Seduce Me

her mind and spirit, until she was practically sobbing with it.

He took her where she'd never been before, something that would have terrified her, if she hadn't sensed he was right there with her, just as lost, just as terrified. And by the time it was over, and they lay gasping and panting in each other's arms, she knew she was also fulfilled, another thing she'd never experienced before.

* * *

Sam woke up in the arms of a big, warm, naked man, which was a great way to start the day.

Unless you'd burned your home and place of work to the ground the night before. Just as quickly, her euphoria died, replaced by a gut-crushing despondence. My God, it had really happened-

Jack's eyes opened, and in their sleepy depths was sorrow for her as he stroked her hair from her face. It was a gesture that tugged even further on a heart that felt as if it had cracked open last night.

God, this man. He had a way of making her melt. He was so wonderful, so hot, so sexy… and so not her future.

They'd already agreed on that.

Only problem, she no longer even knew what her future did hold. All she knew was that she had to go see Wild Cherries by daylight. Had to go take an assessment and make some decisions.

Her heart squeezed, but she slipped out of his arms and got out of bed. 'I've got to go.'

He bent an elbow and propped his head up with his hand, lying in that great big bed looking like one great sexy temptation. 'Why don't you let me make you breakfast first?'

She walked toward the bathroom. She picked up her panties and pulled them on. 'You really know how to cook in that fancy kitchen?'

'Why don't you stay and find out?'

There was her bra, beneath her discarded robe. Straightening, she began to put in on. 'I can't. I want to get to the cafe.'

With a sigh, Jack roused himself out of bed. His two feet hit the floor and then he rose, quite impressive in all his morning glory. 'I'll drive you.'

'I can call a cab-'

'I'm driving you.' He came close, cupped his hands to her face and tilted it up to his. 'Did you really think I'd let you do this alone? Face it in the light of day all by yourself?'

Damn it, her eyes stung again, and she tried to turn away but he held her in a gentle grip of steel. 'I'm sticking,' he said in a voice that had as much strength as his hold. 'We do this together.'

'Lorissa is going to meet me there. Red, too. I'll be fine.'

'Sam-'

'I don't need a baby-sitter, Jack.'

'Yeah. I can see that.' He looked her over for a long moment, then dropped his hands.

She turned away from him because she couldn't handle the emotion he stirred within her. She also couldn't handle putting on her dirty bathrobe, and picked up his sweats and T-shirt. 'Can I-'

'Anything.'

Nodding, she pulled on his clothes, rolling the waist of the sweats to her hips so they'd fit better, and tying his shirt at her waist. Then she turned and faced his hurt silence. 'It's not like we are each other's futures, Jack. We talked about that, on day one. We're not, we know we're not.'

Again he just looked at her for a long moment, then went to his dresser for clothes for himself. 'Sometimes, Sam, things change, even when you don't want them to.'

She went utterly still. Could he possibly believe that? Or was that just a certain body part talking? Because in her experience, thinking ahead never mattered, things happened. And they never happened as planned. The word future, and all it entailed, was just a slippery, untenable dream. 'My future is a charred black pit. And I need to get to it.'

He fastened his Levi's. Grabbed a clean shirt and pulled it over his head. Looked at her.

And the message in his eyes nearly brought her to her knees.

He had feelings for her, she didn't doubt that. Hell, she had feelings for him, too-big, scary, gargantuan feelings that would probably overwhelm her if she didn't already have the fire to deal with.

'It doesn't have to be so cut-and-dried,' he said very quietly.

Oh, yes, it did. Otherwise, she could get quite accustomed to his beautiful face and those eyes looking inside her, deep inside, to the real Samantha O'Ryan. With no effort at all, she could fall hard, she thought, and rubbed the physical ache spreading beneath her ribs. For the first time in her life, she could really tumble, and the joke would be on her.

Because he wouldn't fall, not for her.

Are you sure? asked a hopeful little voice deep inside. Are you sure he wouldn't?

Of course he wouldn't. They weren't even in the same league. He was wonderful, and for now thoroughly engaged with her, but that wouldn't last. No, for both of them, this was nothing more than a quick fling, beautiful and hot, but coming to an end.

Better not to take the plunge at all, than to land on her face in the mud.

Lorissa had taught her that years and years ago after her own disastrous attempt at love had failed so badly, and Sam had taken that mantra to heart. She managed a smile, even though she knew it was a sad one.

'Sam-'

'Please,' she said, her smile faltering at the expression in his eyes. 'Let's just go.'

Looking extremely conflicted and unhappy, he nodded. 'Fine. But after, we talk.'

No, after, she'd go off and lick her wounds, all of them, alone. That's how she did things, and that's how it worked best.

14

They hit traffic on the highway. Not unusual by any means, but Sam nearly bit all her nails to stubs on the drive. Twice Jack tried to talk to her, but she just shook her head, unable to hold a conversation, unable to think until she saw for herself.

Maybe somehow it wasn't as bad as she remembered. Maybe, by some miracle, they'd been able to save-

No. She could see the building as they came down the street, or what was left of it-a shell of what it had once been. A blackened, charred shell.

The parking lot was cordoned off. The fire inspector's truck was parked just on the inside of the yellow tape blocking their way in. Jack slowed his SUV to a stop, forced to wait for a break in the traffic before he could turn around and park on the street.

Unable to sit still, Sam hopped out. She heard Jack swear, heard him call out for her, but she didn't slow down. Couldn't slow down. There were just some things that she had to do alone, and this was one of them.

Ducking under the caution tape, she ran toward the burned building, passing the tall proud sign she'd once painted that still read Wild Cherries. Ironically, it wasn't even singed.

Sam eased up and walked toward the only real home she'd known since eighth grade. Behind the charred mess, the ocean churned and pounded the shore, as always. A few early beach goers walked along the edge of the breaking surf, as always.

But she wouldn't be opening the doors of the cafe today. She wouldn't be having fun creating interesting and delicious sandwiches. She wouldn't go upstairs into her apartment and be at home there.

It just occurred to her. Her surfboard was gone. Her toothbrush. Her favorite pajamas. The photo album of her parents.

All gone.

Her heart tightened. This loss is nothing, she assured herself. Nothing like her other losses. She could start