Mallory let out a long-suffering sigh. “You miss the point. No one else from the office is here, but Lederman is due back soon and he’s unpredictable enough to show up unexpectedly. He works with the higher-ups and would probably love to talk. Then there’s Mrs. Lederman. Though she’s accommodating now, she can turn any time when she realizes it’s in her best interest.”

“And last night’s show?”

She dropped her shoulders in resignation. “I wanted information but I won’t risk going out in public like that again.”

Jack hated to admit she had valid points, only because it meant suffering through the torment of waiting till evening to see his Mallory again. With the ball in her court, he had no idea if or when he would see her again.

Frustration filled him. “Omelette for you, too?” he asked, changing the subject.

“Pancakes with a side order of bacon. A glass of orange juice. Oh, and coffee, please.”

The waitress, who had made her way over, jotted down their orders, then took the menus back from Mallory.

“Worked up an appetite last night, did you?” he asked.

Mallory pursed her lips, obviously wanting to smack him in his inflated ego. Jack grinned, enjoying teasing her and knowing she wouldn’t stay mad long. He waited for her carefully worded barb.

“Being carried off by a macho male has that effect on me,” came out of her mouth instead. A blush crept onto her cheeks at the unexpected omission. “And the coffee’s for you.”

He let out a loud laugh and the people at the neighboring table turned to look. She narrowed her eyes and glared, but instead of sobering, the more frustrated she got, the harder he chuckled.

“Can I help it if that scene you made brought out the worst in me?” Jack stopped laughing. His feelings last night were no joke.

“I had no idea you’d show up.”

“But once I did, you enjoyed it.” His stare never wavered.

“Maybe for a minute.” She bit down on her lower lip and leaned closer. Her honest blue eyes bore into his. “And only because I thought that jealousy bit was an act,” she said.

Surprise at her admission caught him off guard. His self-confident colleague had turned into a vulnerable woman. He’d never have believed it if he hadn’t heard her say so out loud.

He leaned closer, too, until their lips were inches apart and their breaths mingled. “That was no act.”

“At some point I realized that. But I never thought you’d react that way about me.”

“I sure as hell didn’t expect it either. Not at first glance.”

She tipped her head to the side, a serious expression crossing her face. “I appreciate the honesty.”

“Good. But I’m not finished yet.” Unable to get closer as she physically withdrew across the table, he grabbed for her hand instead. “I wasn’t jealous only because I’ve seen the seductress in you. I was jealous because I’m intrigued by you. By all of you.”

Her mouth opened and closed but no sound came out.

“Care to tell me why you wouldn’t think I’d be interested enough to get jealous?”

Considering the physical sensations that arced between them, Jack couldn’t understand why she’d doubted the sincerity and strength of that emotion.

She shrugged, then said simply, “Because no one’s ever reacted possessively with me.”

“Then I’d have to say you’ve had a string of stupid men in your life.”

She grinned. “And I’d have to agree with you.”

He tightened his grip around her smaller hand. “This inability to see yourself as you should-that comes from where?” Because no woman deliberately dressed herself down and downplayed such incredible looks without a damn good reason.

Her lips shut as if she could stop the truth from coming out by sheer willpower alone.

“Bad relationship?” he hazarded a guess.

“Bad upbringing,” she shot back, then opened her eyes wide at the realization that things were finally out in the open between them.

“Go on.” He sat back and waited, but didn’t release her hand, knowing their emotional connection could only be strengthened by physical touch.

“First I was an accident, then I was a disappointment. My father wanted a boy. He got me instead.” As she spoke, the light in her expressive eyes dimmed. “Over time I learned not to expect too much.”

“And your parents never delivered.”

“Right.”

He shook his head, anger and frustration filling him at two people who’d created a child and then proceeded to negate her sense of self-worth. He’d at least had his father behind him. Mallory had had herself-and she’d managed to chart her own destiny.

In Jack’s mind, she’d taken the wrong course. Hiding herself couldn’t make her happy for long, but only she could realize that truth. If he happened to nudge her in the right, sensual direction, he’d be happy to help her out. Not just for selfish reasons but because she deserved to experience all life had to offer-and not see those wonderful things skewed behind thick, oblique lenses.

“Your parents were wrong, you know.”

She shrugged, but her intense stare told him she was listening.

He wondered if she believed him and made it his mission to be sure she was paying attention. “And it’s their loss-missing out on you.”

Her eyes filled with moisture, gratitude evident. She inhaled a shaky breath. “Thanks again. Truth’s a wonderful thing and I don’t hear it much.”

An emotional lump formed in his throat. “When I’m with you, my body tells you exactly how I’m feeling. What’s the point in lying now?” As if by suggestion, he shifted in his seat to alleviate the sudden discomfort in his groin.

“Anyone ever tell you you’re a nice guy?” Her lips lifted upward in a grin that warmed him and chased away the chill that had always surrounded his heart.

He shook his head. “I’ve never given anyone reason before.”

Mallory struggled to calm her pounding heart. This connection between them was growing stronger. She felt it.

She wanted to run from it but didn’t dare. Talking past her emotions wasn’t easy but she owed Jack for easing a huge burden she’d always carried with her. “About the jealousy bit?” She changed the subject back to last night. “I didn’t enjoy the act.”

In fact, the bartender’s sweaty palms and let-me-show-you-a-good-time attitude had turned her off from the beginning. Only her search for information had kept her rooted in her seat and had forced her to allow his unwanted attention.

