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as breathing. Reaching her level of success in such a short period of time meant something had been sacrificed. An active sex life, perhaps?
    â€œI want you and you want me,” he said, deciding to point out the obvious.
    â€œAnd?”
    He forced himself not to smile, thinking she was pretending not to have a clue. Then it occurred to him that maybe she wasn’t pretending. Maybe it was time to explain to her what it meant whenever a woman became the object of his personal fantasies.
    â€œAnd...” he said, “we will sleep together.”
    She sat up in her chair, straightening her spine. Her lips went from sensual to tense but turned him on even more just the same. “No, we will not,” she said adamantly.
    He smiled. “Yes, we will. It’s inevitable.”
    She frowned. “No, it’s not. Just who do you think you are?”
    He figured it was time she knew the answer to that. “A man who wants you. A man who intends to have you. A man who will show you, Layla Harris, just what you’ve been missing.”
    * * *
    Layla tried to keep her heart from pounding deep in her chest, while at the same time fighting off the heat stroking through her body. She knew she shouldn’t ask but she couldn’t hold back.
    â€œAnd just what do you think I’ve missed?”
    â€œHot, raunchy, mind-blowing sex. Evidently over the years you’ve been too preoccupied with other things to indulge. Don’t you know it’s not good to deprive your body of meeting certain needs?”
    Her frown deepened. “I haven’t deprived my body of anything.”
    â€œHaven’t you? Why do you think you’re so attracted to me?”
    Layla actually rolled her eyes. Really? Honestly? Had he looked in the mirror lately? When was the last time he’d studied all those photos Ms. Melody had plastered on the walls. Any woman would be attracted to him. Even now he sat there not doing anything and still looked sexy as hell with that well-toned body of his. And here she was sitting across the table from him. Right within kissing distance.
    As far as she was concerned, Gavin Blake was eye candy of the richest kind. Passion personified. But she definitely wouldn’t tell him that. She would deny everything he’d said with her last breath if she had to.
    â€œI am not all that attracted to you.” At least she hadn’t completely lied and said she wasn’t attracted to him at all.
    â€œYou want me to prove otherwise?”
    What was it with men always wanting to prove things when it came to sex? “No, thanks. That’s not necessary.”
    â€œI think that it is.”
    He’d said the words in a low, vibrating tone with a sexy rumble she wished she could ignore. But there was no way, what with all the shivers oozing down her spine. “Are you trying to scare me off, Gavin?”
    He lifted a brow. “Scare you off?”
    â€œYes. Say all these things so I get angry enough to leave the ranch, sparing you the trouble of making a decision one way or the other about whether I can dig on your land or not.”
    â€œIs that what you think?”
    To be honest, she didn’t know what to think. She needed his land and all he had on his mind was sex. That made her wonder...
    â€œThen are you trying to box me into a corner? Implying that I will have to sleep with you before you’ll give me permission to dig?”
    Gavin shook his head. “I would never put pressure on you to sleep with me. But be forewarned, Layla. If you hang around here doing that dig, we will sleep together. There’s no way we won’t. Your own body will betray you. When it does, I will be ready for the opportunity.”
    Seriously? If he thought her body would eventually weaken, he didn’t know her. And that was the point, one she couldn’t lose sight of. He didn’t know her. He didn’t know about her dedication when it came to her work. Nor