"Jeez, Austin, you're something else. You knock a hole in my ego the
size of the Grand Canyon, then you tell me you want a relationship.
What kind of crazy idea is that?"
"I can't answer that."
"All right. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt." Sherry's tone
hardened.
"But if you ever insult me like this again, you can go straight to hell."
"I wouldn't want it any other way."
Now, after the fact, he still refused to give Cassie's presence the
credit for his limp-dick syndrome. So why was he relieved that he wasgoing out of town and wouldn't be seeing her?
Suddenly Austin felt the urge to pull a Randall and throw something.
But indulging in temper tantrums was not his style. Besides, he had things to do get on the road, then call Randall from his car phone and set up an appointment.
A few minutes later he stepped into the hall. That was when he heard the sharp voice.
"Perfect. You're just the person I wanted to see."
Austin choked on every graphic swear word he knew.
FR1;Thirteen Aren't you afraid you'll catch my virus?"
"Virus?"
"Yeah. The way you've been avoiding me, I figured I must have something catching."
"That's not funny," Cassie responded, her mouth pinched.
"Okay, let's have it." Austin scrutinized her. "What's on your mind?"
Cassie squirmed under that scrutiny, fighting the urge to to lean acrossher desk and slap him clear into tomorrow. Since that was not an option,she had to pull herself together and take charge of a situation that wasalready teetering on the brink of exploding.
He thought this get-together was a joke, that she was a joke. That wasthe way it was when they were together, which was unfortunate. So howwas she going to pull off her earlier declaration of bravado?
That feat appeared doubtful when he seemed able to look at her andthrough her at the same time.
Why did she sense he was thinking about their tryst on the beach? Maybe it was because that was what she was thinking about. When Austincame near her, that moment of passion, humiliation and mortificationjumped to the forefront of her mind as if their coupling had justhappened.
Guilt and betrayal also played a major part in her inability to lookdirectly at him for any length of time. Unfortunately, he seemed to haveno such reservations. His unrelenting gaze had not budged, except maybeto drop to her chest where her breasts moved in concert with her erraticbreathing.
Did he notice?
Red-faced at her own thoughts, Cassie leaned forward on the desk and propped her elbows on the high- glossed wood.
"I".
"It's not going to happen," he interrupted.
She stiffened.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, I think you do," he drawled, his slight Cajun accent emerging as it
did on occasion.
She ignored what that sound did to her system and immediately jumped on the defensive.
"All I know is that I called you in here to talk business."
"Could've fooled me."
"Stop it, Austin."
"You're the one who's so damn uptight, not me."
Her eyes flashed.
"I'm just fine."
"Sure you are."
"Look, we have to call a truce."
"Then stop behaving like I'm going to leap across that desk and jump your goddamn bones."
Cassie gasped.
"You bastard. That was a low blow."
"Maybe, but it's the truth."
"It's not the truth. Nowhere near it." Her temper flared even more.
Austin shrugged, his gaze traveling over her.
"Whatever you say."
She wanted to lash back at him again, but she thought better of it.
They were already too close to overstepping that line in the sand that she had drawn. She could not handle rehashing that evening in detail--not now, not ever.
Too much was at stake, beginning and ending with the well-being of her son.
"So what did you want to talk about?" he asked, sounding bored.
"This hotel."
"I'm listening."
"Make fun if you want, but I'm taking my job seriously, as Mother expects me to."
Austin sat up, and his jaw tensed. Mentioning Wilma had apparently, gotten his attention, which she considered a bonus for her.
"I have no problem with that," he said.
"As long as I don't get too serious, right?" she countered, a smirk altering the line of her lips.
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to."
"So, you're into reading minds now, huh?"
Cassie bit back another sharp retort, determined to bring this verbal
slinging match to an end.
"Look, I thought we'd agreed to call a truce."
"Okay, so maybe I am underestimating you."
"That's a mistake. I can do this job."
"Suit yourself."
"You won't fight me?"
"That depends."
"On what? My stepping on your toes?"
"I didn't say that, either."
Cassie was quiet for a moment, trying to keep herself on track, to
remain businesslike and professional, and not let him and his cocky
attitude get the best of her. She wanted to show him that she could do
everything he could do, and just as well. Only actions and time would
prove her right.