped the sunscreen in Elena¡¯sp with more speed than finesse. ¡°Put some of this on Tess¡¯s back, Elena, while I go see what it is that Stefan wants.¡±

    Tess watched him go with despair. It wasn¡¯t working.

    Elena looked at Tess. ¡°Didn¡¯t you ther yourself in this stuff before we left the house?¡± she asked.

    Tess frowned. ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Then why does my brother want me to put more on you? Not only are you limber enough to reach your own back, but you bought the lotion thatsts for hours, even in the water.¡±

    Tess hated admitting that she¡¯d tried one of the oldest tricks in the book and it had failed, so she shrugged and reached for the bottle. ¡°Let me put that away.¡± She said,

    Elena was looking quizzically at her, then her expression cleared. ¡°I get it.

    You-¡± she began

    ¡°Never mind, just hand me the bottle,¡± Tess said shortly, interrupting Elena before she could put voice to Tess¡¯s idiocy.

    Elena handed her the lotion, her expression curious. ¡°You know. I noticed that Dash never touches you.¡±

    ¡°I am aware of that.¡± Tess sighed and shoved the stic bottle back in her bag. Short of making a tant request, she wasn¡¯t going to change that state of affairs either. Even then, she had her doubts.

    ¡°That¡¯s weird for a guy who wants to marry you.¡± Elena said

    Tess didn¡¯t need the reminder. ¡°I know.¡± She glowered at Dash where he stood talking to Stefan.

    ¡°What¡¯s she doing here?¡± Elena said.

    She sounded outraged.

    Tess turned her head to look where the younger girl¡¯s gaze was directed and felt her heart skip not one, but two beats. This was just what she needed.

    Olivia Baker.

    She and Dash had been photographed together several times for the society columns and scandal rags the year before. Rumors of a rtionship between the two of them had been rife. Which was a lot more understandable than his name being linked with Tess¡¯s.

    Olivia was beautiful and blond, even if it came from a bottle. Taller than Tess by at least six inches, she had a body that was centerfold material.

    A little too blousy for a Vogue cover, but just what a passionate man like Dash ck would find attractive.

 67

    Tess chewed on her lower lip, tasting blood and her own jealousy. A most unenviable emotion.

    ¡°I guess Stefan invited her.¡± Tess said.

    ¡°You¡¯re right of course, but you¡¯d think she would have enough tact not toe.¡± Elena said. She turned to face her dark brown eyes snapping with indignation.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Everyone knows you¡¯re Dash¡¯s new girlfriend.¡± she said.

    ¡°Do they? Maybe she¡¯s out of the loop.¡± Tess replied. She was watching Olivia¡¯s progress toward their host and Dash with a sinking feeling in her heart.

    Stefan greeted Olivia with a kiss on each cheek. Dash started to do the same, but the model turned her head and caught his lips.

    The kiss didn¡¯tst long and Dash pulled back with augh and said something Tess could not hear from her position on the other side of the pool. The greeting was a throwaway gesture, nothing all that intimate for a guy, but after being treated like the untouchable woman for days, it was way too much for Tess.

    She jumped up. ¡°I¡¯m going into the house. The sun¡¯s too bright right now.¡±She said.

    Elena followed her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Tess,¡± she said as she rushed after her. ¡°It was just a little kiss. Believe me, if Dash had wanted her, he would have kept on kissing her.¡± Apparently realizing that that was not the most tactful thing to say, Elena shut up.

    Tess ignored her and increased her pace to warp speed. He didn¡¯t kiss her at all.

    One of Elena¡¯s friends grabbed the younger girl and dragged her off. Much to Tess¡¯s relief. She liked Dash¡¯s little sister, but she was afraid she was about to cry and she didn¡¯t want an audience. She was searching for a bathroom when a male voice halted her.

    She didn¡¯t quite catch what he said and she turned.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, were you talking to me?¡± she asked.

    He smiled. ¡°Ah, you are Dash¡¯s girlfriend.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± she said. He made it sound like she was an alien being.

    ¡°Dash has brought you home to meet his Mom.¡±

    The man speaking was about her age and very handsome. There was no other way to describe him. Curly brown hair fell in boyish appeal over his forehead, but his body was anything but boyishly proportioned. Perfectly bronzed, he had sculpted muscles and the ssic beauty of a Greek statue. He wasn¡¯t nearly as tall as Dash, but he was still taller than Tess and he was smiling at her.

    Tess managed a small smile in return.

    ¡°Elena said everyone knew, but I thought she was exaggerating.¡± she said.

    The man shrugged. ¡°Gossip like that spreads fast. I am Dean Codge, Stefan¡¯s cousin, and you are Tess, Dash¡¯s girlfriend.¡±

    He took her hand and brought it to his lips. The kiss lingered just one second longer than strict courtesy allowed. Letting her hand lower, but not releasing it, he looked her over from head to foot in a manner that made her blush.

    ¡°You are beautiful!¡± he said. And he kissed his fingertips in a gesture of obvious approval.

    Beautiful. At least someone thought she was more than a stick of furniture. She smiled again, blushing more intensely with shyness and pleasure.

    ¡°Thank you.¡± She said,

    ¡°Ah this shy little smile, this blush, it is most charming. Combined with your loveliness, it is easy to see what has my friend so enthralled.¡±

    ¡°Is he your friend?¡± she asked, not remembering any mention of Dean Codge. But then she hardly could have met all of Dash¡¯s friends in a few short days.

    Dean¡¯s lips curved in the smile of an angel. ¡°Of course.¡± he said.

    Nevertheless, she tugged at her hand. He let go with aical look of regret and she found herself grinning at him.

    ¡°You are inside the house for a reason?¡± he asked. ¡°Perhaps you wish to protect such beautiful skin from the harsh rays of the sun?¡±

    ¡°Something like that.¡± She wasn¡¯t about to admit to a perfect stranger that the sight of Dash with his old girlfriend had sent her running.

    ¡°Thene, I will get you a drink and keep youpany in the s. You are a guest of my family. You must be entertained.¡± he said.

    No longer feeling on the verge of tears, she more than willingly followed the attractive man who wanted herpany, not that of some other woman. Her conscience tried to tell her that Dash had been with Stefan when Olivia had approached him, but she dismissed it. She was in no mood to give him the benefit of the doubt.

    Once in the s, Dean went to the minibar against one wall. ¡°I will get you a drink now,¡± he said.

    She was expecting something innocuous like lemonade, but he opened a bottle of champagne from the small fridge behind the minibar.

    ¡°We¡¯ll toast my friend¡¯s capture by the beautiful Tess,¡± he said.

    ¡°He¡¯s not exactly caught.¡± Tess said. But she took the ss of champagne he offered and sipped obediently.

    Dean mocked her words with his eyes. ¡°You were measured for a wedding gown.¡±

    She choked on her champagne. When she could breathe normally, she said, ¡°You¡¯re right. Gossip does spread fast.¡±

    He shrugged.

    ¡°Just for the record,¡± she said, feeling more militant by the mouthful of champagne, ¡°Dash and I are not engaged.¡±

    ¡°Ah, so there is still hope for me,¡± Dean said with exaggerated delight, making her giggle. ¡°Do you wish to listen to music, perhaps watch some television?¡±

    ¡°Maybe some music, but you don¡¯t have to stay here and entertain me. I¡¯m very adept at keeping my ownpany.¡± She said,

    He looked scandalized by the very thought. ¡°I am a gentleman. I would never leave ady to her own devices in the home of my family.¡±

    He really was an outrageous flirt. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you y gin rummy?¡± She asked. She had a sudden hankering for the game she yed at lunch every day with her friend and co-worker, Edward.

    ¡°I am better at poker than gin rummy,¡± Dean said with a wink.

    ¡°You know how to y the game?¡± she asked, not responding to his remark about poker.

 68

    ¡°Yes. I have a friend with a passion for the game. I will locate a deck of cards to amuse you if you like.¡± Dean said.

    She took another sip of champagne. ¡°I¡¯d like that. If you y gin rummy with me, I¡¯ll y poker with you,¡± she promised.

    ¡°So, we will both indulge our vices,¡± he replied.

    That sounded good to her. She wasn¡¯t indulging any vices with Dash.

    Dean was back within a minute, a deck of cards in his hand. While he amused her with stories of Dash¡¯s friends, they yed a game of gin rummy.

    They had only yed a couple of hands when it became apparent she would win. On her second ss of champagne, she was feeling warm and benevolent when she went out for thest time.

    So, although she would much rather have yed another game of rummy, when Dean¡¯s frown told her he did not like to lose, she offered to y poker.

    ¡°I¡¯m terrible and you¡¯re sure to win,¡± she said consolingly.

    Heughed out loud. ¡°You know it¡¯s a guy thing. Guys don¡¯t like to lose, eh?¡± he said.

    ¡°This is very true. He particrly does not like to lose his woman only to find her entertaining herself with another man.¡± The freezing tones of Dash¡¯s voice came from the doorway to the s.

    Dean looked up, his expression indolent. ¡°Ah, it is the inattentive boyfriend. A man must ept the risks when he leaves hispanion to her own devices, my friend.¡± he said.

    Tess said nothing because she agreed. Furthermore, tipsy on champagne, she was in no mood to appease Dash¡¯s stupid male ego when he¡¯d been grinding hers into the dust. Memories of roses and other gifts rose to taunt her conscience and she quickly dispelled them. She didn¡¯t want to think about how kind and attentive he¡¯d been when she could still remember the sight of his lips locking with Olivia¡¯s.

    Brief or not, it had been a kiss.

    ¡°You have nothing to say?¡± he demanded of her.

    ¡°I was just about to y a game of poker with Dean, but I don¡¯t have any money.¡± She indicated her swimsuit-d body andck of a bag with a negligent wave of her hand. ¡°Can I borrow some?¡±

    Dash¡¯s expression went flint hard. ¡°No.¡± he replied.

    She sighed and turned to Dean. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you¡¯d be willing to bet in kind, would you?¡± she asked.

    ¡°In kind?¡± he asked, looking at her as if she was a strangely fascinating creature.

    ¡°You know, let me bet something other than money?¡±

    Dean¡¯s eyes widened as a strangled sound reached her from the doorway.

    She ignored it. ¡°It can¡¯t be my clothes though. I¡¯m too shy to y strip poker and besides you¡¯d have the advantage.¡± In actual fact, she was thinking more along the lines of an IOU, but why be boring and say so?

    Dean looked at her ss of champagne, which was almost empty and back at her. ¡°You don¡¯t drink much, do you?¡± he asked her.

    ¡°What? No. I don¡¯t. Has that got something to do with ying poker? I¡¯m sure I¡¯m not too tipsy to read the cards, if that¡¯s what¡¯s worrying you.¡± Tess replied.

    His gaze slid sideways to a glowering Dash and back to her. ¡°Not precisely, no.¡± he said.

    ¡°You are not ying poker.¡± Dash said.

    Tess didn¡¯t bother to acknowledge Dash. She smiled at Dean. ¡°So, what can I bet?¡±

    ¡°Dash does not want you to y.¡± He spoke slowly, as if she might not have gotten the message the first time around when Dash had said it in such a bossy tone.

    ¡°You know, I am a woman who is not that great at being told what to do. For that matter, I¡¯m not sure many modern women are not too¡± She said.

    ¡°Even the shy ones, I see.¡± His brown eyes twinkled with a level of amusement unwarranted by the situation.

    ¡°Dean,¡± Dash interrupted in a voice that could have razed steel, ¡°I believe Stefan would like your help entertaining his guests.¡± he said.

    ¡°I am sorry, Tess. I must go.¡± The younger man stood, his angelic smile marked with overtones of real humor. ¡°Duty calls. Perhaps we will get our game of poker another time.¡±

    She sighed. ¡°All right. I promise to let you win next time.¡±

    He inclined his head toward her. ¡°I will look forward to it.¡± Then he left.

    She picked up the deck of cards, shuffled them, and thenid out the pattern for a game of solitaire. She¡¯d been deprived of her gin rummy partner, but that didn¡¯t mean she had to return to poolside to watch Olivia fawning over Dash.

    She¡¯d moved three times when she felt his brooding presence right behind her. ¡°Why were you here ying cards with Dean?¡± he asked.

    She didn¡¯t bother to turn to face him, but shrugged. ¡°Because I wanted to.¡±

    ¡°I do not like finding you alone with other men.¡± He sounded like a guy trying really hard to hold on to his patience.

    ¡°Really?¡± Well, she didn¡¯t like him letting other women kiss him, so they were even. ¡°I¡¯ll remember that.¡± She said,

    ¡°And not do it again?¡± His voice was dangerously soft, but the champagne had affected more than her willingness to let Dean win at cards.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say that. I enjoyed ying gin rummy with Dean. He¡¯s a very nice man. He¡¯s really good looking too,¡± she said with more candor than wisdom, ¡°and not so tall that he¡¯s overwhelming to a shrimp like me.¡±

    Really, she should go for a guy like that instead of the ultra-masculine Dash. Why weren¡¯t hearts more logical?

    A sharply indrawn breath behind her told her that he had not liked the provoking answer.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°You prefer hispany to mine?¡± His voice was quiet and yet she just knew he was majorly furious at the idea.

    An honest answer would be too good for his ego. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she surprised herself by saying. Apparently she wasn¡¯t done being provoking.

    Maybe she should drink champagne more often. She studied her cards. ¡°I only got to y one game of gin rummy with him before you came in and chased him off.¡± She said,

    Masculine rage radiated from Dash in palpable waves that burned against her back. ¡°Yet, you think you might, given the opportunity?¡± he asked her.

    She moved a red five onto a ck six. ¡°He touched me. You don¡¯t. Maybe.¡± She replied.

    Liar. She wanted only Dash. She knew that, but she wasn¡¯t going to say that right now.

 69

    ¡°He touched you?¡± Dash asked.

    The deadly softness of his voice warned her that she had phrased that very badly. She spun in her chair to face him and regretted the action at once. First and foremost because it made her dizzy, but secondly because his expression was frightening. He looked like he wanted to kill someone and she thought that person might be Dean. She didn¡¯t want to cause any problems between the two men, especially when the younger one had been so nice to her.

    She red at Dash. ¡°Not like that. I¡¯m not like your other girlfriend, Olivia. I don¡¯t go about kissing men in public ces.¡± She said,

    Dash ignored the reference to Olivia. ¡°How did he touch you, Tess? Tell me.¡± His voice was deadly soft.

    ¡°He kissed my hand and he called me beautiful. If you want the truth, it made me feel nice.¡± She replied.

    A lot nicer than having Dash dump the suntan lotion in his sister¡¯sp and leave with the speed of an Olympic athlete when Stefan signaled for him. ¡°Now go back to your yboy Bunny and let me finish my game of solitaire in peace.¡±

    Had she really said that? She sounded like a truculent child, or a jealous woman. Which she was, she admitted.

    ¡°I have no interest in other women and I do not wish to leave you alone.¡± Dash said.

    She rolled her eyes. Right. ¡°Why not?¡± she asked. He had a very strange way of showing his supposed singr interest in her. ¡°You left me alone by the pool.¡±

    ¡°I left you with my sister.¡± He sounded and looked driven. ¡°Stefan wanted to discuss something with me.¡±

    ¡°So, go back and talk some more business with him. I don¡¯t care.¡± She should be used to it by now. She¡¯d been ignored for her father¡¯s business interests all her life, but if Dash thought she was going to marry a man who did the same thing to her, then he was a fool. She had had enough of that.

    But it isn¡¯t his business interests that have you so on edge, her inner voice reminded her. She pushed that inner voice away.

    ¡°Clearly you do care.¡± He had that superior-male-dealing-with-a-recalcitrant-female expression on his face. ¡°You are upset.¡±

    So, he¡¯d noticed.

    ¡°Am I?¡± She asked sarcastically. She turned back to the cards and saw where she could uncover an ace. She did it. She was even better at solitaire than gin rummy. She¡¯d yed a lot of it growing up. It was something she had used to keep herself busy back then.

    Gentle fingers yed softly over the bare skin of her shoulders. ¡°What is it, Tess? Are you upset by Olivia¡¯s kiss? It was nothing, I assure you that. All is over between us. She was just joking with me.¡± Dash said.

    He sounded so sincere and Tess had this really craven desire to lean back into his touch. ¡°That¡¯s not the way it looked to me.¡± She said.

    ¡°So, this is about Olivia¡¯s forwardness?¡± The masculinecency in his voice grated on Tess¡¯s nerves. He liked the idea of her being jealous, the fiend.

    ¡°This is about nothing. I felt likeing inside. End of story.¡± She lied. Was prevarication bing a habit?

    ¡°And ying a game of cards with an inveterate rake?¡± he asked. Thecency was gone.

    ¡°Dean is very nice.¡± she replied.

    ¡°Yes he is. He kissed your hand and told you that you are beautiful.¡± The fingers on her shoulders were tense now, but they weren¡¯t hurting her. ¡°You liked this,¡± he said.

    If he had sounded angry, she might have remained defiant, but he didn¡¯t. He sounded confused and disappointed. In her.

    ¡°I¡¯d rather you did it,¡± she admitted. Darn that champagne anyway. The next thing she knew she would be telling him she loved him.

    He pulled her up from the chair and around to face him. She kept her eyes focused on the hair-covered bronzed skin of his chest rather than looking up. It was damaging to her breathing pattern, but better for her pride. She didn¡¯t want to see his smug reaction to her admission.

    He took her smaller hand in hisrge, dark one. Lifting it toward him and bending at the same time, he touched his lips to the back of her knuckles. ¡°You are very beautiful,¡± he said softly.

    He also told her she was sweet, the woman he wanted to marry and that her skin tasted like honey.

    She was entranced by the litany of praise.

    But he did not stop with words. He kissed each of her fingertips with tiny biting kisses, repeating the word beautiful after each kiss. Her eyes slid shut as sensation washed over her and then he pulled her into his body, saying something else that sounded like, ¡°I knew this would happen,¡± but that made no sense. And she wasn¡¯t sure she heard him well because she couldn¡¯t only concentrate on how he was making her feel at that moment.

    She stopped trying to figure it out when he tilted her head up and covered her mouth with his.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    The first touch of his lips sliding against hers had the impact of a knockout drug on her willpower. She couldn¡¯t resist even if she tried to.

    She¡¯d been starved for the taste of him for days and flicked her tongue out to sample his lips without thought or any hesitation. He groaned and she found herself in his arms, their lips and bodies locked passionately together. It was like that time at Athens, but better. She knew what to expect now, what pleasure awaited her in his arms.

    She wound her arms around his neck and pulled herself up his body, standing on her very tiptoes, pressing herself as close to him as possible.

    He swung her up into his arms, never breaking the kiss. She opened her mouth, inviting him inside and he took the invitation with the power of an invading army. He decimated her every defense and left her helpless against his desire and her own.

    He was moving. She didn¡¯t care where he was taking her. She just wanted him to keep doing what he was doing, showing her he wanted her more than other women. Because he certainly hadn¡¯t responded to Olivia this way when she¡¯d tricked him into that kiss by the poolside.

 70

    Shadows yed across Tess¡¯s closed eyelids as the sounds of the party fadedpletely from her hearing. Then there was the sound of a door closing behind them. But still he didn¡¯t lift his mouth from hers and she didn¡¯t open her eyes.

    Awash with sensation, her sensory receptors were inundated with pleasure.

    The solid feel of a bed beneath her told her he had brought her into a guest room. The feel of his more than solid body on top of hers told her he intended to stay. Her legs instinctively parted, making room for him against her most sensitive flesh. Wearing only their swimsuits, masculine hair covered limbs slid against feminine softness. The sensitive flesh of her inner thighs thrilled to the press of hard, sculpted muscles.

    The hands she¡¯d so desperately wanted to touch her were all over her skin, leaving a trail of hot desire in their wake.

    She moaned and arched up toward him, pressing her womanhood against his hardness. She trembled. Intimate in a way she could not have imagined, though he was not inside her, she felt possessed.

    Swollen and hotly lubricated tissues ached to be appeased with a more direct caress.

    His mouth broke from hers to trail hot, openmouthed kisses down her neck and across the skin exposed above the line of her tankini top. ¡°You are no shrimp, Tess,¡± he said, referring to herment earlier. ¡°You are perfect.¡± He pressed his body into hers, sending further sensation sweeping through the core of her. ¡°We are perfect together.¡±

    She was breathing too hard to reply, her body on fire for more of his touch, her mind an inferno of erotic thoughts.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    ¡°Admit it, Tess. I do not overwhelm you. I excite you.¡± he said.

    Did he need the words? Wasn¡¯t her body¡¯s response enough for him to see that she¡¯d been spouting off earlier? He rocked into her in an exciting imitation of the mating act.

    She arched her pelvis, every sliding contact between his hardness and her sensitized nerve endings sending jolt after jolt of pleasure zinging through her.

    He lifted away from her, withdrawing his body from the direct contact she craved.

    She gasped, trying to reconnect with his body, but strong hands held her to the bed.

    ¡°You have this with no other man. Your body wants me. Say it.¡± he said possessively.

    ¡°Yes,¡± she practically screamed. ¡°You¡¯re perfect for me.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t such an admission. He¡¯d already said she was the perfect size for him, but still, she felt she¡¯d given something away. Admitted to a need that made her vulnerable to him.

    Her words had a profound impact on his self-control and without really knowing how it happened, she lost her bikini. He disposed of his ck shorts. Then it really was his naked flesh moving against hers.

    She cried out with the joy of it and then screamed when his mouth fit itself over one turgid nipple. He suckled and she flew apart, her body straining for a release it had never known.

    ¡°Please, Dash. I can¡¯t stand this.¡± She said, She felt like she was going to die, so rapid was her heartbeat, so shallow her breathing. Her muscles locked in painful rigidity as she strained toward him and the pleasure his touches promised.

    His hand fondled her intimately, as he had that night in Athens. ¡°You belong to me, Tess.¡± he said, not understanding how he could want her to be his so badly, especially as he was ckmailed into this.

    She stared up at him through vision hazed by passion. ¡°Yes. But it goes both ways,¡± she managed to pant, needing him to know this was not a one-way street.

    He growled his approval as he stroked her in a tortuous pattern against her pleasure spot. Within seconds she was shuddering under him in a fulfillment that both ted and terrified her. Her body truly did not belong to her in that space of time. He owned it with the gratification he gave her, the emotions that pleasure evoked in her.

    ¡°Oh Dash!¡± she moaned.

    He reared up above her, his dark eyes burning with triumph and unked desire. Aligning his erect flesh with her pulsing wetness, his jaw went rigid with tension. ¡°I could take you now. Tess! I want to take you now.¡± he said.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Oh, yes. Now. She wanted to receive him, to take him as primitively as his eyes told her he wanted it to be.

    ¡°But I won¡¯t.¡± His voice was guttural with feeling, his face tight with strain and sweat beading his temple.

    ¡°You won¡¯t?¡± she asked stupidly, finding his denial iprehensible.

    He was literally on the verge of joining their bodies. How could he stop now?

    ¡°I do not seduce virgins.¡± His words came out from between gritted teeth, each one a bullet of strained sound.

    ¡°But I want you, Dash.¡±

    His forehead dropped against hers, the heat emanating from him baking in its intensity. ¡°I want you also, Tess, but in a marriage bed.¡± he said.

    Her eyes were squeezed shut, her body aching for his possession. ¡°What are you saying?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Agree to marry me, Tess, or go home to your father. I cannot stand this torment of the body any longer.¡± He shivered above her, the tip of his shaft caressing sensitized and swollen flesh.

    Then he threw himself on his back away from her, the evidence of his arousal testimony to his words. The fierce grip of his fingers on the bedspread proof of just how close to the edge of control he was.

    But it was marriage or nothing. No. Not nothing. Not by a long stretch. He¡¯d fulfilled her. Taken the edge off of her need, giving her the first sexual release of her life, but without marriage, he would take nothing for himself and would not give himselfpletely.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it the woman who is supposed to demand marriage?¡± she asked. It wasn¡¯t just a weak attempt at humor. It was also an expression of how bewildering she found her current situation.

    He didn¡¯t answer.

    She supposed he thought he¡¯d said it all.

    Maybe he had. She loved him. So much. She wanted him almost as much as she loved him. He wanted her too. She looked at his still erect flesh. A lot. He wanted her a lot.

    He liked her too, had respected her enough to pursue her in the traditional way.

    The question now was, was liking, respect and desire enough?

 71

    She sat up, curling her knees into her chest and effecting as much modesty as possible without her clothes on. His hardness had not abated, but his breathing was growing calmer. She looked away, embarrassed by the intimacy of seeing him like this. She wanted to know the miracle of being connected to him in the most personal way any woman could know a man, but she didn¡¯t doubt he would stand by his ultimatum.

    Marriage, or nothing.

    ¡°Dash,¡± she said tentatively.

    ¡°Yes?¡± he replied.

    ¡°Um¡­¡± How did a woman ask this kind of question? ¡°Do you believe in fidelity?¡± she asked.

    He sat up and red at her, supremely unconcerned by his nudity. ¡°Once we are married, there will be no other man,¡± he said.

    Was he really that dense? ¡°I meant you. If I marry you, will I have to worry about you taking a mistress?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± he replied. There was a rock-solid certainty in his expression that she could not doubt.

    ¡°Do you have a mistress now?¡± She had to ask.

    ¡°I told you there was no other woman.¡± he said

    ¡°But some men don¡¯t consider wives and mistresses in the same ss. They think having one does not preclude having the other.¡± She¡¯d seen it often enough among the richpatriots of her father and knew that most wealthy men were particrly susceptible. Or so it seemed.

    ¡°I am not these men. I want no woman but you.¡± he said.

    ¡°Always?¡± she asked, finding it very difficult to believe he wanted to cleave to her for a lifetime and forsake all other women.

    He reached out and cupped her cheek. ¡°Always. You will be my wife. I will not shame you in this way.¡±

    Tears pricked her eyes and she blinked them away. ¡°All right,¡± she said, her voice thick with emotion.

    ¡°You will marry me?¡± he asked.

    She nodded. ¡°Yes.¡±

    His thumb rubbed the wetness from under her eye. ¡°You are crying. Tell me why.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I¡¯m scared,¡± she admitted to both him and herself. ¡°You don¡¯t love me, but you want to marry me.¡± She said,

    ¡°And you love me.¡±

    Was there any point in denying it? She¡¯d just agreed to be his wife. She had always loved him.

    ¡°Yes.¡± she replied.

    He was silent for a while. She loved him. That put his n of getting a divorce after getting hispany back in question. And If he was being honest with himself, he knew he had somehow be attached to her. And he knew it would be hard to let her go.

    ¡°I am d you love me, Tess. You have nothing to fear in giving yourself to me. I will treasure your love.¡± he said softly.

    But not return it.

    Was that something so different? She¡¯d practically lived her whole life without being truly loved. Her father had seemed  duty bound to care for her, but until very recently, he hadn¡¯t even acted particrly fond of her.

    At least Dash really wanted her. He could have anyone and he¡¯d chosen her. That had to prove something.

    She forced herself to smile. The man she loved wanted to marry her. Maybe even wanted to have children with her and he had promised her fidelity. He respected her, he liked her and he desired her, she reminded herself. Perhaps from that, within the intimacy of marriage, love would grow.

    ¡°I guess we¡¯d better get dressed,¡± she said, not nearly socent as he about their state of undress when she did not have passion to dull her normal thinking process.

    He stayed her movement toward the edge of the bed. ¡°I too want an assurance from you,¡± he said.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°No more being alone with other men.¡± He said. He was all conquering male.

    She sighed. ¡°We were only ying cards, Dash. You must know it wasn¡¯t anything more.¡± She said,

    ¡°I know this, but I did not like finding you alone with Dean. He is a womanizer of the first order.¡±

    ¡°Well, he was a gentleman with me. He may be a flirt, but I don¡¯t think he would go after a woman who was attached to someone else.¡± Tess said.

    Dash didn¡¯t look impressed by her belief. ¡°Promise me.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re being ridiculous. What do you want me to do, run from the room if I¡¯m alone and another manes into it?¡± she asked.

    When he looked like he might agree, she red at him. ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen.¡±

    ¡°Face it, you were so busy with your friend, you didn¡¯t even notice I was gone.¡± she said. The memory of Olivia¡¯s overly warm greeting still rankled. ¡°We had time for me to beat him at gin rummy before you even came looking. I don¡¯t think you shouldin too loudly about me finding my own entertainment.¡± She said, almost getting angry.

    ¡°I believed you were with Elena. When she came back to the pool with other friends and without you, I immediately began looking for you.¡± he said.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have left in the first ce if you hadn¡¯t let your ex-girlfriend kiss you.¡±

    ¡°I did not let her kiss me. She just did it.¡±

    Tess had to give him that. And he had pulled away very quickly. ¡°You touched her when you wouldn¡¯t even put sunscreen on my back,¡± she used. ¡°When was thest time you kissed my cheeks in greeting? You treat me like an untouchable woman.¡±

    His brow rose in mockery. ¡°Do you wonder about this? Don¡¯t you see? I touch you and five minutester, we are naked on a bed together.¡±

    ¡°Are you saying you¡¯ve been avoiding touching me because you want me that much?¡± she asked. It was a novel concept, one that was infinitely good for her feminine ego.

    ¡°I promised you I would not seduce you,¡± he said.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    And the most casual touching put that promise at risk. At least that was what he was implying. Knowing he was that physically vulnerable to her assuage some of her fear at marriage to a man who did not love her.

    ¡°And now you want a promise I won¡¯t spend time alone with other men.¡± Tess asked.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Dash hadn¡¯t liked finding her with David and even less discovering her alone with Dean. She should understand that because she wouldn¡¯t like the reverse either. Only she¡¯d made him promise her fidelity.

    Perhaps he had his own insecurities. The idea was almostughable, but the strangely intent expression in his eyes was not.

