“Let’s get straight to the point. Why not?”
“I’m not interested in casual sex. Nor affairs. Not on a long-term basis,” she stated decisively.
“I see.”
She gathered her nerve to face him and turned, chin high, a fierce pride blazing from her tawny gold eyes. “I hope so, sir.”
He looked at her speculatively, as though she was something entirely new to him... interesting. “So, you’re leaving me to my own devices,” he softly drawled.
“I’m afraid so, sir,” Tessa answered loftily.
He raised an appealing eyebrow. “Nothing I can do?”
“No, sir.”
His mouth moved into its sensual quirk. “You don’t like me much, do you?”
She gave him a mocking smile. “I guess I’m cautious, sir.”
“You think I’m not to be trusted.”
Tessa tilted her head to one side consideringly. “I must confess... I wondered, when you were married...”
“If you’re asking was I faithful to my wife, yes, I was. I had affairs before I married, and I’ve had affairs since. I’m a man who likes sex. And a lot of it. But I’ve never made a practice of mixing women. And I’m very careful about whom I mix with.”
“I’ve noticed, sir.”
He winced at the derision in her voice. “You were the exception to the rule.’’
“I guess I should feel flattered.”
His mouth twisted sardonically. “Regardless of what you think of me, I do have a few principles that I live by.”
She returned an ironic smile. “Oddly enough, sir, although you may not believe it, so do I.”
His eyes gleamed a rueful appreciation as he walked slowly towards her. “I caught you at a vulnerable time, didn’t I?”
She tensed, her eyes glinting a hard warning at him. “Yes, sir, you did,” she said flatly.
“On the rebound.”
“More or less.”
He kept coming. “I won’t say I’m sorry, Tessa.”
It seemed important to hold her ground and stand up to him... no matter what! “It was my decision as well as yours, sir.”
“That’s why you cried,” he said softly.
Tessa flushed. Her eyes burnt with a bright defiance as she replied, “Not precisely, sir. I guess you could say a few things caught up with me.”
“No regrets, Tessa?”
“I am sorry if I disappointed you, sir.”
His eyes mocked her as he slid his arms around her waist and drew her into a loose embrace. “You know damned well you didn’t disappoint me. And I won’t accept that you don’t want anything more to do with me. We’re good together.”
“In bed, sir. That’s all.”
“That’s a start.” He pulled her closer to him, bringing her body into electric contact with his.
Little quivers ran down her thighs, but Tessa found the presence of mind to press her hands against his chest and push herself back, putting some space between them. “More like a finish, sir.”
“Not for me it isn’t.”
Her eyes flashed fierce determination. “I happen to want more than sex from a man, Mr. Callagan.”
“Are you implying I can’t give you more?”
“You only want my body.”
“All weekend?” His slow smile taunted her. “True, I do want it. I’m also impressed by your belief in my virility. But every man needs a breather now and then. Apart from which, I enjoy other pastimes as well, and I’m inviting you to share them with me.”
“Like what?” she scoffed.
“Fishing. Swimming. Eating. The occasional word passed in companionship. Basking in the sun. I definitely, most definitely do not want to use your body any more than I want you to use mine.”
“Yes, you do.”
“Not at all. I concede only that I want to make love to you from time to time, beguile our senses...”
“I’m going home. I have a wedding to cancel.”
“I’ll cancel it for you.”
“It’s something I have to do myself.”
“All right. Do it tonight. It can’t take all weekend. I’ll pick you up in the morning.”
“I’m going to Gosford. That’s where my parents live. And this is something I can’t rush. I owe it to them.”
He heaved a deep sigh and contemplated the stubborn pride on her face. “I want to kiss you senseless, but I have a feeling you wouldn’t like it this time. It’s a losing tactic, isn’t it?”
“I wouldn’t advise it, sir.”
One eyebrow rose in appeal. “Definitely a losing play?”
“Yes, sir. Let’s just keep the good memories.”
“Stockton, I have a terrible weakness for challenges.”
“You might get hurt, sir.”
“Ah! What do you do when you run into an immovable object and you don’t want to get hurt, Stockton?”
“You sidestep it, sir.”
“Good memory, Stockton.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Excuse me while I sidestep.”
He dropped the embrace—much to Tessa’s relief. If he had kissed her she wasn’t at all sure she wouldn’t have weakened in her resolve. She watched him shakily as he stepped to the desk, scribbled something on a card, then came back to her and handed her the card.
“My telephone number. Ring me when you’ve finished cancelling the wedding. What is left of the weekend we will spend together.”
Tessa looked at him sternly. “Don’t hold your breath, sir.”
“Something I ought to tell you, Stockton.” The dark eyes gleamed with ruthless purpose. “I never give up on something I want.”
“Funny you should say that, sir,” she retorted. “Neither do I.”
She swung on her heel and marched towards the door.
“Nice legs, Stockton,” he said appreciatively.
She opened the door before sending him a derisive look. “Thank you, sir. And may I say...”
She paused deliberately. It gave her a thrill of real pleasure to see the look of hope flash into his eyes.
“Yes, Stockton?”
“Your legs aren’t too bad, either.”
She grinned at his surprise, then made a fast exit on her note of triumph.
It occurred to her, on the way down in the elevator, when her wild exultation calmed down to a mere simmer of excitement, that maybe her mother was right in some circumstances. Maybe saying no did draw a man on. If the man was like Blaize Callagan.