IF THE CABIN had appeared rustic from the outside, the interior somehow managed romantic and high-tech at the same time. Laura left her ruined shoes in the enclosed entryway, what Ethan referred to as a “mini mudroom,” and followed him into the main living area. When he hit the switch, lights came on around the baseboards, producing enough illumination to suggest the interior of an elegant restaurant.

  “Solar power?” she asked as she tipped up her carry-on and draped the suit bag over it.

  “From batteries beneath the house,” he said. “The system gives off heat as well as light.”

  “And the heat rises to fill the room.”

  “Once I get the woodstove and a fire going, we’ll be toasty.”

  “Nice.” They’d been bandying that word around a lot. This time, it didn’t carry extra meaning.

  Ethan put the bag of groceries on the counter in the kitchenette. “Settle in.”

  She glanced around. “Are there other rooms?”

  “Bathroom.”

  “Then, where would you like me to settle in?”

  He paused in the act of stowing a carton of eggs in the refrigerator. After a moment, he straightened, placed his elbow on the door and assumed his too-casual pose again. “You take the sleeping loft. I’ll camp out on the couch.”

  She checked the piece of furniture in question. “Is it big enough for you?”

  “I’ll fold into it.”

  “Because, I don’t really have to—”

  “Take the loft. As you observed, heat rises. You’ll be comfortable up there.”

  The baseboard heating was having an effect on the temperature, but not enough for her to remove her coat.

  “I’ll lay a fire,” she said.

  “You know how to do that?”

  “It’s not rocket science.”

  “Be my guest.”

  While he continued putting away groceries, she went to the huge stone fireplace and knelt to check out the supplies. Plenty of wood and kindling. Starting with crumpled newspaper, she built what should soon be a good blaze. She found matches, lit the paper, and sat back on her heels to watch the fuel catch.

  Out of nowhere, a male hand appeared in front of her, holding a glass of red wine. She took it and glanced up at the towering figure of Ethan Gould. “Thanks.”

  “I didn’t know for sure if you’d want anything to drink.”

  “I’m good with wine. It’s tequila I need to stay away from.” Damn it, why had she said that? She shouldn’t have mentioned anything that could remind him of that night. Or remind herself, for that matter. She sipped some of her drink and stared into the fire.

  Of course, he didn’t do the easy thing and go back to the kitchenette and leave her alone with the memory. Oh no, he had to sit down beside her in front of the fire.

  “Want to talk about the two-ton elephant in the room?” he asked.

  “No.”

  “I do.”

  “Fine,” she said. “You talk. I’ll listen.”

  “Doesn’t work that way.”

  “Look, Ethan.” She took a fortifying sip of her wine and let it roll around on her tongue. He had good taste, she’d give him that. Eventually, she had to face him. When she did, she somehow ended up lost in the reflection of the fire in his eyes.

  “Laura . . .” he prompted.

  “I wasn’t myself that night.” Lord, how embarrassing. If he wanted to talk about this, why didn’t he say something or do something? Why was he putting it all on her? “I behaved inappropriately toward you.”

  He gave her a lopsided smile. “Is that what they’re calling it now?”

  “Please. You’ll make me blush.”

  “So what?” he said. “No one’s ever died of blushing.”

  She could. Her heart fluttered in her chest, and her stomach felt full of cold lead. When her hands trembled, she set her glass on the hearth rather than spill red wine on the carpet.

  “Hey, hey.” He put his glass next to hers and took her hands in his. “It’s not that serious.”

  When she couldn’t take any more gazing into his eyes, she switched to staring at the fire. “You could probably have sued me for harassment.”

  “Harassment?” he repeated. “How do you figure that?”

  “You obviously didn’t welcome . . . um, return feel the same . . .”

  “Because I didn’t follow through?”

  She clenched her teeth together and sat in utter, silent shame.

  “You’d had too much to drink, Laura,” he said. “Only a bastard takes advantage like that.”

  “Well,” she pulled her hands from his and took a steadying breath. “It was a long time ago. I’m glad we settled it.”

  “I don’t call that settled,” he said.

  She stared into the fire again. If she didn’t look at him, maybe he’d go away. “I do.”

  “Damn it, Laura, you’re going to deal with this.” Taking her chin in his hand, he turned her head until she had to look at him. “Do you know how exciting you were that night?”

  “I was drunk and disorderly.” Drunk enough for him to have rejected her but not enough for her to have forgotten all the things she’d said to him. No one on earth had ever heard of her fantasies, but after that encounter, this man had.

  “You turned me on like crazy,” he said. “I went nuts trying to figure out how to get you to make the same invitation sober.”

  “It was a long time ago, Ethan.”

  “I would have called you, but I figured that would have embarrassed you.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t.”

  “I kept putting myself in places where I’d bump into you by accident, but you disappeared”—he gestured with both hands—“poof.”

  “I don’t want to talk about this,” she said. “You promised.”

  He studied her for a long moment before picking up his wine again. “Yeah, I guess I did.”

  “Thanks for understanding.” This time, when she lifted her glass, it didn’t wobble.

  “You’ll at least eat dinner with me, I hope.”