    ¡°I won¡¯t make a habit of being alone with other men and I will never be unfaithful to you. I¡¯m not saying I won¡¯t talk or hang out with other men, because that¡¯s ridiculous, but I won¡¯t make you feel ufortable with it¡± It was the best she could do, because she wasn¡¯t going to go running from a room if a man walked into it and she wasn¡¯t going to make a promise she couldn¡¯t keep.

    He seemed satisfied and nodded. ¡°We will be married in one week,¡± he said.

 72

    ¡°Excuse me? You are doing what exactly with him?¡± Victoria said, almost yelling. ¡°Here I am waiting for you to get this over with ande back here, and you¡¯re telling me shit about enjoying your stay with him. You are not thinking straight¡±

    ¡°Would you rx a little bit Vicky?¡± Savannah said. ¡°Calm down¡±

    She had just returned from her evening walk on the beach. It had be sort of a habit. Sometimes Matt joined her, but today he had to work so she had gone alone. She had just returned to the living room when Vicky called.

    Vicky hissed. ¡°No, I will not calm down,¡± she replied. ¡°I don¡¯t understand why you are doing this to yourself. Have you forgotten how much he hurt you? Well if you have, I haven¡¯t. I¡¯m your best friend, Savannah, and I know how hurt you were when he pushed you away. And there is a chance that he might do it again. I don¡¯t want to lose you. I almost did thest time¡±

    Savannah smiled, grateful that she had a friend who loved and supported so much. ¡°I know. I know¡± she said. ¡°And I know it sounds crazy, But he seems to want to give us a try¡±

    ¡°Yeah right¡± Vicky retorted. ¡°Until when exactly? Until his brother does and says something stupid again and he pushes you away again. To be honest, I think Matt is an asshole. And I don¡¯t understand why you would want to give him another chance. You gave him one and he blew it. He doesn¡¯t deserves another ¡±

    Savannah closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Vicky was right. She didn¡¯t even know why she was doing this. Maybe she was crazy. She just knew that a part of her wanted to see this through, because she still loved him.

    ¡°Look babe,¡± she began. ¡°I know that you¡¯re just trying to look after me and I love you for that. So I promise that I will be careful. I¡¯m a big girl, remember? I can take care of myself¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Can you?¡± Vicky asked sarcastically

    Savannah rolled her eyes and smiled. ¡°I will be fine. Say hi to Bruce for me, okay?¡±

    ¡°Fine¡± Victoria said. ¡°But I still think that you might be making a mistake. And if tthat Matt hurts you again, I might kill him¡±

    ¡°No you won¡¯t, ¡± Savannah said. ¡°You might yell and give him the stink eye every time you see him, but you won¡¯t kill him. You are so sweet and incapable of doing something like that¡±.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be so sure¡± Vicky said.

    Savannahughed. ¡°Bye, honey¡± she said and hung up. Vicky was right though, she thought. She was definitely crazy.

    ¡°She really hates me, doesn¡¯t she?¡± Matt¡¯s voice said behind her. Savannah gasped and spun around.

    ¡°Geez, Matt,¡± she said. ¡°You scared the hell out of me¡±

    He shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to scare you.¡±

    Savannah rolled her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to knock?¡± she asked.

    He smiled. ¡°It¡¯s my living room¡±

    ¡°Then wear a bell or something around your neck¡­ Anything to announce your presence. You can¡¯t just go around giving people heart attacks¡±

    Heughed softly and moved closer to her. ¡°I just couldn¡¯t help but overhear your conversation with your friend. She doesn¡¯t think you should be here¡± he said.

    Savannah wondered how much of the conversation he had heard, but she didn¡¯t ask.

    ¡°Are you done with your work?¡± she asked, changing the topic, but Matt was not be deterred because he said, ¡°I just don¡¯t think I¡¯mfortable with anyone trying to convince my woman to leave me¡±

    He wore a silk shirt the color of freshly brewed espresso coffee that hinted at the muscled chest beneath rather than emphasized it, and a pair of expertly tailored trousers in the same dark coffee color. With his hair brushed back from that intelligent brow, and those dark, enigmatic eyes, Matt appeared every bit as threatening.

    One of her eyebrows went up and she studied him for a long moment. He could see her mind swirling with something and so he simply waited to see if she¡¯d say what was on her mind.

    ¡°Am I?¡± she finally asked.

    His brow furrowed. ¡°Are you what?¡±

    ¡°Yours,¡± she said simply. ¡°I need to know what this is, Matt. Are we back together? I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m supposed to do here and I¡¯m not about to assume anything.¡±

    He took a deep breath because it was important to handle this just right. Thest thing he wanted to do was screw everything up when he felt as if he was this close to having her where he wanted her.

    ¡°I think that¡¯s up to you,¡± he said carefully. ¡°I think I¡¯ve been up front about what I want, about where I¡¯d like to see our rtionship. It¡¯s time for you to decide if this is where you want to be. With me. I¡¯m not saying we have to take a huge leap, but we can at least decide to be together so we can work things out¡­ Honestly, I want you back. Completely. I want everything to go back to the way it used to be.¡±

    She visibly swallowed and he could see fear in her gaze again. It ate at his gut because he honestly didn¡¯t know what scared her so bad. Was he such an ogre? Could she really me him or hold against him the reaction he¡¯d had to her being unfaithful?

    ¡°Somehow I agree with Vicky. My mind tells me I¡¯m an idiot for even considering this,¡± she muttered.

    ¡°What does your heart tell you?¡± he asked softly.

    She sighed and stared helplessly back at him, her blue eyes churning with emotion.

    ¡°My heart tells me that I want this. No matter how much I think I shouldn¡¯t want it, I do. Maybe this is a bad time to have a discussion about our rtionship when our minds are¡­..¡±

    ¡°Are what?¡± he asked her.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡± Savannah said. ¡°I think I¡¯m not.. We are not thinking straight because of this¡­ attraction we have for each other¡±

    He touched his finger to her lips. ¡°I think it¡¯s the perfect time to have it because our guards are down. It¡¯s just us. No barriers. No walls. Just us and how we feel. And maybe the attraction isn¡¯t such a bad thing¡±

    ¡°How do you feel, Matt? Do you really want this?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I do, Savvie. I want it so damn much that the thought of you walking away has my gut in knots.¡± he replied. ¡°So when we go back home, I don¡¯t want you to leave again¡±

    Her eyes widened. ¡°But I never walked away from you.¡± She said,

 73

    He blew out his breath. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that, okay? Whatever happened in the past, the point is, I don¡¯t want you to walk away now. I can¡¯t stand the thought of it.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± she said so quietly he almost didn¡¯t hear.

    He reached out and nudged her chin up. ¡°Okay?¡± he asked.

    ¡°I want to stay. I have no idea how we¡¯ll work all this out, but I want to try.¡±

    Satisfaction ripped through him, so savage that for a moment he couldn¡¯t breathe. He had to temper his reaction because he wanted nothing more than to grab her, haul her into his arms and hold her so damn tight that she could never escape.

    ¡°We¡¯ll do more than try,¡± he vowed. ¡°We¡¯re going to fix this, Savvie. We¡¯re going to make it work this time.¡±

    Savannah nodded, but she said nothing. At least she was sure of what he wanted from her now. What mattered now was if it was going to work out.

    She swallowed hard as she stared up at him. She hadn¡¯t been drinking, but just being in the same room with Matt made her dearly wish she had been. Every time she was anywhere near this man she felt the urge to rip the clothes from his body and have her way with him. Her very wicked way with him! She wanted him to sweep her into his arms, and make mad, passionate love to her.

    Matt watched the emotions flicker across Savannah¡¯s flushed and expressive face as she looked at him: tension, then desire, quickly followed by dismay.

    ¡°I would give a thousand dors to know what your thoughts were just now,¡± he murmured throatily.

    Her eyes widened in rm before she quickly looked away. ¡°You would be wasting your money.¡± she said.

    ¡°It¡¯s my money to waste.¡±

    She shrugged. ¡°I wasn¡¯t thinking about anything,¡± she said.

    Matt gave a casual nce down at Savannah¡¯s left hand, knowing by the way it was clenched that she wasn¡¯t telling the truth. Knowing by the way she instantly unclenched her hand that she knew he knew it too!

    ¡°Having a giveaway is annoying, isn¡¯t it?¡± he murmured conversationally.

    Her chin rose determinedly. ¡°I have no idea what you mean.¡±

    ¡°Sure you don?t¡­¡± he drawled.

    ¡°I believe you now owe me a thousand dors¡­¡± she said.

    He gave a rueful shake of his head and smiled.¡± We both know you just lied and I don¡¯t owe you a damn thing.¡±

    He lifted his hand to her face and his thumb slid along her jawline. The simple gesture made her entire body ache with unbearable longing.

    She squeezed her eyes shut and swallowed. Every slight touch, every word that rumbled up from his chest, was stroking her desire.

    A pulse fluttered in her throat. His thumb pressed gently on her jaw, urging her head up. She met his gaze, and the fire in his eyes sent a spear of yearning all the way through her, down to her sexual core.

    She¡¯d gotten a fleeting glimpse of that green fire before-thest time he kissed her. She knew he was going to kiss her now. And she wanted him to.

    Savannah knew all she had to do was lift her head another millimeter and his lips would cover hers. After that, who knew what would happen? She didn¡¯t know, nor did she care.

    She was consumed with need. She throbbed with desire. And it was far toote for second guesses. So she threw caution to the wind and lifted her head.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Matt made a soft sound deep in his throat and kissed her. At first it was a soft, short pressing of lips on lips. Then he paused, he lifted his head and stared into her eyes. Savannah stared back at him. Whatever happened between them this time, she was going to meet it head-on.

    So she tilted her head back a little more and reached for his mouth with hers. His mouth came down again, softly. But almost immediately, the pressure increased and his tongue traced the seam of her lips until she parted them. Then his hand on her nape slid up to cradle the back of her head and his mouth took hers, seeking her tongue with his.

    When her heart was racing so fast that she thought she couldn¡¯t breathe, and her entire body was pulsing with desire, he left her mouth and trailed his tongue down her jawline, down her neck, all the way to her corbone, where he nibbled lightly.

    His fingers slid down her neck to caress the skin he was kissing. Then further, until they trailed fire along the curve of her breast. When his hot, questing fingers brushed her nipple, she arched, pushing her breast into his hand as liquid fire burned all the way to her core.

    He arched, too, and she felt the length of his erection through his pants. Tentatively, fearfully, she touched him.

    Matt gasped as the touch of her hand sent shudders through his body. He strained, forcing his length more fully against her hand. The stiff fabric of his pants rubbed against his flesh, creating a nearly unbearable friction that only ratcheted his need higher.

    ¡°This is not  the ce,¡± Matt said. ¡°And we have too many clothes on¡± he added with a teasing grin.

    She gasped when suddenly he swept her up in his arms and he was carrying her to his bedroom. He shut the door with his foot and she was barely on her feet before his lips found hers again.

    His dark head bent and his lips brushed across hers as he gathered her hard against him, and kissed her long and deep. So deep that when he suddenly eased her away from the heat of his great body, she was breathless, her legs felt like rubber and she could hardly stand. But she didn¡¯t need to. He was holding her¡­ Actually she was pressed against him.

    Savannah¡¯s breasts were barely covered by the thin cloth of the gown she wore. Her nipples puckered, perfectly visible through the gauzy fabric. Was she naked under the gown? Lust stabbed him at the thought.

    He kissed her again, as his hand slid lower, lower, until he felt the swell of her hip. Her hand was still stroking him through his clothes. Her breathing had changed, nowing in short, sharp bursts, just like his.

 74

    She was turned on. She wanted this as much as he did. And that was a lot.

    More than anything he¡¯d ever desired in his life.

    He moved away from her with a teasing grin on his face. Then he stepped back, kicking off his shoes and shrugging out of his shirt.

    Mesmerized, she simply stared at him. His shoulders were wide, his chest broad and tapering down to a lean waist, his skin gleaming like burnished gold in stark contrast to the mass of ck curling hair arrowing down his strong body. His long arms were hard and muscr and had their own dusting of hair.

    His hands¡­ his hands were unfastening his trousers. Savannah gasped, her heart skipping a beat.

    ¡°Something wrong, Savvie?¡± he asked as he moved towards her again. His hands settled on her waist and Savannah was d of the support, shaken by the intensity of her own desire for him.

    ¡°No,¡± she murmured. ¡°Never more right.¡±

    She strove to match his sophistication but her voice shook ever so slightly.

    ¡°But you still have too many clothes on, baby,¡± he said. A slow, sensuous smile curved his wide mouth, his eyes gleaming beneath ck curlingshes. ¡°Let me help you,¡± he suggested throatily as his fingers caught the edge of her gown and he eased it up. Hypnotized by the intensity of his dark gaze, like a puppet on a string, Savannah raised her arms and he slipped the gown over her head. His hands stroked down her naked back, and hercy bra went the same way as the gown.

    ¡°Magnificent,¡± Matt husked as his hands swept round and up to cup her high, firm breasts. Savannah sucked in a feverish breath, her breasts suddenly heavy, the small nipples swelling and tightening into pinpoints of pleasure. Lifting her eyes, she felt her cheeks flood with color at his intent masculine scrutiny.

    ¡°You have nothing to blush about, Savvie.¡± he said. His smoldering gaze met hers, his voice fracturing a little. ¡°You have perfect breasts. You always have, and I can¡¯t wait to see the rest of you. It¡¯s been so long¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t wait too¡± she mumbled inanely, and she got her wish.

    Matt lowered his hands from her breasts, but not before rubbing her tight, swollen nipples with skilful fingers as he kissed her again with erotic thoroughness before pulling back from her and calmly stripping off.

    Faced by a totally naked Matt, she could not stop staring. He was all hard muscle, and sleek golden skin, from his broad chest down to his taut, t stomach, and lean hips. A ribbon of paler skin circled the top of his powerful thighs. He was so beautiful, she thought, and it was herst sensible thought.

    Eyes widening, her face burning along with every other inch of her body. She was confronted by a magnificently virile aroused male and she could not tear her gaze away.

    ¡°You¡¯regging behind,¡± Matt said with a husky chuckle. As she hastily lifted her head her entranced blue eyes connected with sensuous ck and she couldn¡¯t say a word.

    ¡°Here, let me help you with that too¡± he added and skimmed her panties down her hips with a deftness that spelt years of practice. He gathered her up in his arms andid her on the bed.

    ¡°So beautiful,¡± Matt murmured, staring down at the silky softness of her creamy skin, and the rosy-tipped peaks of her lush breasts. For a second embarrassment overcame Savannah and she lifted her hands to cover herself from his scorching gaze. He had seen her naked before. She knew she shouldn¡¯t feel like this, but she did.

    ¡°No, don¡¯t,¡± Matt growled. Sitting down beside her, he took her hands and pressed them onto the bed, one each side of her head. His dark gaze swept her. Her body was curvaceous yet toned to perfection with firm, beautifully shaped breasts, a narrow waist, ring hips and fabulous long legs.

    ¡°You are absolutely stunning,¡± he said throatily, his gaze roaming back up over her incredible body and lingering on tight rosy nipples before lifting to her face. ¡°And so very sexy. I honestly can¡¯t believe that you are in my arms again¡±

    And then he covered her mouth with his own.

    The feel of his long hard body against hers, and the magic of his firm, sensuous mouth, his tongue tangling with hers, the taste of him¡­ Savannah lost her everyst inhibition. She tried to pull her hands free. ¡°Please. I want to touch you,¡± she said with naive honesty.

    ¡°Feel free.¡± Matt grinned and let go of her hands, his heavy-lidded eyes gleaming into hers. ¡°I certainly intend to touch every part of you, my sweet Savvie, in every way.¡±This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Dipping his head, he trailed kisses down her throat, sucking on the tiny pulse racing beneath her silken skin, before moving lower and licking and nipping the rosy nipples with his teeth and tongue, while his hand stroked down the curve of her waist and traced her inner thigh.

    Savannah buried her hands in the thick dark hair of his head, her spine arching up to him, and she groaned out loud at the exquisite sensationsncing from her breast to the apex of her thighs. He kissed and caressed a sensuous path from her breasts to her navel, and traced the line of her hip and thigh right down to the soles of her feet with a hungry, erotic thoroughness that made her wriggle and squirm in feverish delight, before returning to her mouth and kissing her with a driving, possessive passion that she met and matched with helpless abandon. She wrapped her arms tight around him, on fire for him.

    Her hands swept over the wide muscr shoulders, traced the indentation of his spine, and syed over the strong shoulder des. She pressed up into him and, with an eroticism she had never dreamt she was capable of rubbing her achingly sensitized breasts against the hard wall of his chest, glorying in the excitement the friction aroused.

    It was as if some other female had taken over, a sexy, liberated female, and she nuzzled into the hard curve of his shoulder, and moaned as his fingers toyed with her breast once more. When the hand on her thigh slipped ever closer to the center of her femininity, she shivered in delicious anticipation

 75

    She was damp and hot and aching for him and her legs moved apart instinctively. Her head burrowed lower, looking for a taut male nipple, one hand sliding over his lean hips searching for something else.

    Matt¡¯s hand tangled in her hair and urged her head up. ¡°Not so fast, sweetheart,¡± he said. Heughed softly, his face inches from hers. ¡°I want to make this good for you, to make itst.¡±

    With passion-dazed eyes she looked into his face, the smoldering ck eyes, the disheveled hair that she was responsible for, and the wickedly sinful mouth smiling down. It was the smile that goaded her even as her insides were melting like hot treacle.

    Daringly her slender fingers inched around his hip and touched the long velvet shaft, and she heard him groan. ¡°Why wait?¡± she prompted breathlessly, her blue eyes widening to ze with a need and knowledge as old as Eve. ¡°We can always do it again.¡±

    Matt was not made of stone, though at that moment he was as hard as any rock. He caught her hand and lifted it up to his chest, though it nearly killed him to do so. Damn, but she was a temptress, and she was right.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    Once would never be enough with her, because it had been so long, he knew, and he took her teasing mouth with a savage hunger he could barely control.

    Savannah fought to drag air into her starving lungs as he broke the kiss, his head swooping down, his tongue flicking over her aching breasts once more, even as his long fingers eased through the golden curls at the junction of her thighs, and expertly stroked the moist feminine heart of her. She wrapped her arms around him and clung, her hips rising from the bed as with torturous strokes he teased and probed her tight, silken depths until she was sure she could stand no more. Her body was white hot and wound up so tight she felt she would shatter into a million pieces with sensual excitement.

    Matt lifted his head, his eyes molten pools of ck jet, his bronzed skin flushed along his high cheekbones. ¡°You want me.¡± he said

    ¡°I¡¯m crazy for you,¡± she groaned.

    He rose over her and she was unaware he reached for something from the bedside table as the subtle stroke of his lean fingers took her to the edge again.

    ¡°Yes¡± Matt rasped and in one smooth motion he grasped her hips, and lifted her.

    She felt the hard length of him touch her, stroke her once, twice. Her whole body shuddered, and he drew in an audible breath as with one powerful move he entered her.

    He pulled back ever so slightly, and eased into her slow and deep, and felt her silken muscles clench around him. He stroked deeper, and in that moment she lost itpletely. She cried out loud. ¡°Oh, yes, Matt, yes,¡± at the incredible sensations convulsing her slender body with a fierce pleasure that shattered all her  illusions, and left her shuddering in ecstasy.

    Matt plunged harder and faster in a wild, primitive rhythm that drove her higher and higher.

    Savannah clung to him in a fever of need, oblivious to the fact her nails were digging into his flesh. She felt as if he were lifting her out of herself to a realm where nothing existed but his hot, hard body filling her, possessing her. And she was totally unaware of the breathless plea for more escaping her as he captured the erotic sound with his mouth. She felt his great body shudder violently, and she cried out his name as wave after wave of explosive sensations swept her into an ecstatic oblivion.

    Slowly Savannah opened her eyes. Matt copsed on top of her, his eyes closed. But even so she smiled mistily up at him.

    Their bodies were damp with perspiration, their hearts thundering in the aftermath of passion, and a deep sense of peace washed over her. Matt was the man she was born for, she thought dreamily.

    ¡°Oh, Savvie¡± Matt murmured close to her ear burying his face in the silken, fragrant mass of her hair for a moment. ¡°That was fantastic.¡± He smoothed the tumbled hair from her brow. He eased his heavy body from hers, and from the bed.

    ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡± Savannah murmured, reaching out a hand to him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I am not going far.¡± Matt stood, unashamedly naked, looking down at her. ¡°I am only going to the bathroom to dispense with this and replenish supplies. Unless you would like to do it for me,¡± he suggested teasingly.

    Sprawled on the bed totally naked, she looked dazedly up into his grinning face, registering the ck hair flopping over his brow, the smoldering eyes, and the wickedly masculine mouth. He was utterly gorgeous and he was hers. Her eyes roamed leisurely down the naked length of him and only then did the import of his words sink in.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so,¡± she squeaked. Of course he had used protection-it was nothing to be embarrassed about, in fact she should be grateful, but it did not stop her blushing scarlet and dragging the sheet up over her naked body.

    Matt let out a bark ofughter. ¡°You¡¯re incredible-we just had the most amazing sex, and yet you blush like a schoolgirl.¡± He shook his dark head. ¡°That is some trick.¡± And he headed for the bathroom.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    Matty in bed, Savannah in his arms, trying to sort out what had just happened. On the surface it had been kinda quick, very hot sexual interlude. One of the best he¡¯d ever had.

    But it went deeper. It wasn¡¯t just sex. If it was just sex, his heart wouldn¡¯t feel as though it was going to burst out of his chest. He wouldn¡¯t be so overwhelmed that he had no idea how to process what he felt.

    It was¡­ It was more intense than sex had ever been between them. They had been a study in hot, flirty, fun in bed. He teased. She teased.

    But this had been almost¡­heartbreaking, and he couldn¡¯t shake the heaviness that pervaded his chest even now.

    He rubbed his hand up and down her back and pressed a kiss to her hair in an effort to soothe some of the tightness in his throat

 76

    He put a hand between them to touch her cheek and then he carefully pulled her away until he looked down into her eyes.

    The stark emotion there. The devastation. It was like a knife to the gut. She looked so very vulnerable.

    Fragile. And scared. She looked scared to death. Was she afraid of him? Of what had happened? He couldn¡¯t bear it if she hated herself for giving in to the overwhelming tension that had been building ever since he¡¯d brought her to the ind.

    ¡°What are you thinking?¡± he asked hoarsely. ¡°Tell me you don¡¯t regret this, Savvie. Anything but regret.¡±

    Slowly she shook her head and he felt something loosen inside him. Relief. But it was only the first step.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    He caressed her cheek, enjoying the feel of her satiny skin. No matter how much he¡¯d told himself that he was better off without her, that he was well rid of her, he could no longer lie to himself.

    He wanted her. He wanted her back, no matter what she¡¯d done in the past. He¡¯d been forced to examine their rtionship after he¡¯d broken their engagement and ordered her out of his house- and his life. Maybe he¡¯d been partially to me.

    Maybe he¡¯d worked too many hours. Maybe he¡¯d neglected her.

    Whatever the case, something had gone horribly wrong and he was determined to find the cause so that it didn¡¯t happen again.

    Unable to resist, he kissed her forehead and then each eyelid. He gently kissed each cheekbone and then her mouth before nibbling a path to her ear.

    When he slid his hand up her thigh and delved into her with a finger, she cried out and clutched him closer.

    ¡°Matt,¡± she whispered. ¡°Please-¡±

    He knew what she was asking. Her hand closed around him, squeezing, rubbing, caressing, and she whispered again. ¡°Please-¡±

    He raised himself above her and pushed into her silken waiting core. And groaned.

    Savannah cried out softly, then arched her hips, giving him full ess, which he took.

    He tortured himself by staying perfectly still until he thought he might explode.

    Then when he did move, it was excruciatingly slowly.

    But she wasn¡¯t having slow and easy. His chest rumbled slightly withughter. Not his Brat. Even in bed, she fought to be in control.

    ¡°Stop trying to be on top,¡± he whispered in her ear, then he kissed his way from her ear to her lips.

    Then he thrust inside her-hard. Hard and long. He moved in and out, in and out until he saw her expression change from determination to surprise to ecstasy.

    He thrust again and came in a burst of inner light that rivaled the storm outside.

    Within a split second, she gasped and arched and he felt the full extent of her orgasm as she pulsed around him.

    He buried his face between her neck and shoulder, breathing hard. As his breathing slowed, he heard her soft sigh and felt her fingers tracing his forearms, his biceps and triceps, his shoulders.

    She kissed him just below the ear and he smiled at the sweetness of the gesture.

    He missed her affection. Missed the way she had always seemed to be touching him or kissing him or just offering him a smile.

    He¡¯d missed her.

    And now he had to find a way to make sure she didn¡¯t leave again. He didn¡¯t think for a minute that sex was a fix-all for a rtionship. It wasn¡¯t even a good bandage.

    He knew it wasn¡¯t going to be easy. There was too much mistrust and hurt between them, but somehow they had to find their way back. He wouldn¡¯t allow himself to think any differently.

    She was his. She was willing to give them another chance. That made things simple. She belonged with him. She needed him to take care of her. He wanted to take care of her.

    If he was willing to forget the past, then shouldn¡¯t she be willing to try their rtionship again? It wasn¡¯t as if he¡¯d betrayed her.

    But she carried so much hurt and anger.

    Something inside her had been broken. Had he done it when he¡¯d tossed her out of his apartment? What had she expected?

    He stroked her hair and willed himself not to be embroiled in the past. He¡¯d promised himself-and her-that he¡¯d put everything behind him.

    And if he was willing to do that, then he saw no reason she shouldn¡¯t be willing to let the past rest as well.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    She doesn¡¯t give up, does she?¡± Savannah murmured as she watched Le approach their table, a determined expression on her face.

    Matt looked up and to his credit heaved a sigh and appeared to be extremely irritated with the impending interruption. After a morning and most of the afternoon in bed, they¡¯d ventured out for dinner and now they were back at the ind, here was Le, circling like a hawk.

    And it wasn¡¯t that Savannah was jealous. Honestly, Le wasn¡¯t Matt¡¯s type, though she supposed his type could have changed after he¡¯d broken their engagement.

    What bothered her was the seemingly public knowledge of their rtionship. It just proved Savannah¡¯s assertion that his family and friends alike loathed her. Something Matt was finallying to ept.

    But eptance didn¡¯t make anything easier. While love was supposed to be ¡°everything,¡± she wasn¡¯t naive enough to think that rtives hating you didn¡¯t put an unbearable strain on a rtionship.

    Who could be happy when, at every turn, your lover¡¯s family did everything they could to make their disapproval known?

    Maybe they¡¯d both been too naive the first time.

    Maybe now they could be stronger together. But then what would happen if and when Matt finally knew the truth about Enzo? And his mother¡¯s part in the whole affair?

    Once again, Savannah would be the wedge between him and his family. Their rtionship might not survive a second time.

    Le stopped at the table and bent to kiss Matt on either cheek, leaving a smear of lipstick on his cheek.

    Savannah sighed and sat back, resigned to another ufortable scene. Matt looked¡­pissed.

    ¡°Le, what the hell are you doing here?¡± he asked.

    He didn¡¯t even try to be polite this time.

    ¡°Oh, I just came around to say goodbye. My flight leaves in the morning and I hoped we could set up a time to get together when you return to New York. Your mother would like us all to have dinner, and I promised her that I woulde. You know how she is¡±

 77

    She flicked a sideways look of disdain-and challenge-in Savannah¡¯s direction, but Savannah purposely yawned and sent a bored look in return. Le frowned but turned eagerly back to Matt.

    ¡°Shall we say the weekend after you return perhaps? I¡¯m sure Savannah wouldn¡¯t mind. After all, you and I are old friends.¡± She said.

    ¡°I mind,¡± Matt said in a clipped voice. ¡°Now if that¡¯s all, we¡¯d appreciate being left to our meal.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll call you,¡± Le murmured. ¡°We¡¯ll talk¡­ter.¡± The inference being they¡¯d talk when Savannah wasn¡¯t around. Was the woman stupid?

    It was tempting to put her firmly in her ce, but frankly it would take too much effort and Savannah was quite content to remain in her seat and watch Le stew in her own ignorance.

    Le touched Matt¡¯s face in a gesture that repulsed Savannah then slid one long nail down his jaw before fluttering her fingers at him as she walked away.

    Matt turned, his lips tight. ¡°God, I¡¯m sorry, Savvie. You have to know I haven¡¯t encouraged her¡­ Ever¡±

    Savannah smiled and handed him a napkin to wipe the lipstick off his cheek. ¡°Yeah, I figured that much out. She¡¯s¡­she¡¯s interesting. And awfully dense. You were pretty tant with the brush-off. It makes me wonder what your mother promised her.¡±

    Matt frowned as he swiped at his cheeks. He pulled the napkin away, frowning even harder at the red smear on the material. Then he reached across the table and took her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s not let her ruin what has otherwise been a spectacr day.¡± he said.

    Savannah rolled her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re just saying that because of the sex. Give a man sex and it¡¯s the most amazing day ever.¡±

    He grinned. ¡°Well, there is that, but it¡¯s not just sex with you, Savannah. It¡¯s¡­more.¡±

    She flushed in pleasure at the sincerity in his voice. He made her believe all sorts of crazy things, like they could actually work through the serious issues facing them.

    ¡°So what do you want to do after dinner?¡± she asked lightly.

    ¡°How about another walk on the beach?¡± Matt asked. ¡°Maybe we¡¯ll go to the cabana for some dancing.¡±

    ¡°I liked how we danced the other night,¡± she said in a dreamy voice. ¡°Just you and me. No one else around. It was an amazing night.¡±

    He studied her for a long moment, his fingers idly caressing hers. ¡°Yeah, it was.¡± he agreed.

