LITMIR.BIZ

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know better than to do that,” he replied lightly. “Besides, whoever melts the ice princess then has a responsibility.”

      “So, Nick Ransome, you have some old-fashioned ideas lurking.”

      “I keep them locked away rather well,” he replied.

      “I imagine you do. What about you? I don’t know much about you, either.”

      “My life is an open book. I like closing a deal that I’ve worked hard to get, making money, flying, sailing, swimming, passionate women, fast horses and faster cars, long, wet kisses, making love in the moonlight and touching. Pretty predictable, I’d say.”

      “Right, just the guy next door,” she remarked facetiously, but her pulse quickened at his answers and the thoughts his remarks conjured up. If only business didn’t stand between them, she thought and then realized the dangerous direction of following what-if thoughts.

      “What big goals do you have?” he asked. “To be CEO of Holcomb Drilling? To destroy Ransome Energy? To fight with me and win?”

      She laughed. “I think you’re answering your own questions. Except I don’t have ambitions to be a CEO. As for ruining Ransome Energy,” she said, looking at him, “that’s a tempting one. Especially when you’re out to smash us. Now if we can settle our differences peacefully, I’ll be quite happy. Otherwise—” She broke off and gazed out at the water, watching waves come up to meet them.

      “But if we don’t, you’re threatening me, aren’t you?”

      Meeting Nick’s gaze squarely, she felt the contest of wills. “We’re like two sharks circling each other, part of the time swimming together, part of the time eyeing each other as dinner.”

      He leaned closer. “You would be the tastiest morsel I ever sunk my teeth into,” he drawled in a low, husky voice.

      “Careful, Nick, I might bite back,” she said seductively, unable to resist dallying with him in return.

      “This weekend gets to be a better idea by the second,” he said, leaning closer.

      She placed her hand against his chest. “You stay right where you are.”

      He grinned with a disarming flash of white teeth. “I’ll check over the place and be back shortly,” he said, leaving her at the wheel. She was surprised he trusted her because he didn’t know whether she could handle his yacht. Yet in the calm sea, there would be few problems and he was probably counting on that.

      Soon he returned, making her heart race as he walked up to her. “I’ll take the wheel now,” he said, his hands brushing hers lightly. She tingled, aware of the warmth of him as he stood close beside her. “I have a favorite cove,” he continued. “It’s sheltered, has a beach and we can swim.”

      “Sounds marvelous,” she said, barely knowing how she responded as she watched him.

      “See,” he said waving his hand and she watched as they followed the shoreline in a sweeping curve.

      “It’s beautiful,” she said when she saw his destination, animosity momentarily forgotten as she turned her attention to the breathtaking view of blue water, white sand and tall, swaying palms. “Your cove is paradise,” she said quietly, wishing she were with a companion to share the beauty of the place and make it a weekend of warm memories instead of a chess match with high stakes.

      “This is a special escape. I’ve been sailing here for several years.”

      “I’m surprised there isn’t anyone else here.”

      “That’s part of the charm. Most of the time, this inlet is secluded. And in a few minutes, we can drop anchor,” he said, taking the wheel from her and brushing his hands over hers. “I’ll give you a tour of my boat and then we can swim,” he said.

      A few minutes later, he took her arm to go down the companionway to show her the cherrywood and stainless steel galley that opened into the saloon. The galley held a refrigerator, a freezer, a four-burner stove, a built-in table and bench.

      “Hopefully, everything we need or want.”

      “That’s your life, isn’t it, Nick,” she declared. “Everything you need or want at your fingertips. You have to get your way.”

      He turned his attention to her and arched an eyebrow. He placed his hand on her shoulder. “I suspect in a few areas, we’re too much alike. So far, you seem accustomed to getting your way and determined to continue to do so.”

      “So I guess we’re locked in a contest of wills.”

      “This should be the most delicious, hottest challenge I’ve ever faced.”

      “Don’t make me a challenge,” she cautioned. Aware of his smoldering gaze on her, she moved around the galley, lightly touching the gleaming cherrywood cabinets. “This is a beautiful yacht.”

      “I like beautiful things, particularly beautiful women,” he said in a low voice.

      “Well, now that doesn’t surprise me one degree.” She turned to study him, sensing the sparks flying between them. “I hope this weekend thing was a good idea,” she said quietly, her pulse quickening as he stepped closer. When he brushed a tendril of hair away from her face, his fingers skimmed her cheek lightly.

      “This weekend is going to be sweet. The wise choice is always to get to know each other and to garner a clear understanding of what your opponent wants.”

      “We don’t have to be opponents, Nick.”

      “No, we don’t,” he replied, his voice thick and husky.

      “That was not a come-on. Don’t mistake it for one,” she stated and wished her voice held more force. “If we can just work it out where you don’t hurt Granddad,” she said, trying to get back to the purpose of her being on Nick’s yacht, “I’ll try to see that you get business concessions in return that satisfy you completely.”

      “You want to satisfy me completely?” he said huskily, sending her temperature soaring. Fire danced in the depths of his eyes, and her pulse pounded. He looked at her as if he were about to kiss her.

      “Did you even hear the word business? I still feel as if I’m swimming with a shark that is eyeing me for dinner,” she stated breathlessly.

      “There is nothing like a shark about what I want. ‘Satisfy me completely’…that opens visions of possibilities.”

      “You know what I meant! I’m not talking about in bed,” she said bluntly. “I meant absolutely no reference to anything personal.”

      “Too bad. If you had, I might be more easily persuaded.” His hand rested on her shoulder and his thumb lightly rubbed her throat, then paused. “It isn’t problems with work that has your pulse racing,” he drawled, and her heart thumped. Nick saw too much, understood too clearly, guessed too accurately about her. She was held immobile by his hungry, steadfast gaze. That first searing attraction when they met was escalating at an alarming rate.

      “We both know that we have some chemistry between us—it doesn’t mean a thing,” she said.

      “I beg to differ,” he said softly. “From the moment you ran in front of my car and stopped me, the attraction has been undeniable. My curiosity’s stirred. I want to discover the depth of this fire that’s between us.”

      “There is nothing between us except a disagreement we’re trying to solve,” she argued breathlessly.

      “You know better than that,” he responded with a wicked arch of one dark eyebrow. “Right now, your pulse races and so does mine.”

      “I think I’ll go on instinct here. Beware the circling shark.”

      “You’re the one who wanted to get close,” he reminded her.

      “Not quite as close as you have in mind.

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