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  “Shel, you’re caught.” He inhaled, wondering how she could come out of this looking innocent and affronted. But, knowing her, she probably would. “I don’t care what you think about me, just take this seriously. I’m offering you a way out. Take it.”

  The smile playing over her lips wasn’t warm or friendly. She leaned over to slip on her shoe and hit him with a steady gaze of sheer self-control.

  “Don’t try to roll over me like a bulldozer, Nick. I’m not accepting this accusation as less than a threat to my reputation.”

  “Bravo, Shel.” Nick’s sarcastic words had been accompanied by a smile that hurt his lips. Even though he could almost forget why he wanted to choke her, he wouldn‘t let his lust for her get in the way of finding out who she had been dealing with.

  “I’m probably never going to know the truth about this. But I do know I’m not guilty of any professional misconduct, and I will not be badgered.” She stood up and frosted him with her glare. “It’s a certainty you and I will be discussing this again, but only through our attorneys.” She took a step toward the exit, and then paused to look back at him. “That is, if you don’t hightail it for Coyote Ridge again.”

  She had taken a verbal jab at his hometown of Sedona, Arizona. Or, she had called him a coyote. He wanted to grab her hand and pull her onto his lap and kiss her until she made her juicy little passion noises.

  In his staggering desire to hold her, he felt ready to do almost anything to erase what had happened. He loved her. Hell, while he was on his way to reaching orgasm, she walked away. His parting shot drew her up short.

  “You will be returning the ring, won’t you?” He didn’t want the damned ring. He wanted her and yesterday. Yesterday they would have been heading for her place or his to make love before going to work. He finished his drink and looked at her over the rim of the empty glass, finding her heaven blue eyes scorning him for drinking too much booze.

  “Naturally.” She clenched the costly piece of jewelry in her fist as if she planned to drop it into his palm but changed her mind. “Before I leave, I want to settle this with you. From here on we’ll talk about nothing but work. Is that explicit enough for you?”

  He eyed her, trying to conceal the emotional turmoil he drowned in and nodded.

  She took a breath and looked at the ring in her hand. “I’ll leave this with the cashier. You may be able to trade it for the price of the drinks.”

  She turned her back and left, taking away his reason to get up mornings, along with the future they had laid out together. He witnessed the cashier’s startled reaction to her handing him the ring. What the hell? The ring had no value without her and she had turned out to be a first rate chiseler. He groaned and ordered another scotch, then changed his mind. He needed time to recoup before following Shelby to the job site.

  * * * *

  He put off going to the project as long as he could and finally pulled into the dusty parking lot late that afternoon. The sound of hammers and drills, usually music to his ears, was nothing short of maddening now.

  Get out of the car and face her. Let her know she’s not getting out of this.

  The car in front of his belonged to the lovely Miss Rand. She hadn’t bothered to roll up her windows of the classic Jag, and dust had coated the white leather seats. His instinct told him to close the windows, but he stopped himself.

  No longer your concern, Gualdoni.

  His steps had lost their spring of enthusiasm and it took him a while to climb the hill to join Shelby and her builder, Matt Jamison. He kept his sunglasses on and studied Shelby while she worked on a ledger. She’d gone home and changed clothes. Probably going out after work. Damn. She wore baby pink to the dirtiest place in town and sent his cock into a permanent state of granite. He jumped in reaction to her glance in his direction and covered his dumb expression with a snarl.

  “I’ll want to talk to you later.” As expected, she looked at him as if he had turned into a snake, putting on a hard hat as she sauntered away.

  Following her, Nick was helpless to keep his thoughts anywhere above her ass. His tongue must have been hanging down somewhere around his ankles as he ogled the golden hue of her slender legs. Of course she wasn’t wearing stockings.

  With every step she took, the skirt of that pink suit swished provocatively at mid-thigh and drew his hungry gaze to the area that would be the fork of her sweet legs. Her short jacket acted like an arrow, pointing directly to her fine firm rear. It would be easier to breathe out of her territory, so he doubled his stride to catch up with Matt.