    He lifted her hand and brought it to his mouth where he proceeded to kiss each fingertip before turning her hand over and nuzzling into her palm. ¡°I thought maybe tomorrow we could get out and see some of the sights as long as you¡¯re feeling up to it. I don¡¯t know if you will want to walk, so I¡¯ve arranged for a convertible so we can drive where we like. Top down, wind-in-our-hair sort of thing.¡±

    ¡°It sounds fun.¡± Savannah said. And it had been a long time since she¡¯d simply had fun. She smiled, feeling her chest grow lighter with each passing second.

    Impulsively she squeezed his hand.

    ¡°I love that you¡¯re smiling again,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful when you smile. I want you to be happy, Savvie. I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to make you happy.¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    With that statement, she felt some of her hurt and anger recede. For the first time she began to believe that maybe they could get beyond the past and forge ahead.

    He seemed so sincere. Whatever he thought of her in the past, he seemed willing to push aside those feelings and start over. Why would he go to such lengths if he didn¡¯t care about her?

    ¡°I want this to work,¡± she said earnestly. And for the first time she really believed wholeheartedly that she did. That they could find their way back to each other seemed an impossible dream. It would take forgiveness and sacrifice, but she wanted it more than anything.

    He went silent and he looked brooding, his expression intense. He massaged her hands gently while Savannah watched him.

    He seemed to battle whether or not he wanted to speak, but finally he locked his gaze with hers and said, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you cash the check i gave you, Savvie? I gave it to you so you¡¯d be provided for. No matter what you did, how angry I was or how things were between us, I intended you to be cared for. Do you have any idea what it did to me to find you working in that god-awful ce, barely making it? Hell, wasn¡¯t it hard for you?.¡±

    ¡°I ate at the diner sometimes, so it wasn¡¯t that hard,¡± she said, trying to be yful.

    He made a sound of exasperation. ¡°Like that¡¯s supposed to make me feel any better? Why didn¡¯t you use the money? You could have finished college. You could have lived for a long time toe without ever having to work.¡± he said.

    ¡°I have pride. It took a beating but it¡¯s still intact. I guess if I hadn¡¯t been able to get that job back and the choice was between starving or taking money that made me feel dirty, I would have sucked it up and done it anyway.¡± She replied.

    ¡°Did you hate me so much?¡± he asked hoarsely. ¡°That you would rather work in such deplorable conditions than ept anything from me?¡±

    She leveled a stare at him. ¡°Don¡¯t ask questions you aren¡¯t prepared to hear the answers to.¡±

    He closed his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s answer enough, I suppose.¡±

    She shrugged. ¡°You hated me, too.¡± She said.

    He shook his head and her eyes widened. ¡°No? Matt, you said and did some terrible things. Not the least of which was tossing that check at me with so much disdain that I can still remember the way I felt.¡±

    ¡°What did you expect?¡± he asked. ¡°For God¡¯s sake, Savannah, I¡¯d just found out you slept with my brother. You had my ring on your finger, we were nning our wedding and you slept with my brother.¡±

    ¡°And of course he¡¯s meless in the whole thing,¡± she said scornfully. ¡°Tell me, Matt, how long did it take you to forgive him? How long before he wasing back over and you were having family dinners at your mother¡¯s?¡±

    His face flushed a dull red and then he dragged a hand raggedly through his hair. ¡°It took a while, all right? I was furious with him-and you. I had to decide whether to allow what happened to ruin our rtionship. He¡¯s family. He¡¯s my brother.¡±

 78

    She leaned forward, forgetting their vow not to dredge up the past. ¡°And I was the woman you were supposed to marry, Matt. Didn¡¯t I deserve anything from you? Besides a payoff and a get-the-hell-out-of-my-life?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m here now,¡± he said quietly. ¡°I was angry. I had a right to be. I won¡¯t apologize for that. But I¡¯m here now and I want us to try again. We both made mistakes.¡±

    She had to let go of the resentment and anger that She had to put it away because there was no way for her to win.

    She leaned back in her chair. ¡°So where are we going to drive tomorrow? Should I wear one of those scarves and huge sunsses so I look chic?¡± she asked.

    He rxed, relief stark in his eyes that she was letting the matter drop.

    ¡°Wear that very sexy sundress that Rosa bought you,¡± he replied.

    She arched an eyebrow. ¡°Which one? She bought several, thanks to you.¡± she said.

    ¡°Clearly you haven¡¯t seen the one then. Or you¡¯d know what I was talking about. It¡¯s red. Perfect with your coloring. Strapless, clingy in all the right ces. Just make sure to bring something to protect your head from the sun.¡± Matt said.

    ¡°It sounds fun. Carefree,¡± she said wistfully. It had been far too long since she¡¯d done anything remotely resembling carefree.

    ¡°I intend for us to have a lot of fun together again, Savannah. We used to. We were happy.¡±

    She had to acknowledge that they had been. Once. So she nodded and he smiled.

    ¡°Are you ready for bed yet?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Depends on what you have in mind,¡± she murmured.

    A gleam entered his eyes and he slid his hands up her legs, stroking and caressing.

    ¡°Well, I sure wasn¡¯t nning to go to sleep. Not for a good long while.¡±

    ¡°In that case, definitely take me to bed.¡±

    He rose and then unexpectedly he reached down, slid his arms beneath her and lifted her up, cradling her against his chest.

    ¡°Matt, put me down. I think I¡¯ve added some weight since we have been here

    I¡¯m too heavy!¡±

    He silenced her with a kiss. ¡°A-you¡¯re still a little bit of a thing. And B-are you suggesting I¡¯m not manly enough to carry my woman around?¡±

    Sheughed. ¡°Forget I said anything. Carry on then.¡±

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    There weren¡¯t enough words to exin how much Savannah dreaded getting on that ne and flying back to New York. The past two days had had a dreamlike quality. They were like the best fantasy imaginable, unmarred by a single incident.

    And now they were going back to reality.

    Cold, gloomy New York City.

    She hadn¡¯t always felt that way about the city but now it only held bad memories for her. She wasn¡¯t as optimistic as Matt that they could somehow pull the pieces of their rtionship back together and sustain it with so many factors against them.

    As if sensing her reluctance, Matt slid an arm around her waist and urged her onto the ne.

    A few momentster, they were seated and Matt reached over to buckle her seat belt for her.

    ¡°It¡¯s going to be alright, Savvie. Trust me.¡± he said.

    She wished it was that easy. Still, she offered him a reassuring smile and settled back for the flight.

    But it was Matt who seemed to grow more tense as the flight neared its end. He touched her frequently, and at first she thought it was to ease her nerves, but she wondered now if it was to reassure himself.

    Did he think she¡¯d bolt and run as soon as theynded? She might be tempted but she¡¯d given him her promise and she intended to keep it.

    They hadn¡¯t really talked about what would happen when they got back to New York. Maybe they¡¯d both been too determined not to ruin their time on the ind.

    Once again when theynded, there was a car waiting for them, and Matt hurried her out of the cold and into the warm confines of the vehicle.

    A mixture of snow and sleet fell from gray skies and she shivered even though the heat was on full st in the back of the car. It was a shock to leave sunshine and sandy beaches for the bitter chill of New York in the throes of a cold front.

    The euphoria that had enveloped much of their stay on the ind evaporated and depression settled over her until her mood matched the weather.

    Matt pulled her into his side and kissed her temple. ¡°I have a distinct urge to order in tonight, eat in front of the fire and then make love to you for the rest of the night.¡± he said.

    She sighed and snuggled into his side. Somehow he¡¯d known just what to say to make some of the oppressive worry melt away.

    ¡°I had fun with you thest few days,¡± she said, wanting him to have that admission at least.

    ¡°I¡¯m d. I had fun with you too. It felt like old times, only¡­better.¡± he replied.

    She nodded because it had been better. More honest. Or maybe they hadn¡¯t taken a single moment for granted as they¡¯d done in the past. They¡¯d enjoyed every single minute together, making the most of each one.

    They¡¯dughed and loved and they¡¯d made love. The veryst day they hadn¡¯t left Matt¡¯s room. Their meals had been delivered and they¡¯d stayed in bed, only leaving it to take a leisurely shower together.

    She wished it could havested. But they had to face the music sooner orter. She smiled, loving the concern in his voice.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    ¡°Spending the time away with you did so much for me. I¡¯m d that you made me go with you.¡±

    He looked pleased with her response, pleased that she¡¯d admitted it. He bent to kiss her again as they pulled up outside his building.

    Matt hastily got out, and rushed her out of the cold and into the building. As they rode up in the elevator, Savannah realized just how much she dreaded being back here, in this house. In this city.

    ¡°My driver will bring the luggage up soon. Why don¡¯t you go getfortable on the couch? I¡¯ll turn the fire on and fix us something to drink. Are you hungry?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Hmm, no, but I¡¯d love Thai takeoutter. For now I¡¯ll have some juice.¡± Savannah replied.

 79

    ¡°Thai sounds good. Getfortable. Take your shoes off and prop your feet up. I bet your ankles are hurting from sitting with your feet down for that long. Mine are¡± Matt said.

    Savannah chuckled at the mother hen sound to his voice but did as he said and settled on the sumptuous leather couch. She kicked off her shoes and winced a little as she propped them on the ottoman.

    Matt had just set their drinks on the coffee table and settled next to her when his phone started ringing. She supposed it was to be expected since he¡¯d been out of the country. It wasn¡¯t as if his being tied up with work was anything new. In the past, though, she¡¯d never hesitated to needle him or distract him. Something that had both exasperated and thrilled him in equal parts.

    But now she sat quietly as he fished his phone out of his pocket. His lips thinned a bit before he put the phone to his ear.

    ¡°Hello, Mom.¡± he said.

    Savannah sighed. That hadn¡¯t taken long.

    Matt wasn¡¯t one of those guys who was tied to the apron strings, but he respected his mother, as any son should, and like most children, she supposed, had a bit of a blind spot when it came to her.

    Or maybe he just didn¡¯t want to see her as the conniving vindictive witch that Savannah knew her to be. She couldn¡¯t me him though, it was his mother.

    Savannah was sure his mother had her good points. She obviously loved her sons. But she¡¯d never be someone Savannah would warm to. Ever.

    ¡°Yes, we¡¯re back. Listen, Mom, why did you send Le there? I don¡¯t appreciate you interfering. I won¡¯t tolerate any disrespect toward Savannah. You need to ept that she¡¯s with me. If you can¡¯t do that, then you and I are going to have a serious problem.¡± he said.

    Savannah¡¯s eyes rounded. There was anger in Matt¡¯s voice and his eyes were hard.

    ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± he continued. ¡°Right now Savannah and I need some time together without interference, no matter how well meaning. I¡¯ll call you when we¡¯re ready to have dinner together.¡±

    Ugh. It took all of Savannah¡¯s control not to make a face. But this was Matt¡¯s mother, no matter how much she wished it to be different.

    ¡°I love you too, Mom. Let me go. We just got in and we¡¯re both tired.¡±

    He tossed the phone on the couch and Savannah looked inquisitively at him.

    ¡°Mom wants to express her apologies for Le¡¯ sactions. And her own. She wants to have dinner with us one night. I told her I¡¯d be in touch when we were ready for that.¡± he said.

    There wasn¡¯t anything she could say so she remained silent. She leaned forward to pick up her ss of orange juice to mask the awkwardness of the moment and leaned back, sipping at the sweet and tart drink.

    He nced at her propped-up feet and then back to her face and he frowned. ¡°You look very tired¡± he said.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    She sighed. ¡°Yeah I am.¡±

    ¡°Are your feet hurting? Want me to rub them?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. They ache a little but there¡¯s really no need to. I¡¯ll just sit like this for the rest of the evening.¡±

    He leaned over and kissed her forehead just as the buzzer sounded.

    ¡°That¡¯ll be our luggage. Be right back.¡± he said.

    She adjusted her position so that some of the tension was relieved in her back. The truth was she was tired of sitting after being on the airne for so many hours.

    Deciding to dispense with sitting at all, she turned on her side, stuck a cushion between her legs and let out a sigh at the bliss of being off her behind and her feet.

    She stared across the room out the panels of ss that led onto the balcony and watched as a few snowkes spiraled downward.

    The weather didn¡¯t seem to be able to make up its mind whether it wanted to rain, sleet or snow; but, at least for now, a few fat kes were falling.

    The mes from the gas firece gave the living room a warm, homey feel and as she adjusted her gaze to the firece, lethargy stole over her.

    She reached for the throw draped on the back of the couch and pulled it over her body, sighing that she finally feltfortable after traveling for so long.

    Her eyelids were drooping and she didn¡¯t fight the urge to sleep.

    Matt would wake her in time for dinner.

    When Matt returned to the living room, he found Savannah fast asleep on the couch, her hand tucked under her cheek. He was struck by how young and innocent she looked. Not at all like someone who yed brother against brother.

    He supposed it was unfair to think such thoughts when they¡¯d both made an effort to get beyond the past, but the dark thoughts always crept in.

    What fault did he have that would cause Savannah to seekfort with his brother? And why had she been vengeful enough to want to ruin his rtionship with his only sibling when Enzo had told her that he was going to confess to him that they¡¯d had sex?

    Matt felt more like a father to Enzo than a brother. Five years separated them in age and their father had died when Matt was barely a teenager.

    He¡¯d stepped in, assuming the paternal role with Enzo, who was still a boy. He¡¯d attended all his baseball games, taken him to sporting events. Taken him to movies. He¡¯d been there for his graduation from high school. Had helped him move when he went off to college and supported his decision to return home and pursue a career in finance.

    Nothing shoulde between brothers. Certainly not a woman. But one had. Savannah had. Not only had it struck a blow to his rtionship with Enzo that he still hadn¡¯t recovered from but it had destroyed his rtionship with her as well.

    A rtionship he was determined to rebuild.

    But to go forward, he had to determine what had gone wrong in the past.

    No matter what they¡¯d vowed, at some point the past had to be addressed. It couldn¡¯t be ignored forever.

    He picked up his phone and quietly walked into the next room to call Dash about the wedding.

 80

    ¡°But why does he wish to see you before the ceremony? This is not normal.¡± The older woman rang her hands. ¡°Ai, ai, ai. Men, they are not rational. I Honestly don¡¯t understand them sometimes.¡±

    Tess stifled a smile. Her future mother-inw had very definite views of what constituted proper male and female behavior. Tess¡¯s father had confounded her several times over the past few days, wanting to approve the wedding dress, insisting on consultation with the chef for the reception and a host of other equally odd, to her mind, requests.

    She patted Amy ck¡¯s arm. ¡°It¡¯s all right. He just wants to see. He won¡¯t touch anything.¡± She said.

    Her father had been ecstatic at the news of her uing marriage and hade over immediately to take part in the preparations, much to Dash¡¯s mother¡¯s dismay. She was not used to having a man around giving orders in the domestic arena, but Neal Patchett wanted to be involved on every level of nning the wedding.

    Dash might be bossy, but he wasn¡¯t quite the controller Neal Patchett was. When her father was interested in a project, he wanted final sayso over every aspect. For some reason, he¡¯d decided to take an interest in Tess¡¯s wedding. Assuming it was part of the strange change in his behaviortely, Tess dealt with his interference with more equanimity than her future mother-inw.

    Amy rolled her eyes and crossed herself before opening the bedroom door. ¡°Come in, then.¡± she said.

    Her father came into the room, his expression as happy as Tess had ever seen it. He stopped in front of her. ¡°You look beautiful, Tess dear. So much like your mother on our wedding day.¡±

    She¡¯d never known her mother, but it pleased her for her father to make theparison.

    His expression turned regretful. ¡°I neglected her shamefully. I did the same thing with you. I want better for you, Tess. I want you to be happy. Marrying Dash makes you happy, doesn¡¯t it, child?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Yes.¡± She replied. A little uncertain still about her future, but full of joy at the prospect of spending it with him. ¡°Very happy.¡±

    At this both her father and Amy beamed with pleasure. For once, they were in one ord.

    ¡°Then it was worth it. I did the right thing.¡± Neal said.

    Did he mean sending Dash to visit her in Athens? She had to agree. ¡°Yes.¡±

    He turned to Amy. ¡°I suppose you have a timetable for this shindig?¡± he asked.

    Dash¡¯s mother bristled with annoyance. ¡°It will happen when it happens. I have nned the events, but a wedding cannot be rushed to fit a businessman¡¯s schedule.¡±

    Surprisingly, Neal meekly agreed and left the room.

    ¡°I think you scared him, Mamma.¡± Elena said. She grinned from the other side of the room where she had beenying out Tess¡¯s going away outfit.

    ¡°Ai, ai, ai. That man. Nothing scares him, but at least he has left us in peace.¡± Amy replied.

    Only there was very little of that over the next hour as the final preparations were made for Tess ¡®s walk down the aisle. While she looked forward to bing Dash¡¯s wife, all the pomp and ceremony surrounding the event had numbed her emotions with fatigue. So, when her father escorted her to the front of the church, she was in a haze of anesthetized exhaustion with no room in her foggy brain for fear orst-minute doubts.

    And for that she was grateful.

    When her father ced her hand in Dash¡¯s, a look passed between the two men that she did not understand. There had been an indefinable tension between them since her father¡¯s arrival. She wondered if they had had a business falling-out. She hadn¡¯t asked Dash about it because although he had not gone back to treating her like the untouchable woman, he had made sure they were never alone together.

    His hand was warm as it surrounded hers and she pushed her worries about his rtionship with her father to the back of her mind.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨CCcontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    ¡°So, the pill was not so bitter to swallow, was it?¡±

    Dash turned slowly at the sound of Neal Patchett¡¯s voice. The old man looked pleased with himself.

    Would he be so happy when his business began to lose important contracts? Dash did not think so, but he merely raised his brow. ¡°Marriage is for life. It is in my own interests to make the best of taking Tess as my wife.¡± he said.

    ¡°You¡¯re a shark in business,¡± Neal said with satisfaction, ¡°but traditional when ites to family, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Dash did not bother to reply. Neal Patchett would have ample opportunity to learn for himself what a shark in business a man ckmailed into marriage could be.

    The other man did not seem bothered by Dash¡¯s silence. ¡°You won¡¯t make the same mistake I did and ignore her. She¡¯s a special woman, but I messed up my chance with her. We¡¯re not close and we could have been.¡± Regret weighted his voice, making him sound old and tired. ¡°She used toe into my office at home and sit on the rug by my feet ying with her dolls.¡± A faraway look entered Neal¡¯s pale eyes. ¡°I guess she was about six. She¡¯d ask me every night to tuck her in. I was too busy most of the time. She stopped asking.¡±

    Neal sighed. ¡°She stoppeding into my office too. I wish I could say she had the love of my housekeeper or a nanny, but I hired for efficiency, not warmth.¡± he said.

    The picture he was painting of Tess¡¯s childhood was chilling. Having been raised in the warmth of a typical household, if a wealthy one, Dash shuddered inwardly at the emotional wastnd Tess had been reared in.

    ¡°She is very giving.¡± he said. All things considered, that was pretty surprising.

    ¡°Takes after her mother in that. She was like that. Soft. Caring.¡± Neal turned his gaze to Tess. ¡°So beautiful too.¡±

    ¡°As you say.¡±Dash said. Watching his new wife smile as she talked to his mother, he wondered why Neal had felt the need to ckmail him into marriage with Tess.

    He turned back to Neal. ¡°She is sweet and lovely. She would havended her own husband soon enough. Your measures were not necessary.¡± he said.

 81

    Neal Patchett shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re wrong. There was only one thing Tess wanted and I got it for her.¡± he said.

    Understanding came slowly to him. ¡°Me.¡± Dash replied.

    Neal turned and looked at Dash, his expression almost harsh. ¡°You. She wanted you and I was damned determined she was going to have you.¡±

    Had she known all along then? Dash wondered. Had she told her father she wanted to marry him and then waited for the old man to procure her a husband?

    Remembering how difficult she had been to catch, he dismissed the idea.

    He remembered too how Tess¡¯s gaze used to follow him at business dinners and how she had been at her father¡¯s party. How she¡¯d kissed him. Dash was positive that Neal had witnessed more passion between he and Tess at that party than he had ever seen with her and another man. He had drawn his own conclusions about his daughter¡¯s behavior and acted ordingly.

    Hope was not devious, not like her father or her new husband. She was honest and giving as both men had agreed, too soft to be party to something as reprehensible as ckmail. She would be appalled by her father¡¯s ruthless actions in securing her a husband and equally devastated to know what Dash nned in retaliation¡­ And also his n to divorce her.

    He concluded then that he wasn¡¯t going to divorce her. Actually the idea didn¡¯t juste to him that minute. He had realized during the time he had spent with her that he wanted her and that it would be hard for him to let her go.

    He had toyed with the idea of staying married to her, but now he was sure he wouldn¡¯t. He didn¡¯t want to. He would make sure she never found out¡­ About his n to divorce her and his n to get revenge on her father. This was between him and Neal Patchett.

    He didn¡¯t want her hurt, but he did want her father to realize the folly of ckmailing Dash ck.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    Tess stood in the bathroom and brushed her hair and then fluffed it around her face for the tenth time. She¡¯d tried pulling it up, but hadn¡¯t liked the severity of the effect, besides what woman wore her hair up to go to bed? It hardly seemed conducive to a passionate wedding night, but then neither did her hiding in the bathroom for an hour and a half.

    Dash was waiting out in the suite¡¯s bedroom. She¡¯de into the en suite to get ready on his suggestion. It had seemed like a good idea at the time, but now she was struggling with the courage it took to open that door and join the man she had married. It was the joining part that had her cowering like a ninny in the bathroom.

    She should be ready.

    They¡¯de close to making love twice. She¡¯d been naked with him, for Heaven¡¯s sake.

    None of that seemed to matter to the nerves shaking her equilibrium until she felt like a soda bottle ready to fizz over the side in a bubbly mess.

    She wanted Dash. Desperately. But she was afraid. Afraid she would disappoint him. Afraid it would hurt. Afraid that once they had made love, he would lose interest in her. She was something different in his life, not one of the sophisticated jet-setters he was used to having affairs with. Not like Olivia.

    She was just Tess. A twenty-six-year-old virgin.

    Could she maintain his interest once the newness wore off, the uniqueness of making love to a woman of no experience?

    A hard tattoo sounded on the door. It had been gentle an hour ago and thirty minutes ago and even fifteen minutes ago, but the impatience he must be feeling was nowing out in the force with which he rapped on the door.

    ¡°Tess?¡± Definitely impatience in his voice.

    ¡°Yes?¡± she answered.

    ¡°Are youing out, Tess?¡± he asked.

    She stared at the door as if it might explode into me at any moment. If it did, she wouldn¡¯t have to go through it, she thought a bit hysterically. Of course it didn¡¯t and she forced herself to cover the few feet so she could unlock and open the door. She turned the handle and pulled the door toward her.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    He stood on the other side, a pair of ck silk pajama bottoms slung low on his hips. The rest of his magnificent body was naked.

    She swallowed. ¡°Hi.¡± She said, She was making Minnie Mouse impersonations again. That only happened around him.

    ¡°You are frightened,¡± he said simply.

    What had been his first clue? The ny-minute-long sojourn in the bathroom or the death grip she had on the door now?

    ¡°Maybe a little.¡± She replied.

    ¡°You have nothing to fear, Tess,¡± he said with supreme confidence, ¡°I will be gentle with you.¡±

    Easy for him to say. Not that she doubted his gentleness, but this was different than anything they had shared before. It was premeditated. She found that being ovee with passion was a very different animal to psyching herself up to making lovepletely for the first time.

    If that weren¡¯t enough, what they were about to do would have permanent ramifications. The wedding was a ceremony, this was the reality of being married. She was about to be one with this man, a man who inspired both feelings of awe and love in her. But with love came trust, or so she had always believed.

    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of you.¡± She said, Just the situation, she thought but she didn¡¯t say that part out loud.

    He put one hand out toward her. ¡°Then show me, baby. Come to me.¡±

    Dash waited tensely for Tess toe to him. He did not know how much longer he could keep a rein on his desire.

    Thest few weeks had been interminable.

    There at the end, when he had given her the ultimatum: marriage or go home to her father, he had not even been thinking of making the marriage deale off.

    He¡¯d only been thinking of his need to possess her and hismitment not to do so outside the bonds of marriage. He had made a promise to her and the only way to keep that promise was to marry her or send her away.

    That his ultimatum had led to the marriage he needed to regain control of the familypany caused him satisfaction rather than guilt. He had not intentionally seduced her into marriage. He had kept his promise and courted her and he would be a good husband to her. He would keep his vow of fidelity and she would give him passion and children.

 82

    Neal Patchett had been right in that at least. The pill was not bitter to swallow, but the water it had gone down with had been rancid. The only way to rid his pride of the aftereffects of the ckmail was to n a suitable measure of justice for the  man.

    Dash did not want to ruin himpletely. Neal was now family, but he would learn a necessary lesson about pride.

    As Tess took the first step forward, all thoughts of vendettas and lessons faded from Dash¡¯s mind. It filled with the primitive need to mate with his woman.

    This woman.

    Tess.

    Her eyes were dark with conflicting emotions. It was the fear that kept him rooted, waiting for her toe to him. She was so beautiful in her cobalt blue silk gown. It swept the floor as she walked and it pleased him she had not opted for the traditional white for their wedding night.

    He liked this indication of the fire within her. The hottest part of a me was blue and when she was in his arms, she burned that hotly.

    She stopped two feet away from him. ¡°I¡¯m nervous.¡± she said.

    This he had not missed. ¡°There is no need for you to be, Tess.¡±

    ¡°What if I don¡¯t satisfy you?¡± she asked. Doubts swirled in her lovely eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not like Olivia and the rest. I¡¯mpletely without experience.¡±

    She said it like she was admitting the gravest sin, but the words had a devastating effect on his libido. He had to touch her or go mad.

    Forcing himself to gentleness, he reached out and put his hands on her shoulders and brushed his thumbs over her corbones. The fine bones felt fragile under his strength.

    ¡°Your innocence is a gift you give me, not a shoring you must apologize for.¡± How could he erase the doubts? He wondered, ¡°I am honored to be your first lover, Tess.¡± She still looked painfully unconvinced, so he continued. ¡°I do not want you to be like Olivia. It will please me to teach you all I want you to know.¡±

    Her eyes widened at that. ¡°Teach me?¡± she repeated.

    ¡°Yes,¡± he replied.

    Understanding warmed her eyes. ¡°You like that. In some ways, you¡¯re a total throwback, aren¡¯t you? You really like the idea of being my first lover.¡± She asked.

    He didn¡¯t deny the charge. He felt primitive with her. ¡°Your only lover.¡± he corrected and grinned at her.

    She nodded. ¡°My only lover.¡± She said, and she swayed toward him, her lips soft and inviting. ¡°Then teach me, Dash. Make me yours.¡±

    Her words and the anticipation in her gaze splintered the final thread of his control. He pulled her into his body with less finesse than an oversexed teenager. She didn¡¯t seem to mind; her entire body melded to his and her arms came around him in a hold as fierce as his own.

    Covering her mouth with his own, he demanded instant entrance. He got it, prating her sweet moistness with all the need tormenting him. In the back of his mind was a voice telling him to slow down, to savor her sweetness, but the primal yearning of his body did not listen. Her tongue shyly dueled with his and small, feminine hands moved to cradle his face while she twisted her satin d body into him.

    Groaning, he swept her up into his arms and marveled at the passion exploding from her small body. She was frightened no longer. It was as if his first touch had dispelled her every concern.

    Heid her on the bed and stepped back, his breathing like an Olympic runner¡¯s after the triathlon. Damn! She was perfect.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    She leaned up on her elbows, the tight points of her nipples making shoals in the material. ¡°Dash?¡±

    ¡°If we do not slow down, I will hurt you.¡± he said. That knowledge was enough to temper the desire raging in his body. He would not hurt her. She was too small. Delicate. He had to be careful.

    She sat up and stripped her nightgown down her arms, baring breasts flushed with arousal. Then she extended her hands to him. ¡°Come here, Dash. Please.¡±

    Was this wild wanton his wife, the sweet little Tess that blushed when he spoke too frankly? Her beautiful green eyes were dted widely; her small body trembled. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go slow.¡± She added.

    ¡°It is your first time.¡± he replied.

    ¡°I know.¡± She drawled out the word. ¡°And I don¡¯t want the chance to get scared again. When you touch me, nothing exists for me but you.¡±

    He felt a smilee over his face and suddenly his need for satisfaction was almost wholly sublimated by his desire to show her what it felt to be made love to by a man who knew how to savor a woman.

    ¡°You will not be scared, baby. You will beg me for my possession and I will give it to you only when you want it more than the air that you breathe.¡±

    Tess shivered at his words, her tongue flicking out nervously to wet her lower lip. She was back to feeling fear despite his assurances, or maybe because of them. It was a sensual fear born from the heated expression in his dark brown eyes. Tonight, there would be no stopping.

    He leaned down and tasted her lips. ¡°You are sweet, Tess. Like candy.¡± he said. ¡°My wife¡±

    His wife. She loved the sound of that and her lips clung to his, but he pulled back to sit at the end of the bed.

    Her eyes had closed during the kiss, but opened again. He was looking at her feet. ¡°Dash?¡±

    He lifted her right foot into his hand. ¡°You are very small, Tess,¡± he said.

    ¡°And you aren¡¯t.¡±

    His hand swallowed her. His eyes dared her to imply that was a bad thing while his fingers moved against the sole of her unexpectedly sensitive foot. She didn¡¯t feel likeughing though.

    She wasn¡¯t feeling ticklish, she was feeling excited and more so by the second. She moaned as he brushed his thumb over her arch. He smiled and did it again. And again. And again. Then lifted the foot to kiss the instep and she moaned again, this time several decibels higher. What was he doing to her? Feet were not erogenous zones. Were they?

    ¡°You smell of wildflowers.¡± he said.

    ¡°Bath salts,¡± she panted.

