‘I… I beg your pardon?’ she got out at last as he continued to gaze down at her, his expression inscrutable in the shadows effected by the light behind his broadshouldered body.
‘You seem to have some trouble understanding me, Mrs Strong. I thought I enunciated quite clearly, so what’s the problem?’ He made a slight, irritated movement of his hand and Keira pulled herself into some semblance of self-control.
‘Oh, I heard what you said, Mr Cassidy, and please don’t bother repeating it,’ she added quickly. ‘I was merely giving you the chance to apologise for your offensive offer, which I’m sure you don’t expect me to take seriously.’
‘On the contrary, Mrs Strong. I’ve never been more serious in my life.’
The cool of the night breeze touched Keira’s skin and she shivered slightly. ‘And I don’t believe you, Mr Cassidy. If this is some kind of sick joke then it doesn’t flatter you in the least. How can you make such a blatantly unconscionable proposition to someone you’ve known for less than twenty-four hours? It’s…it’s obscene.’
‘Come now, Mrs Strong. You’re an extremely attractive woman. You don’t need me to tell you that. So why underestimate the power of those very obvious attractions?’ he inquired indolently.
‘Obvious…’ Keira’s teeth closed on the word and lips twisted in disgust. ‘I assure you I’m well aware of my attractions, Mr Cassidy, and I also have no illusions regarding their limitations, so I feel I should warn you that any patronisation in that direction is going to be pointless. Only a fool wouldn’t see that this all comes back to Daniel’s and my phantom relationship.’
‘And you’re not a fool, Mrs Strong,’ he put in levelly as Keira’s anger churned inside her.
‘I’ve already informed you in no uncertain terms that there is no relationship between Daniel and myself. I can’t be any clearer than that,’ she continued directly. ‘So there’s absolutely no necessity to extend yourself to such extravagant lengths to warn me off.’
‘I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I find the thought of such a relationship between you and my nephew abhorrent, but I assure you I’m not in the habit of offering myself up as a sacrifice every time Daniel decides to date. I’m not into masochism. Which leaves us one other intriguing possibility. Have you considered my intentions might not be as selfless as you appear to think they are?’ He paused. ‘Perhaps I’m interested.’
Keira’s muscles tensed until she feared they’d snap under the strain. ‘Interested?’ she repeated a little breathily.
He inclined his dark head slightly and the light momentarily reflected the bright sparkle of his eyes.
Keira reined in her fervent imagination as it threatened to take the heady thought and make a wild, impassioned dash with it. Interested in her? No! She couldn’t allow it.
‘Well, Mr Cassidy, I’m not,’ she stated firmly, surprising herself with her resolve.
‘No?’ As he lifted his dark head the artificial illumination now caught one side of his face, the sweep of his hard jawline, played over the hollow beneath his cheekbone. ‘Are you sure of that, Mrs Strong?’
‘Sure?’ she echoed with considerably less conviction, and when she heard her uncertainty she raised her chin determinedly. ‘Of course I’m sure. I barely know you, for heaven’s sake.’
‘An obstacle that could be quickly, easily and enjoyably overcome,’ he stated matter-of-factry.
Keira felt the flutter of her pulse in her throat and turned slightly away from him, folding her arms protectively about herself. ‘Not from where I stand,’ she replied sarcastically.
‘Then perhaps you aren’t standing in the right place. It would be a simple matter of taking one step in this direction.’
Keira swung back to face him, disproportionately piqued by his levity. Had he moved closer to her? She was sure he had. An electrifying fear clutched at her and she took a quick steadying breath. ‘Look, Mr Cassidy, I’m afraid I don’t find getting to know a stranger, in the sense you mean, something that can be achieved quickly or easily. And as to the enjoyable-well, that remains to be seen,’ she finished lamely.
‘But you’ve already seen it,’ he said quietly, his low voice playing over her susceptible senses before she had time to build a defence against his evocatively erotic tone.