  “Of course,” she said. “This is excellent wine, by the way.”

  “It should go with the steaks. How do you like yours?”

  “Rare.”

  “Rare it is.” With the knuckle of his free hand, he tapped the end of her nose before rising and sauntering back to the stove.

  She took a deep breath—the first truly relaxing one she’d had since he strolled into the country store—and watched him rinse vegetables for salad in the sink. She ought to help him, but he seemed to know what he was about. Besides, the world was a safer place with distance between them.

  So, he’d refused her that night out of gallantry. Or so he said. That made things marginally less humiliating. Sort of.

  As he worked on their dinner, his movement fluid as he went from counter to refrigerator to cabinet and back, she couldn’t erase the memory of that lean body against hers. The kisses . . . sweeter and more potent than the margaritas that had caused her to lose control. And the misery, the soul-crushing disappointment, when he’d pushed her away.

  Now that they’d discussed the two-ton elephant, the whole incident was closed. Over and dealt with. Finito. Somehow, that made her stomach only queasier.

  Chapter Two

  “LAURA, MOVE OVER.”

  Asleep. Dreaming. Someone was telling her to move over. The salesman in her mind’s eye who was trying to sell her the huge purple SUV with the tiny tires. Why would he want her to move over?

  “Come on, Laura. Please.”

  She opened her eyes to a strange place with a low ceiling just visible above her. The loft. The cabin. A hand shook her arm.

  “Ethan?” she asked. “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m freezing. Move over.”

  She clutched the covers to her chest and turned. The floorboard lighting cast enough illumination to show to his face at the top of the ladder, less than a foot from hers. “What happened?”

  “The fire went out.”

  “You should have kept it going.”

  “I was asleep, okay?” He climbed the last few rungs and lifted the covers so he could slide in beside her.

  “What are you doing?”

  “This is the only warm spot in the cabin.”

  She retreated toward the back of the loft, but that didn’t take her very far away from him. “The wood stove.”

  “It sends all the warmth up here,” he said. “Heat rises, remember?”

  “But you can’t—” Before she could get another word out, he pressed his foot against her leg. Even through her pajamas, it felt like ice.

  “Hey!” she cried.

  “See what I mean?” he said. “Have pity. You don’t want me to freeze my butt off, do you?”

  “Heaven forbid.” He had a glorious ass, just like every other part of him. Not that she’d ever stared at it or anything.

  “Thanks.” He pulled the covers up under his chin and settled back. At least, they had two pillows so they wouldn’t have to share. But how was she supposed to sleep with him taking up all this room with his scent and his, well, maleness? Maybe a little small talk would make things less tense.

  “That was a great dinner. You’re a good cook,” she said.

  “Steak and salad’s easy.”

  “But zabaglione? That takes some skill.”

  He shrugged, his shoulder brushing hers. “Glad we found the marsala. Jeff keeps a stocked liquor cabinet.”

  “I noticed.”

  “Maybe I’ll make you a margarita while we’re here.”

  So much for small talk. “Ethan, don’t.”

  “Laura, I . . .” He rolled toward her and something very solid pressed against her hip. Hard, male, and very large. He flopped onto his back again, and they lay in silence for a while.

  “I guess you must have felt—” he said.

  “Yeah.”

  “Sorry about that.”

  “Don’t be. It’s a natural male reaction,” she said. Natural and about as awkward as anything natural could be. “Men get, well, hard all the time, don’t they? At least, that’s what I’ve heard.”

  Oh God, here they went again. The two of them together were some kind catastrophe waiting to happen.

  “Are you kidding?” he asked. “You think this is some kind of random, meaningless event?”

  “I think I don’t want to have to talk about another elephant in six years.” She rolled over, pinning herself against the wall with her back to him. “Good night, Ethan.”

  “Oh no you don’t.” He caught her shoulder and pulled her back against the mattress. “We’re going to take care of this right now.”

  “For heaven’s sake, there’s nothing to take care of.”

  “My anatomy disagrees.”

  “I don’t know anything about anatomy. I was a business major.”

  “Gee . . . hosophat.” He propped himself up on one elbow and waved his finger under her nose. For a moment, he looked ready to deliver a lecture, but then, his expression change, turning serious, and he stared at her mouth.

  All the air whooshed out of the tiny space, and she parted her lips to try to breathe. As soon as she had, he moaned and closed the distance to place his lips over hers.

  She absolutely melted under the sweetness of his kiss. Better even than her memories of the ones she’d had before, and those had grown more and more heated over the years. His mouth moved with enough pressure to command a response from hers. And she responded. How could she not? She answered with her own lips, exploring every curve, every bend of his mouth. Soon, the sounds of their breathing filled her ears. Harsh and labored. Two people becoming aroused. When his tongue grazed her lower lip, she had to push him away to drag air into her lungs.

  “What are we doing?” she whispered.

  “What we should have done six years ago.”

  “Oh God.”

  “Praying won’t do you any good, lady. This is going to happen. Answer one question first.”

  She stared at him. That question might spare her if she came up with the right answer. On the other hand, did she really want to be spared? She’d desired him that night six years ago. That hadn’t changed.