    He rubbed his lips along her arch, not kissing so much as caressing. ¡°You¡¯re soft like silk.¡±

    He flicked his tongue out and licked. Her toes curled and air hissed out of her lungs on a shattered gasp.

    ¡°There are over seven thousand nerve endings in your feet,¡± he said.

    ¡°R-really?¡± she asked breathlessly and then cried out as he pressed between two of her toes and she felt the reaction in a totally different part of her body.

 83

    Heughed softly. ¡°Yes. Really.¡± He said. He touched her gently, but firmly. ¡°If I caress you here, you feel it here.¡±

    He brushed the nest of curls between her legs through the slick material of her gown while his other hand massaged her foot. Oh, man, he was right.

    She tilted her pelvis upward, desperate for more intimacy, confused by her body¡¯s reaction to his not-so-innocent massage.

    ¡°Yes. Oh¡­I felt it.¡± She said,

    ¡°And do you feel this also, Tess?¡± he asked.

    She bowedpletely off the bed as he touched her again. ¡°I feel it. It¡¯s¡­¡± Her voice trailed off into a gasp of pleasure. By the time he had given simr treatment to her other foot, she was incoherent with pleasure, having flopped back against the pillows, her body totally open to whatever he wanted to do to her.

    Silk slid sensuously against her legs as he pushed her nightgown up inch by slow inch. He trailed his fingertips along her calves, pushing her nightgown up further until his mouth pressed against the skin behind her right knee. He tasted it and the dampness between her legs increased.

    Whimpering, she squirmed against the bedspread as he continued his erotic tasting up her legs until he¡¯d pushed her gown into a crumpled mass of blue silk around her waist.

    Oh, Heavens. He wasn¡¯t going to do that. He couldn¡¯t. She couldn¡¯t let him.

    She tried to scoot backward. ¡°You can¡¯t kiss me there!¡± she said.

    His response to her frantic efforts to get away was a sexy smile as two big hands mped firmly to her thighs. Holding them apart when she instinctively tried to close them, he also held her securely in ce. ¡°I promise you will like it.¡± he said softly.

    ¡°I¡­¡± Then his mouth was on her. There. She¡¯d read about this, but it felt more intimate than any words could describe. His tongue did things to her that had her body arching toward him, not away. An unbearable pressure built and built inside her.

    The pressure burst without warning and her entire body went taut, every single muscle convulsing in rigidity and she screamed. She couldn¡¯t hear her scream over the blood rushing in her head, but she could feel the rawness in her throat from the strain.

    Dash wanted to give Tess a surfeit of pleasure, finding vicarious satisfaction in her passion. He could feel each muscr contraction of her virginal body in his inner being. He had never experienced another woman¡¯s pleasure so fully as his own and the experience was its own kind of fulfillment.

    She shuddered under his ministering mouth, the taste of her growing sweeter with each explosion in her flesh. He didn¡¯t stop, pushing her to one higher teau of ecstasy after another.

    Her breath wasbored, but then so was his. He felt on the verge of exploding, but he couldn¡¯t make himself stop. The sounds of her enjoyment were addictive. Each cry made him feel like the conquering male. Each moan of rapture made his own sex throb with pleasure and desire.

    ¡°Dash, it¡¯s too much. Please stop. Please¡­Please¡­Please¡­¡± She was sobbing with each breath, but still she pressed herself against his mouth.

    Her lips said one thing, her body another.

    Finally, she wentpletely limp, little whimpering noises interspersed with each breath and he pulled away, kissing her gently as he did so.

    He knelt between her legs and surveyed the effect of the first level of their loving on her. Her small body was flushed with arousal all over, her eyes awash with tears, and her mouth parted on shallow pants. Hard, red berries, crested the swollen flesh of her breasts. He reached out and gently touched them.

    A moan snaked from her throat. Her nightgown was still bunched around her waist and he wanted her naked.

    Disposing of the silk cloth was easy as shenguidly allowed him to move her any way he wanted to. He pushed his own pajama bottoms down his hips, his body experiencing relief at the removal of the light restraint of the fabric.

    He wanted to touch only one thing with his hardened shaft, the rich, swollen tissues of her inner woman.

    ¡°Are you ready for me, Tess?¡± he asked.

    ¡°I want you to be part of me.¡± She replied. The words were a soft whisper, but very certain.

    ¡°Yes.¡± He would hesitate no longer. He could no longer hesitate. He had to have her.

    He covered her body with his in one movement, his hard flesh pressed to the most secret part of her. He had been this way once before, but tonight he would not stop. He would consummate their marriage and perhaps even give her their child.

    ¡°Now, you be my wife,¡± he said.

    ¡°Yes.¡± It was a broken sound, a mere breath as she curled her fingers into the hair on his chest.

    He pressed inward, but though he had brought her topletion many times, she was still tight. ¡°You must rx for me, Tess.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re so big.¡± She said,

    ¡°I am just right for you. Trust me.¡± The urge to press forward without caution and bury himself in her wet heat was almost more than he could bear. ¡°Give me yourself.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know how,¡± she whispered brokenly.

    ¡°Absorb me, sweetness. Open yourself to our joining.¡±

    She closed her eyes and took a deep breath and then let it out slowly. Inside, the tight sp on his body loosened and he slid forward a bit more. He started a rocking motion that made her breath hitch and his body break out in sweat as he went deeper into her.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    He felt the barrier of her innocence and would have paused, but she arched up toward him crying his name and suddenly he was sheathed in her softnesspletely. He stilled immediately.

    ¡°Are you all right?¡± he asked.

    Her eyes slid open, their pansy depths warm with emotion that caught the breath in his chest.

    He made love to her then, forcing himself to go slow, to build the pleasure in her again until he felt the beginning tremors of her release.

    ¡°Now we share it,¡± he cried and gave in to the rapture exploding through him. Her pleasure prolonged his own until he shook with exhaustion from his release. Unable to hold himself above her any longer, he copsed on top of her.

    She made a muffled sound and with thest bit of his strength, he rolled them both so she was on top of him, but they were still connected.

    ¡°Now you belong to me.¡±

 84

    She rubbed her face against his chest, adjusting herself against his body with a movement that unbelievably teased his recently satisfied flesh. ¡°And you belong to me.¡± She said,

    He did not deny it. The bitter pill had turned out sweeter than nectar and he reveled in his possession of a woman so sweet, so passionate and sopletelycking in artifice. She was everything her father was not.

    Everything women like Olivia could never hope to be. Tenderness he had never known toward a lover washed over him and he caressed her back, wanting to soothe her to sleep in his arms.

    A soft butterfly kissnded near his left nipple. ¡°I love you, Dash,¡± she whispered against his skin.

    The words did strange things to his insides and he could almost thank Neal Patchett for giving him the gift of such a woman.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    They spent their honeymoon in Naples. Dash kept his promise to Tess and took her back to Pompeii to visit the ruins of the ancient city. They did other touristy things together, Dash never once growing impatient with her desire to see and experience new things. He made love to her every night, most mornings and frequently in the afternoon as well.

    He was insatiable and she loved it. Shocked by her own capacity for passion, she became a total wanton in his arms. It worried her a little bit, thisck of control she had over her body when he touched her, but his ardor made her feel better about her own.

    Every day her love for him grew. Though she told him frequently of her feelings, he said nothing of his own.

    He was solicitous of her needs, tender when he loved her and gentle when she needed him to be. There were several times Tess almost convinced herself that Dash loved her as she loved him. Although he never said the words, he seemed to like hearing her say them. And he made her feel so special, never letting his gaze slide to other women when they were out, using endearments when he spoke to her, and touching her frequently with affection.

    When they returned to New York, she was so happy she was sick with it.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    ¡°So Dash is married now, and so is David. How is David doing by the way? I still can¡¯t believe he got into a ne crash, lost his memory and then fell in love with a woman hepletely screwed over fornd.¡± Savannah said to Matt.

    Matt winced. ¡°You make it sound so¡­¡±Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    She lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Awful? I¡¯m sorry. I know he¡¯s your friend, but I¡¯m just surprised. I¡¯m a little surprised about Dash too. You know how your friends are¡­ No offense¡± she said.

    ¡°None taken. David has changed. I know it sounds weird, but after his ident he did a one-eighty. Anyway, he and Emily areing into town in a few days to put his apartment on the market.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s moving too?¡± Savannah asked.

    That shocked her. David was an urbanite through and through. He loved the city. Loved to travel. She couldn¡¯t imagine him anywhere else.

    ¡°Yeah, he and Emily are moving.¡±

    ¡°Wow. David must really be in love.¡± Savannah said.

    ¡°Amazing what men in love will do for the women they love,¡± Matt said softly.

    Savannah didn¡¯t meet his gaze and concentrated instead on her soup. Lobster bisque. She savored every bite. Her taste buds were all simultaneously orgasming.

    ¡°He wants us all to get together before they leave.¡± Matt said.

    Her eyes narrowed. ¡°Define us.¡±

    ¡°Me, you, Dash, Tess and Stefan and, of course, David and Emily. I also thought it would be good to invite Mom so you¡¯d have the buffer of other people. We can get it over with in one clean sweep.¡± he said.

    It sounded like an evening from hell, not that she¡¯d admit that to him. She couldn¡¯t imagine anything worse than being surrounded by Matt¡¯s closest friends, who of course all had been told that she¡¯d cheated on Matt with Enzo. It was for that reason that she had not attended Dash¡¯s wedding. She just didn¡¯t think she was ready for that.

    She nearly bared her teeth in response to that idea. And then there was his darling mother. All the eveningcked was¡­Enzo.

    ¡°And your brother?¡± she asked icily.

    ¡°He won¡¯t be invited. I wouldn¡¯t do that to you, Savvie,¡± Matt said quietly.

    ¡°When is this supposed to take ce?¡±

    ¡°Next week. Probably at the end of the week. They¡¯ll be busy organizing his apartment. We¡¯ll eat at Tony¡¯s. You like it there. It¡¯s nice and casual. We can leave at any time and there won¡¯t be any obligation to stay and visit.¡±

    She sighed. She had to hand it to him. He was working hard to make things as easy for her as possible. The least she could do is be amodating. His friends were important to him. His mother was important to him.

    ¡°All right,¡± she said in a low voice. ¡°Of course we can go.¡± She forced a smile. ¡°It¡¯ll be nice to see everyone again.¡± She nearly choked on the lie, but the relief in Matt¡¯s eyes made it worth it.

    He reached for her hands. ¡°We¡¯re going to make it this time, Savvie¡±

    She caught his fingers and returned his squeeze. ¡°It makes me feel better to know you think so.¡±

    ¡°Do you have doubts?¡± he asked.

    ¡°I¡¯d be lying if I said I didn¡¯t. I¡¯m scared witless. I¡¯m scared to leave your apartment,¡± she said honestly. ¡°I don¡¯t like the person I¡¯ve be, but it doesn¡¯t change the fact that I¡¯m a very different person than the Savannah you knew. I¡¯m more cautious now. I¡¯m¡­harder. I don¡¯t like it about myself, but I¡¯ve learned to be that way out of necessity.¡±

    He took her hand in both of his and propped his elbows on the table as he stared over at her.

    ¡°Marry me.¡± he said.

    She jerked her hand back in shock and stared at him. ¡°What?¡± she asked, clearly surprised. Where the hell had thate from?

    ¡°Marry me.¡± he said again.

    He withdrew one hand and then reached into his pocket to pull out a small ring box. With his thumb, he flipped it open and she saw a stunning diamond ring nestled in velvet.

 85

    He held it out to her and she lifted her gaze to stare at him as if he¡¯d lost his mind.

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t decide whether or not to give you back your old one or buy you a new one. I kept the old ring. I kept it with me the entire time you were gone. But I bought a new one for a new beginning.¡± Matt said.

    Her hand trembled in his and she stared speechlessly at him.

    He ruefully shook his head. ¡°I know it¡¯s not the most romantic proposal. It¡¯s not even under the best circumstances. I¡¯d intended to wait. Until it was the right time. Until we¡¯d sorted out things between us. But I couldn¡¯t wait any longer. And when my friends and family see you again, I want them to know that we¡¯re together, that you¡¯re the woman I¡¯m going to marry and that you have my support.¡±

    Tears filled her eyes and her chest ached with emotion. He made no move to take the ring out of the box and put it on her finger for her. He simply held it in the palm of his hand, waiting for her to make the decision.

    ¡°But Matt,¡± she began helplessly. ¡°There¡¯s so much¡­ The past¡­¡±

    ¡°Shh,¡± he murmured. ¡°I know what you¡¯re saying. We have a lot to talk about. We have a lot to work out. But I wanted to do this first so that you know that no matter whates out when we eventually revisit the past that I still want to marry you. I need you to know that. Maybe it¡¯ll help. Maybe it¡¯ll make it easier knowing that it won¡¯t change things between us now.¡±

    She wiped furiously at the moisture on her cheeks, determined not to ruin the moment by breaking down. ¡°In that case, yes. I¡¯ll marry you.¡± She said,

    He looked thunderstruck, like maybe he really hadn¡¯t expected her to agree. And then he smiled and such joy shed across his face that it left her breathless. His eyes lit up and his grip on her hand tightened until her fingertips were bloodless.

    He fumbled with the box, took the ring out. The hand he held hers with shook as he positioned her finger so he could slide the ring on.

    Then he leaned across the table and kissed her.

    When he pulled away, he still held her hand and he suddenly stood, pulling her to her feet.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he said hoarsely. ¡°Let¡¯s go home where we can be alone. I just want to hold you away from everyone else.¡±

    She went willingly into his arms and they walked past the other diners, uncaring of the stares they received. She never felt the cold, brisk air as they exited the restaurant and walked to the curb where Matt¡¯s car waited.

    For once she felt warm on the inside. After feeling cold and alone for so long, sunshine rushed through her veins.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Savannah woke to find Matt gone from bed. She rolled to check the clock on the nightstand and realized why she was alone. Matt had gone to the office early as he had a meeting, even if it was Saturday. He had gotten her a job in hispany as he had said, but Savannah had insisted that he let her work in another department.

    She had a job now as an administrative assistant and she was grateful for it. It was much better than her job at the diner. Even Victoria was almost okay with the idea of her and Matt being back together though she still insisted that Savannah be careful.

    When they¡¯d returned, Savannah had moved into Matt¡¯s room. It wasn¡¯t as though a big production had been made. He¡¯d simply carried her luggage into his room. And when it was time for bed, he¡¯d carried her to his bed.

    And she¡¯d stayed.

    How easily they¡¯d fallen back into afortable routine. Just like before.

    Before, it had been easy to take for granted the rapport between them. Thefort and trust. She hadn¡¯t known then as she knew now how quickly things could be broken.

    Even now she questioned how it could have happened. There was always an excuse, a reason. He hadn¡¯t loved her enough. He hadn¡¯t trusted her. Their rtionship was too new to weather something so difficult.

    But no matter the reason, the end result had been the same. When things had gotten difficult, their rtionship had crumbled like stale bread.

    It didn¡¯t speak well for their future. But she wouldn¡¯t think of that right now. Sure, it was stupid of her to allow herself to have such faith in him. But hope was a powerful thing. It made a person willingly blind to the truth.

    She kept telling herself maybe this time¡­ Maybe this time they would truly get things right.

    Even if it meant forever bearing the burden of having the man she loved think she¡¯d betrayed him with another man. His brother.

    So many times she wanted to confront him. She wanted to try again to make him listen to her. Make him hear the truth. But each time she bit her lip because what purpose would it serve?

    He might not believe her. He might. But would it change anything in the past? Would it change their future?

    It wouldn¡¯t even make her feel any better because she knew the truth. Matt believed she¡¯d lied to him but he wanted to forget and move on. Was she an idiot to want more than that? Was she stupid to want him to know how wrong he¡¯d been?

    It was a dilemma that gued her every single day that she and Matt were back together. Part of her wanted to make him listen and to demand that he ept that he¡¯d been wrong if he expected her to give this whole thing another shot.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    Another part of her told her that her pride and her anger were barriers to her own happiness.

    Wasn¡¯t a life with Matt what she ultimately wanted? Did it matter how she achieved that goal? She stared up at the ceiling as shey in bed.

    Yeah, it did. It really did. She couldn¡¯t go through their life together knowing it was in the back of Matt¡¯s mind that she¡¯d slept with someone else when she¡¯d promised to be faithful to him.

    She had to ept that what she really feared was that when she did confront Matt, he¡¯d reject her all over again, and if that happened, she knew she couldn¡¯t spend her life with someone who didn¡¯t trust her.

 86

    She was a coward, but it was the cold, hard truth that fear was what held her back. Not pride. Not anything else. She knew that if he didn¡¯t believe her this time they could never be together.

    Not wanting the weight of anxiety to bear down on her today, she shook the bleak thoughts from her mind and crawled out of bed. She padded into the living room to see that Matt had turned the fire on for her.

    To her further surprise, she found a breakfast tray waiting for her on the table with bagels, cheese and an assortment of fruit.

    She sank into the seat, her eyes stinging with tears. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t love you this much,¡± she whispered. God, but she couldn¡¯t help herself. She craved him. He was her other half. She didn¡¯t feel whole without him.

    Tonight was the dinner with his friends and his mother, but even that couldn¡¯t dim her excitement or her happiness. And maybe that had been his n all along. To take extra measures to make sure she knew that he supported her against any possible animosity or disdain.

    It had certainly worked, because she couldn¡¯t imagine anything they could do or say that would make the cloud she walked on evaporate.

    Matt cared about her. He wanted to marry her.

    What else mattered?

    She hugged that thought to herter as she picked through her clothing, trying to find the perfect outfit to wear to the dinner.

    Before, it wouldn¡¯t even ur to her that an outfit was too sexy or revealing. If it looked good on her, and if she knew Matt would like it, that was her only criteria.

    But now she worried that with the sentiment already being that she was a¡­slut¡­she would merely perpetuate that belief if she wore anything that wasn¡¯t ultraconservative. And that pissed her off.

    She shouldn¡¯t care what these people thought of her.

    But it wasn¡¯t that easy. They were important to Matt and Matt was important to her.

    Warm hands suddenly stole over her body, sliding around to her belly. She was drawn into a hard chest and sensual lips nibbled at her neck.

    She sighed and rxed into Matt, her pulse speeding up.

    ¡°Is there a particr reason you¡¯re standing in your closet staring at your clothes?¡± he murmured against her ear.

    She turned andced her arms around his neck as she rose up on tiptoe to kiss him. ¡°You¡¯re home early.¡± She said.

    ¡°Couldn¡¯t wait to see you. So what¡¯s with the closet?¡±

    Her lips twisted into a frown and she let out a disgruntled sigh. ¡°Just trying to find something to wear tonight. Something that doesn¡¯t make me look like the tramp they think I am.¡± She replied.

    Matt¡¯s expression gentled and he trailed a finger over her cheekbone. Taking her arms, he backed out of her closet and toward the bed until the back of his legs bumped against the mattress.

    He sat down and pulled her down with him.

    ¡°You¡¯ll look beautiful no matter what you wear. Stop worrying so much.¡± he said.

    ¡°I know. It¡¯s silly. I can¡¯t help it. I¡¯m nervous.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want you to worry, Savvie. The past is in the past. I don¡¯t know if I have  ever said the words, but I forgive you. And if I can forgive you then they should be able to do the same.¡±

    She wentpletely still. Pain jolted through her chest as if someone had stabbed her. Not that she knew what it felt like but it couldn¡¯t be worse than this.

    He forgave her.

    For something she¡¯d never done. For something he refused to believe she hadn¡¯t done. It took all the strength she possessed not to react, not tosh out. He hadn¡¯t said it to hurt her, but he couldn¡¯t possibly imagine how much she was bleeding inside right now.

    He was trying to do the generous thing. He was trying to make her feel at ease. He kissed her gently on the brow. ¡°We both made mistakes. I¡¯m not meless. The important thing is that we never let what happened in the past happen again.¡± he said.

    Numbly she nodded. She didn¡¯t trust herself to speak. What could she say? She closed her eyes and leaned into him. He hugged her to him and rubbed his hand up and down her back. He offeredfort. He thought she was worked up about tonight.

    How could he possibly know that his ¡°forgiveness¡± made her want to die?

    He eased her to the side until she was perched on the edge of the bed and then he stood and walked into the closet. After a moment, he returned with a gorgeous, midnight-blue dress. He held it up and smiled.

    ¡°This one would look fantastic on you.¡± he said.

    She struggled to collect her shattered senses and pretend that nothing was wrong.

    ¡°It¡¯s awfully¡­clingy,¡± she said.

    ¡°No it¡¯s not. You will look beautiful in it. You look beautiful in everything,¡± he said in an ultrasexy voice that sent shivers down her spine. ¡°You¡¯ll look gorgeous. Wear it for me.¡±

    There wasn¡¯t a woman alive who could refuse a request like that. She nodded silently, her heart aching all the while.

    Heid the dress carefully on the bed and then bent down to kiss her once more.

    She clung to him a little longer than was necessary but he didn¡¯t seem to mind. He touched her cheek as he pulled away and then walked toward the bathroom, loosening his tie as he went.

    She stared at the dress. It was a fabulous creation. She closed her eyes. He forgave her. She wanted to weep. It should be her who had to offer forgiveness. Not him.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    Savannah swallowed her mounting dread as she and Matt entered the restaurant. Matt spoke in low tones to the waiter and then they were ushered to a table in the back.

    Matt broke into a broad smile when he saw David already seated next to a woman Savannah assumed was his wife, Emily.

    Matt¡¯s mother was also seated, as were Dash, Tess and Stefan. Just great. Savannah thought. They werest to arrive, and so they made an ¡°entrance.¡±

    Savannah stood by Matt¡¯s side as he greeted everyone, then said, ¡°Of course, you all remember Savannah. Except for youdies, Emily and Tess.¡±

    He turned to Savannah. ¡°Savvie, this is Emily Forbes, David¡¯s wife¡± he turned to the otherdy. ¡°This is Tess ck, Dash¡¯s wife.¡± Then he added, ¡°This is my fianc¨¦e, Savannah Carson¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

 87

    The room went absolutely silent at his deration.

    The expressions ranged from his mother¡¯s ill-disguised horror to outright disbelief on his friends¡¯ faces.

    Even Emily looked skeptical as she rose to extend her hand to Savannah. It was then that Savannah noticed that Emily was pregnant.

    ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you,¡± Emily said with what looked to be a forced smile. Hell, how much could Emily possibly know about Savannah anyway? It wasn¡¯t as if she¡¯d been around for that long. But she, like the others, didn¡¯t appear to roll out the wee mat.

    But Tess. She seemed different, and genuinely happy to meet her. And Savannah wasn¡¯t sure if the smile was from her heart, but she was d that at least some one was nice enough to pretend to be happy to see her.

    Savannah offered a nervous smile and allowed Matt to seat her. This was going to be a long night..

    ¡°How are you, Savannah?¡± Dash asked politely.

    He was seated next to her and she supposedmon courtesy dictated his question.

    ¡°I¡¯m good,¡± she replied in a low voice. ¡°Nervous.¡±

    He seemed surprised by her honesty. Matt conversed with his friends and his mother.

    Savannah sat quietly beside him and watched the goings-on around her. No one tried to include her in conversation except Tess, and one time Emily. Tess seemed to understand the way she felt. She was the only one who didn¡¯t seem to have this judgmental look on her face.

    The one time she offered ament to join in the conversation, the awkward silence that ensued told her all she needed to know.

    They were tolerating her for Matt¡¯s sake, but she didn¡¯t miss the looks they cast in his direction when they thought she wasn¡¯t watching. Looks that inly said, Are you crazy?

    By the time the food was served, she was extremely grateful to have something to focus on.

    She felt out of ce. She felt conspicuous. This was going down as one of the worst nights of her life and she was counting the minutes until she and Matt could make their escape.

    The food felt dry in her mouth. Her stomach churned and after only a few bites, she gave up trying to force herself to eat. Instead, she sipped at her water and pretended she was back on the ind with Matt, about to dance underneath the moonlight.

    That was her problem. She was living in a fantasy world, avoiding reality. And reality sucked. Her reality was sitting here at a dinner table while other people judged her. Her reality was living with a man -a man she intended to marry-who felt he needed to forgive her for sins she hadn¡¯tmitted.

    At what point in her life had she decided she didn¡¯t deserve better than this? It was a startling discovery. The blinders hade off. Why the hell was she putting up with this?

    She was prepared to end the entire thing when she looked up and saw Enzo walk to the table. He leaned over and kissed his mom then held up a hand in greeting to the others before turning his gaze on her and Matt.

    She broke into a cold sweat. Matt stiffened beside her and the others fell silent. It was as if everyone in the room waited for the inevitable fireworks. Her head pounded viciously.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    Her stomach cramped and she wanted to die from the humiliation. More than that, she was so furious she couldn¡¯t see straight.

    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯mte,¡± Enzo said. ¡°I got caught in traffic.¡±

    As he took the empty chair beside his mother, bile rose in Savannah¡¯s throat. Her heart was shredded. She was bleeding on the inside, so hurt, so devastated she wanted to die. She refused to look at Matt.

    How could he have done it? She didn¡¯t believe for a moment that Matt had actually invited his brother¡­ had he? But why hadn¡¯t he made it clear that he wasn¡¯t wee?

    Everyone stared at her. They likely thought she deserved whatever humiliation was heaped upon her tonight. But she refused to look back at them. She wouldn¡¯t give them the satisfaction of seeing her so shattered.

    Instead her gaze locked onto Lorenzo Bradford and his mother.

    How they must hate her. The coldness in Elizabeth Bradford¡¯s eyes reached out to Savannah. They said, You¡¯ll never win. I¡¯ll never let you.

    What had she ever done besides love Matt?

    Enough was enough. Savannah deserved better.

    She was through paying penance.

    She was done with being looked down on, condemned and forgiven.

    Forcing a smile in Matt¡¯s direction, she pushed back her chair and slowly rose as if she hadn¡¯t a care in the world. She stared across the table at Enzo and his mother and let the full force of her hatred shine. She didn¡¯t care if they ever epted her. She didn¡¯t ept them. They could both go to hell. She¡¯d buy them a first-ss ticket.

    Then she turned to face the entire table. ¡°I¡¯m done here. You¡¯ve all sat and stared your disapproval. You¡¯ve sent pitying nces Matt¡¯s way. You¡¯ve judged me and found me not good enough. To hell with all of you.¡± She said,

    Then she turned back to Enzo, her voiceing out in a low hiss. ¡°You son of a bitch. You stay away from me. I¡¯ll see you in hell before I ever let you near me again.¡±

    Matt started to rise, but she shoved him back into his seat. ¡°By all means, you stay. You wouldn¡¯t want to disappoint your family and friends.¡± She said, her voice heavy with hurt.

    Before he could react, she stalked away.

    She bypassed the doorway leading to the bathrooms and kept on walking. She burst into the cold, shivering because she hadn¡¯t bothered to collect her coat. She embraced the chill, weed the cold p in the face.

    Her head had ached all afternoon, but after spending the past hour with her teeth gritted and her jaw tight, the headache had exploded into vicious pain.

    She walked a block before the cold prated the thinyers of her dress. She stopped and waved at a passing cab but it didn¡¯t stop. It took two more attempts before she managed to get one to pull over for her.

    She was barely able to get out Matt¡¯s address before the tears started to fall.

 88

    Matt¡¯s first thought was to go after Savannah, but he was furious, and this had to be ended now. Like hell he¡¯d ever allow anyone to make Savannah feel the way she¡¯d obviously felt tonight. He bolted to his feet, palms smacking the table as he lunged toward his brother.

    ¡°What the hell was that?¡± he shouted.

    He included his mother in his furious gaze, not backing down when she recoiled from his anger.

    Enzo looked taken aback, his face pale. He looked sick, but at this point Matt didn¡¯t care. He¡¯d had enough. This was a huge mistake and he wasn¡¯t going to let it go this time. He never should have let it go. Never should have yed down the obvious discord between Savannah and his family.

    Their mother leaned forward, her expression tight. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry with him, Matt. I invited him. If you insist on a rtionship with this woman we¡¯re going to have to sit down together at some point. Or do you n never to see your family? Hasn¡¯t she caused us enough pain?¡± she said.

    Matt let out a curse that made his mother flinch. ¡°Haven¡¯t you hurt her enough? It ends tonight. I¡¯m done with this. I¡¯m done subjecting Savvie to your insensitivity and your tant attempts to drive us apart.¡±

    Then he turned in his friends¡¯ direction. ¡°David, it was good to see you and Emily again. I hope to see you before you leave the city.¡± he said.

    He nodded at Dash, Tess and Stefan, who looked as if they¡¯d rather be anyce but where they were. That made four of them.

    ¡°Sorry, man,¡± Dash murmured.

    Not sparing his mother or brother a second nce, Matt left the table and went in search of Savannah, hoping she hadn¡¯t made it past the door yet.

    He¡¯d take her home, apologize profusely and then he¡¯d promise that he wouldn¡¯t subject her to another gathering of his friends and family.

    He shouldn¡¯t have this time but he¡¯d hoped¡­ He wasn¡¯t sure what he¡¯d hoped but he¡¯d been a damn fool and he¡¯d hurt Savannah in the process.

    He stalked toward the coatroom, but found Savannah¡¯s coat still hanging. Then he hurried toward the entrance, but found no sign of her there either. Dread tightened his gut.

    ¡°Did you see a woman leave? Short, blond, wearing a blue dress?¡± he demanded of the ma?tre d¡¯.

    ¡°Yes, sir. She walked out just a few seconds ago.¡±

    Matt swore. ¡°Did you see which way she went?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m sorry, but you might ask outside to see if anyone got her a cab.¡±

    Matt hurried into the night, praying she¡¯d gone home. But what if she hadn¡¯t? What if she¡¯d finally had enough and said to hell with him and everyone else? She had left before, and he wasn¡¯t sure he could spend so much time away from her again.

