LITMIR.BIZ

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working,” she said.

      He finally released her. “Why so late?”

      “I came back tonight to get some things done.” She pushed past him. “You’ve been neglecting a lot of the paperwork, Shane. I’m surprised the crew ever got paid.”

      “I have an accounting service do payroll.”

      “But who checks the timecards to make sure they’re correct? I’ve been wading through your mess, trying to get things straightened out.” And she hadn’t wanted to sit at home and listen to her father trash Shane the entire night. “I didn’t realize it was so late.”

      “You don’t have any business here at this hour.”

      “I have as much as you do,” she shot back.

      Shane then ran a hand over his face. “Okay. Okay. Do you think we could try and get through five minutes without arguing?”

      She shrugged. “Do you?”

      “Ah, hell.” He marched to the other side of the trailer as if trying to calm down. Finally he looked at her. “Mariah, we have to find a way to work together. This might not matter to you, but if Paradise Estates doesn’t finish on schedule, I might as well kiss my construction business goodbye.”

      “Why do you think I’m trying to destroy you? I have as much at stake as you do.” It hurt her that he distrusted her. She fought to keep the emotion out of her voice. “I have a reputation to uphold, too, Shane. You have to stop attacking me at every turn.”

      “I’m trying. But when I walked in here yesterday and saw you…” He came back to her. “My God, Mariah, it’s been years. I couldn’t help think about how it was between us.” He reached out to touch her cheek.

      She pulled away again. “You must have different memories from me. I only remember the kiss-off.” In all fairness to Shane, she’d known he’d had a rough time after his father’s death. All she had wanted was to be there for him, but he hadn’t wanted her. She’d been crushed when he’d told her he couldn’t see her any longer. What had devastated her was that he’d had time to spend with several other girls in school.

      “So, I was a selfish bastard,” he offered. “I was a randy teenage boy. Besides, your father didn’t want us to be together, anyway.”

      Mariah shrugged. “That never stopped us. We’d found ways to see each other.” She knew she was baiting him, but she liked seeing his reaction. “I would drive out to the ranch.”

      “And you took foolish chances,” he reminded her.

      She couldn’t stop the memories. She would park behind the barn, and he’d run out to meet her. She’d barely be out of her car before he had pulled her into his arms and kiss her.

      She glanced at Shane. The look in his eyes told her he was remembering, too. “You never asked me to stop,” she accused.

      Suddenly he drew her close again. “How could I? You were every teenage boy’s fantasy.”

      Her pulse raced. Hearing his confession, feeling his hard body pressed to hers, she hadn’t the strength to pull away. She hated her weakness for this man.

      Shane’s head lowered to hers, and she eagerly met his mouth. She whimpered as her lips parted and his tongue pushed inside. Sliding her hands up his chest, she circled his neck. All the feelings she’d buried so long ago suddenly surfaced. Every dream she’d had about being with Shane again hadn’t compared to this. Desire spiraled through her body, exploding through her senses, making her feel a hunger she’d never known.

      Then, all too soon, it ended.

      With a curse Shane released her and turned away. The rejection was excruciating for Mariah. Once again she’d let Shane Hunter hurt her.

      His gaze met hers. “That was a mistake. The last thing we need is this kind of complication.”

      She took a shaky breath, trying to slow her pulse. “I agree. I shouldn’t have baited you.”

      He nodded. “How’s this going to make for a working relationship?”

      “If you think I’m going to resign, you’re wrong. I don’t give up that easily.”

      “Then we better set some guidelines.”

      She didn’t like him being so calm and controlled over what just happened. “How about the first one is you keeping your hands to yourself? Let’s keep this a business relationship—nothing more.”

      He started to speak, then nodded. “And how about you not coming out here alone in the middle of the night?”

      She nodded. “And you tell me when a supplier has a problem with delivery. I’m not a tyrant. Something can be worked out. It’s important to me, too, that we use local suppliers for this project.”

      “How about if you don’t run home every night and tell Daddy every detail of the day? I don’t want to give him any ammunition to use against me.”

      She frowned. “I don’t discuss our business with anyone. But I do live with my parents…at least temporarily.”

      He cocked an eyebrow. “Are you looking for a place of your own?”

      She wasn’t going to tell him about the run-ins with her father. “I have my own apartment in Phoenix. I haven’t lived with my parents since before college. I would like a temporary place while I’m here, but that’s impossible to find without having to sign a lease.”

      “If you’re not looking for anything special, I know of a studio apartment.”

      “I’m interested.”

      He nodded. “Then meet me at the Good Time Café for breakfast.”

      “I don’t have time for breakfast.”

      “You will tomorrow.” He picked up her purse and handed it to her. “And now we’re both going home to bed.” She tensed when he placed his hand against her back and guided her to the door. “Tomorrow we’ll put our heads together and figure out how to do our jobs.”

      “I like the sound of that.”

      “And I mean it, Mariah, no more coming out here alone late at night. It’s too dangerous.”

      “Would it help if I told you I know karate?” When he frowned, she went on, “Maybe if someone was here it would keep the vandals away.”

      “Or they could come after you.” He escorted her to the door. “The only way you get to be out here is if I’m with you. We have to start working together. Agreed?”

      When he looked at her with those blue eyes, she couldn’t deny him what he wanted.

      “Agreed,” she said, knowing she was in big trouble.

      At six-thirty the next morning, Mariah walked into the Good Time Café. She wasn’t surprised that the fifties-style diner was crowded. The place had always been a popular spot in Haven and that obviously hadn’t changed. She glanced around at the red vinyl booths that lined the windows. A young waitress was rushing through the group of tables refilling mugs as the jukebox played an old song by the Supremes, “Baby Love.”

      She recognized several of the crew as she continued to search the room. Finally she found her man seated at the counter. A jolt of awareness hit her. One curious kiss did not make Shane Hunter her man. They couldn’t afford to let anything else happen between them. They needed to keep all their concentration on the project.

      She started across the room toward Shane. He was engrossed in conversation with the man next to him and he suddenly threw back his head and laughed. It had been a long time since Mariah had seen Shane this relaxed. She knew that working with her wasn’t easy for him.

      Shane swung around on the chrome-and-vinyl stool. The smile faded a bit as he got up and came to greet

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