  “What?” she said.

  “Protection,” he said. “I have only one condom in my wallet.”

  “I’m on the pill.” Damn it all, why had she told him that? She’d only kissed him. She hadn’t agreed to go any further than that. She could have lied and ended this. Now she’d given him permission.

  His grin said the meaning of her confession had registered. “Sweet, sexy Laura. As cautious as ever.”

  “This is crazy, Ethan. It didn’t work six years ago, and it won’t now.”

  “I didn’t enjoy pushing you away, Laura.” His voice came out deep, lusty. “I wanted to bury myself inside you. I still do.”

  “I don’t know. It’s . . .” complicated. Only, it wasn’t, at least not as far as her body was concerned. Her body was finding things very simple, indeed.

  “We’re business people. We negotiate all the time,” he said. “We’ll make a deal.”

  “What kind of deal?”

  “Give me the time we have here. A few days until the tow trucks show up. Once we leave this cabin, I’ll never bring this or six years up again.”

  “What do you get, aside from the obvious?”

  “I want everything you promised me six years ago,” he said. “All of it.”

  What temptation. With the help of some good Mexican liquor, she’d laid everything on the table. Everything she’d ever wanted to do with a man’s body. All of it involving the erection she’d felt against her hip a few moments ago.

  All her adult life, men’s bodies had fascinated her, but she’d experienced only vanilla sex. Under covers, in the dark. If she took his deal, she could play with his big beauty—feel it stiffen, watch it climax, and then get it erect again. She could tease it and lick it until he couldn’t stand any more, and then she could mount him and ride him the way she’d done in daydreams since the first day she’d laid eyes on him.

  “Think about it. No inhibitions. No ‘it’s naughty.’ And I do not want to hear the word ‘inappropriate,’ ” he said. “And then, we can leave all that behind here. I’ll never say a word about it again or that party, either.”

  “You promise?

  “That’s the deal.”

  Talk about an offer she couldn’t refuse. Hot, kinky sex for days. His sex in her hands, in her mouth, inside her body. Any way she wanted it. Maybe even the one fantasy she hardly let herself dwell on. Then, she could walk away guilt-free, knowing neither of them would speak about this ever again. She could put her involvement with this man where it belonged . . . in the past.

  “Okay.” She stuck out her hand to shake.

  “Oh no,” he said. “I can think of a much better way to close this deal than that.”

  Then, he launched a full-blown, multiflank assault on her senses. He kissed her again, but this time, his body covered hers as he stole her breath with his mouth. Heat rose, for sure. Already the small space of the loft had warmed to the point where she didn’t need blankets. The man had to have a furnace inside him because his skin heated hers wherever they touched.

  When even lips weren’t enough, she probed with her tongue in search for his. When she found it, a current of need shot through her, downward past her heart all the way to the secret place between her legs. How did he manage to arouse her so easily? She’d known a few men, but none of them had moved her like this.

  After a bit, he lifted his face from hers and gazed down at her. In the dim light, she could just make out the haze of arousal in his eyes. He really did want her.

  “You’re amazing,” he whispered.

  “Just don’t stop.”

  “Not a chance.” He dipped beneath her chin to nibble at the sensitive flesh of her throat. All the while, his fingers worked the buttons of her pajama top until he’d parted the sides to expose her breasts. Even that didn’t chill her, but then, he covered one with his hand while taking the other nipple into his mouth.

  Sucking in a breath with a hiss, she arched her back. So intense. Unbelievable.

  He released her. “Did I hurt you?”

  “I told you not to stop,” she said, pounding on his back. “You stupid man.”

  “That’s my girl.” He chuckled and went back to work. This time, he performed his magic on the other breast, the heat and moisture of his mouth tugging at the peak. It had already tightened to a hard nub, and now, he teased it until she couldn’t contain a whimper. He’d set a fire inside her that burned from the inside out. Her sex clenched. Empty now and craving him. He’d fix that soon. He’d take that glorious hardness and fill her with it. Already, she’d grown wet, soaking the lips of her sex. She might be embarrassed about that if he hadn’t made her so insanely aroused.

  “I want you naked,” she said, hardly recognizing her own voice. That was the sound of a woman with demands. A woman who didn’t give a fig for anything but her own needs. She didn’t have to. She could enjoy this man any way she wanted and then never have to face him again. She could excite him any time she wanted and enjoy the consequences.

  With her new boldness, she flipped them over and pushed his T-shirt over his ribs and shoulders. As soon as he’d yanked it over his head and tossed it God knew where, she feasted on him. After laying kisses along the angle of his jaw, she trailed her tongue down his throat and dipped it into the hollow above his collarbone. Her breasts pressed against the firm muscles of his chest, creating even more stimulation for the hardened tips.

  Slithering lower, she ground her body against his while she teased his male nipples with her thumbs. His hardness pushed against her belly, even larger than she’d remembered. She ought to fear a monster like that. It could hurt if he weren’t careful. He wouldn’t let that happen. The man who’d refused to take advantage of her six years earlier wouldn’t harm her.