side by side staring at the huge tract of land, it sizzled between them,
hotter than the enervating heat.
Austin didn't know how much more he could stand when all he could think about was his burning need to taste those lips again and bury himself between those sweet thighs.
"How could you have condoned this?" Cassie asked, forcing him back to
the moment at hand.
"Randall was never all that candid. He never came right out and said there was a dilapidated hotel on the premises."
"Much less the fact that homeless people probably live in it."
Sarcasm, blended with anger, deepened her voice.
"Dammit, do you think I'm happy about this?"
Cassie faced him, and even though she wore sunglasses, she still raised
a hand and shielded her eyes, which drew his attention to her fullbreasts, tantalizingly visible under the damp, clinging material of herblouse.
He cleared his throat and shifted his gaze, but not before he saw howquickly air was rushing in and out of her lungs. His own breathingconstricted as he turned back and their eyes met again.
Hell, nothing was working out like he'd planned. But then, nothing had since the day he'd walked into the Wortham mansion and seen her there.
"So are you going to nix the deal?" she asked at last.
"No."
"No?"
She had removed her sunglasses and was wiping the perspiration from under her eyes. He noticed only a slight discoloration remained where she'd been hit.
He ached to touch that spot. Instead, he shoved a hand through hissweat-drenched hair and said, "Surely you can see the potential here,what with it being practically on the water's edge."
"Of course lean."
"Well, we agree on something, at least."
"But that doesn't mean I want to build on it."
Austin muttered an expletive.
"So much for the power of positive thinking."
"Nor do I want to buy it. I'm convinced we should take care of what we
have, then spread our wings, so to speak, at a later time."
"You've made up your mind, then, to fight me to the death on this."
It wasn't a question but a bitter statement of fact.
"Yes."
"And every other damn thing, right?"
Though Cassie didn't respond, their eyes met for another brief second.
Cassie was the first to look away, her face pale.
"Let's get the hell out of here," Austin said hoarsely. "Even with the
breeze, it's too damn humid to breathe."
When he pulled up in front of the Wortham mansion and brought the car to a halt, Cassie immediately reached for the doorknob.
"Whoa, hold your horses," he said, putting down the window on both
sides.
Though the air remained hot and humid, it had a sweet, sensual fragrance that permeated the interior of the car.
And the moon. It was an incredible sight, hanging huge and bright in the
sky.
Cassie swung back around and gave him an impatient look that the moonlight allowed him to see. In fact, the glow landed softly on her
face, a lovely face, drawn, yet remarkably clear of the anguish from a past filled with horrors he would never fully understand.
"I think we've had enough of each other's company for one day, don't
you?" she asked, a slight tremor in her voice.
"No."
His bluntness seemed to give her pause, which bought him the time he
needed.
Something had to give. The drive home had been as uncomfortable as the drive there, making him long for a six-pack of beer.
Being penned up with her again, inhaling her sweat mixed with her
perfume, had played havoc with his mind and his body. Now that they hadreached Jasmine, he would have his say. If they were to continue workingtogether, then the air had to be cleared, one way or the other.
"Why don't you just admit it?"
"Admit what?" Cassie asked with such innocence that, for a moment, he
thought he might have been mistaken about this sexual "thing" between
them.
Then he saw the sudden rise and fall of her chest, along with her hardening nipples, and he knew he was on target.
"You liked the hell out of it, same as I did."
"It?" That innocent look again.
"Don't be coy with me, Cassie. That kiss in my suite. You gave back as
good as you got."
Cassie's delicate chin jutted.
"That's a lie."
"Oh, come on, what do you take me for? I know when someone kisses me
back."
Her body tensed.
"In my case, you're wrong."
"Oh, yeah? We'll see about that!"
Austin reached out and jerked her against him. The suddenness of his
action winded her, parting her lips. Groaning, he took advantage of that
unintended but ripe invitation and crushed his mouth against hers.
He wanted to make her hurt as much as he was hurt ring. He wanted her to admit that she wanted him, and to hell with the consequences.
As she had in his suite, Cassie remained icy in his arms. Then he cupped a breast and gently squeezed it. She whimpered then, and locked her arms around his neck, matching his fierce hunger.
Later, he had no idea when he lost total control. Before he knew it, he