brighter smile for him. “I’ll look forward to it,” she said gently.
His eyes dropped to her mouth and lingered on it so intently that it made her lips part in response.
“I wish small towns weren’t hotbeds of gossip,” he said huskily. “I’d like to break your mouth open under mine and kiss you the way I did last night. I’d like to hold you so close that you could feel how hungry I am for you. And that might shock a few people.”
“I’m going to miss you,” she said without thinking.
“How do you think I feel, for God’s sake?” he ground out. His dark eyes glittered at her. “If I took you with me, we wouldn’t get out of the damned bed for a week. I’ve got too many irons in the fire to risk it right now, too many people depending on me for their jobs.”
Her breath caught in her throat. “Do you want me that much?” she asked.
His chest rose and fell heavily under her fingers. “Until it’s almost beyond bearing,” he replied solemnly. “But I don’t start things I can’t finish. I told you how I felt about commitment, didn’t I? I haven’t lied.”
“I know that. I won’t ask for something you can’t give.” She moved closer, her heart in the soft eyes that looked up into his. “Your terms, Cal, all the way.”
He scowled. “Don’t you want anything?” he asked suddenly.
Her eyebrows arched. “Like what?”
“A car. A fur coat...”
She felt a surge of compassion so strong that it almost shook her. Her fingers pressed gently against his warm, hard mouth.
“I’d rather have the memory of last night,” she said quietly, “than all the mink coats in the world. Does that answer your question, Mr. Steel?”
He drew her close and held her for a long moment before he spoke.
“I’m glad I made it something you’d want to remember,” he said at her ear. All at once he chuckled softly.
“What’s so funny?” she prodded.
“The look on your face when I pulled you over me last night,” he murmured, drawing back enough to let him see the faint embarrassment that lingered in her face.
She laughed in spite of herself, remembering her own stunned surprise, his faint amusement even in the throes of passion.
“Quite obviously, you weren’t aware that it was possible in that position,” he whispered. “But it was the only way I could protect your back, you little witch. I’m no lightweight.”
She looked into his eyes with a wild excitement making her knees weak as the memory of the long, achingly sweet night pricked her mind. “It was...so beautiful,” she whispered slowly.
His nostrils flared with a sudden, harsh breath. His fingers tightened on her shoulders. “It wasn’t just sex,” he said unsteadily. “It was a beginning. Do you love me, Nikki?”
“Yes.” Her voice broke on the word, but it was in her eyes, in her face, in her hands that clung helplessly to his waist.
His eyes closed, his jaw tautened for an instant before he suddenly let her go. “Go call your uncle,” he said heavily, turning away to light a cigarette. His eyes met hers one last time. “And remember one thing, Nikki. You belong to me now, just as I belong to you. We’re not playing games.”
She searched his hard face, but not a trace of emotion showed in it. “Cal...”
“Keep away from that guy Hall. He had his chance. Now it’s mine. So long, Georgia,” he added with a last, satisfied appraisal before he turned away and strode back toward the jet. He didn’t look back when he climbed into it. Somehow that stuck in Nikki’s mind, even when she watched him take off.
CHAPTER SEVEN
UNCLE MIKE MET her at the airport, his deep blue eyes worried, his stocky frame restlessly pacing the concourse. He moved forward the instant he saw her coming toward him and caught her in a bear hug.
“Welcome home, honey,” he said with a quick smile. “Are you okay? What happened? Why are you back so soon?”
She laughed nervously and tried not to cry. “Nothing terribly important, Uncle Mike, just a mix-up, that’s all.” She bit her lip and smiled through a mist, “I’m okay.”
He searched her pale eyes and nodded. “We’ll talk about it when we get home. Bill Hastings flew me up to meet you. We’ll ride back with him in the Cessna.”
“Jenny didn’t come with you, I don’t suppose?” she asked, clutching her single suitcase tightly until he calmly reached down and took it away from her before they