  “Say, Matt. I want to run a couple things by you before I leave.” Now, what made him look in her direction? He had clearly lost control. Holy shit, now she leaned over to look in a crate of nails and her skirt hiked up to her butt cheeks. He swallowed his tongue. “Let’s walk up to the courtyard, and I can show you what I have in mind.”

  What the hell is she doing? Flashing the crew?

  It stunned him to realize he might be acting a little crazy, since she showed nothing more than a nice length of leg. As if she felt his hot stare, Shelby straightened and brushed at the hem of her skirt in a ladylike manner. He caught his breath when he remembered they were not a couple. What body parts she exposed didn’t concern him. Right? Wrong. This property belonged to him and he wouldn’t stand for it. As soon as he finished his chat with Matt, he would let her know she couldn’t bare her rear on this hill of dirt.

  No, you won't. Why let her know you're still nuts over her? Keep your yap shut.

  No matter where he stood, he could see Shelby and the way little wisps of her hair moved sensuously about her pretty neck and ears. He moved away from Matt and jammed his hands deep into his slacks pockets to rearrange the heavy, throbbing monster in his shorts. He felt like a deprived sex fiend.

  After gaining control of his privates, Nick walked back to where Shelby and Matt huddled in deep conversation. She scowled as he approached. He planned to put a crimp in her smart alec attitude. She scribbled in her note pad, pointedly ignoring him and only looked up when Matt spoke. “Shelby, according to Nick, we need to make some changes in the main lobby. He doesn’t think it’s exactly what the plans call for.”

  “That’s—” She bit off her comment. “Perhaps Nick is mistaken, seeing an optical illusion.”

  Nick took off his sunglasses. “You know the drill. Get it done, Shel, and I mean today.” He checked his watch to avoid looking at her and focused on Matt. “Go back over the damned lobby for a true measurement.”

  “I’ll do that. One more thing, Nick. You have to wear a hard hat beyond this point.” Matt cleared his throat and looked at the ground. “You want to discuss this with Shel?”

  The sound of her notebook snapping shut echoed like gunfire. “I don’t think we need to worry about Nick’s head.” She bit her words off abruptly, and then finished her comment. “I mean, he won’t be here long enough for anything to fall on him.”

  He controlled his tone, keeping his words soft but meaningful. “Don’t get too comfortable, Shel. I’ll be counting every brick and gallon of paint.”

  Chapter 2

  Shelby held her breath as her gaze helplessly followed Nick’s angry departure. She wished she didn’t love him. He may as well have cut out her heart when he said he didn't want her.

  Well, there it is. He’s going to be a real bastard as long as he assumed she could be guilty of double-crossing him.

  She took several deep breaths while Nick walked across the parking lot. She loved his gait, just cocky enough to make a woman check out his lean frame from top to bottom. Nick was a superb looking man whether he wore a tux or battered Levi’s. He looked sensational in nothing at all. Matt's deep voice penetrated her thoughts.

  “Shel, I’m going to get started here in a bit.”

  She blinked. “Started? On what?”

  “Hell, measuring. You heard the man.”

  “For God’s sake, Matt. Don’t waste precious time.” She took off her
hard hat and hung it on the peg the crew had installed just for her use. “We both know the lobby is spec perfect.”

  “And you know I can’t have Gualdoni questioning my men or their work. It makes them a little nervous and ready to fight.”

  “Okay.” Shelby knew she owed him an explanation, but she didn’t want to reveal something so personal. “He’s hot at me right now. I’ll get him under control.”

  Matt’s grin was crooked as he gave her arm an affectionate pat. “He might be hard to rein in, Shel, but I’ll do all I can to keep peace around here until the job’s finished.”

  His words made her heart tremble a little. She wavered a hair’s breadth away from crying. “Thanks, Matt. You’re a true friend.”

  “Don’t you ever doubt it, kiddo.” He plopped his hard hat onto his silvering head. “You go do whatever you have to do. I’ll handle things here.”