“I didn’t want him touching me.” She gazed at Jack through heavy eyelids. “I wished it was you.”

His skin drew tight over his cheekbones as awareness raced between them. “I appreciate you returning the favor,” he said finally.

She knew he was referring to her honest answer and nodded. She’d give him even more honesty later. Because this conversation had proven to her without a doubt-she wasn’t finished with Jack Latham.

“Now, care to tell me what you uncovered about Lederman?” Jack lowered his voice.

Grateful for normal conversation, Mallory looked around. The restaurant had grown more crowded and a low hum of voices droned on around them. They could easily talk in hushed tones without being overheard, or so she thought until she turned toward the hostess station.

Mallory let out a groan. “I wish I could, but Alicia Lederman’s doing the rounds of the tables, talking to customers.”

“Food’s up.” The waitress arrived with their plates, giving them yet another reason to postpone talking business.

He let out an equally frustrated sound. “Guess we’ve got to wait.”

Mallory nodded and reached for her fork. Since this trip, she’d gotten good at waiting.

And even better at anticipation.

She finished her meal in record time, hunger for food satisfying one craving, while her need for Jack only grew.

JACK HAD PROMISED to wake Mallory from a late-afternoon nap but calls to his secretary and another client took longer than he’d expected. By the time he left the conference room Lederman had given him for business use and made his way back to their floor, Jack realized she was probably out sightseeing or walking on the beach. But he figured he’d give waking her a shot anyway, just in case.

“Wake up, Sleeping Beauty. Rise and shine.” He knocked on her door.

“You looking for the Missus in the room?”

Jack turned.

A chambermaid stood behind him, an armload of towels in hand. “I saw her leave a little while ago.”

His disappointment was keen. For no good reason, he knew, because he had no concrete plans-just a burning desire to see her again. And he couldn’t control the disappointment building inside him, because after their bonding session she’d thought nothing of disappearing without leaving him a message.

“Are you sure it was her? Dark hair, blue eyes.”

“I’m sure. She asked me for fresh towels and…” The dark haired woman shook her head. “Never mind. Other folks’ strange requests aren’t my business.”

He didn’t question her further. “Well, I appreciate the information.”

She smiled. “No problem. You have a nice day.” She let herself into Mallory’s room carrying the towels and Jack began a retreat back into his own.

“Wait.”

He turned back.

“I didn’t realize you were the gentleman across the hall. She…” The woman pointed to Mallory’s door. “She left something for you. I was going to leave it on your bed when I finished inside. Wait here.”

She strode to her utility cart and returned with a white sheet of paper in one hand, an innocuous brown bag in the other. “These are for you.”

“Thanks.” His pulse picked up rhythm as he lifted the paper and inhaled the fragrant scent. Arousal hit him harder and stronger than ever before. So did the sense of anticipation.

One part of him knew she was answering his challenge from last night. Another part of him sensed she was responding to their new-found closeness today. He’d never experienced such intense feelings for another person-never wanted to make someone else feel better and ease their pain-until Mallory.

The thought scared him spitless so he focused on the invitation instead. Waiting until he was alone in his room, he peered into the bag and pulled out the bottom half of a string bikini, too skimpy to cover anything at all.

His mouth went dry and he opened the sheet of paper and read aloud. “Our cabin at eight. Come for a romp on my beach.” He fingered the nylon strings in his hands. He could come right now, he thought wryly.

A vision came to him, of Mallory wearing the matching top, nothing below. Jack broke into a sweat. He shook his head. No way would she have the nerve. Then he remembered she’d already gone skinny-dipping. She had also revealed her deepest emotions. Her nerve was greater than he’d realized.

The next couple of hours loomed long in front of him, but no doubt that was her intent. To leave him with the flimsy bottoms and lots of time on his hands to think.

And fantasize.

By the time eight o’clock rolled around, Jack was in a heated state of need. And by the time he arrived at the cottage door, his hands were shaking.

The woman knew how to drive him mad with suggestion and innuendo. If he believed in relationships, he’d think he’d found a woman who could engage and entice him, keep him interested for a lot longer than one night.

Good thing he didn’t believe or he’d be in deep trouble. Jack raised his fist and knocked on the door.

CHAPTER NINE

MALLORY ANSWERED the door quickly, greeting him with an easy smile. “Hi, there.”

“Hi, yourself.” She’d left him hanging this afternoon with a skimpy piece of her bathing suit and a provocative invitation for tonight.

It hadn’t been enough. He’d been a man deprived and he drank in the sight of her now.

She’d prepared for the beach.

He’d like to think she’d prepared for him.

Her top, if he could call it that, was the match for the bikini bottoms in his pocket. Two triangles, aqua in color and rimmed with white piping didn’t quite cover her breasts and exposed more than a hint of soft flesh and cleavage. Whatever he’d envisioned, reality was sweeter. His mouth watered at the luscious view and his gaze traveled downward.

A matching scarf, knotted at one hip, tied around her waist, and ended midthigh. He had no clue what she wore beneath the blue sarong and the thought of her wearing no panties, no bottoms, nothing at all, made him crazy with curiosity and insane with longing. No doubt that had been her intent. As if she could read his thoughts, a provocative smile lifted the corner of her mouth.

She was making him pay for his caveman routine and he loved every minute.