most. I have to be in California this
coming weekend in order to set up Mike's plan," Anne explained.
"Don't be ridiculous. You're not going to get involved in that mess."
She glanced up from her stew, startled more by the absolute certainty in
his voice than by the words themselves. "Julian, I've already told you that
I'm going through with it."
"The answer is no."
She blinked. "I don't recall asking permission. Advice, maybe, but not
permission."
He slid her a chilling glance. "If you think I'm allowing you to go
through with that nutty plan all on your own, you're out of your head."
Anne arched one eyebrow, mildly surprised now by his interference. She
had assumed he would be glad to see her leave. "I hate to break this to
you, Julian, but you don't really have a whole lot to say about it."
"Someone had better say something about it," he exploded softly.
"Mike's apparently in no condition to do so. That leaves me."
"I told you, I came to ask you for help, not to get your permission to
carry out the plan! It's obvious you're not in any condition to help me but
I'm not going to cancel everything because of that. I'll find a way to make
it all work."
Julian's bowl of stew was set down on the night-stand with a solid
clunk. The next thing Anne knew, he was sitting on the edge of the bed,
the blankets carelessly tossed to one side. One powerful hand reached out
to take hold of her chin and the tawny eyes burned. Not with fever this
time, but with male determination.
"I may not be at the peak of my physical ability and I may be a few
months over forty, but if you think I can't handle you, lady, you're dead
wrong. Last night should have taught you that much, at least."
She winced. "I think you're well enough to start remembering to put on
a robe when you get out of bed in front of guests!"
"Why should I cover up what you've already seen?"
"Julian, stop acting as though you had some rights over me." She stood
up abruptly and his hand fell away. "I intend to go through with Mike's
scheme and I'm not going to let you stop me."
He got to his feet and, even though he had to flatten one hand against
the wall to help him maintain his balance, he exuded more than enough
intimidation to cause Anne to retreat uneasily.
"When are those ghost hunters supposed to show up at that mansion in
California? ' he asked too softly.
"At the beginning of next week."
"How long will they stay there?"
"Their usual routine lasts about three or four days," she answered
carefully.
"Then you'll stay here where I can keep an eye on you until at least the
end of next week. Until it's too late for you to do anything about that
idiotic plan."
"I'm going through with it, Julian."
"No."
The cold denial infuriated her. "Where do you get off telling me I can't
do as I damn well please? You have no authority over me, Julian Aries.
Not one single right. I'm as free an agent as you are. You may recall that
nothing I said or did could stop you from taking Michael to that island,
and you made it very clear the night you brought him home that nothing
could keep you from returning to finish your job. Well, I have a job to do
now, too, and nothing you say or do is going to stop me."
He took a step toward her, releasing his hold on the wall. "There's no
comparison between this crazy situation and the demands of my job six
months ago!"
"Oh, yes there is," she countered, retreating to the doorway. "I'm as
committed to carrying out this plan as you are to your precious
supermacho career as a government agent. Michael was nearly killed by
these people. I'm not going to let them get away with it!"
"Anne, you don't know what the hell you're doing," he raged.
"That's why I came here," she shot back. "To get a little help and advice.
But since I'm not going to get either, I'll just have to muddle through on
my own."
"I won't allow it!"
"You have nothing to say about it."
He stalked forward another step and Anne saw
coming weekend in order to set up Mike's plan," Anne explained.
"Don't be ridiculous. You're not going to get involved in that mess."
She glanced up from her stew, startled more by the absolute certainty in
his voice than by the words themselves. "Julian, I've already told you that
I'm going through with it."
"The answer is no."
She blinked. "I don't recall asking permission. Advice, maybe, but not
permission."
He slid her a chilling glance. "If you think I'm allowing you to go
through with that nutty plan all on your own, you're out of your head."
Anne arched one eyebrow, mildly surprised now by his interference. She
had assumed he would be glad to see her leave. "I hate to break this to
you, Julian, but you don't really have a whole lot to say about it."
"Someone had better say something about it," he exploded softly.
"Mike's apparently in no condition to do so. That leaves me."
"I told you, I came to ask you for help, not to get your permission to
carry out the plan! It's obvious you're not in any condition to help me but
I'm not going to cancel everything because of that. I'll find a way to make
it all work."
Julian's bowl of stew was set down on the night-stand with a solid
clunk. The next thing Anne knew, he was sitting on the edge of the bed,
the blankets carelessly tossed to one side. One powerful hand reached out
to take hold of her chin and the tawny eyes burned. Not with fever this
time, but with male determination.
"I may not be at the peak of my physical ability and I may be a few
months over forty, but if you think I can't handle you, lady, you're dead
wrong. Last night should have taught you that much, at least."
She winced. "I think you're well enough to start remembering to put on
a robe when you get out of bed in front of guests!"
"Why should I cover up what you've already seen?"
"Julian, stop acting as though you had some rights over me." She stood
up abruptly and his hand fell away. "I intend to go through with Mike's
scheme and I'm not going to let you stop me."
He got to his feet and, even though he had to flatten one hand against
the wall to help him maintain his balance, he exuded more than enough
intimidation to cause Anne to retreat uneasily.
"When are those ghost hunters supposed to show up at that mansion in
California? ' he asked too softly.
"At the beginning of next week."
"How long will they stay there?"
"Their usual routine lasts about three or four days," she answered
carefully.
"Then you'll stay here where I can keep an eye on you until at least the
end of next week. Until it's too late for you to do anything about that
idiotic plan."
"I'm going through with it, Julian."
"No."
The cold denial infuriated her. "Where do you get off telling me I can't
do as I damn well please? You have no authority over me, Julian Aries.
Not one single right. I'm as free an agent as you are. You may recall that
nothing I said or did could stop you from taking Michael to that island,
and you made it very clear the night you brought him home that nothing
could keep you from returning to finish your job. Well, I have a job to do
now, too, and nothing you say or do is going to stop me."
He took a step toward her, releasing his hold on the wall. "There's no
comparison between this crazy situation and the demands of my job six
months ago!"
"Oh, yes there is," she countered, retreating to the doorway. "I'm as
committed to carrying out this plan as you are to your precious
supermacho career as a government agent. Michael was nearly killed by
these people. I'm not going to let them get away with it!"
"Anne, you don't know what the hell you're doing," he raged.
"That's why I came here," she shot back. "To get a little help and advice.
But since I'm not going to get either, I'll just have to muddle through on
my own."
"I won't allow it!"
"You have nothing to say about it."
He stalked forward another step and Anne saw
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