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engaged to? What had she said about the one who had been cheating on her? That she didn’t love him enough to forgive him? Perhaps it was all just a game to her, to lure a man deeper and deeper into the trap of her charm. But at the same time, the idea tantalized him, much like the subtle perfume she wore that drifted to his nose every so often, then faded elusively.
    Tessa correctly read his stillness, and she fiercely blinked back the sudden scalding of tears, taking care to keep her head buried against his shoulder. “Why don’t we call a halt to this now?” she whispered. “I don’t know if I can keep it under control on my part, and I’d rather walk away from it before I get hurt.” More lightly, she said, “We could always remember each other as the one that got away.”
    He put his hands on her shoulders and pushed her a little away from him so he could see her face, and a frown laced his brows. “No,” he said curtly, not wanting to examine too closely his reason for rejecting her suggestion, but there was no way he was going to let her walk away from him. Her laughter would echo in his mind for the rest of his life, and he’d feel the ache of unsatisfied desire.
    â€œPlease.” Her eyes were very clear and direct. “I told you, I don’t sleep around. I don’t have casual affairs. I have a lot to give a man; I’m more than just someone for fun and games, and I expect a lot from a man. If you aren’t willing to give it, then let me go free.”
    â€œWhat do you expect from a man?” he asked roughly, drawing her closer to him once again, because he couldn’t tolerate the distance between them.
    â€œFriendship. Passion. Faith and trust and fidelity.” She moved her head in a quick motion. “Love.”
    â€œI’m too old to believe in fairy tales, baby. Love is just a word that people throw around as an excuse for making fools of themselves.” His hard hands hurt her shoulders. “I want you, and you want me. Let that be enough.”
    She shook her head again, but before she could say anything he bent his head and kissed her, slow and hard and deep, and again she was helpless against the black magic he practiced on her flesh. His hands moved over her body, touching her breasts and hips and thighs, as if branding her with his touch. When he pulled away, his face was full of dark color and his eyes were burning. “Think about that tonight. I’ll pick you up tomorrow night at seven.”
    â€œThere’s no point in it,” she said weakly, but she doubted that he heard her. He was already going out the door, and she stood there in the middle of the floor for a long time, her head bent, her eyes closed. He wasn’t going to let her play it safe, and she wondered if she’d be able to survive another failed relationship.
    She was torn between the instinctive need to protect herself and the needs of her deeply passionate heart, which told her to reach out and grab him, to twine herself about him so tightly that he’d never be able to get her out of his heart or mind. She had no chance at all if she was too cowardly to take one. Love gave, instead of demanded, and she wanted to give herself to him. Perhaps his mind didn’t recognize love, but his body would. She was afraid…but it was too late for fear.
    * * *
    E VAN RUBBED HIS eyes tiredly, then returned to the stack of computer printout sheets before him. “I’m so tired, none of this is making any sense,” he muttered.
    Brett checked his watch; it was a little after midnight. He’d welcomed the intense concentration required by their investigation; it took his mind off his frustration, off his empty bed. But he was tired, too, and he had the nagging feeling that he’d been missing something, something that he’d have seen if he hadn’t been so tired, if a part of his mind hadn’t still been on Tessa.