understand, honey. If you’re referring to my mention of the salt cellars, that was nothing but a change of
conversational topic.“
„Change of topic, my foot,“ Hilary complained. „You know damn well you’ve run the gamut from passionate lover
to clever businessman to casual conversationalist in the short time since I’ve walked into this room. No,“ she held up a
hand to ward off what appeared to be another protestation of innocence. „Please don’t explain!“ Privately she decided
she would have to be very cool and very careful around this man. He had succeeded in keeping her one step behind
him most of the time she had known him. In addition to being annoying, however, it was also a bit of a novelty for
Hilary.
„What time are you going to pick me up tomorrow night?“ she inquired, determined to do a little topic changing,
herself.
„How about six-thirty?“ he suggested promptly. „Your father gave me the name of one of your favorite restaurants
in town.“
„I’ll bet he did.“ Hilary’s mouth twisted downward for a second. „Anything to help the cause.“
„He really does mean well, honey,“ Logan said softly.
„I know he does. That’s one of the things that makes it so difficult to get out of these situations he sets up! At
least in your case everything’s out in the open. He knows you’ve been warned. You know you’ve been warned. This
time I’m not playing any games!“
„Good,“ he applauded cheerfully, coming toward her a couple of steps and then stopping again as her braided
head lifted warily. He surveyed her appraisingly. „I don’t mind games, you understand, but it will simplify matters if
you’re not going to invent any.“
„You think that leaves the field open for you?“ she demanded archly.
„Yes,“ he retorted simply. „As it happens, I’m well up on game theory. I find it very useful in business.“
„I can imagine,“ she snapped waspishly, thinking that the comment had told her more than he probably wished her
to know. It reinforced the knowledge that he considered her, essentially, a business matter.
„But for every encounter there are a few basic rules…“ he went on, his soft drawl dropping to a deeper, warning
note.
„Not if your opponent isn’t playing!“
„In this case, my opponent will play by them or take the consequences,“ he advised calmly.
„Don’t bother giving me a list of rules for your game, Logan Saber. I don’t have any intention of concerning myself
with them!“
„They’re simple enough,“ he half smiled. „You shouldn’t have any difficulty remembering them. Actually, they can
all be boiled down to one. While you and I are in the process of resolving our little differences, some might say while I’
m courting you… yes, I thought you’d get a chuckle out of that, you’re not to continue your affair with Kevin
Thorne.“
Hilary’s amber gaze narrowed at the forceful note in his voice. They had returned to the conversation’s starting
point, it seemed. Well, she had no intention of being bullied. He was an intriguing man in spite of his mercenary
interest in her and she was willing to go out with him once under the conditions that had been established. But he
mustn’t get the idea that he could warn her off other men.
„I’m not going to stand here in my own living room and engage in a shouting match with you,“ Hilary told him
loftily. „If you want to retain the privilege of taking me out tomorrow evening, you had better stop issuing orders
about matters which don’t concern you in the least!“
He studied her for a moment, as if deciding how much he could push her before she rebelled completely and
refused to go out with him at all. Hilary could almost see the thought processes and hid a triumphant smile. True, she
would have to stay on her toes with this man, but she could handle him!
„Such a haughty little thing,“ Logan said mildly, although the expression in his
conversational topic.“
„Change of topic, my foot,“ Hilary complained. „You know damn well you’ve run the gamut from passionate lover
to clever businessman to casual conversationalist in the short time since I’ve walked into this room. No,“ she held up a
hand to ward off what appeared to be another protestation of innocence. „Please don’t explain!“ Privately she decided
she would have to be very cool and very careful around this man. He had succeeded in keeping her one step behind
him most of the time she had known him. In addition to being annoying, however, it was also a bit of a novelty for
Hilary.
„What time are you going to pick me up tomorrow night?“ she inquired, determined to do a little topic changing,
herself.
„How about six-thirty?“ he suggested promptly. „Your father gave me the name of one of your favorite restaurants
in town.“
„I’ll bet he did.“ Hilary’s mouth twisted downward for a second. „Anything to help the cause.“
„He really does mean well, honey,“ Logan said softly.
„I know he does. That’s one of the things that makes it so difficult to get out of these situations he sets up! At
least in your case everything’s out in the open. He knows you’ve been warned. You know you’ve been warned. This
time I’m not playing any games!“
„Good,“ he applauded cheerfully, coming toward her a couple of steps and then stopping again as her braided
head lifted warily. He surveyed her appraisingly. „I don’t mind games, you understand, but it will simplify matters if
you’re not going to invent any.“
„You think that leaves the field open for you?“ she demanded archly.
„Yes,“ he retorted simply. „As it happens, I’m well up on game theory. I find it very useful in business.“
„I can imagine,“ she snapped waspishly, thinking that the comment had told her more than he probably wished her
to know. It reinforced the knowledge that he considered her, essentially, a business matter.
„But for every encounter there are a few basic rules…“ he went on, his soft drawl dropping to a deeper, warning
note.
„Not if your opponent isn’t playing!“
„In this case, my opponent will play by them or take the consequences,“ he advised calmly.
„Don’t bother giving me a list of rules for your game, Logan Saber. I don’t have any intention of concerning myself
with them!“
„They’re simple enough,“ he half smiled. „You shouldn’t have any difficulty remembering them. Actually, they can
all be boiled down to one. While you and I are in the process of resolving our little differences, some might say while I’
m courting you… yes, I thought you’d get a chuckle out of that, you’re not to continue your affair with Kevin
Thorne.“
Hilary’s amber gaze narrowed at the forceful note in his voice. They had returned to the conversation’s starting
point, it seemed. Well, she had no intention of being bullied. He was an intriguing man in spite of his mercenary
interest in her and she was willing to go out with him once under the conditions that had been established. But he
mustn’t get the idea that he could warn her off other men.
„I’m not going to stand here in my own living room and engage in a shouting match with you,“ Hilary told him
loftily. „If you want to retain the privilege of taking me out tomorrow evening, you had better stop issuing orders
about matters which don’t concern you in the least!“
He studied her for a moment, as if deciding how much he could push her before she rebelled completely and
refused to go out with him at all. Hilary could almost see the thought processes and hid a triumphant smile. True, she
would have to stay on her toes with this man, but she could handle him!
„Such a haughty little thing,“ Logan said mildly, although the expression in his
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