    After being told that Savannah was seen walking down the street, Matt panicked and took off on a run. Fearnced through him at the idea of her being out alone, upset, on her feet when she had no business walking such a distance.

    He was brushed by countless people and then he saw her just ahead, getting into a cab at the next block.

    He yelled her name, but the door shut and the cab drove off-leaving him standing on the sidewalk, his heart about to explode out of his chest.

    He waved at a passing cab, frustrated when it didn¡¯t slow. The next one stopped and he climbed in, directing the driver to his address. The entire way back to his house he prayed that she¡¯d be there.

    When the cab pulled up to his building, he got out and hurried toward the door. A few momentster, he strode into the house.

    ¡°Savvie? Savvie, honey, where are you?¡± he called.

    Not waiting for an answer, he hurried into the bedroom to see her sitting on the edge of the bed, her face pale and drawn in pain. When she heard him, she looked up and he winced at the dullness in her eyes. She¡¯d been crying.

    ¡°I thought I could do it,¡± she said in a raw voice, before he could beg her forgiveness. ¡°I thought I could just go on and forget and that I could ept others thinking the worst of me as long as you and I were okay again. I did myself a huge disservice.¡±Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    ¡°Savvie¡­¡± he began, but something in her look silenced him and he stood several feet away, a feeling of helplessness gripping him as he watched her try topose herself.

    ¡°I sat there tonight while your friends and your mother looked at me in disgust, while they looked at you with a mixture of pity and disbelief in their eyes. All because you took me back. The tramp who betrayed you in the worst possible manner. And I thought to myself I don¡¯t deserve this. I¡¯ve never deserved it. I deserve better.¡± She said,

    She raised her eyes to his and he flinched at the horrible pain he saw reflected there.

    Then sheughed. A raw, terrible sound that grated across his ears. ¡°And earlier tonight you forgave me. You stood there and told me it no longer mattered what happened in the past because you forgave me and you wanted to move forward.¡±

    She curled her fingers into tight balls and rage red in her eyes. She stood and stared him down even as tears ran in endless streams down her cheeks.

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t forgive you, Matt. Nor can I forget that you betrayed me in the worst way a man can betray the woman he¡¯s supposed to love and be sworn to protect.¡±

    He took a step back, reeling from the fury in her voice. His eyes narrowed. ¡°You don¡¯t forgive me?¡± he asked.

    ¡°I told you the truth that day,¡± she said hoarsely, her voice cracking under the weight of her tears. ¡°I begged you to believe me. I got down on my knees and begged you. And what did you do? You wrote me a damn check and told me to get out.¡±

    He took another step back, his hand going to his hair. Something was wrong, terribly wrong. So much of that day was a blur. He remembered her on her knees, her tear-stained face, how she put her hand on his leg and whispered, ¡°Please don¡¯t do this.¡±

    It made him sick. He never wanted to go back to the way he felt that day, but somehow this was worse because there was something terribly wrong in her eyes and in her voice.

    ¡°Your brother assaulted me. He forced himself on me. I didn¡¯t invite his attention. I wore the bruises from his attack for two weeks. Two weeks. I was so stunned by what he¡¯d done that all I could think about was getting to you. I knew you¡¯d fix it. You¡¯d protect me. You¡¯d take care of me. I knew you¡¯d make it right. All I could think about was running to you. And, oh God, I did and you looked right through me.¡±

 89

    The sick knot in his stomach grew and his chest tightened so much he couldn¡¯t breathe.

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t listen,¡± she said tearfully. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t listen to anything I had to say. You¡¯d already made your mind up.¡±

    He swallowed and closed the distance between them, worried that she¡¯d fall if he didn¡¯t make her sit.

    But she shook him off and turned her back, her shoulders heaving as her quiet sobs fell over the room.

    ¡°I¡¯m listening now, Savvie¡± he forced out. ¡°Tell me what happened. I¡¯ll believe you. I swear.¡±

    But he knew. He already knew. So much of that day was reying over and over in his head and suddenly he was able to see so clearly what he¡¯d refused to see before. And it was killing him. His brother had lied to him after all. Not just lied but he¡¯d carefully orchestrated the truth and twisted it so cleverly that Matt had beenpletely deceived.

    Then she turned, her beautiful eyes haunted, defeated. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you believe me anymore,¡± she whispered. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t believe me when it mattered. He tried to rape me. He assaulted me. He touched me. He hurt me. And when I fought him off and told him that I would tell you what he¡¯d done, he told me he¡¯d make sure you never believed a word of any of it. And you know what the funny thing is? I told him he was wrong. I told him that you l-loved me and that you would make him pay for hurting me.¡± She said,

    She broke off as another sob racked her.

    Oh God. Oh God. What had he done? He remembered the phone call from his brother as though it was yesterday. He hadn¡¯t believed him. At first. Not until Savannah had arrived in an agitated state telling him the exact same story that Enzo had just told him over the phone.

    ¡°He told you the truth,¡± Savannah said scornfully as if she¡¯d plucked the thoughts right out of his head. ¡°He told you exactly what happened, only he said that it was all a lie, that I made it up because I didn¡¯t want you to know what really supposedly happened. He wanted to make sure that when I ran to you and told you what happened that you wouldn¡¯t believe a word. And how better to do that than to tell you that I would im to be attacked, that I¡¯d im he tried to rape me.¡±

    Matt stared at her in horror as the realization of what had really happened that day hit him.

    ¡°And sure enough. I run straight to you and tell you that your precious brother just tried to rape me and you look at me with those cold eyes and call me a liar. All because he told you that¡¯s what I¡¯d say.¡±

    ¡°Did he?¡± Matt asked in a near whisper. ¡°Did he rape you, Savannah?¡±

    ¡°He¡­. He touched me. He touched me in a way that only you were allowed to touch me. He hit me. He bruised me. Isn¡¯t that enough?¡± she asked in a hysterical voice. ¡°We never had sex though God knows he tried.¡±

    She broke off again and buried her face in her hands. He wanted to go to her, take her in his arms, but he was afraid that just as he¡¯d rejected her before, so would she reject him now.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    She yanked her hands down, her face ragged and ravaged by grief, the same grief that was tearing through him.

    ¡°I should have been able toe to you, Matt,¡± she whispered. ¡°Of all the people in the world, you should have been the one to believe in me. And I just can¡¯t get past that. You should have been the one to hold me and tell me it would be all right.¡±

    She broke off again, sobs tearing from her throat. She buried her face in her hands as her shoulders shook violently.

    ¡°Savvie, I¡¯m so sorry. I thought¡­ He was my brother. I never considered he would do something like that. He¡¯d never shown any animosity toward you. He¡¯d never been anything but epting of you. The two of you seemed to get along well. I never dreamed he¡¯d do something that despicable.¡± Matt said.

    She raised her head and stared at him with dull eyes. ¡°But you thought I would.¡±

    The sudden silence was damning. He stared at her,pletely frozen. He had no defense because at the time he¡¯d believed Enzo. He¡¯d made his choice and it hadn¡¯t been Savannah. Even when she¡¯d begged him. She¡¯d told him the truth. She¡¯de to him for protection. She¡¯de to him hurt and afraid. And he¡¯d thrown her out after making her feel like a whore. All because he couldn¡¯t imagine his own flesh and bloodmitting such an atrocity. It had appeared to him that it was everything Enzo said it was, a ridiculous usation to hide the sin of her infidelity.

    His eyes burned. His throat swelled and knotted. For the first time in his life he was faced with a situation where he had no idea what to do. She had every right to hate him.

    She put a hand to her head and rubbed. She swayed and then bent over as if she was about to fall.

    ¡°Savvie!¡±

    He went forward, but she jerked upright again and thrust out a hand to ward him off.

    ¡°Just stay away,¡± she said in a low, desperate voice.

    ¡°Savannah, please.¡±

    It was his turn to beg. And God, he would. He¡¯d do anything to make her stay long enough that he could make it up to her.

    ¡°I love you. I never stopped loving you.¡± he said desperately.

    She lifted her gaze again, her eyes drenched with tears-and pain. ¡°Love isn¡¯t supposed to hurt this much. Love isn¡¯t this. Love is trust.¡±

    He moved forward again, so desperate to hold her, to offer thefort he had denied her when she¡¯d needed him most. Anger and sorrow vied for control. Grief welled in his chest until he thought he might explode. Rage surged through his veins like acid.

    She put her hand to her head again and started to walk past him. He caught at her elbow, anything to stop her, because he knew in his heart she was going to walk away. He didn¡¯t deserve a second chance. He didn¡¯t deserve for her to stay. He didn¡¯t deserve her love. But he wanted it. He wanted it more than he wanted to live.

    ¡°Please don¡¯t go,¡± he said softly.

 90

    She turned back to him, sadness so deep in her gaze that it hurt him to look at her.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you see, Matt? It can never work for us. You don¡¯t trust me. Your family and friends hate me. What kind of life will that be for me? I deserve more than that. It¡¯s taken me long enough to figure that out. I settled again, when I swore I¡¯d never do it. I agreed to marry you. Again. Because I was so in love with you and I believed that we could move forward. But I was a fool. Some obstacles are insurmountable.¡±

    She closed her eyes as another spasm of pain crossed her face. And she swayed, her hand flying out to brace herself against the dresser.

    ¡°Savvie, what¡¯s wrong?¡± he demanded.

    She rubbed her hand across her brow and opened her eyes, but her stare was unfocused. ¡°My head.¡± She said, A sound like a whimper escaped her and he knew that something was wrong. Something beyond the emotional distress she was experiencing.

    Her face took on a gray pallor that rmed him. Panic red in her eyes and just for a moment she looked to him for help.

    Before he could react, her knees buckled and she slid soundlessly to the floor.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    ¡°Savvie!¡±

    Matt dropped to the floor. His immediate reaction was to gather her in his arms, but she was rigid, her body convulsed and her jaw was tight. Frantically he reached for his phone and clumsily punched 911.

    ¡°I need an ambnce,¡± he said tersely. ¡°My fianc¨¦e. She fainted. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong with her. I think she¡¯s having some kind of seizure.¡± He knew he didn¡¯t make sense. His heart and mind were screaming even as he tried to stay calm. The 911 operator asked questions and he answered them mechanically as he leaned over Savannah, desperate to help her.

    After a moment her body went ck and her head lolled to the side. He put his fingers to her neck, praying that he¡¯d find a pulse. Heid his head over her chest, listening and feeling for air exchange.

    ¡°Don¡¯t leave me, Savvie, baby¡± he whispered desperately. ¡°Please hang on. I love you so damn much.¡±

    He lifted her limp hand, the one that bore his ring and pressed her palm to his cheek. He kissed the skin, his breathsing in ragged, silent sobs. He¡¯d never been more scared in his life.

    The minutes dragged to eternity. The operator continued to ask him questions and offered him encouragement. But Savannah remained unconscious and the longer shey there, still, on the floor, the more his panic and sense of helplessness grew.

    After what seemed an interminable wait, he heard the EMS crew call out from the door.

    ¡°In here!¡± he called hoarsely.

    They hurried in, motioning him away from Savannah as they began to administer care. Through it all, Matt stood there numbly, watching as they lifted her onto a stretcher and hurried toward the elevator.

    He followed behind, whispered prayers falling from his lips. They loaded her onto the waiting ambnce and he climbed in behind her.

    Halfway to the hospital, he pulled out his phone but then stared nkly down at it. Who would he call? There was no one. Cold fury iced his veins. The very people he¡¯d trusted-especially his brother- had acted unforgivably. Until now he¡¯d never really experienced true hatred.

    He buried his face in his hands and willed himself not to lose hisposure. Not now. Savannah needed him. He hadn¡¯t been there for her before. He¡¯d already made the mistake of abandoning her when she¡¯d needed him the absolute most.

    Now he¡¯d die before he ever allowed her to think she wasn¡¯t the most important thing in the world to him.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    ¡°It looks like your marriage to my brother is having a very good effect on you,¡± Elena teased Tess the evening following their dinner with Dash¡¯s friends. The dinner hadn¡¯t gone so well and they had all left immediately after Matt went after Savannah. Tess had felt so sorry for Savannah. She didn¡¯t know exactly what had gone wrong and so she wanted to mind her business, but a part of understood Savannah. She knew what it felt like to feel so alone, even when surrounded by people.

    ¡°You are positively luminescent with joy.¡± Elena continued.

    Tess grinned at her new sister-inw. ¡°I¡¯m happy.¡± she said.

    Elenaughed, the sound echoing in the cavernous game room. ¡°You two were made for each other.¡±

    Tess was beginning to believe that was true both ways and the sense of tion she felt at finally finding her ce in the heart of another person knew no bounds. ¡°He¡¯s a really incredible guy.¡± She replied.

    Elena rolled her eyes. ¡°To each her own, but I think you are biased. Dash is no better. He couldn¡¯t keep his eyes off you all through dinnerst night. Mamma already has visions of babies dancing through her head. I can tell.¡±

    Tess ced her hand over her stomach. It had only been two weeks, but she couldn¡¯t help thinking that with all the physical attention she received from Dash, the odds of pregnancy were good.

    But she shrugged, refusing to expose her hidden hopes in case they proved futile. ¡°Who knows?¡± she said.

    Her phone rang and she saw that it was her father.

    Elenaid down her cue stick. ¡°I¡¯ll go get dressed for dinner.¡± She said.

    Tess picked up the phone. ¡°Hello, dad.¡±

    He returned her greeting and asked about the honeymoon. She told him about their visit to Pompeii and a garden she had found enchanting. They had been talking for about ten minutes when he asked, ¡°Are you happy then, little Tess?¡±

    ¡°Fizzing with it,¡± she admitted without hesitation.

    ¡°That¡¯s good to know,¡± he replied.

    His concern hadete in life, but it still felt nice. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°I finally managed to give you something you really wanted.¡± He cleared his throat in a familiar way that made her realize she missed him even if he hadn¡¯t been a big part of her daily life when she was growing up. ¡°I knew what you did with the coat I gave you and my housekeeper told me the car stayed in the garage.¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I never got around to learning to drive,¡± she said somewhat sheepishly.

    He chuckled. ¡°So, that was it.¡± The line went silent for a second. ¡°I don¡¯t know you very well.¡±

 91

    It was true. He hadn¡¯t wanted to, but maybe that had changed. ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± She said,

    ¡°Hell no, it¡¯s not, but now maybe that will change. I¡¯m damn happy things are working out for you and Dash. He¡¯s a good man. Proud and stubborn, but smart and understands the value of family.¡± he sounded so happy for her.

    ¡°Yes, he does.¡± Tess agreed.

    ¡°I trussed him up like a Thanksgiving turkey for you and I¡¯m d I did.¡±

    More tant satisfaction.

    Theparison was unfortunate. She couldn¡¯t imagine Dash in such a scenario at all, nor was she sure that a bit of matchmaking could be likened to trussing someone up, but she didn¡¯t argue with her father. His matchmaking efforts had brought her and Dash together. For that, she could swallow a lot of male self-aggrandizement.

    ¡°I guess you did, dad. Thank you,¡± she said warmly.

    ¡°I¡¯m just d you¡¯re happy, girl.¡±

    ¡°I am.¡± Very, very happy.

    ¡°I called to talk to Dash. I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s been ignoring my calls. Have him call when-¡±

    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary, I am here.¡± Dash¡¯s voice said behind her. Tess turned, frowned and then handed the phone to him.

    He took it and held it to his ear. ¡°I saw your missed calls, Neal. I have been busy but I just saw and Elena she told me that you were on the phone with Tess so I decided toe talk to you.¡± he exined his intrusion into the conversation.

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Neal Patchett replied, ¡°I wanted to talk to my daughter too and see how you were treating her.¡±

    There was an odd note in his voice. Tess could hear it as Dash was standing very close to her and the phone was on loudspeaker.

    ¡°As she has said, she is happy.¡± Dash¡¯s tone was t and emotionless.

    She felt like an intruder in their conversation even though she and her father had been talking first, but she didn¡¯t move away and Dash didn¡¯t either.

    ¡°I¡¯ll let you two talk business,¡± she said finally, not liking their tone.

    But Dash said nothing as he watched her leave.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Up in their bedroom, she undressed and took a quick shower before pulling on matchingce bra and panties. She was pulling avender sheath dress from the closet when Dash walked into the room.

    Sheid it on the bed and went over to him, expecting a kiss of greeting, but he sidestepped her. ¡°I need a shower,¡± he said.

    ¡°You look wonderful to me.¡± She smiled.

    He looked better than wonderful. In his tailored Italian suit that clung lovingly to the well-developed muscles of his thighs, he looked edible.

    He didn¡¯t return her smile. ¡°Like a Thanksgiving turkey all tied up?¡± he asked grimly.

    ¡°You heard that?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Yeah. I heard.¡± He looked totally unapproachable. ¡°Remember not to put your phone on loudspeaker when you are having such important conversations¡± he added sarcastically.

    Heard and been seriously upset by it, Tess thought.

    ¡°Don¡¯t let my father¡¯s analogies annoy you.¡± She pulled her dress off the hanger and tossed the hanger back onto the bed. ¡°It¡¯s just the way he is.¡± She said,

    ¡°He is blunt.¡±

    She smiled again, this time in relief at his understanding. ¡°Right,¡± she said as she pulled the dress over her head. ¡°He¡¯s not very tactful, but I think he means well.¡±

    She straightened the dress over her hips.

    ¡°When ites to you, his daughter, there is no doubt of this.¡±

    ¡°You know, I think you¡¯re right.¡±

    It was a novel concept, but one that unraveled some of the pain that had been caused by her father¡¯s rejection throughout her growing-up years. ¡°It feels good to be cared about, to tell you the truth.¡± She added.

    ¡°Regardless of what form that caring takes?¡± Dash asked, his expression just this side of feral.

    She didn¡¯t know what was wrong with him, but then there were still a lot of things about her husband she did not understand.

    ¡°We can¡¯t always choose how someone will love us.¡± She said, Or if they would love you at all, she thought. Her father had certainly done a good job of hiding any affection he felt for her before.

    ¡°And you will take whatever form of love he gives, or is it that you are happy to reap the advantage of his desire to give it at all?¡± Dash asked.

    Okay, her father¡¯sments had been less than ttering to Dash, but surely he wasn¡¯t offended by the older man¡¯s im at matchmaking. Perhaps his male ego was wounded by the thought of someone interfering in his life like that.

    She stepped over to him andid her hand on his chest. ¡°How we came to be together is not as important as the fact that we are together, is it?¡± she asked.

    ¡°For you, I can see that it is not.¡± He swung violently away and stormed into the bathroom.

    The door shut with an audible click.

    Shocked into immobility, she stared at it for the longest time. What in the world had just happened?

    Dash¡¯s reaction to the situation was totally over the top. His fury at the discovery that her father¡¯s request to check on her in Athens had been an attempt at matchmaking was disproportionate to the circumstances. Even taking into ount that it had been a sessful attempt and he might feel somewhat manipted, was it really so awful?

    Dash was a really smart guy. Hadn¡¯t he even suspected ulterior motives when Neal Patchett asked for such a personal favor? Especially after that kiss at that party.

    One thing became ringly clear to her as she stood in transfixed stupefaction. If Dash really had loved her, it would not have mattered. His pride would not find such offense in her father¡¯s harmless machinations.

    After all, it wasn¡¯t as if Neal had held a gun to Dash¡¯s head and forced him to marry her.

    He¡¯d set them up to meet again, but Dash had been the one to pursue her. He had invited her toe to his home, so why was he acting like her father¡¯s actions and her eptance of them was so heinous? If anything was at fault for their marriage, it was Dash¡¯s desire.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Feeling sick, she realized that was all it was. Desire.

    And desire was not the soother of pride that love was. She¡¯d been so sure he wasing to love her, but his reaction tonight showed her how wrong she had been.

 92

    Dash stood under the hot water and cursed until his throat was raw with it. She had been in on it all along.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    This woman he had trusted and believed would make the perfect mother for his children was in reality a scheming witch who did not care how she got what she wanted so long as she got it. Where he had seen innocence, there had been deviousness.

    He now saw the initial reticence she had shown to his advances as the ruthlessly maniptive tactic that it was. The ssic game of ying hard to get refined to the point of deviousness. She had known he had no choice but to pursue her. Yet, she had made the pursuit difficult, knowing his male instincts to hunt would be aroused.

    She had done her own part to make sure he was caught in her father¡¯s trap. He had been right to suspect such duplicity and a fool to dismiss the possibility so easily. The knowledge he had been so used to filled him with a desire to do violence.

    He hit the tiled wall of the shower with his fist, ignoring the pain that arced up his arm.

    He had trusted her. He had believed she was unlike any woman he had ever known. And she was. She was a better liar. A better cheat. And better at entrapment. Many women had wanted marriage, but she had managed to secure his name on the other side of the marriage certificate. Had she begun making her ns before or after that kiss at that party?

    No matter what, he was furious at his own gullibility. The pain of betrayal radiated through him and that made him even angrier. He could not feel betrayed if he had not trusted her and knowing he had trusted unwisely was a direct hit to his pride.

    He had allowed himself to care for her, to believe in a future together and all the while she and her father had no doubt beenughing over how easy he had been to dupe. Damn! He had even decided not to divorce her because he was worried that he would hurt her. Her feminine arrogance knew no bounds. Telling him that it did not matter how they hade together.

    Perhaps that would have been true if she had been a woman worthy of his name and not a lying maniptor. She wasn¡¯t and the fact she had colluded with her father to ckmail him into marriage enraged Dash.

    No longer would he withhold his revenge from her. She would learn right alongside her father that he was not the kind of man who would lie down to coercion. He was a man, not a fool, no matter that he¡¯d been behaving like one for weeks.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Matt stood listening to the doctor tell him that Savannah¡¯s condition was indeed serious. She was on a magnesium sulfate drip to lower her blood pressure and prevent future seizures.

    Matt dug a hand into his hair and closed his eyes. He¡¯d done this to her. She should have been cherished and pampered. She should have been loved and cared for. She should have been waiting on hand and foot because hell, she deserved it. She had a beautiful heart. Instead she¡¯d been forced to work a physically demanding job under unimaginable stress.. alone. All because he didn¡¯t trust her.

    And once he¡¯d brought her back, she¡¯d been subjected to scorn and hostility and endless emotional distress. Was it any wonder she wanted to wash her hands of him and his family?

    ¡°Will¡­will Savannah be alright? Will she recover from this?¡± he asked, dreading the answer.

    He didn¡¯t realize he held his breath until his chest began to burn. He let it out slowly and forced himself to rx his hands.

    ¡°She¡¯s gravely ill. Her blood pressure is extremely high. She could seize again or suffer a stroke. That isn¡¯t good for her. We¡¯re doing everything we can to bring her blood pressure down and we¡¯re monitoring her closely. It¡¯s important she remains calm and not be stressed in any way. Even if we¡¯re able to bring down her blood pressure, she should be allowed to rest.¡±

    ¡°I understand,¡± Matt said quietly. ¡°Can I see her now?¡±

    ¡°You can go in but she must remain calm. Don¡¯t do or say anything to upset her.¡± the doctor replied.

    Matt nodded and turned to walk the few steps to Savannah¡¯s room. He paused at the door, afraid to go in. What if his mere presence upset her?

    His hand rested on the handle and he leaned forward, pressing his forehead to the surface. He closed his eyes as grief and regret-so much regret -swamped him.

    Finally he opened the door and eased inside. It was dark with only a light from the bathroom to illuminate the room. Savannahy on the bed, a vast array of medical equipment on either side of her.

    He approached cautiously, not wanting to disturb or upset her. He hovered by her side, staring down at her pale face. Her eyes were closed, but her brow was creased, whether in worry or pain he wasn¡¯t sure. Maybe both.

    Her chest barely rose with the shallow breaths. Suddenly, everything that had happened caught up to him in one painful rush. Never. Never would he forget her grief-ravaged face as she bitterly told him what his brother had done to her, what she¡¯d tried to tell him a year ago. But he hadn¡¯t listened then. He¡¯d been convinced she was lying.

    He pulled up a chair so he could sit as close to her as possible while she slept. Tentatively, he slid his fingers underneath the hand that didn¡¯t have an IV attached and he brought it to his lips, holding it against his mouth.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Savvie,¡± he said brokenly. ¡°I¡¯m so damn sorry.¡±

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    ¡°Matt. Matt, man, wake up.¡±

    The whisper stirred Matt and he opened his eyes and groaned at the monster crick in his neck. Daylight streamed through the blinds on the window and he winced.

    His gaze first found Savannah, who was still sleeping, her cheek resting on the mound of pillows. Her bed was elevated slightly so she wasn¡¯t lying t and some time recently her IV bag had been reced because it was now full.

    Then he turned, his hand going to rub the kinks in his neck. Dash was standing next to the chair Matt had slept in, his eyes dark with concern.

    ¡°What the hell happened?¡± Dash said in a low voice.

 93

    Carefully, Matt stood, not wanting to risk waking Savannah up. He motioned for Dash to follow him outside the hospital room. When they walked out, Matt saw Stefan shove off the wall, his eyebrow arched in question.

    ¡°What are you two doing here?¡± Matt asked with a frown.

    ¡°That other night was really tense,¡± Dash said. ¡°We tried to call you but couldn¡¯t get you. You haven¡¯t been picking up so we went by your apartment today. Your maid told us that you said Savannah had been taken to the hospital by ambnce so we came over to see if she¡¯s okay.¡±

    Matt closed his eyes as his throat knotted all over again.

    ¡°Whoa, man, you need to sit down,¡± Stefan said.

    ¡°Have you eaten?¡± Dash asked.

    Matt shook his head.

    ¡°Want to tell us about it?¡± Dash prompted.

    Matt stared at his two friends and emitted a harshugh. ¡°How do you exin that you¡¯ve made the worst mistake of your entire life and you¡¯re not sure you can ever make amends?¡± he asked.

    ¡°That bad, huh,¡± Stefan said.

    ¡°Worse.¡±

    ¡°Is Savannah going to be alright?¡± Dash asked.

    ¡°I wish I knew. I did this to her. She¡¯s lying in a hospital bed because I wasn¡¯t there for her. What kind of a bastard does that make me?¡± Matt asked.

    Stefan and Dash exchanged nces.

    ¡°Look, granted I don¡¯t know the whole story, but I¡¯d say that you aren¡¯t solely to me for the problem,¡± Dash said carefully.

    ¡°My brother assaulted her,¡± Matt said as rage flooded him all over again. ¡°He tried to rape her and when she fought him off, he called me with an ingenious story. He imed they slept together but when he told her it was a mistake, she threatened to tell me he tried to rape her so I wouldn¡¯t break up with her for cheating on me. So of course not half an hourter when she shows up at my office telling me exactly what my brother said she would, I didn¡¯t believe her. Because I couldn¡¯t imagine my brother, the brother I all but raised, doing something so despicable. And when she begged me, when she got on her knees and pleaded with me to believe her, I wrote her a check and told her to get the hell out of my life.¡±

    Dash and Stefan both looked at him stunned, speechless.

    ¡°How am I ever supposed to get past something like that,¡± Matt snarled. ¡°Tell me how she¡¯s supposed to get past that. Do you know that just that night before that stupid dinner I magnanimously told her that I forgave her? That I wanted us to forget the past and move forward and that I forgave her for cheating on me.¡±

    He broke off andughed a dry, harshugh. ¡°Yeah, from the start I¡¯ve been all about being the bigger person and wanting to start over when all along I treated her so unforgivably. She came to me for help, for protection, because I was the one person she counted on, and I turned my back on her.¡±

    Matt turned away as hisposure slipped. Tears burned his eyes. Angry, furious tears. He wanted to ram his fist into the wall. He wanted to roar with rage.

    His friends nked him, each slipping a hand over his shoulder.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say,¡± Dash said quietly. ¡°I know you love her.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I did, do, always have. I loved her and yet I did this to her. How is she ever going to be able to trust me again?¡± Matt asked.

    ¡°Someone needs to beat the hell out of that little bastard,¡± Stefan growled.

    Matt slowly raised his head, his face set in stone. ¡°He¡¯ll never evere close to her again. I¡¯m going to kill him.¡± he said angrily.

    ¡°Damn,¡± Dash muttered. ¡°Look, I know you¡¯re pissed and you have every right to be, but don¡¯t do anything stupid. He deserves to have his ass kicked, but don¡¯t do anything tond yourself in jail. Savannah needs you. You can¡¯t help her if you¡¯re behind bars.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t let him get away with it,¡± Matt said. ¡°He touched her. He vited her. He hurt her.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going with you,¡± Stefan said tersely.

    Matt shook his head.

    ¡°You don¡¯t get a choice. It¡¯s either I go with you or I¡¯m calling the police. The difference is, I¡¯ll let you beat the crap out of him. But I won¡¯t let you kill him. The police aren¡¯t going to let you touch him. So what¡¯ll it be?¡±

    Matt¡¯s lip curled into a snarl.

    Dash sighed. ¡°You should see yourself, man. It¡¯s a good thing Savannah is sleeping. Whatever it is you need to do, you need to get it done so that when she wakes up you can be the support she needs. You¡¯ll just scare her to death if she sees you like this.¡± he said.

    ¡°Dash can stay with Savannah,¡± Stefan volunteered. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you to confront Enzo. Then you can get your ass back here where you belong and put this whole thing behind you.¡±

    Stefan made it sound easy, but Matt knew better. Savannah might not ever forgive him and he wouldn¡¯t me her if she didn¡¯t. But if she did and if she and Matt were going to be together, he was going to make damn sure his family was never an issue for her again.

    ¡°Will you do it?¡± Matt asked. ¡°Will you stay with her for a while? If she wakes let her know¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle it,¡± Dash said. ¡°You just go so you can get your head on straight again. And rip his nuts off for me. The bastard deserves it.¡±

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    Enzo¡¯s expression was one of resignation when he opened the door to Matt¡¯s insistent knock. Matt didn¡¯t give him time to do or say anything. He grabbed his brother by the shirt and propelled him backward into the apartment he lived in.