  She sighed and looked around at the hectic scene of flying dust and noisy machinery. “I’ll go to the Hollister site and get back later this afternoon if I can.”

  “Stop worrying about this place, Shel. Everything is fine as frog’s hair. Go on now. Git.” Matt made a gallant, sweeping gesture with his hat, grinning broadly. “One more thing. You haven’t forgot about the company picnic on Saturday, have you?”

  "No, I haven‘t forgotten.” She laughed and hurried off to her car. If only her problem with Nick was as simple as she had made it sound. But, right now that problem waited at the bottom of the hill.

  What in the hell did Nick want now? Blood? He’d been sitting in his car and got out when she approached. There seemed to be no escape since his car blocked hers.

  She eyed him with impatience. “Well?”

  “About the Builder’s Association’s dinner tonight.”

  “What?”

  “I’ll pick you up at seven.” He gazed at her with an arrogant tilt of his head.

  “Are you nuts?” She knew he had better than average sized balls but hadn’t realized until now they must be made of pure brass.

  He smiled briefly. “I have the invitations.”

  "I don’t need one.” She tossed her notebook through the open window of her car and grimaced at the dirt covering the seats. Her heart tumbled to an all time low when she turned and met his dark gaze to tell him the biggest lie of her life. “You seem to be under the impression I need you. I don’t. Not for invitations or anything else.”

  He shifted his stance, resting his hands on trim hips and studied her without blinking. Shelby couldn’t believe it had been her voice spouting the words of a fool. He turned his head and brought her out of a moment of regret with his chuckle.

  “Have it your way, Shel.” He got in his car and drove away in a cloud of dust. She squashed the desire to run after him, to beg him to take her back and weep like an abandoned kid. But, no. She’d already had her crying jag. Tears and ripping out hair fit helpless women and she sure as hell wasn’t helpless.

  The evening couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start. As if on cue, Nick had arrived at the hotel immediately after her. He made no attempt to separate himself from her. Rage smoldered her.

  The nightmare seating arrangement turned out to be nothing short of abuse. Being strong was one thing, but she equated this to assault. He went out of his way to bump his knee against hers and touch her arm. After the tenth time of brushing against his thigh, she knew what being in the electric chair had to be like.

  On her left, a contractor’s wife known for her wandering eye looked over the crop of men at the gathering. Nick had been assigned the seat on her right. Shelby held her temper when the woman practically sat in her lap, trying to get a look at Nick. The hint of an evil grin on his damned mouth widened to a sensual smile when she caught his eye. Her voice was as icy as she could make it.

  “Move your chair.”

  “Impossible. If I get any closer to the guy next to me, we’d be leaving together.”

  “I’m sure he wouldn’t mind, Nick.”

  “I would. He’s not my type.”

  “Don’t tempt me. I just might tell you what type that is.” The contractor's wife bumped her left elbow and Shelby sighed. She couldn’t believe her own anger. All of that angst directed at one person and Nick busied himself chewing on a piece of steak. She hoped he choked.

  “You could change places with me, you ass.”

  He lay his fork down. “Something wrong with your dinner?”

  She spoke through her clenched teeth. “Yes. The range doggie on my left is goring me to get to you.”

  He smiled in his most provoking manner and picked up his fork. “I’m sure you’ll figure something out.”

  “Yes, I will.” She dug her elbow into his arm, wishing it had gained more than a grin from him.

  She wouldn’t let him or the panting woman next to her ruin the evening. Yet, she couldn’t keep her eyes off him and forgot to eat eight out of ten courses that came and went.

  Nick drew her gaze like a magnet and the longer she watched him, the more she wanted to slug him. He looked like a cross between an impossibly good-looking hit man and one of those heart-stealing secret agents. The dark Italian suit he wore was definitely right for him, expertly cut to fit his broad shoulders and tall frame.