‘I-’ Keira swallowed ‘-I don’t know what you mean.’
‘When we were dancing. The sparks were there. You were as aware of them as I was. Weren’t you, Keira?’
His husky voice saying her Christian name so intimately was almost her undoing. Keira. No one had said it quite like that before. It flowed over her tingling skin like smooth silk, teasing each nerve ending into instantaneous arousal.
With an exhilarating sense of vertigo she felt her body begin to capitulate, to incline towards his. He was the hunter and she his quarry. He was the burning light and she the moth. And her mind screamed out her danger, warned of the destructive singe of wings that might very well result from venturing too close to his fateful flame.
‘You’re mistaken, Mr Cassidy,’ she assured him icily with what little composure remained unmoved by his tantalising magnetism.’ And I’m surprised that you could be so fanciful.’
He laughed softly and Keira’s knees went weak.
‘So. You think I have a vivid imagination?’ he said wryly. ‘And perhaps I do, in certain-’ he paused explicitly ‘- intimate situations. But I don’t think I was- am-misconstruing the attraction that exists between us.’
With an exclamation of disgust Keira turned her back on him again. ‘I think this ridiculous conversation has gone far enough. I repeat, Mr Cassidy, I am not interested.’
‘And I, Mrs Strong, am definitely,’ he said with low conviction, ‘interested.’
‘Why me?’ Keira asked at last into the heavy silence that stretched between them, gathering its own volatile momentum.
‘Why not? I meant it when I said I find you a very attractive woman.’
Keira fancied she felt the brush of his breath on the back of her neck and she wanted to run for her life. But her uncooperative legs refused to carry her away to safety. ‘Oh, curse my fatal charm,’ she got out bitingly, and he made no immediate comment.
And the silence stretched between them until Keira had to break its potent hold. ‘Attractive women in your circles are a dime a dozen,’ she threw at him, like a drowning person clutching at a proffered lifesaver.
‘You’re intelligent-’
Keira sighed loudly. ‘Intelligent? If I had any sense at all I’d be slapping your face and leaving you to try out your distasteful line on someone else.’ She moved agitatedly back to face him. ‘And slapping your face, incidentally, is growing far more appealing to me by the minute.’
‘Then I suggest you reconsider. I’m a stickler for the equality of the sexes. I’d slap you back.’
Keira felt his eyes lock steadily with her own, felt their strength of purpose in spite of the shadowy light. She suspected he’d carry out his intentions, too.
Eden Cassidy represented all that was mysteriously forbidden, a walk over uncertain ground, an untravelled path that held a tempting unknown. But it all led to a world she’d visited before and her experience had not been a happy one. She had no desire to go through the pain again, she reminded herself.
Yet the temptation was there, glowing like a welcoming beacon in the dark. It would only take one step. But Keira knew she couldn’t take it. Not on the terms he was offering.
‘Equality of the sexes.’ It was Keira’s turn to laugh. ‘Next thing you’ll be telling me you’re sensitive, caring and vulnerable. Now, why can’t I picture you in that role? Maybe because you like playing to the gallery too much.’
‘You think I’m theatrical?’ He raised dark brows and Keira shrugged.
‘I think you also enjoy playing the field.’
He gave a soft, nerve-honing laugh. ‘So I flit from flower to flower?’
‘Precisely,’ Keira said sarcastically.
‘You should know not to believe everything you read in the glossies,’ he countered, moving imperceptibly, yet enough for Keira’s acutely vigilant senses to react, tensing her muscles in reflex defence. ‘I’m a one-woman-at-a- time man. Always have been. A woman always knows she has my complete and undivided attention.’
‘Nice sentiments. But only for as long as it lasts, I’d say. Well, I just don’t intend to be the latest blossom for you to add to your bunch. Now, I’ve really had enough of this conversation. I’m a little tired and I’m going inside.’
‘Running away, Keira?’ His words stopped her immediately. ‘I thought you’d enjoy a challenge.’ His fingers