    ¡°What the-?¡± Enzo began.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    Matt silenced him with a fist. Enzo went sprawling and Matt and Stefan both stood a few feet back waiting for him to pick himself up off the floor.

    Enzo wiped at the blood on his mouth as he stumbled to his feet. ¡°What the hell, Matt?¡± he yelled.

    ¡°Why did you do it?¡± Matt asked in a deadly quiet voice. ¡°Why?¡±

 94

    An uneasy expression crawled across Enzo¡¯s face. His lips drooped and his eyes went dull. At least he wasn¡¯t going to pretend he didn¡¯t know what Matt was talking about.

    Enzo dragged a hand across his mouth again, his handing away smeared with blood. ¡°I know it won¡¯t mean much, but I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said.

    Matt exploded at him. Enzo didn¡¯t even try to defend himself. He went down on the floor and this time he didn¡¯t get up.

    ¡°Sorry? You¡¯re sorry?¡± Matt yelled. ¡°You tried to rape her. You lied to me about her. What the hell is wrong with you? She was the woman I was going to marry. Why would you do something like that?¡±

    ¡°Mom,¡± Enzo said in a weary voice.

    Matt took a step back, stunned. ¡°Mom? Mom put you up to this?¡± he asked.

    Enzo dragged himself only up enough to lean against the living room wall and he put a hand through his hair, his expression weary and defeated.

    ¡°Yeah. She went ballistic when she found out you proposed to Savannah. She was determined you weren¡¯t going to marry some penniless upstart. Her words not mine. I thought she was crazy at first. I mean I figured she¡¯d throw a fit and then get over it, but then she wanted me to go buy her off. She said that if Savannah refused the offer, I should frame her with the fake rape story. I swear to you I wouldn¡¯t have raped her, Matt. I just wanted to set it up so you¡¯d think we slept together.¡±

    ¡°Jesus,¡± Stefan muttered. ¡°This is crazy. This is so fucking messed up.¡±Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    Matt was numb from head to toe. His own mother had done something that sick? It didn¡¯t seem possible. How could anyone hate someone else so much that they¡¯d go to such lengths to get rid of them?

    ¡°She invited me to dinner that night. But I swear, Matt, she told me that you wanted me there, that you and Savannah wanted to let the past go and start over. I wasn¡¯t going to go, because I didn¡¯t want to upset Savannah or make you angry, but Mom told me you specifically asked for me toe. And I hoped¡­ I hoped that maybe you and Savannah could forgive the past and that we could be a family again. Like old times.¡± Enzo said.

    Matt dropped his hands to his sides, suddenly so sick at heart that he just wanted to walk away.

    ¡°You¡¯re no longer my family. Savannah is my family. I don¡¯t ever want to see you again. If I ever catch you near Savvie, I swear to you that you¡¯ll regret it.¡± he said angrily.

    ¡°Matt, don¡¯t. Please,¡± Enzo called hoarsely.

    Matt stopped at the door and slowly turned around. ¡°Did she beg you like you¡¯re begging me, Enzo? Did she ask you to stop?¡± he asked.

    Enzo¡¯s face flushed a dull red and then he looked away, no longer able to meet his brother¡¯s gaze.

    ¡°Come on,¡± Stefan said quietly. ¡°Let¡¯s go, man.¡±

    As they walked back out, Matt nudged Stefan toward the waiting car. ¡°You go. I¡¯ll take a cab. I¡¯m going to see my mother.¡± he said.

    Stefan hesitated. ¡°Sure you don¡¯t want me to go with you?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Yeah. This is something I have to do by myself.¡± Matt replied.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    Matt knocked tersely on the door to his mother¡¯s home and issued a clipped demand to see her when one of the maids answered the door.

    A momentter, as he paced the floor of the receiving room, his mother hurried in, her brow wrinkled in concern.

    ¡°Matt? Is something wrong? You didn¡¯t call to tell me you wereing.¡± She said,

    He stared at her, wondering how he could be so blind about the woman who¡¯d given birth to him. There was no doubt she¡¯d always been self-centered, but he¡¯d never considered her malicious enough to harm an innocent woman. Even now, after everything that had happened, he was at a loss for words. How could he possibly convey the depth of his hatred? It boiled in his veins like acid. His family. The people he should be able to count on. They were¡­evil.

    The irony struck him hard. Savannah should have been able to count on him. But just as his family had betrayed him, he had betrayed her. Maybe he was more like his mother and brother than he wanted to admit. The thought sickened him.

    ¡°Matt?¡± she asked again.

    She stopped in front of him and put her hand on his arm, her eyes worried. He wiped her hand away and took a step back, choking on his disgust.

    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me,¡± he said in a low voice. ¡°I know what you did. I know what you and Enzo did. I¡¯ll never forgive you for it.¡± he said.

    Her face creased with consternation. She threw up her hand and turned away, her arms crossing over her chest.

    ¡°She¡¯s not who you should be with, Matt. If you weren¡¯t so infatuated with her, so blinded by¡­lust, you¡¯d see it too.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not even going to deny it. My God. What did Savvie ever do to deserve what you did to her? She¡¯s lying in a hospital right now. What kind of a psychopath does that kind of thing?¡± Matt asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t regret protecting my sons,¡± she said stiffly. ¡°I¡¯d do it again. You¡¯ll understand when you have a child. You¡¯ll understand why I did what I did. With parenthoodes the knowledge that you¡¯ll do anything at all for your child. You¡¯ll protect them with everything you have. You can¡¯t just stand by and let your child make the worst mistake of their life and do nothing. Come talk to me in a few years. Then ask yourself if you still hate me so much.¡±

    He was dumbfounded by the lengths she went to justify her actions. They weren¡¯t simply morally reprehensible. They were criminals!

    ¡°I would hope that I never act as you have, that I¡¯d never hurt an innocent woman just because I didn¡¯t think she was good enough. Here¡¯s what you don¡¯t understand, Mother. She¡¯s a better person than you¡¯ll ever be. Not good enough? We aren¡¯t good enough for her. We¡¯ll never be. I just have to hope to hell she¡¯ll ept and forgive me despite the worthless excuse for a family that I have.¡± he said.

 95

    His mother¡¯s eyes burned with outrage. ¡°You¡¯re a typical man. Thinking with the lower portion of your anatomy. You¡¯repletely blinded by lust, but in a few years you won¡¯t look at her with the same lovesick puppy eyes. Then you¡¯ll thank me for trying to protect you. You can do better than her, Matt. Why can¡¯t I make you see that?¡±

    Matt shook his head, sadness and grief so thick in his chest he could barely breathe.

    ¡°I¡¯ll never thank you for this. You¡¯re nothing to me anymore. I¡¯ll never subject my wife or children to your poison.¡±

    Her face whitened with shock. ¡°You don¡¯t mean that!¡±

    ¡°I mean it. You aren¡¯t my mother. I have no mother. I have no family save Savannah. I¡¯ll never forgive you for this. Stay away from me. Stay away from Savannah. If you evere within a hundred yards of my family, I¡¯ll forget that you gave birth to me and I¡¯ll have you hauled away in handcuffs. Are we understood?¡± he asked, his voice stiff.

    She stared wordlessly at him, suddenly looking at every one of her sixty years. If she hadn¡¯t so callously tried to destroy the woman he loved, he would have felt sorry for her. But she showed no remorse. No regret.

    ¡°I have nothing more to say to you,¡± he bit out.

    He turned and walked away, his mother¡¯s cries for him to stop ringing in his ears.

    He walked out of her house, never looking back. He got into the waiting cab and directed the driver back to the hospital.

    Savannah needed him. Chances were she¡¯d never forgive him, but he¡¯d make sure she never wanted another thing in her life. He¡¯d provide for her. He¡¯d spend the rest of his life making it up to her if only she¡¯d let him.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Savannah awoke to silence. She was so relieved to no longer hear the horrible ringing in her ears that she could weep. The vile headache was gone. It no longer felt like the top of her head was going to explode. She was oddly free of pain.

    It took her several moments of staring at her surroundings to discover that she was in a hospital room.

    Then the events leading up to her copse came back to her in a sh. Was she  okay?

    She blinked harder to bring the room more into focus. There was light shining through a crack in the bathroom door. A nce at the blinds told her that it was dark outside.

    Then her gaze fell on the chair beside her bed and she found Matt staring at her, his gaze intense. She flinched away from the raw emotion shining in his dark eyes.

    ¡°Hey,¡± he said quietly. ¡°How are you feeling?¡±

    ¡°Numb,¡± she answered before she could think better of it. ¡°Kind of nk. My head doesn¡¯t hurt anymore.¡±

    He carefully picked up the sheet and pushed it over her feet. ¡°They¡¯ve been giving you meds and they¡¯re monitoring you closely¡±

    ¡°Is something wrong with me?¡± Savannah asked, a knot of fear in her throat.

    ¡°You¡¯re fine. Your blood pressure is stabilized.¡± he replied.

    Savannah closed her eyes and then suddenly Matt was close to her, holding her, his lips pressed against her temple.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, love,¡± he murmured. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to stay calm. You¡¯re getting the best possible care. I¡¯ve made sure of it. They¡¯re monitoring you round-the-clock. Everything is going to be okay.¡±

    She sagged against the pillow and closed her eyes. Relief pulsed through her but she was so tired she couldn¡¯t muster the energy to do anything more than lie there thanking God that there was nothing serious wrong with her. She wasn¡¯t sure she could handle any more problems. She had enough.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to take care of you, Savvie,¡± Matt said softly against her temple. ¡°I¡¯m going to take care of you and protect you. Nothing will ever hurt you again. I swear it.¡±

    Tears burned her eyelids. She was emotionally and physically exhausted and didn¡¯t have the strength to argue. Something inside her was broken and she had no idea how to fix it. She felt so¡­ disconnected.

    Matt drew away, but his eyes were bright with concern¡­and love. But was it enough? What was love without trust? He wanted her. He felt guilty. He wasn¡¯t a jerk. He had feelings and it would destroy him now that he knew the truth. But he hadn¡¯t trusted her, and Savannah wasn¡¯t sure if they could even forge a rtionship when this much hurt and betrayal was involved. Maybe they¡¯d been stupid to even attempt it.

    ¡°What¡¯s going to happen?¡± she whispered. ¡°Do I have to stay here? Do I go home?¡±

    She bit her lip because she wasn¡¯t sure where she¡¯d go. Her rtionship with Matt was a big question mark, but she had no ce to go except home with him.

    He took her hand-the one that she wore his ring on-and thumbed it absently.

    ¡°You¡¯ll stay here until a decision is made about your health. But the doctor said that if you go home, you¡¯ll have to rest ¡±

    Her expression must have reflected her horror and her fear, because Matt leaned over to kiss her forehead again. He held her hand and rubbed his thumb over her knuckles.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want you to worry, honey, okay? It¡¯s nothing serious. I¡¯ll handle everything. We¡¯ll go somewhere warm and beautiful and all you¡¯ll have to do is lie on the beach or in afortable chair and watch the sun set. I¡¯ll hire a personal physician to oversee every part of your care.¡±

    Her brow furrowed and she could feel the pain creep back into her head.

    ¡°Matt , we can¡¯t just go off to some ind paradise somewhere. Ignoring our problems won¡¯t fix them.¡± She said,

    He stroked a hand over her forehead, smoothing her hair back. ¡°Right now, all you need to concentrate on is feeling better. And what I need to concentrate on is removing as much stress from your life as possible.¡±

    She opened her mouth to respond, but he kissed her lightly, silencing her.

    ¡°I know we have a lot to work out, Savvie. I had no idea how much when I said this before. But right now let¡¯s put our differences aside and concentrate on your health. Can we do that?¡± he asked.

    Her resistance slid away. She nodded slowly, not withdrawing her hand from his.

    Despite what had happened in the past, she didn¡¯t doubt for a moment that he cared deeply about her.

 96

    Tess cuddled around the pillow in her lonely bed for the third night in a row.

    Dash had gone from attentive and loverlike to cold and dismissive in a devastatingly quick and thorough transformation. And all because he was furious her father had yed matchmaker.

    She¡¯d tried to talk to him about it, but he had refused to listen.

    He¡¯d spent the past days working long hours and although he returned to the house before dinner, he did note to bed until after Tess fell asleep.

    Tonight, she was determined to wait up for him, to have it out. She wanted her marriage back. Things had been so good before. She could not ept that something so unimportant could destroy it all.

    She threw herself on her back and kicked the covers off. A minuteter, she rolled onto her stomach. Thirty agonizing minutester he had still note up.

    Unable to wait another second in the silence of their huge bedroom, she got up.

    Where was it written that she had to wait meekly in bed for him to show up? She would go to him.

    She went in search of her robe. Pulling it on, she left the room. He would probably be working in the study. Light filtering from the cracked doorway indicated she had been right.

    She pushed the door open and found him sitting at his desk, papers spread before him.

    ¡°Dash?¡± she called.

    His head lifted and he looked at her with eyes that sliced into her heart with their coldness. ¡°What?¡± he asked.

    ¡°We need to talk.¡±

    ¡°This is not so¡­ not true. We have nothing to talk about.¡± he said.

    She red at him, fed up with his stupid male ego. ¡°How can you say that? You¡¯re being ridiculous about this thing with my father. Can¡¯t you see that?¡±

    In a second, he was towering over her, his big body vibrating with rage. ¡°What are you saying to me?¡± he asked.

    Okay, so she hadn¡¯t been tactful. Her father¡¯s bluntness had rubbed off on her, but it was the truth. ¡°We were happy together, right? Why do you want to throw that away over something that just doesn¡¯t matter?¡±

    ¡°To you it does not matter, but to me it is important,¡± he replied.

    She reached her hands out in appeal. ¡°I love you, Dash. Isn¡¯t that more important than my father¡¯s machinations?¡±

    His eyes burned her with a contempt she didn¡¯t understand, but that hurt her horribly.

    ¡°Do not speak to me of love again. I can do without the kind of love a woman like you feels.¡± he said.

    ¡°A woman like me?¡± Tess repeated. What did he mean? ¡°You told me you would treasure my love.¡± Whatever kind of woman she was.

    ¡°A man will say anything when his libido is involved.¡± he replied carelessly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe that.¡± He couldn¡¯t mean it. ¡°You wanted to marry me. I didn¡¯t force you into this¡± He had to care a little, even if he didn¡¯t love her, she thought.

    He scowled at her. ¡°I have no choice about that, do I?¡±

    Did he mean because like her, he thought she was already pregnant? ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she said honestly. Her menses weren¡¯t due for another week.

    Hisugh was harsh. ¡°For a man with family pride, it is no choice.¡±

    ¡°You feel like you have to get me pregnant?¡± She felt further and further out of her depth, while the pain of his rejection went deeper and deeper.

    ¡°Enough of this yacting. You know the alternative is untenable for me.¡± Dash said.

    ¡°I only know that days ago I was happier than I have ever been in my life and now I¡¯m miserable.¡± She said, Tears clogged the back of her throat and she couldn¡¯t go on.

    Something twitched in his face, but he turned away from her. ¡°Go back to bed, Tess.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to go back without you.¡± Her pride was in tatters around her, but she was desperate to get through to him.

    ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood for sex right now,¡± he replied.

    For a hopelessly oversexed guy like her husband, that statement was the final blow to her rapidly toppling confidence.

    ¡°Neither am I,¡± she whispered from a tight throat as she turned to leave the room. She had never wanted just sex with him and clearly even that wasn¡¯t on offer.

    He let her go without a word.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    The next day, Dash took off for a business trip abroad and Tess did her best to hide her despair from his mother and sister when they visited. She wasn¡¯t entirely sessful, but both women assumed her mncholy was due to Dash¡¯s absence and she did not disabuse them of the notion. In a way it was the truth.

    She did miss him, but she had missed him before he left and had no faith his return would decrease that one iota.

    On the second day of his absence he called to tell her he would be gone another week. While he had not been overly warm on the phone, the fact he had called at all led to a rise in her spirits. His rejection had not diminished her love or need for him any more than years of her father¡¯s neglect had exorcized the man from her heart.

    Was she destined to spend her whole life loving, but never receiving love?Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    ¡°I¡¯m reluctant to release Miss Carson from the hospital,¡± Savannah¡¯s doctor said grimly as he stood outside her hospital room. ¡°She¡¯s shown marked improvement. Her blood pressure is normal. But I¡¯m notfortable releasing her yet.¡±

    Matt rubbed the back of his neck. ¡°What can I do to make it possible? She¡¯s unhappy here. She¡¯s not herself.¡± he said.

    The doctor nodded. ¡°That¡¯s precisely why I¡¯m concerned about releasing her. At least here I can be assured she¡¯s getting the care she needs. She¡¯s not in good spirits and I¡¯m deeply concerned about her stress level. It¡¯s imperative that she not be ced in any situation that causes her undue distress.¡±

    ¡°If you give her the okay to travel I n to take her away. Somece warm where she¡¯ll never have to lift a finger. I can have a medical team fly us to the ind and once there, I¡¯ll have a private physician to monitor her care as well as have the local hospitalpletely apprised of her condition and needs.¡±

 97

    The doctor went silent as he seemed to mull over Matt¡¯s suggestion. ¡°Perhaps that¡¯s the best idea. It¡¯s cold and a bit gloomy right now. Maybe the better weather will lift her spirits and she¡¯ll regain her strength. It¡¯s not good for her to verge on depression.¡±

    It made Matt¡¯s heart ache to think of Savannah being sad and depressed. He¡¯d do anything at all to make her smile again.

    ¡°Give me your okay and I¡¯ll make immediate arrangements for us to leave the city,¡± Matt said quietly. ¡°I want only the best for her and I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to make her well again.¡±

    The doctor stared hard at him and then lowered his clipboard to his waist. ¡°I believe you, Mr. Bradford. Tell you what. You give me the name of the physician you hire as well as the name of the hospital that will be overseeing her care and I¡¯ll have her medical records transferred. I¡¯ll want to talk to her physician personally and make sure he¡¯s aware of her situation.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Matt said sincerely. ¡°Savannah and I both appreciate your attention in this matter.¡±

    ¡°Just take good care of her. I hate to see the youngdy so sad.¡± the doctor said.

    Matt nodded, his chest tight. He¡¯d take good care of her, no doubt, but it remained to be seen if he could make her happy again. Still, he wasn¡¯t about to give up. He¡¯d turned his back on her once. Never again would she have any cause to doubt him. If it took him forever, he¡¯d make damn sure she knew she could count on him.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    Savannah sat in the armchair by the window in her hospital room and stared out as snowkes drifted down in crazy little spirals. Though it was plenty warm in her room, a chill crept over her shoulders and she shivered.

    ¡°Do you want a nket?¡± Matt asked.

    She turned her head in surprise. She hadn¡¯t expected him back, though she should have known he wouldn¡¯t be gone for long. He¡¯d been a constant presence over the past few days, always there, anticipating her every need.

    ¡°Sorry if I startled you,¡± he said in a low voice.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t. I just didn¡¯t hear youe in.¡± She replied.

    He moved in front of her and perched on the windowsill. He shoved his hands in his pockets and then leveled a stare at her.

    ¡°I just finished talking to your doctor. He¡¯s willing to release you.¡±

    Her eyes widened in surprise.

    ¡°There are conditions, of course. He¡¯s very concerned over your health.¡± Matt said.

    She frowned. ¡°What conditions?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve already made all the arrangements. I¡¯ve taken care of everything. There¡¯s nothing you need to worry about. Just concentrate on getting well and regaining your strength.¡±

    She shook her head, trying to clear some of the constant fuzz that seemed to permeate her braintely. She¡¯d existed in a fog ever since her copse, and worse, her fatigue had grown worse. Something inside stirred, though, as though she ought to protest, but she couldn¡¯t summon the mental energy to do it.

    When she remained silent, Matt continued on.

    ¡°We¡¯re leaving the city. An ambnce is going to transport you to the airport where a medical team is going to fly us back to the ind¡±

    Again she shook her head in silent denial. And she finally found her objection.

    ¡°Matt, you can¡¯t just leave here. You can¡¯t hover over me for so long. Neither can you leave your work. Your life is here.¡± She said,

    He slid to his knees in front of her and gathered her hands in his. ¡°My life is with you. You are my absolute priority. I have people who are more than capable of running things in my absence. I have business partners who are more than willing to step in and take over any matters needing my attention. I don¡¯t have to worry about anything.¡±

    Nothing had been said of the night she¡¯d copsed after her emotional breakdown. It had been a carefully avoided issue, as was the matter of their future¡­and his brother.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    She could see the torment and the terrible guilt in Matt¡¯s eyes, but he didn¡¯t broach the subject and neither did she. She couldn¡¯t do it without upsetting herself and, above all else, the doctor had warned her against bing distressed. She couldn¡¯t afford anotherplete loss of control like the night she¡¯d ended up in the hospital. So she¡¯d locked everything behind an imprable wall of ice and indifference. Any time she felt her emotions rising, she turned them off and didn¡¯t offer objection or resistance.

    And she¡¯d do the same now. Her heart told her to object, to not allow him to take over and whisk her away. She was tired of being hurt. But it simply took too much effort and she¡¯d expended all of her strength.

    ¡°Savvie?¡± he asked softly. ¡°What are you thinking, honey?¡±

    She moved her gaze until it rested on him. His brow was creased in concern and he was staring hard at her as if he was trying to reach in and pluck out her thoughts.

    ¡°I¡¯m tired,¡± she said honestly. And weak.

    Heartsick. Unsure of what she wanted. Battling over what was best for her. So many things that she wouldn¡¯t admit because it simply took too much effort to exin.

    He touched her cheek, caressing gently. ¡°I know you are, baby. I have no right to ask this of you, but I¡¯m asking anyway. Trust me. Let me take care of you. Let me take you away. You loved it on the ind.¡±

    How easy he made it for her to cede control. He was offering her everything she¡¯d ever wanted. His love. His care. Fantasy. He was offering her a fantasy. But fantasies neversted. They¡¯d already done this once. Escaped from reality for a few idyllic days on the ind, but when it was all over they¡¯d had to return to the cold reality of their lives.

    But she wanted to leave. She didn¡¯t want to be surrounded by people who despised her. ¡°I want to leave this ce¡±

    ¡°Already arranged,¡± he said.

    Her eyes widened in surprise.

    ¡°Come with me, Savvie. Trust me. At least for now.¡±

    Maybe she could stay on the ind for a while. Surely Matt saw the impossibility of them having a rtionship by now. She wouldn¡¯t need much. A small cottage or even an apartment. As soon as she was back on her feet, she could find some other work. She¡¯d waitressed. She wasn¡¯t afraid of hard work. Encouraged by having a goal, a n, she nodded.

 98

    Matt¡¯s relief was palpable. He leaned forward to kiss her, but she turned her head so that his mouth nced off her cheek instead.

    ¡°I have to leave for just a little while,¡± he said when he pulled back. ¡°I need to finalize all the arrangements for our departure and make sure your needs will be met for the entire trip. I¡¯ll be back as soon as I can. Is there anything I can bring you?¡±

    She shook her head and he rose but before he walked away, he stroked a hand over her hair. ¡°I¡¯ll do anything to make you smile again, Savvie.¡±

    Before she could respond, he turned and walked quietly from the room, leaving her to stare out the window as it snowed.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    Dash walked into the bedroom he shared with Tess without turning on a light. He had been gone for ten days and he¡¯d missed his wife. He hated the knowledge. It made him crazy. He shouldn¡¯t miss a woman who had deceived him so ruthlessly, but he had.

    He woke in the night, reaching for her body and she was not there. He had dreamed about her and ached for the release he found in her sweet flesh. That, at least, he would no longer deny himself.

    He reasoned that he had to make her pregnant so his control of his family¡¯spany would be assured. Which meant he had to make love to her. Besides, sleeping in separate beds was not an option. His mother and sister would notice and his pride would take anothershing.

    He¡¯d told himself that was why he called her so frequently when he was gone. It would look odd if he called his mother more frequently than his wife and he had no intention of telling his family how he had been ckmailed into marriage.

    He stripped off his clothes and climbed into the bed. His wife¡¯s small body was wrapped around a pillow. She looked so damn innocent,pletely incapable of the duplicity he knew she harbored within her. She also looked desirable like no other woman did to him now.

    He caressed her in a way he had learned aroused her and she moaned his name in her sleep. A shaft of pain went through him. At least she had been honest about that.

    She did want him.

    He pulled the pillow from her arms and kissed her in one movement. Her lips responded even though her body remained limp from sleep. He tugged at her bottom lip with his teeth and she opened her mouth. She tasted so sweet, it was impossible to keep reminding himself that she was his enemy.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    Right now, she was just his wife. He slid the thin strap of her nightgown off her shoulder, exposing one pouting breast. Caressing the velvet flesh of her nipple with his palm, he nuzzled her neck, taking in the scent of wildflowers that he associated sopletely with her.

    The soft bud below his palm hardened and she moaned. His body responded predictably. It had been almost two weeks since he had lost himself in the sweetness of her body. Thirteen days too long. He ached with hunger for her, with the need to feel her naked skin against him.

    She did not wake up as he carefully removed her gown. Heid down beside her again, pulling her body into full contact with his. He closed his eyes, allowing himself to revel in the sensation of holding her again. Something he could not have done if she was awake.

    He let his hand trail down her body, brushing tender buds that taunted him with remembered sweetness. He lightly touched the soft curls at the apex of her thighs and she stirred.

    Her breathing changed and he knew she was waking up.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Tess swirled to consciousness, unsure whether she was awake or still dreaming.

    Dash was kissing her, touching her.

    She¡¯d dreamed about it so much that she was sure at first it was just another realistic flight of her subconscious and she did not want to wake up to the reality of her marriage and Dash¡¯s absence. She fought her return to consciousness, but it was if his voice was whispering in her ear, telling her he wanted her.

    Then his hand made a path between her legs, prating moist folds with intimate caresses and she realized she was awake; Dash was with her; and they were making love.

    ¡°You¡¯re home,¡± she whispered, her vocal cords thick with sleep.

    ¡°Yes. I am here, honey¡± he replied.

    Had he said honey? Or was that part of the dream that had meshed with reality? His mouth trailed down her neck, nibbling her skin and making her shiver.

    She whispered his name, clutching at his shoulders. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re home.¡± She said,

    His fingers did something magical to her feminine flesh.

    ¡°I missed you,¡± she panted, her defenses obliterated by his touch and her disorientation ining awake to it.

    ¡°I missed this also,¡± he said in a husky voice that sent shivers of need rippling through her.

    He wanted her again. Relief mixed with her growing passion in a vtilebination that had her moving restlessly under him, spreading her legs in an age-old invitation. ¡°I want you.¡±

    He groaned his approval and took her nipple into his mouth, but he did not move to join their bodies together. He tortured her with bliss, touching her body in ways he knew drove her crazy with desire.

    ¡°Please, Dash. Now.¡± She arched toward him. ¡°Be with me. Please.¡±

    He made a sound that sounded as tortured as she felt and joined their bodies with one passionate thrust. Tender flesh stretched to capacity, but she did not murmur aint. She wanted this very thing. Needed it.

    He cried out and then began to move, his body surrounding her, filling her,pleting her.

    Afterward, he rolled over so she was on top of him, but they were still connected. He was still partially aroused inside her and little jolts of pleasure shot through her every time he moved.

    She nuzzled into his neck and kissed wherever her lipsnded. ¡°You¡¯re not mad at me anymore.¡± She said,

    Instead of answering, he gripped her hips and started moving her on his rapidly hardening flesh. Soon, she lost all desire to talk as sensual hunger took over.

    This time they reached the pinnacle of pleasure together and their cries of satisfaction mingled in the air around them. When they were finished, he pulled her into his body and fell asleep before she could get answers to the many questions roiling in her mind.

 99

    She snuggled closer to him, reveling in the physical contact, needing the affirmation of her ce in his life. He¡¯d been desperate for her, but did that mean anything more than he hadn¡¯t tired of her physically yet? She could not believe he could touch her so gently and take such care to insure her pleasure and still hate her.

    The absence of hatred did not guarantee love, however. And she needed his love, now more than ever. She took the masculine hand resting on her hip and pulled it over her to press against her t stomach. Her menses had note. She wanted to take a pregnancy test, but she was sure deep inside that she carried Dash¡¯s baby.

    Would he be happy? She wondered. His mother would be ecstatic, but it wasn¡¯t her mother-inw that Tess wanted to please. It was the man who had made such beautiful love to her, the man now holding her as if she meant something to him, as if he had missed having her in his bed as much as she had missed his presence in the night.

    The past few days had been horrible and she had vacited between certainty that marrying Dash had been the biggest mistake of her life to an irrepressible hope that things could get better, that he woulde to care more deeply for her. After that first phone call, he had called every day. She didn¡¯t know if it was because he wanted to put a good front on for his family, or if he¡¯d discovered he needed the connection as much as she did. Did it really matter?

    Those phone calls had been her lifeline.

    They hadn¡¯t talked about personal issues, but he hadn¡¯t been curt with her either. He always asked how she was doing and showed interest in how she had spent her day. He¡¯d answered her questions about his business, sharing his frustrations and satisfactions depending on how his day had gone.

    Would a man who hated being married to her share that kind of meaningfulmunication with her?

    It was a question she¡¯d asked herself at least fifty times a day since he¡¯d gone.

    No satisfactory answer was forting.

    Still, after their recent lovemaking, she had more peace than she¡¯d experienced in days.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    The next day, Dash was gone before she woke up, but since he had woken her to make love around dawn, she wasn¡¯t too upset by that fact. The renewal of their physical rtionship had gone a long way toward increasing her sense of security in their rtionship. So, that evening when Dash called and said he would not be home for dinner, she took the news with equanimity.

    At least he had called.

    She ate with his mother and Elena and spent the rest of the evening teaching her mother-inw how to y gin rummy after Elena had gone out with friends.