  His nearness and the scent of spice and myrrh on his bronzed skin honed her senses to a razor sharp edge. He caught her checking him out and dipped his gaze into the slash neckline of her dress. She became acutely aware of the plunging neckline and the thigh high hem of her white clingy knit dress. Why had she worn a dress with a slit that ended at her navel? Good Lord, he was looking at her breasts again, wearing that smug grin she wanted to smack off his face.

  She laid her napkin on the table and slid out of her chair to walk toward the open door to freedom. She smiled at several of the guests who gave her questioning looks and hurried from the dining room into the hall.

  The infectious beat of salsa music wafted through the open doors of the grand ballroom and she slowed her step. Happy people celebrating a wedding filled the brightly lit room.

  The cool, darkened patio caught her attention and she slipped out the doors into the still, night air. The quiet was temporary. Nick strolled out to stand beside her. He offered her a cigar before lighting the one he took from its gold case and arched his brow at her look of scorn.

  “What are you doing out here? Waiting for your cohort in crime?” He drew on the fragrant cigar and then blew the smoke out in a slim trail toward the stars.

  Moonlight splashed over him like an icy blue veil, softening the contours of his cheekbones and strong chin. What did he want her to do? Grovel? She mentally counted to ten to calm her temper.

  “I’ve been waiting to see how long it would take you to tag after me.” Pride made her straighten her spine and stand her ground.

  “Clever but not honest. Of course I don’t expect that quality from you anymore.”

  For a brief time, she stood on the brink of humiliation and wanted to squall like a baby. But, no. Hell no.

  The best defense would be to do nothing. Getting back in the lobby meant she had to walk around him, ready to make any sacrifice to leave. He caught the gold chain of her evening bag. She spun to meet his annoying smile.

  “Let go or you’ll be looking for the first aid office.”

  “I just wanted to say goodnight.” Nick inclined his head toward the open doorway. “Doesn’t that music set your blood on fire?” He caught her in his arms and smiled into her eyes.

  “Nick.” She pulled back to distance herself from him. “Do I have to call security?”

  He swung her out from himself, and then with an easy tug twirled her back against his body. “I’ll walk you to your car.”

  “No you will not, you big ape.”

  “I need to ask you some questions.”

  “I don’t see a badge.” She glared at his hand gripping the chain of her bag.

  “You’ll see plenty of badges if you keep acting like a fool. All y
ou have to do is give me a name.” He let her go but held the chain.

  “Go to hell.” With one hard yank, she freed the flimsy strap from his grip.

  He walked beside her and they bumped against each other when they started up the steps. She glared up at him and he pointed to the door, gesturing for her to go first.

  She rushed ahead of him until the heel of her flimsy sandal caught in a carpet snag. She pitched forward. He caught her about the waist and pulled her close.

  “Damn you, Nick.” She wrestled against him and hurled them toward the wall.

  He let loose one of his favorite cuss words as she struggled to free herself.

  “Let go.”

  “Stop moving. We’re going to...” He braced himself against the wall and held her up. “To fall.”

  Shelby twisted away from him, but found herself drawn back like a fish on a line. The lace on her neckline had become entangled with the buttons on his cuff. “You did this purposely.”

  “Hell yes,” he growled. He yanked his arm up and her collar followed. “If you wanted sex, you could’ve asked without all the drama.”

  “There you go again. Your scrotum still passes as your brains.”

  His laughter ricocheted through the hallway. She let her weight hang on his sleeve, relishing the sound of popping buttons and tearing cloth. One button stubbornly clung to his sleeve and her tattered collar. They were still attached.

  “Christ, woman. You’ve gained weight.”

  She scowled at him, trying not to feel the sweet rush of body contact with him. “Stop the insults long enough to help me untangle this.”

  He closed his hand around her upper arm, the tips of his fingers pressed against the curve of her breast. Her blood sizzled. She closed her eyes and choked on a sigh of pleasure. Oh hell. She sounded like a horny cat and he gazed at her with a taunting smile.

  “You wanted to say something, Shel?”

  Her lips pulsed crazily and heat leaped around her. She knew she was weak, but he wasn’t going to get credit for her momentary lapse of sanity.