As Shane pushed away from the door, all thoughts of work fled Lia’s mind and she nearly panicked. She couldn’t allow him to touch her — she’d melt into his arms. No! Not gonna happen.
Burn her once, shame on him; burn her twice, shame on her. She took a step back and found herself trapped between his rapidly approaching steps and the massive printer behind her.
“Look Shane, we had a great night. I’m not saying it wasn’t fun, but it’s over now. You need to respect that and move on to your next victim. You have left a slew of women flopping around in your wake, after all. And more of the poor saps are lining up.”
“Tsk, tsk, Lia. Are you trying to make me mad? It isn’t working. Now that I’ve had a taste of you, no other woman will do. It looks as if you’re stuck with me. Since you’re the one who was in hot pursuit, you should damn well be pleased about it.”
“You’re just a bit too overconfident, don’t you think?” Lia had intended her statement to sound far harsher, but the effect was undermined by the breathlessness of her voice.
“I think you just want to be chased.” With those words, he pulled her into his arms and forced her head back as he pressed his lips against hers.
Stubbornly refusing to open her mouth, Lia pushed against his chest. If she melted into him, it would all be over. Her blood would ignite, and her will to resist him would join the flames — she’d been in love with him for too long.
Shane nipped her bottom lip at the same time as he gripped her backside and pulled her up against his hardening body. An involuntary groan escaped her throat, making her open her lips to him. He didn’t hesitate as he plunged his tongue inside her mouth and reminded her how great a kisser he was.
After a couple of minutes, Shane pulled back just enough that he could see into her eyes.
“Are you so sure you don’t want to continue where we left off?” he confidently asked.
The arrogant sound of his voice managed to snap Lia from her sexual high, and with an unknown strength, she found she pushed hard, making him take a step back.
With a fingernail poked into his chest, she looked him in the face. “You can go…please yourself, Shane Grayson. I’m done with you.”
With those words, Lia managed to skirt around him and flee the room. Just before she was out of earshot, she heard his parting comment.
“Nothing attracts me more than a fiery temper, Lia. We’ll continue this later…”
She turned the corner and ducked into the women’s bathroom, grateful it was empty. As she looked at her flushed complexion, and noted her dilated eyes, she knew she was in trouble. She’d wanted him for so long; she didn’t know how to turn that emotion off.
What if she never could?
Rafe hadn’t said a word to her about his conversation with Shane, but that wasn’t even the point. She’d asked Shane to keep their relationship private and he hadn’t respected her enough to do the very first thing she’d asked of him.
Worse, she knew Shane didn’t stay with women long. She’d forgotten that while she chased after him. All she’d wanted was for him to want her — need her — have her as his only one. She’d obviously been more infatuated with him than he with her. But, typical male that he was, he’d gotten a taste of sex, and now he wanted more.
Enough! She had work to do, and it was important.
In about ten minutes she was meeting with a committee for the project she’d mentioned to Shane and she wanted to look her best. This was going to be a beautiful, exclusive, very high-end resort for those who needed privacy, but still valued the ultimate in luxuries.
It had taken Rafe years to get the go-ahead because that area of the island was breathtaking, and the residents hadn’t wanted tourists to come in and ruin the balance of the island. With Rafe’s designs, the place would have everything a spoiled multimillionaire would want while still using and respecting the island’s natural gifts to maximize the resort’s appeal.
Nonetheless, this project would take a lot of effort on her part because there were still many against it getting started. Protesters had already started lining the beaches, camping out and refusing to back down. When Rafe had hired her, he hadn’t been joking when he told her he hoped she had a strong backbone.
Time to get ready. Lia washed her face, then groaned when she realized she didn’t have her purse to at least reapply her makeup. Giving up on her appearance, she made her way to the conference room. As she walked through the doorway, with her shoulders back and a smile on her face, she looked around, giving a nod of her head to her brother before approaching the front of the room.
That was when Shane walked in the door and moved to stand beside Rafe. Her stomach turned over as the pieces came together.
“Thank you for meeting us here, today. It seems Ms. Harlow has a plan of action for us as we move forward with the Gli Amanti Cove project. The floor’s all yours, Lia.”
“You’re part of this project, Shane?” She knew she shouldn’t ask, because she was certain she didn’t want to know the answer.
“Yes. I’m surprised Rafe didn’t tell you. I’m the lead on this one. It looks as if we’ll have plenty of time to catch up.”
The wicked glint in his eyes left no doubt he was very much looking forward to being stuck on a nearly deserted island with her. Lia had two options. She could either suck it up and do her job, or she could cry about her misfortunes and walk from the room.
Never had Lia been a quitter. With a small glare sent Shane’s way, she addressed the rest of the partners involved.
“First, I’d like to start by saying…”
Lia missed the determined glint in Shane’s eyes, and the way Rafe looked at both of them. If she had known what she was about to get into, she might have taken this opportunity to run.
Chapter Thirty-Five
It was all or nothing. Ari knew he cared — he was just afraid of being in a real relationship. That’s what his family members said. He wouldn’t have said the things he’d said, made love to her. She knew it wasn’t just sex. Perhaps he wasn’t in love with her, but he had feelings.
What he’d said the night before had been him protecting his heart. That was her hope. She knew he could really be finished with her, but if there was even the slightest chance of him loving her, she had to give it a try. So much for her fine words to herself about walking away!
Slipping into the nightie she’d splurged on, then sitting at her vanity as she carefully applied her makeup, Ari couldn’t help the fluttering in her heart. The night was going to go either very well, or horribly wrong.