    When Tess went to climb into bed, she was in a fairly good mood even though Dash had still not returned to the vi. Amy had assured Tess that this was not unusual for her son and had hinted heavily that he would work less when the babies starteding.

    She was dozing lightly when she sensed his presence in the bed and woke up. They made love again and just like the night before, Dash fell asleep without giving her an opportunity to talk about anything important. To be fair, she hadn¡¯t tried very hard. She didn¡¯t know if she wanted to tell him about her suspicion that she was pregnant. Having proof one way or the other would be better.

    That day set the pattern for the ones to follow. If Dash did return in time for dinner, the hours before sleep would be spent making love. Yet, no matter how many times they made love the night before, he always woke her around dawn to make love again. And just like the first day back, he was always gone to the office before she came awake for the day.

    They didn¡¯t talk and sometimes she caught him looking at her with a bitterness that shocked her. The look neversted long and the one time she¡¯d brought it up, he had changed the subject very effectively by seducing her.

    She stopped telling him she loved him, even in the throes of passion. Because although he had clearly not rejected herpletely as his wife, she felt an important element of their rtionship had been lost. His respect for her.

    The longer she yed the role of lover, but not true wife, the more she felt like nothing more than a body in his bed.

    Even his exquisite lovemaking was taking on a bitter aftertaste when he refused to discuss the stalemate their marriage had be.

    She couldn¡¯t quite get how he could me her for her father¡¯s matchmaking. It didn¡¯t jibe with the man she knew Dash to be. He was ruthless in business, but fair. Taking out his anger over her father¡¯s actions on her was anything but. Not to mention that those actions hardly warranted the fury they had sparked in her husband.

    If she didn¡¯t talk it out soon, she was going to lose respect for herself. She¡¯d been afraid to make waves, to risk another all-out rejection from her husband, but being a body in his bed and nonentity in his life was taking its toll on her sense of self-worth.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    She wanted to find out if she really was pregnant before they talked. Perhaps knowledge that she carried his child would give her a better chance of getting through to him.

    Using the excuse that she did not want the first time she met her doctor to be during a health crisis, Tess asked Amy to make an appointment for her with the family doctor. She felt shy about sharing her suspicions with anyone before she talked about it with Dash.

    Her mother-inw appeared to ept Tess¡¯s excuse and made an appointment for her early that afternoon. A couple of hourster, Tess left the doctor¡¯s surgery in a daze of emotions.

    She was pregnant.

    Thinking it was a possibility was very different from knowing it to be a reality, she discovered. She felt both terrified and ted at the prospect of motherhood. She knew she would love her baby with every fiber of her being, but she had never even held a toddler in her arms.

    The prospect of living with Dash¡¯s mother had never bothered her, but now Tess saw it as an absolute blessing. She wasn¡¯t alone. Amy would help her learn the ropes of motherhood and Dash would be there as well. Family was important to him.

 100

    Suddenly she couldn¡¯t wait to tell him. He was bound to be happy. He wanted children. She knew he did. This finally would stop him from acting like she only existed in the bedroom. A man could not dismiss the mother of his child so easily. Especially a man like Dash.

    She instructed the driver to take her to Dash¡¯s office building.

    When she got there, she took the elevator to the top floor without stopping at reception. She barely waited for his secretary to buzz through and tell Dash she was there.

    When Tess walked into his office, he stood up and came around to the front of his desk. ¡°This is a surprise,¡± he said.

    She nodded. She hadn¡¯t even ever called him at work. Showing up out of the blue was bound to shock him. ¡°I had something I wanted to tell you.¡± Tess said.

    ¡°And it could not wait until I returned to the vi?¡± he asked with one sardonic brow raised.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°We don¡¯t talk when you¡¯re home,¡± she said with a tinge of the pained frustration that caused her.

    He didn¡¯t reply but led her to a chair by the huge te-ss windows overlooking New York¡¯s wealthy business section.

    He took the chair closest to her own. ¡°Would you like something to eat or drink?¡± he asked.

    She shook her head. ¡°I want to talk.¡±

    He looked at his watch. ¡°I have a meeting in ten minutes. Perhaps this can wait.¡±

    ¡°No.¡± She said.

    His expression was not encouraging. ¡°Make it short.¡±

    Darn it. This should be special, but he made it impossible, or was that her timing? Maybe she should have waited to tell him at home, but she was here. She might as well finish it. For a second, the words simply would note.

    He moved impatiently and looked pointedly at his watch again.

    ¡°I¡¯m pregnant.¡± She said,

    He wentpletely still, the sculpted angles of his face moving into emotionless rigidity. ¡°You are sure of this?¡± he asked.

    ¡°I went to see the doctor today.¡±

    ¡°And he confirmed your suspicions?¡±

    Dash asked.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Why wasn¡¯t he reacting? He was acting like they were discussing the details of a rather boring business deal.

    ¡°I am surprised you didn¡¯t do something to prevent conception so early.¡± His ck eyes mocked her in a way she did not understand. ¡°I had the distinct impression you were enjoying our physical intimacy.¡±

    Did he think they couldn¡¯t make love now that she was pregnant? ¡°The doctor said there would be no risk to the baby during normal intimacy.¡± She said.

    ¡°You asked. This surprises me. You are still shy about some things.¡±

    She blushed under his mocking scrutiny. ¡°He offered the information.¡±

    He nodded. ¡°That is a more believable scenario.¡±

    She waited for him to say something about how he felt knowing she was carrying his child, but he stood and looked at his watch again. ¡°If that¡¯s all?¡±

    She stood too. ¡°Yes, but¡­¡±

    ¡°But what?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Are you d about the baby?¡± she blurted out.

    ¡°You must know that I have every reason to be pleased that you have conceived so quickly.¡±

    Was this the man who had made love to her with such gentleness the night before that she had cried?

    ¡°I could do with you saying it.¡± She could do with a lot more, but she would settle for that.

    He smiled derisively. ¡°I am happy about the baby. Are you now satisfied? May I return to my business?¡± he asked.

    He had managed to say the words she most wanted to hear in a way that caused pain rather than pleasure. Tears burned the back of her eyes as pain radiated from her heart outward. Why her? What had she done to earn this kind of constant rejection from the people that were supposed to care about her?

    She jumped to her feet and spun toward the door, not bothering to answer his hurtful question. Obviously his uing appointment was much more important to him than his wife or the knowledge he would be a father.

    She stumbled toward the door, her vision blurred by tears spilling down her cheeks.

    ¡°Tess!¡± she heard him call.

    She ignored him and made top speed for the elevator outside his office suite.

    Following a pattern set in early childhood, she wanted only to find somece to be alone where it would be safe for her to grieve in private. That precluded going back to the vi.

    She couldn¡¯t even stand the thought of getting in the limousine and exposing her pain to the chauffeur. She hated the fact that Dash¡¯s secretary had no doubt seen the tears.

    She used her phone to call and dismiss the driver, telling him she would find her own way home.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    Anger warred with pain in Dash. He wanted to go after Tess, to hold her and tell her he was thrilled about the baby. The thought of her pregnant with his child was sweet when it should be sour. He wanted to wipe the look of misery off her face and he despised himself for his weakness.

    She had lied to him. But what was the lie and what was the truth? She had looked so lost, so vulnerable when she told him about the baby and he had forced himself to contain his response.

    The woman who had colluded with her father to trap herself a husband was not vulnerable.

    But Tess had been vulnerable. And she had been hurting. Was it possible he had misunderstood what he had heard on the phone weeks ago? His brain rejected the thought as the words reyed themselves in his mind. Yet, he could not reconcile those words with the woman who gave herself sopletely when they made love.

    She was too generous in her passion to be such a heartless schemer. And yet, what other exnation was there? Neal Patchett had ckmailed him and Tess had known about it.

    She had said she loved him.

    The reminder caused more disquiet in the region of his heart. She hadn¡¯t repeated the words since he returned from his business trip, but he could not forget the sweetness of them on her lips when their bodies were intimately joined.

    He wanted to hear her say it again, which enraged him. What was the love of a deceitful woman worth?

    Nothing.

    Only if that were true, then why did theck of those words weigh on him in the dark of the night? She slept in his arms, but felt separated from him in a way he could not define?

    He was not used to feeling like this. He did not like it. He did not like the confusion, or the need she engendered in him. He did not like the way he doubted the wisdom of including Tess in his revenge, his weak desire that she not find out what he had done to hurt her. He did not like the feeling that his actions had been stupid rather than decisive.

    A short buzz alerted him that his next appointment had arrived. Business was much morefortable than wallowing in conflicting and destructive emotions, so he forced himself to focus on it.

 101

    Stepping out into the sunshine from the air-conditioned building, Tess asked herself where she could go. Looking up and down the busy street, she knew she wanted only to get away from the crush of people. An image of the grounds surrounding the ck vi rose in her mind like Valha to her ravaged state. She would take a taxi to the grounds and then when she was ready, she could walk home.

    Having a n of action helped calm her churning emotions enough to wipe her tears away and wave down a cab.

    She had the driver drop her on the outskirts of the ck estate. Luckily, she remembered the code for the small gate in the far wall. She and Elena had used it once before on an afternoon walk.

    Once inside the estate¡¯s walls, she walked only far enough to hide herself in the trees, then sank to the ground. Her back resting against the trunk of one of them, she let the tears fall freely. It hurt so much.

    Not only had she made a huge mistake in marrying Dash, but she was pregnant with his baby. No matter what she wanted from life, she was now inexorably linked to a man who had as much affection for her as the man on the moon. Less even.

    The sobs came harder and she cried out her grief over the years of neglect in her father¡¯s house followed by marriage to a man destined to treat her the same way.

    A long whileter, her mobile phone chirped. She had stopped crying, but had not moved from her ce against the tree. She dug the phone from her purse. The disy identified her caller.

    Dash.

    She didn¡¯t want to talk to him. She wanted to shoot him, which didn¡¯t say much for the gentle nature others were so convinced she possessed.

    He had taken the joy of her discovery and turned it to ashes. His rotten attitude was tearing her apart and she knew that tonight there was no way she could lie with him in their bed and pretend nothing had happened. She could not bear the thought of being just a body and their baby meaning nothing to him.

    The phone stopped ringing.

    Ten minutester it rang again. She refused to answer it. He kept calling and finally, she turned off the volume on the ringer.

    She stood up and dusted off her skirt before starting the walk toward the vi. It took her twenty minutes because she didn¡¯t rush in any way.

    A maid saw her approach and went running inside. Secondster, both Elena and Amy came rushing toward her.

    Amy was babbling, much too fast for Tess to understand.

    ¡°Where have you been?¡± Elena asked.¡± Dash is worried sick about you. We all were. What happened to your phone? Why didn¡¯t you answer? You¡¯d better call him right away. He¡¯s ready to call in the authorities.¡±

    She couldn¡¯t understand why a man who treated her the way her husband had would worry. Surely if she disappeared, he would be off the hook for a marriage he clearly no longer wanted. Then she remembered the baby. Maybe he cared more about their child than he had let on.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to upset anyone. I wanted to take a walk.¡± She said. Which was true as far as it went. ¡°And I turned off the ringer on my phone.¡± Which was also true, but she neglected to mention she had turned off the ringer after Dash started calling.

    ¡°Why would you put your phone on silent?¡± Amy demanded.

    Tess felt really badly for upsetting her mother-inw so much, but she wasn¡¯t about to tell her the truth. Her problems with Dash were private and she refused to visit them with the other women.

    ¡°You don¡¯t even carry your phone with you,¡± she said instead.

    Amy grimaced. ¡°I also do not dismiss the driver and disappear for hours.¡± She said,

    Tess looked at her watch and realized it had been three hours since she left Dash¡¯s office and forty-five minutes since the first phone call. ¡°Are you saying you never go shopping or for a walk where you can¡¯t be reached?¡±

    Amy¡¯s hands rose in the air. ¡°Ai, ai, ai. I see there is no reasoning with you.¡±

    Tess said nothing. She didn¡¯t want to hurt the older woman, but she couldn¡¯t exin her actions without divulging her impasse with Dash.

    ¡°It is nothing more than a storm in a teacup. She went for a walk and time got away from her. Mamma, there is no need for you to keep carrying on.¡±Elena said.

    ¡°Tell your brother this.¡±

    Elena grimaced. ¡°No thank you.¡±

    ¡°There you see.¡± Amy crossed her arms and gave both Tess and Elena a baleful look.

    The maid came out at that moment, a phone in her hand. ¡°Mr ck wishes to speak to his wife.¡±

    Tess looked at the phone with as much enthusiasm as she might feel for a teful of spoiled fish.

    ¡°Tess?¡± Amy asked, her expression now concerned.

    Tess put her hand out for the offending phone.

    Amy stopped her from lifting it to her ear. ¡°Every marriage goes through growing pains in the beginning, child. Do not be too hard on my son, whatever he has done. A woman must be strong enough to forgive.¡± she said.

    Tess forced herself to smile and say, ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Her mother-inw and Elena showed a great deal of tact by leaving her to speak to Dash in privacy.

    She lifted the phone to her ear. ¡°What?¡± she asked.

    ¡°That is no way to greet your husband.¡±

    The censure infuriated her. ¡°Go to hell, Dash.¡± She replied.

    His indrawn breath told her he hadn¡¯t liked hearing that. She didn¡¯t care. Not anymore, she told herself. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk to you.¡±

    His sigh was audible through the phone lines. ¡°The driver said you dismissed him. How did you get home?¡± he asked.

    ¡°What do you care?¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°You were upset when you left my office.¡±

    ¡°And this surprises you?¡± she asked scathingly.

    ¡°No.¡± He sounded odd. ¡°How did you get home?¡± he repeated.

    ¡°I took a cab and I went for a walk. I turned the ringer volume down on my mobile after you called. Any more questions?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± he replied.

    ¡°If that is all¡­¡± she said, reversing the roles they had yed in his office.

    Again the sigh. ¡°I¡¯m flying to Rome and will be gone overnight. I realize it is not the best time for me to leave, but it cannot be helped.¡± Dash said.

    ¡°Why are you bothering to tell me?¡± She stared across the swimming pool, her body aching from the pain filling her heart. ¡°I¡¯m just a body in your bed. I¡¯m not your wife. You don¡¯t even want our baby.¡± She was crying again and hated him for hearing the choking sobs she could not hide.

    ¡°Tess-¡± She hung up the phone before he could say whatever it was he had meant to say. All his words hurt her and she was so tired of being hurt.

 102

    Dash called again at dinner that evening from Rome. She picked the call, feeling subdued and just in not up to arguing with his mother or sister about taking the call. Then she stood up and left the table.

    ¡°Hello, Dash. Was there something you wanted?¡± she asked in a voice that sounded dead to her own ears.

    ¡°Yes, Tess, I want many things, but I called to apologize for my behavior when you told me about the baby.¡± He sounded tired. ¡°I want our baby, honey. I am sorry I was less than enthusiastic when you told me.¡±

    She dismissed the apology as too little, toote. Perhaps if he hadn¡¯t been treating her so hurtfully for days beforehand, it would have been enough. ¡°Don¡¯t call me honey. You don¡¯t love me and I don¡¯t see any reason why you should. I don¡¯t ever want you to use that word with me again.¡±

    ¡°Tess, I¡­¡± He hesitated.

    Strange to hear her super-confident husband hesitant.

    ¡°If that¡¯s all, I¡¯m tired and want to go to bed. Suddenly I¡¯m not hungry anymore.¡±

    ¡°I want to go to bed also, but with you, not in solitude.¡± he replied.

    For once his sexy voice had no affect on her whatsoever. ¡°I don¡¯t want to sleep with you anymore.¡±

    He said something low and forceful. ¡°You are not leaving my bed.¡±

    ¡°Really? How are you going to stop me?¡± she asked with little more interest than she had felt for the rest of the conversation.

    ¡°You are my wife. You sleep in my bed.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t like you anymore, Dash.¡± She said, She didn¡¯t say she didn¡¯t love him because it was not true. She did, more fool her. And it hurt.

    ¡°Honey-¡±

    ¡°Please, Dash. I don¡¯t want to talk anymore. I don¡¯t know why you married me, but I can see now it was a huge mistake.¡±

    ¡°You know why I married you,¡± he said.

    For the sex? She asked herself. He went on when she remained silent.

    ¡°Even so, it was not a mistake. We can make our marriage work. We will talk when I return from Rome.¡±

    He wanted to make their marriage work now? ¡°I can¡¯t deal with this. You just keep hurting me and I don¡¯t want it anymore.¡±

    ¡°That is over. I will not hurt you again, honey.¡± he said.

    Was there something significant about the fact that he kept calling her honey even after she had asked him not to? It was such a tantalizing thought that she rejected it immediately. She had believed too many times things would work out only to discover they would not.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    ¡°We¡¯ll talk when you get back,¡± she said, repeating his words.

    What form that discussion would take she did not know.

    When he called again the next morning to check on her, she was in a stronger frame of mind and prepared to discuss her marriage with Dash. He had said he wanted to make their marriage work and he had apologized for being such a toad when she told him about the baby. Men like Dash didn¡¯t say sorry easily and if he was willing to work on their marriage, she was too.

    Minutes after she hung up, her father called.

    ¡°What the hell is going on over there?¡± he demanded in a voice that had her pulling the phone a few inches from her ear.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you mean,¡± she hedged, wondering if Dash had called him after she¡¯d hung up the night before.

    ¡°There are pictures on the inte of your husband eating dinner with a woman in a swank New York restaurant. That woman is not you.¡± he replied.

    Tess felt the words like multiple body blows. Dash had promised. No mistresses. But he¡¯d also promised to treasure her love and he¡¯d broken that one.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± she answered truthfully.

    ¡°Could be his secretary I guess, but where were you when he was having these business dinners?¡±

    ¡°At home, I guess.¡± She said, Dash had been furious with her when he left. Would that fury have tranted into actions that would destroy their marriage? Yet, the idea of a series of business dinners was not so far-fetched. She knew what his secretary looked like after visiting his office yesterday, but she didn¡¯t want her father to worry. Maybe it was stupid, but her pride forbored her from airing her marital troubles to either her family or Dash¡¯s.

    ¡°What else would it be besides a business dinner?¡± She forced augh. ¡°Surely you aren¡¯t implying that Dash would have sought other femininepanionship so soon after our marriage.¡± She asked.

    ¡°Stranger things have happened, girl.¡±

    ¡°Not with a man like Dash.¡± Until thest two weeks, she would have sworn she could trust him with her life and everything in between.

    ¡°There are things you don¡¯t know.¡±

    Dread snaked through her at her father¡¯s tone.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not important. Ask Dash about these pictures, Tess. Communication is important to a healthy marriage.¡±

    Coming from her father, who considered asking if she wanted more wine at dinner a foray into personal conversation, that wasughable. Only she didn¡¯t feel likeughing.

    She hung up. Soon she searched on her phone and she found pictures her father had mentioned. The article mentioned Dash¡¯s name, but failed to identify hispanion. She didn¡¯t need the information supplied to her.

    The dark, exotic beauty was very familiar to Tess. The woman in the photos was Olivia Baker and she was not wearing the expression of a woman discussing business.

    Tess barely made it to the bathroom before she was sick.

    Fifteen minutester, she was in their bedroom with the door shut. She needed to talk to Dash, to hear a rational exnation for his dinner dates with Olivia. Or to hear from his own mouth that he had broken this promise too. Could she trust him not to lie to her? She just didn¡¯t know.

    It rang three times before being picked up.

    ¡°Hello.¡±

    Olivia? Olivia had answered Dash¡¯s phone.

    Tess¡¯s stomach did another somersault. ¡°Ms. Baker, I would like to speak to my husband.¡± She said,

    ¡°This is Tess?¡± Olivia¡¯s voice rose in surprise.

    ¡°Yes. Where is Dash?¡±

    ¡°He is in the shower.¡±

    Tess gasped, feeling ripped in two by the answer. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you aren¡¯t with him. He likes sex in the shower.¡± She said, The crude sarcasm just slipped out, but even if it wounded Olivia, it hurt Tess more.

    ¡°I was not in the mood.¡± Olivia replied. Far from sounding wounded, Olivia¡¯s voice wasced with innuendo.

 103

    The tacit agreement to her fears made Tess¡¯s knees give way and she sank onto the side of the bed. ¡°Are you saying you spent the night with my husband?¡± she asked. Her voice trembled, but she couldn¡¯t help it. She wanted to die.

    ¡°Are you sure you want me to answer that question?¡± Olivia asked.

    ¡°No,¡± Tess whispered, her vocal cords too constricted for normal conversation, ¡°but I need you to.¡±

    Olivia hesitated. When she spoke, her voice had changed, bing more tentative. ¡°Perhaps you had better discuss this with Dash.¡±

    Tess didn¡¯t answer. She just held the phone to her ear and stared at the far wall of the room she shared with Dash. Was this what death felt like? Your whole body going numb and your emotions imploding until there was nothing left?

    Another voice intruded on her nked out mental state. ¡°Tess? Is that you, honey?¡±

    And she realized she wasn¡¯t numb. ¡°Don¡¯t call me that you bastard!¡± She¡¯d gone from whispering to screaming so loud she strained her throat. ¡°You lied to me.¡± A sob snaked out and she covered the mouthpiece so he wouldn¡¯t hear it.

    He started to speak, but she plowed over him. ¡°You p-promised. No mistresses. I believed you. What an idiot I am. Look how good you¡¯ve been at keeping your promises. You said you would treasure my love too, but you stomped all over it. I hate you.¡± And at that moment she meant it.

    ¡°Tess, honey, it is not what you are

    thinking!¡± he said.

    She would be a fool to believe the desperation that seemed to infuse his voice.

    She heard him ask Olivia what she had said. Tess couldn¡¯t hear Olivia¡¯s answer and she didn¡¯t want to. She did hear the curses erupt from her husband¡¯s throat when Olivia stopped speaking.

    ¡°Did you sleep with Olivia?¡± she demanded in a voice raw from pain.

    ¡°No!¡± he answered.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t suppose you did. I¡¯m sure there was very little sleeping involved.¡±

    ¡°Stop this. You are upsetting yourself for nothing.¡± he said.

    He called adultery nothing? ¡°Were your dinners with her in New York nothing too, Dash?¡±

    Silence greeted that.

    ¡°Maybe you didn¡¯t think I would find out?¡± she said.

    ¡°How did you find out about them?¡±

    ¡°My father.¡± She replied.

    ¡°Damned interfering old man.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t me him for showing me what a lying swine you are.¡± She said angrily. How dared he try to foist the culpability for this awful situation onto someone else? ¡°If you hadn¡¯t broken your promise to me, there would have been nothing for him to interfere over.¡±

    ¡°I have not lied to you. I have broken no promises either.¡± He said.

    He didn¡¯t deny being a swine. She¡¯d like to know how he justified that statement to himself. ¡°You were in the shower when I called, Dash.¡±

    ¡°This is proof of nothing.¡±

    ¡°It proves you¡¯re in a hotel room with another woman.¡± Let him try to deny it.

    ¡°I am not,¡± he said.N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    Getting ready to st him, she remembered his preference for not staying at hotels and she choked on a bitterugh. ¡°You brought her to thepany apartment? How brazen, Dash ck, but then I suppose she¡¯s been there before.¡±

    ¡°No, Tess. It is not like that.¡± He sounded like she felt miserable. She couldn¡¯t trust what she heard in his voice though, not when his actions had already spoken so loudly.

    ¡°It is exactly like that. Olivia said as much.¡±

    ¡°What Olivia said, it was a mistake,¡± he said.

    ¡°Our marriage was the real mistake.¡±

    ¡°No! Tess, baby. That was not an error. Our marriage was meant to be. You must listen.¡±

    ¡°Why? So you can tell me more lies?¡± She was choking on her pain. ¡°Your girlfriend was honest at least.¡±

    He said something to Oliva and then the other woman came on the line. ¡°Tess, I am sorry I implied I slept with your husband. I did not,¡± she said, sounding distressed, ¡°you must believe me about this.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re there when he¡¯s taking a shower.¡± Tess wasn¡¯t that gullible.

    ¡°I am truly sorry I made this sound like an intimacy. It was not. Dash was still asleep when I arrived this morning to discuss some business.¡±

    ¡°Oh, please¡­¡± He never sleptte.

    Oliva made an impatient sound. ¡°He was recovering from a hangover, I think.

    He looked terrible.¡± She paused. ¡°He does not look any better now.¡±

    Dash drinking to excess? Not likely. ¡°You expect me to believe he got drunk, passed out and didn¡¯t wake up until you got there this morning?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Believe, for it is the truth. Your husband cares for you. I am sorry for the part I have yed, but it was only a part. Dash wants no woman but you.¡±

    Tess didn¡¯t understand Olivia¡¯s remarks about ying a part, but she no longer believed the fairy tale that Dash wanted only her. ¡°What kind of business do you have with my husband?¡±  she asked.

    Why was she bothering to ask? The answer was devastating to her self-awareness. Because she wanted to believe. Idiot, she castigated herself.

    ¡°He is investing money for me. A model¡¯s career is not a long one. It is nothing more. I promise you.¡± Olivia replied.

    ¡°You were with him here in New York.¡±

    ¡°No. I had a show. Our meeting was a happenstance, nothing more.¡±

    ¡°That nothing resulted in two dinner dates.¡±

    ¡°Dinner between old friends. That is all. Not dates. Have you never had an evening with a man that consisted of innocent conversation only?¡± Olivia asked.

    All Tess¡¯s dates ended innocently, except those with Dash. ¡°I don¡¯t have your sophistication.¡± Her voice should have frozen the phone lines, it was so arctic.

    Olivia sighed, proving it had not. ¡°Nothing happened between Dash and I. He doesn¡¯t even kiss my cheek in greeting now.¡±

    Tess wanted so desperately to believe the model¡¯s words, but would that be opening herself up for further heartache?

    ¡°Tess?¡± It was Dash.

    She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

    ¡°Are you there, love?¡± he asked.

    Love. He just called her love. She wasn¡¯t loved by him, but she was his wife. Presumably that fact had finally sunk in with some meaning. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± She replied.

    ¡°I will be home as soon as I can get a takeoff time at the airport for my jet.¡± he said.

    ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°We need to talk. Wait for me at the vi.¡±

    Was she willing to give him this chance?

    ¡°Please, Tess.¡±

    The humble plea got to her.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be here.¡± She said,

 104

    The flight and subsequent transportation to the vi on the beach was seamless. Matt had changed his mind about going back to the paradise vi as he didn¡¯t want his mom or Enzo showing up again and upsetting Savannah so they had gone to moon ind instead, the ce where David and Emily had gotten married.

    Matt had ensured that Savannah was given every consideration. She was endlessly pampered and waited on and when they arrived on the ind, they were greeted not only by the physician who would be monitoring her care, but a personal nurse who would reside at the vi with her and Matt.

    When Savannah got her first look at the sprawling vi, it took her breath away. They drove through a gate and down a winding driveway that was lined with lush, gorgeous flowers. Just for a moment the driveway paralleled the beach before it ended in front of the main house.

    The house couldn¡¯t be more than a few steps from the beach. The idea that she could walk out the back door and be on the sand sent excitement coursing through her veins.

    Matt insisted on carrying her inside. He cradled her close as he walked through the front door and she craned her neck to take in the interior.

    Instead of showing her around, he took her to the ss doors that led to the wraparound porch in the back. As she had suspected, there were only three stones marking the very short pathway from the porch to the sand.

    As soon as she stepped onto the porch, the breeze from the water ruffled her hair. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, savoring the tang of the salt and the lush, warm air that surrounded them.

    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± she breathed.

    He smiled. ¡°I¡¯m d you approve-because it¡¯s yours.¡±

    She went still in his arms and locked her gaze with his. For a long moment she was too stunned to find her voice. When she finally did, it came out as a croak. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡±

    He eased her down onto the steps leading to the sand. Then he sat beside her as they stared over the shimmering blue of the water.

    ¡°I bought it for you. For us. This is your house.¡± he said.

    She was at aplete loss for words. The numbness that she¡¯d worn for so long was melting away. It was as if the warmth of the sun was thawing the ice and with it, brought new awareness. She saw things more clearly. She saw Matt. She saw him making a huge effort to make her happy. To take care of her. Hope began to beat inside her chest, but she pushed it back, afraid to give it free rein. She didn¡¯t dare make assumptions.

    ¡°But Matt, you seem to be doing and giving up so much for me. What about your family? You can¡¯t just change everything about your life because of me.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t I?¡± he challenged.

    He picked up her hand andced his fingers through hers. ¡°There¡¯s a lot you don¡¯t know, Savvie. I didn¡¯t want you to know at the time. You were dealing with enough stress in the hospital. I¡¯ve cut my brother and my mother out of my life. Out of our lives.¡±

    ¡°Oh, Matt.¡± Tears swam in her eyes. No matter how much she despised them, she had never wanted this for him.

    He wiped a tear away with his thumb. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare shed a tear for them or for me. They aren¡¯t worth your tears. I don¡¯t regret what I¡¯ve done. I only regret that I allowed them to hurt you and that I never saw what they were doing to you.¡±

    ¡°But you wouldn¡¯t have done it if it weren¡¯t for me,¡± she said painfully. ¡°They¡¯re your family, Matt. Maybe you¡¯re angry with them now, but what about a year from now? Or five years from now? At what point will you resent me for being the wedge between you?¡±

    ¡°You aren¡¯t responsible for their actions,¡± he said fiercely. ¡°You didn¡¯t do this. They did. No one else. I hate them for what they did. They are beyond despicable. They don¡¯t deserve your consideration. They don¡¯t deserve mine. I don¡¯t want you exposed to that kind of poison anymore. It was my decision, Savvie. Do you honestly think I would allow them in any part of our lives after what they did to you?¡±

    Tears slid down her cheeks. This hadn¡¯t been her goal. No matter how much she wanted to never be around them again, thest thing she wanted was to cause Matt pain.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about them,¡± he said quietly.

