“What the hell do you think you’re doing, locking that door?” she grated out.
He arched one brow sardonically, the expression telling her loud and clear that the answer was obvious.
She smoothed her shirt and took another step away from him. Not even her rising fury over what had just occurred could make her totally immune to the fact that Eric looked damn attractive at that moment. Her stroking fingers had mussed his hair. Several dark locks fell sexily onto his forehead.
And that wasn’t all. His aroused state was shockingly—thrillingly—obvious, and he didn’t appear to be in any haste to hide that fact from her.
The realization sent her into a tailspin. She was angry, true, but also bewildered by the strength of her response to him. She wanted Eric Reyes. Eric Reyes. She didn’t want to want him, but her body seemed to be ignoring her wishes.
“I suppose this is some kind of ritual for you, to bring women to your office on your lunch hour,” she said in a low, shaking voice. She reached to unfasten the lock.
“Always running, aren’t you, Colleen? I always pegged you for having more courage than that.”
Her hand dropped, and she spun to face him. “You ask me up to your office on a pretense and then take advantage of the situation and maul me. I choose to leave, and you claim that’s running?” she said in a shaky voice.
He regarded her somberly. If it weren’t for his mussed hair, smoky eyes and…agitated state, it might have been the return of the indomitable, arrogant Dr. Reyes. Seeing both aspects of his character in evidence—the cool, arrogant side alongside the hot, impassioned male—intrigued Colleen despite her irritation.
“If you want to leave, that’s your prerogative, of course. I don’t think it’s me you’re running from, though. Not me....or my ‘mauling’ of your body,” he added darkly.
Colleen flushed. He was right to chastise her for that mauling comment. If that had been mauling, then she was just as guilty for returning the favor.
“You’re running because of the way you feel,” he continued. “Why are you so determined to deny that we’re attracted to each other?”
She rolled her eyes and released the lock. “The attraction would have to be a heck of a lot stronger than that for me to ever get involved with you,” she said coldly, despite the fact that she was hot.
Very hot.
“Oh,” he said, his head going back slightly as if he’d just caught her meaning. “A kiss has to be a lot better than that for the princess to be interested. I get it.”
Her cheeks burned at his sarcasm. If his kiss had been any hotter, she might have spontaneously combusted. And he knew from experience how furious she became about that stupid “princess” reference.
“I’m not going to stand here and praise your sexual prowess, Reyes. I’m not interested. Now, do you want to play Dr. Don Juan, or do you want to plan this party and wedding with me?”
He dropped his arms and walked toward his desk. “I’m definitely going to be in on the plans. This is my sister we’re talking about.”
“Fine,” she said, her anger fizzling slightly at his refusal to fight with her. “Just…just keep your distance from me. This is family business only.”
He paused behind his desk and met her stare across the room.
“I’ll only get as close as what’s required. I promise.”
She nodded her head once in agreement and fled the room and was halfway down the hall before she realized the ambiguity of his solemn pledge.
Chapter Four
Mari Kavanaugh bustled into Colleen’s kitchen, her high heels tapping briskly on the tile floor. The sounds of the band Eric had hired for the engagement party filtered through the swinging doors. Luckily, the event had fallen on a gorgeous fall evening. Colleen’s terrace and family room had been transformed by a colorful silk pavilion, with lush autumn flower arrangements, glowing lanterns and flickering tea lights. Three giant heat lamps, donated by Eric, kept the terrace comfortable, and everyone seemed to be having a good time. Before she’d entered the kitchen a few minutes ago, Liam and Natalie had been the first to begin dancing.
Colleen had watched Liam and his fiancée dance, smiling wistfully just like every other guest at the party. The couple’s love and desire for each other had been so evident it created an ache in Colleen’s chest.
Her gaze had shifted when a tall figure moved into her line of sight. Colleen had watched a smiling Janice Tejada swaying in Eric Reyes’s arms. Her sappy smile had evaporated.
She’d headed to the kitchen and began attacking a particularly grimy saucepan.
“We need more sweet-and-sour sauce,” Mari said breathlessly as she flung open the refrigerator door. “The Asian dumplings are a big hit. I can’t figure out how you’re such a fabulous cook when your brother’s idea of culinary preparation is dialing for takeout.”
Her sister-in-law looked sophisticated and typically beautiful tonight, wearing a rust-colored dress and brown suede pumps. Colleen had been friends with Mari since
they were in elementary school. They hadn’t seen one another for fifteen years following the car crash, in which Mari’s parents and Colleen’s father had all been killed. Mari and Colleen had immediately connected again when Mari returned to Harbor Town, however. Colleen had been thrilled to see that Marc and Mari’s passion for one another had burned brighter than ever. She wasn’t a romantic, but it had seemed nothing but right in Mari and Marc’s case when the star-crossed lovers finally got their happily ever after.