    ¡°They¡¯re no longer an issue. What I want to talk about is us. Can you ever forgive me, Savvie? Can you possibly love me again?

    He rose from his perch beside her and went down the two steps to the beach below her. Then he slowly slid to his knees in front of her and reached for her hands.

    ¡°You once got on your knees and begged me to believe you. You begged me not to turn my back on you. It¡¯s my turn to beg, Savannah. I don¡¯t deserve your forgiveness. I wouldn¡¯t me you if you never forgave me. But I¡¯m begging all the same. I love you.

    I want us to have a life together. Here. On the ind. Away from all the unhappiness of the past.¡±

    ¡°You want us to stay here?¡± she whispered.

    He nodded even as his hands trembled around hers. ¡°I bought the house. I want us to start over, really start over this time. I¡¯m begging you for that chance. Give me the chance to make you love me again.¡±

    Her heart twisted and the mind-numbing grief that had sweltered so long in her soul silently slipped away, leaving renewed hope-and love-shining in its stead. This time she didn¡¯t try to squash the hope. She let it fly.

    She reached for him, framing his face, stunned to feel the shock of tears on his cheeks. His eyes were tormented and there was desperation-fear-in his gaze, but there was also hope.

    ¡°I love you so very much,¡± she said brokenly. ¡°I¡¯ve spent so long being angry, telling myself I hate you. The anger took over until I was miserable with it. It¡¯s been a constant weight pressing down on me. It¡¯s poison and I can¡¯t live this way anymore. I don¡¯t want to live this way anymore.¡±

    He closed his eyes and when he reopened them there was such relief and such vulnerability that she knew without a doubt that she¡¯d made the right choice.

    ¡°If you can forgive all the hurtful, hateful things I¡¯ve said to you then I can forgive you for not trusting me.¡± She said,This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    ¡°Oh, God, Savvie,¡± he said in a wretched, pained voice. ¡°I deserved everything you¡¯ve said and more. What I did to you was unforgivable. How can you forgive me when I can¡¯t forgive myself?¡±

 105

    She leaned forward and kissed him, still holding his face in her hands. She stroked her hands through his hair and then over his cheeks again, smiling a tender smile all the while.

    ¡°We make quite a pair, don¡¯t we? We¡¯ve made mistakes. But I like to think that we haven¡¯t given up. And that maybe we¡¯re stronger for it all. It makes me hurt that you¡¯ve given up so much for me. Your family. The ce you grew up in. And you gave it up, bought a beautiful house you knew I¡¯d love all because you loved me. If I don¡¯t forgive you then I¡¯m denying myself that love and I don¡¯t want to live without you, Matt. Or your love. Not anymore. Thest months have been the worst of my life. I don¡¯t ever want to relive that kind of agony again.¡±

    He pulled her into his arms, leaning forward so they didn¡¯t tumble into the sand. He held her so tightly she couldn¡¯t breathe, but she didn¡¯t care. They were together. Finally, Without all the hurt and pain of the past. Without reservations or barriers.

    As soon as she¡¯d told him she loved him and that she forgave him it was like the weight of the world had been lifted. She felt lighter and freer than she¡¯d ever felt. She felt¡­happy. Joyously, giddily happy.

    ¡°I love you so damn much, Savannah,¡± he said hoarsely. ¡°I¡¯ve always loved you. I never stopped loving you. I went to bed at night thinking about you, worrying and wondering where you were, if you were happy, if you were all right. I made all sorts of excuses for hiring someone to find you but the truth was that I couldn¡¯t live without you.¡±

    She smiled and leaned her forehead against his.

    ¡°Do you think maybe we can stop beating ourselves up over things we can¡¯t change and make a pact to love each other for the rest of our lives and be happy for every day of them?¡± she asked.

    He slid his hands over her arms, up to her neck to cup her face again. ¡°Yeah,¡± he breathed. ¡°I can do that.¡±

    He pulled away, smiling, his eyes raw with emotion. ¡°Marry me, Savvie. Right away. I don¡¯t want to wait even a day. Marry me here on our beach. Just you and me.¡±

    ¡°Our beach,¡± she said softly. ¡°I love the sound of that. And yes, I¡¯ll marry you. Today, tomorrow, forever.¡±

    For the longest time they sat there on the steps leading to their beach. A beach where they¡¯d raise their children. Where they¡¯dugh and love and remember how they¡¯d pledged their love and made vows to stay together through all the trials that life threw at them.

    They sat until the sun sank below the horizon and the soft colors of dusk settled over the ocean. And then when the moon rose and spilled silver over the water, Matt carried Savannah down to the beach and they danced to the soft melody of the rolling waves.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    Barefoot and wearing a pair of cotton crop pants and T-shirt, Tess flipped through the baby magazine she had picked up in the doctor¡¯s office the day before. Her clothes andck of makeup were in defiance to her husband¡¯s ego and her own emotions. As promised, she was waiting for Dash, but she refused to gild the lily for this confrontation.

    She tucked her feet up on the small sofa in the outer room of her and Dash¡¯s suite. At least they would have privacy here for their discussion.

    Living with his family necessitated eating most meals withpany; however, having the private s meant there was a certain measure of independence within the confines of the household.

    Tess needed that. Although she loved both Elena and Amy, she had spent too much of her life alone to easily adjust to the continuouspany of others.

    ¡°Tess ¡­¡±

    The magazine slid from her fingers and she barely caught it before it fell to the floor. So much for a cool reception at his arrival. Picking the periodical up, sheid it neatly on the small table in front her. She fiddled with it, attempting to get it perfectly perpendicr to the edge. She didn¡¯t want to look at her gorgeous husband. It would hurt.

    To see him and experience the deepest sort of love imaginable and know it was not returned was beyond her emotional capabilities at the moment.

    One brown hand covered hers where it fiddled with the corner of the magazine.

    ¡°Honey.¡±

    He was on his knees beside her, the warmth of his hand a seductive lure when she felt chilled to her soul. Having no choice if she did not want toe off the coward, she lifted her head and took in the superficial details of his appearance. He had removed his suit jacket and tie and the top few buttons of his shirt were undone. His hair looked like he¡¯d run his fingers through it¡­several times. And there was an intensity in the brown depths of his eyes she dared not trust.

    ¡°Your mother and Elena have gone shopping. They invited me to go along, but I told you I would wait here.¡± It was inane chatter, but safer than the questions screaming through her mind.

    His jaw tightened. ¡°I¡¯m d you stayed,¡± he said.

    She nodded. ¡°You said we needed to talk.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± He stood up and swung away from her. ¡°I want our marriage tost.¡±Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    ¡°Why?¡± she asked. After all this, she needed concrete answers.

    ¡°I¡­ I just¡­ I believe it¡¯s the right thing to do.¡± He still hadn¡¯t turned around and she was d.

    His words were a death knell to the hopes she had tried so hard not to nurse.

    ¡°Why did you marry me if you don¡¯t love me?¡± She just could not believe he was so determined not to have an affair with a virgin that he had chosen to marry a woman he had so little feeling for.

    He spun back to face her, his expression almost scary. ¡°You know why. I have been unkind, I admit this, but you must also admit that you carry some of the me for that.¡±

    ¡°Because I was a virgin?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Do not y games.¡± His hands clenched at his sides. ¡°I heard you tell your father thank-you for his maniptions on your behalf.¡±

    She stared at him, as at sea about this whole thing as she had been when he¡¯d gone off the rails the first time. ¡°I just don¡¯t understand why you¡¯re so upset about a little matchmaking. You didn¡¯t have to sumb.¡± She said,

    ¡°Is that what you call it, matchmaking? How innocent that sounds, but I call it ckmail.¡±

    There are things you don¡¯t know. Her father¡¯s words echoed in her mind. ¡°Are you saying my father ckmailed you into marrying me?¡± she asked.

    Impossible. That sort of thing just didn¡¯t happen in the twenty-first century. It was positively Machiavellian and that kind of business had gone out with the Middle Ages, at least when it came to marriage bargains and the like.

    But Dash¡¯s expression denied her naive certainty. ¡°Are you attempting to convince me you did not know?¡± he asked.

 106

    She red at him, anger and resentment boiling in a cauldron inside her that was ready to explode all over him. She jumped up and faced him, fury making her body rigid. ¡°I don¡¯t have to convince you of anything.¡± He was the one who¡¯d been caught taking a shower while his former girlfriend lounged around answering his  phone. ¡°If you won¡¯t tell me, I¡¯ll call my father and ask him.¡±

    She turned to do just that, but his words stopped her.

    ¡°Do not go. I will tell you.¡± Dash¡¯splexion had gone gray. ¡°You thought your father tried to get us together, but you did not realize the methods he used?¡±

    The methods had been pretty obvious, or at least she had thought so at the time. ¡°He sent you to check on me in Athens.¡±

    ¡°He sent me, yes, but not to check on you. I was under duress to convince you of marriage.¡± Dash said.

    That exined so much. Dash looked sick and she could imagine why. A proud man like him would have been severely bothered by the fact that he was being manipted by someone else. Her father¡¯s weapon of ckmail must have been a good one.

    ¡°What did he use as leverage?¡± she asked.

    ¡°ck Shipping.¡± he replied.

    ¡°Your great-grandfather¡¯spany?¡±

    Dash had told her about the modest shippingpany during one of their discussions at a business dinner. She had thought he was sweetly sentimental for holding on to it when it was such a small concernpared to his other holdings. ¡°I don¡¯t understand how my father could threaten it. It¡¯s a family ownedpany.¡± She said,

    ¡°It was, but my uncle gambles. He lost a lot of money and rather than swallow his pride and ask me for it, he sold his shares in the familypany to your father.¡±

    ¡°So?¡± She still didn¡¯t get how that could impact her husband. He was the head of thepany. Her father could y pesky-fly-in-the-ointment, but that wouldn¡¯t be enough to force Dash into doing something he didn¡¯t want to.

    ¡°Neal also was able to secure enough shares and proxies from family members no longer close to thepany to take control. He threatened to approve a merger with our chiefpetitor, a merger that would result in the disappearance of the ck name.¡±

    And his pride had found that untenable.

    ¡°What were the terms?¡± she asked, a little awed by her father¡¯s ruthlessness.

    As Dash outlined the terms for their marriage arrangement, she went cold to the depths of her being.

    ¡°So you nned to make me pregnant and then ditch me.¡± She asked.

    It made sense. Once she had his baby, he had control of hispany back and he didn¡¯t need her. Even if she divorced him, he retained control of thepany through the child. It also exined his chilly reaction to her announcement of the pregnancy. He needed the baby, but Dash couldn¡¯t work up any enthusiasm for having a child with her, the daughter of the man who had ckmailed him and so severely offended his  pride.

    ¡°That¡¯s why you made that crack about me not using anything and getting pregnant so fast.¡± She said, She couldn¡¯t breathe, but she had to force the words out anyway. ¡°You had no intention of returning to my bed after I conceived.¡±

    ¡°It was not like that,¡± he said.

    ¡°It was just like that! You said so.¡± She sank back onto the small couch, feeling drained.

    Dash came toward her, but something in her look must have gotten to him because he stopped before reaching her. ¡°At first, I nned to divorce you after getting mypany back. But then I thought you did not know, and I realized that I liked being with you, so I decided that our marriage would be real and forever. You were innocent.¡± He swung his hand out in an arc to punctuate the words. ¡°To include you in a vendetta against your father would have been wrong. This is what I told myself.¡±

    His eyes appealed to her, but her heart was bleeding and she couldn¡¯t offer the understanding he sought. ¡°I believed you would make a good wife, an admirable mother,¡± he said, his tone driven.

    Two weeks ago those statements would have beenpliments, but now they were testament to how lukewarm his feelings were for her.

    ¡°You decided to make the best of a bad situation.¡± She said,

    The muscles in his face clenched. ¡°Yes¡±

    ¡°But then you overheard my father and me talking and drew your own conclusions.¡±

    She felt sick remembering what had been said and how it could have been interpreted.

    Her father had a lot to answer for and she intended to hold him ountable, just as soon as she wasn¡¯t doing her utmost to control her roiling stomach.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Dash did not look too good himself. ¡°Can you not understand how I felt? Your father used my uncle¡¯s weakness against me, against the ck family. I could not let that go unchallenged.¡±

    ¡°So, you decided to get your revenge by dumping me once I got pregnant.¡± She asked.

    It was such a cold thing to do, definitely not something he would have contemted if he loved her.

    He shook his head, if anything looking more grim than he had a moment ago.

    ¡°That was not my n,¡± he said.

    ¡°What was your n?¡± she asked, dreading the answer. Could anything be worse, though?

    ¡°I wanted you to believe I had taken a mistress. Olivia agreed to help me with this. I intended to shame you into asking for a divorce. The baby did note into it.¡±

    ¡°But how would that have gotten you control back of thepany?¡±

    ¡°I have purchased all outstanding stock, including that for which your father held proxies. Getting back half of the shares would have fulfilled my pride more than my need. It was part of my vendetta.¡±Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    ¡°You never intended for me to get pregnant.¡± Her hand went in an automatic protective gesture over her womb.

    He looked haunted. ¡°I did not think of it.¡±

    At her look of disbelief, he turned away again and spoke with his back to her.

    ¡°I went crazy. I was only thinking of how you had yed me for a fool. How stupid I had been to trust you.¡± he said.

    And his pride, which had already been smarting from her father¡¯s behavior, would have been decimated by this turn of events.

    ¡°Your carrying my baby did not enter my mind.¡± His broad shoulders were tense with strain. ¡°I wanted to hurt you. I admit this. I wanted to make Neal pay.¡±

    ¡°You seeded. You should be proud of a job well done.¡± She said, Too well done. So much for bleeding, she felt like her heart was hemorrhaging from the pain.

    He turned back, his face set in bleak lines. ¡°I am not proud. I am ashamed and I am sorry.¡± he said.

    Every straining line of his body spoke of sincerity, his dark eyes eloquent with his regret.

    ¡°I believe you.¡± She sighed, trying to ease the tightness in her chest. She believed that he was sorry, but his apology could not undo the hurt. Repentant, or not, he had married her not because he wanted her, but because he¡¯d been forced to do it.

 107

    The rejection she felt was shattering.

    ¡°I thought you cared about me. I knew it wasn¡¯t love, but this thing between you and my father-it¡¯s so demeaning. The knowledge that our marriage was the result of an arrangement between you and my father so you could get yourpany back¡­¡± Words failed her for several seconds as she struggled to keep the tears at bay.

    Finally, she swallowed. ¡°I never would have suspected anything like that, but it exins so much.¡±

    He stepped toward her, his hand extended, ¡°Tess, please, we can make this marriage of ours work.¡±

    She reared back, almost falling off the sofa. ¡°Don¡¯te near me. I don¡¯t want you touching me.¡± When she remembered how he had ckmailed her into marriage, using his body as the bait, she shuddered.

    His expression was that of a jaguar thwarted by its prey.

    ¡°I want some time to think. Alone.¡± She said,

    He shook his head in sharp negative. ¡°We have both spent enough time alone.¡±

    ¡°Whose fault is that?¡± She pped the hand away that came within touching distance. ¡°I missed you so much, but you treated me like little more than a whore on tap.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± he said.

    ¡°Yes! Since you got back from your trip, you¡¯ve refused to talk to me, but you¡¯ve been more than willing to use my body. I have to assume that was part of the revenge n. Make me feel like a tramp and I would hurt even more, right?¡± she asked.

    He looked horror-stricken by her words. ¡°That is not the way it was.¡±

    ¡°From where I¡¯m standing, it is. I don¡¯t know if I can stay married to you,¡± she whispered painfully.

    ¡°I will not allow you to divorce me.¡±

    ¡°Contrary to the way both you and my father have been behaving, we are no longer in the Dark Ages. You can¡¯t dictate my life¡¯s terms to me.¡± She replied.

    He ran his fingers through his hair in agitation. ¡°I made a mistake, I admit it, but I will rectify it. I promise you this.¡±

    ¡°And you are so good at keeping your promises.¡± She couldn¡¯t help the dig, but she felt no satisfaction when he winced.

    ¡°I did not have sex with Olivia,¡± he said.

    ¡°The jury is still out on that one.¡±

    His revenge plot made sense, even down to only pretending to have an affair.

    Breaking his word would not sit well with Dash, but she wasn¡¯t ready to let him off the hook on that one. He¡¯d set himself up, he could squirm. All that aside, how could he keep histest promise without love? How could he make it better when hisck of love was what hurt the most?

    ¡°I need some time alone,¡± she said again. The tears she¡¯d fought since first looking at him, washed into her eyes. ¡°I want to call my father. I don¡¯t understand how he could have done this to me.¡±

    Dash¡¯s hand lifted and fell, as if he wanted to touch her but knew she would reject him again. ¡°Will we talk again after this?¡± he asked.

    She didn¡¯t see how they could avoid it. ¡°Yes.¡± She replied.

    He nodded his head jerkily, his normal confidence for once shaken. ¡°I will leave you to make your call.¡±

    He turned to go and she had an insane urge to call him back, but she didn¡¯t. She had meant what she said. She needed time to determine if their marriage could survive its conception.

    Dash walked from the room feeling like a dead man inside. His beautiful wife hated him. It had been in her eyes: hatred, disgust, disappointment. Soft pansy eyes that had once looked at him in love now despised him. She would talk to her father, discuss the sordid events surrounding their marriage. And what would that aplish? He hoped that time apart would calm her down enough to discuss their future, but an equally strong possibility was that in speaking to the old man, she would lose whatever vestiges of faith she maintained in their marriage.

    He had screwed up so badly. He was not used to messing up and knew his apology had not gone off the way he wanted. He had left so much unsaid. Words he found it impossible to voice, words that expressed emotion he had a difficult time admitting he was even feeling. To admit his feelings made him vulnerable and that was the one thing he abhorred above all others.

    Vulnerability.

    But he would say anything, do anything to keep his wife. He could not even contemte the empty ck hole he would fall into if she left him.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    Tess waited impatiently for her father to answer the phone. It was early in the morning, but he was already at work.

    His voice came on the line. ¡°Tess?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Dad, it¡¯s me.¡± She replied.

    ¡°Did you find out what was going on with Dash and those dinners with thatdy?¡± Neal asked.

    ¡°Yes. I know everything now. Everything,¡± she reemphasized.

    ¡°He told you about the deal?¡±

    ¡°You mean about your ckmailing him into marrying me? Yes, Dash told me.¡±

    Tess swallowed tears while her father cursed.

    ¡°How could you do that to me?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t doing anything to you, girl. I was doing it for you. Only one thing you really wanted. I realized that at my party. Dash ck. You have had a thing for him for years, but I didn¡¯t notice until then.¡±Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    She didn¡¯t deny her father¡¯s words.

    ¡°Figured after the way he kissed you that he wanted you too, but he was going to marry some other girl and leave you in the cold.¡±

    ¡°He was engaged to someone else?¡± she asked, horrified.

    ¡°No, but it was only a matter of time. I baited the trap and he fell into it. With the passion between the two of you, I figured propinquity would do the rest.¡± he said.

    ¡°But he doesn¡¯t love me!¡±

    ¡°Bah! Men like Dash don¡¯t admit to tender emotions.¡±

    ¡°Well, I wanted to marry a man who loved me and was capable of saying so.¡± She said,

    ¡°You wanted Dash.¡±

    ¡°Not trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey! Do you have any idea how humiliated I¡¯m feeling right now? I hurt, dad, all the way to my toes.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that boy done?¡± Neal asked.

    Momentarily disconcerted at having her ultra-alpha husband referred to as a boy, she waited a second to answer. ¡°It¡¯s not what he¡¯s done. It¡¯s what you did.

    You set me up.¡± She said,

    ¡°I set you up all right, I set you up with Dash.¡±

    ¡°You set me up to be rejected by a man whose pride had been stomped on by your ruthless arrangement. You can¡¯t force a man like Dash to do something so personal as get married and expect it all to work out in the end.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t see why not. He had to get married someday. Why not you?¡± her father asked

 108

    Neal Patchett didn¡¯t even sound sorry.

    ¡°Because he doesn¡¯t love me,¡± she fairly shouted into the phone.

    ¡°No reason to yell, missy. I may be getting old, but I hear just fine. The man wants you and for him, that¡¯s probably as close to love as any woman will ever get.¡±

    She curled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on them. Could her father be right?

    ¡°You should not have done it.¡± She said,

    ¡°Tess, you wouldn¡¯t take anything else from me.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t want anything, just your love.¡± That was all she¡¯d ever wanted from the two most important men in her life and the one thing she was destined not to get. ¡°I¡¯ve got to go.¡±

    ¡°No, wait, child.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± she asked with ackluster voice.

    ¡°I do love you.¡± he said.

    Four words she¡¯d longed to hear since she was a child. They touched her now, healed some things inside her, but could not soothe the pain from Dash¡¯s rejection and her father¡¯s part in it.

    ¡°I love you, too,¡± she said nevertheless.

    He cleared his throat, the sound harsh. ¡°I never meant to hurt you.¡± he said.

    ¡°I can see that.¡±

    They hung up, her father sounding not quite his normal confident, gruff self.

    She decided to take a walk and slipped her feet into a pair of sandals. Once she was beyond the formal gardens surrounding the vi, she let her feet wander where they would.

    So many things were tumbling through her mind, she couldn¡¯t hold a single thought for longer than a second. Dash had been ckmailed into marrying her. She had no right to hold him, even less chance at securing his love. How could hee to love a woman he associated with the pegging down of his pride?

    He¡¯d forgotten about getting her pregnant, but now that she was, he wanted to stay married. She¡¯d been humiliated to realize her marriage was the result of little more than a business arrangement between two powerful men, but this made it worse. For him to stay with her, to want her only for the life she carried inside of her was a total denial of herself as a woman.

    Dash had believed she was part of the plot and felt made a fool of because of it. So he had hurt her. He was sorry now and both he and Olivia denied having slept together.

    Tess believed them. She remembered how sexually hungry Dash had been that night when he returned. He was hopelessly oversexed anyway, but that night, he had been desperate for her. That was not the response of a man getting all the sex he wanted from his ex-girlfriend.

    Where did her love for him fit into all this? She was pregnant with his child, but was that enough to keep a marriage that was nothing more than an arrangement together?

    No.

    But her love and his sincerity might be.

    He was right. They¡¯d spent too much time alely. If he was serious about trying, she didn¡¯t see that she had much choice because to contemte life without Dash was to contemte a pain she did not want to bear.

    She headed back to the house, determined to find Dash and finish their discussion.

    She found him in a lounge by the pool. He hadn¡¯t changed clothes and his expression was bleak.

    ¡°Dash.¡± She called.

    He looked up.

    ¡°We need to talk.¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    He nodded. ¡°Where?¡±

    He was asking her? ¡°Can we go back to our room?¡± she asked.

    He stood up and took her arm. She didn¡¯t fight his touch now and some tension drained from him, not all, but some.

    When they reached the s, he led her to the sofa where he sat and pulled her down beside him.

    ¡°What have you decided?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Tell me again why you were with Olivia¡±

    ¡°I wanted you to believe I was having an affair.¡± He took her hands in his, his grip crushing. ¡°But I swear this is not true. I want no other woman, have not since the first time I kissed you.¡±

    ¡°No other woman¡­at all¡­since then?¡± she asked.

    ¡°None,¡± he confirmed.

    That meant something, but she wasn¡¯t sure what yet.

    ¡°You wanted me to think you and Olivia were back together because you wanted to get back at my father and me?¡±

    He shook his head. ¡°I was devastated by the belief you had been part of the ckmail scheme. Hurt. When I hurt, Ish out. I did not think it through, I just did it. By the time I came back, I knew I did not want you to believe I had broken my promise.¡±

    ¡°But you neglected to tell Olivia, so when I called and she answered, she yed it up,¡± Tess guessed.

    Dash nodded, his mouth twisting. ¡°Much to my detriment.¡± he said.

    ¡°I want to believe you.¡± She ached to believe him.

    ¡°But,¡± he prompted.

    ¡°You broke your other promise. The one about treasuring my love.¡± She tried to pull her hands away at the painful memory, but he would not let go.

    ¡°No, I did not. In my heart, I always treasured your love and when you stopped saying the words, it hurt more than I wanted to admit. I made love to you frequently to assure myself that if nothing else, the passion between us was real and honest. That you wanted me even if you did not love me.¡±

    The words sounded so like the way she¡¯d been feeling that she choked on her next question. ¡°So, I wasn¡¯t just a convenience you used to assuage your strong sexual appetite?¡±

    Suddenly she found herself on hisp, his arms wrapped tightly around her, his face close to hers. ¡°I never thought of you that way. I was hurting and the only ce I could connect with you was in bed.¡± he said.

    ¡°We connected pretty often.¡±

    His sculpted cheekbones turned dusky. ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°Do you want me to stay only for the baby?¡± she asked.

    His face contorted and he buried it in the hollow of her neck. ¡°No. I want you to stay for me. I cannot live without you, honey. Do not go away from me.¡±

    He punctuated the words with tiny kisses that made her shiver.

    ¡°But a marriage without love has little hope of surviving.¡± She said,

 109

    His hold was almost bruising now. ¡°I know you have stopped loving me. I deserve it, but I love you, baby. You are the air that I breathe. The only music my heart wants to hear. The other half of my soul. I will make you love me again. I can do it. You still want me,¡± he said as one hand cupped her breast with its already tight peak.

    She turned her head and cupped his face between her palms so she could see into his eyes. ¡°You love me?¡± she asked.

    ¡°For a long time. Since before that party I think, but to admit it would have been to admit the end of my independence. Fool that I was, I thought that mattered. Without you all the freedom in the world would be a tiny cell in a prison of loneliness.¡±

    Her jaw dropped open. She couldn¡¯t help it. Not only had he said he loved her, but he¡¯d gotten positively poetic about it. ¡°Those are pretty mushy sentiments.¡± She said,

    He shrugged, his nature showing stronger in that moment than she had seen before. Emotion warmed his eyes and his body radiated heat just for her. ¡°I feel mushy about you.¡± He said. He kissed her softly until her lips clung and then gently pulled away. ¡°Tell me you will stay and let me teach you to love me again.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll stay, but I can¡¯t let you make me love you.¡± She said,

    His expression was devastating and much too painful to witness for her to keep up her teasing.

    ¡°I already love you. I will always love you and therefore you cannot make me do something I already am¡­doing that is.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t sure that made sense, but she didn¡¯t care because he looked like dawn was rising in his eyes.

    ¡°My beautiful Tess! I love you. I adore you.¡± He went into a litany of praises as he divested both of them of their clothes.

    They made love on their bed, both saying words of love and need they had held back before.

    When it was over, she cuddled into his side. ¡°So, I guess this means you really are fabulously happy about the baby.¡± She said,

    ¡°I am.¡± His smile would have melted the pr ice caps.

    And just to show her how much, he made love to her again, this time touching her stomach with reverence with his hands and mouth and whispering words of love to the baby growing inside her.

    Some timeter, she was lying on top of him sweaty and sated. ¡°Dash.¡±

    ¡°Yes, baby?¡±

    ¡°You really do love me?¡±

    He sprang up, tumbling her into hisp and grasping her chin so their eyes met. ¡°How can you doubt it?.¡±

    ¡°It just seems so unreal. You married me because my father forced you into it.¡±

    Would she always remember that?

    ¡°He yed matchmaker in the most unconventional way, but had I not wanted to be caught, I would not have been.¡± he said.

    She sighed and said nothing.

    ¡°It is true. You realize I do not wish to pursue revenge on him now? I am grateful for his interference even if I was too proud to acknowledge it before.¡±

    Could she believe him? Knowing what a shark her husband was capable of being, she shivered a little with relief on her father¡¯s behalf. ¡°I¡¯m d.¡± she said.

    ¡°To hurt him would hurt you and I will never again do that.¡±

    ¡°Guilt is stronger than the vendetta.¡±

    He turned very serious. ¡°Not guilt. Love. This is love.¡±

    She so desperately wanted to have faith in his love, but perhaps that was why it was so hard to do so. He had been forced into the marriage. How could he love her like she loved him?

    ¡°Father didn¡¯t really leave you an out.¡±

    He shook his head. ¡°You do not believe me, but it is true. I had repurchased most of the stock by the time of our marriage. I did not need half of your shares to control ck Shipping.¡±

    ¡°But you said¡­¡±

    ¡°I told you a n I hatched in hurt and anger, not the truth of my heart, honey. I did not need the shares.¡±

    And that truth was burning in his sexy brown eyes.

    ¡°You wanted to marry me,¡± she said with awe.

    ¡°Yes. So much, I was in despair you would not believe me about Olivia and leave me. I was terrified of losing you.¡±

    The concept of him terrified seemed unbelievable, but the aftereffects lingered in his expression. ¡°That was before you knew I wasn¡¯t part of the ckmail n.¡±

    Understanding washed over her in a wave and with it came unstoppable love and belief in his love. ¡°You wanted to make our marriage work believing I had colluded with my father to force you into it.¡±

    That fact had gotten lost in her pain and confusion, but no male as strong as dash6 would havee to that point without being very much in love.

    ¡°I could not lose you.¡± His hold tightened. ¡°You are the other half of myself. Without you, I am not a man.¡±

    ¡°I love you, Dash.¡± She said,

    His eyes closed and he breathed deeply as if savoring the words. ¡°Say it again.¡±

    ¡°I love you,¡± she repeated.

    His eyes opened, burning into hers with purpose. ¡°Always.¡±Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°And I will love you forever. I am going to make you feel like the most loved woman that ever walked the face of the earth.¡±

    As goals went, it was a big one, but he could do it. All he had to do was keep looking at her like he was doing right now.

    And she would love him like no other woman could.

    Dash looked into his wife¡¯s soft pansy gaze, his precious Tess. Her love was worth more than his pride, more than hispany, more than anything else in the world to him and he would never let her forget it.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    THE END

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

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