Her pretty blue eyes widened in fascination. “How did you end up selling those games?”

“Actually, it was Greg who encouraged me to send one of my games to a software company that produces all types of computer games, and within a few weeks of receiving the program, they made a very lucrative offer for exclusive rights to the program that is now called Edge of Reason.”

He threaded his fingers through her hair, loving the feel of those silky strands sliding over his hand. “I was eighteen at the time, and when I realized that I could make a helluva lot of money creating and selling action-adventure computer games, I went for it.”

“Sounds like any teenager’s dream job,” she said with a slight smile. “But now that you’re older, don’t you ever think about getting a real job?”

“I have a real job.” he said, “I love what I do, and I get paid extremely well to do it.”

“To play computer games,” she said, obviously not able to think of what he did for a living as a career.

So, he tried to set her straight. “I create and program the computer games first, which is a lot of hard work and long hours. And, I like the perks that come with my job. I set my own hours, and I can work any time of the day or night. And the best part is that I’m my own boss. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

She meet his gaze, while her fingers absently pleated the hem of the shirt she was wearing. “Well, there is that other perk of you being voted one of San Francisco’s wealthiest and most eligible bachelors.”

He winced, hating the superficial title that had been bestowed upon him. “That’s more like a curse.”

Surprise lit up her eyes. “Dating your choice of women is a curse?”

He shook his head. “No, but discovering that a woman is dating you because she finds your bank account more attractive than your personality is a curse.”

“Oh,” she said quietly. “I suppose that would be frustrating, but not all women are that way.”

“I agree.” And she was proof. He wanted to point that out to Rebecca, but knew she wasn’t ready for that kind of serious conversation about the two of them just yet.

Done talking about his money, and his job, Connor leaned closer to Rebecca and gave her something more pleasant to think about. He slipped his hand beneath her shirt, and he wasn’t the only one who shuddered when he discovered that she was completely naked underneath.

“We should get some sleep,” she said, though not very convincingly, especially considering how she was letting him ease her back on the couch so he could settle between her soft, silky thighs. “We need to be up in a few hours.”

“I’m already up.” Grinning wickedly, he grabbed her hand, pushed it into his cotton shorts, and wrapped her fingers tight around his erection. “In more ways than one.”

She laughed, then moaned when he slid his own fingers through her soft, slick flesh and stroked her oh-so-slowly.

After that, sleep was a long time in coming.


FROM ACROSS the elegantly decorated ballroom at The Delaford Resort, Rebecca watched as the bride and groom said their goodbyes to family and friends. The beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony had gone off without a hitch that afternoon, complete with tears during the emotional service, and whoops of joy and congratulations once Celeste and Greg had been pronounced husband and wife. As for the reception, it had been a fun, lavish celebration Rebecca would never forget.

Now, it was early evening, and the bride and groom were leaving to enjoy their honeymoon suite for the night.

Rebecca had already hugged Celeste and Greg and wished them the best, but as she watched her radiant sister gaze up at her new husband with pure, unadulterated love, a huge lump formed in Rebecca’s throat, and an odd mix of happiness and sadness clashed inside of her.

She was so grateful that her sister had found such a wonderful, devoted man to marry. A man who adored her and would undoubtedly take good care of her in every way that mattered. Yet, Rebecca couldn’t stop the flow of loneliness that was already settling like a cold, hard knot in her stomach. The apartment that she’d shared with Celeste for the past ten years wasn’t going to be the same without her bubbly, vibrant sister, and she dreaded heading back to the quiet, empty place.

“The band is playing their last song,” a deep, masculine voice said from behind her. A familiar voice that had the uncanny ability to soothe and arouse her at the same time. “Since we’ve already said our goodbyes to the bride and groom, what do you say we enjoy one last dance before the evening comes to an end?”

Grateful for the distraction, she turned and smiled at Connor, who looked dashing and gorgeous in a black tux with a red bow-tie and cummerbund that matched her formal gown. They’d been dance partners most of the night-mainly because of their best man and maid-of-honor roles, but at the moment none of that mattered. The band was playing a slow ballad, a love song to send the bride and groom on their way, and there were other couples on the dance floor enjoying the final song of the night.

Since she wasn’t looking forward to going up to her hotel room by herself, she accepted Connor’s invitation. “Sure, I’d love to dance.”

With a hand pressed lightly to the base of her spine, he led the way to the dance floor. Once they were there, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her into his embrace, aligning their bodies intimately from chest to thighs. They swayed in time to the slow tune, and as Connor stroked his thumb along her waist, she let herself relax and unwind. At the moment, she wanted, needed, the closeness he was offering to offset the deep, desolate feeling crowding her chest.

“Are you okay?” he asked, those dark brown eyes of his searching her gaze, as if he was trying to see straight to her soul.

She flashed him a quick smile that felt forced on her lips. “I’m fine.”

“Liar.” Gentle amusement etched his expression. “I saw the way you were watching your sister when she and Greg were saying goodbye to everyone. You’re having a hard time letting her go, aren’t you?”

Her first instinct was to deny his too perceptive claim, to be strong and not show the slightest bit of vulnerability. It had been her M.O. for longer than she cared to remember, but she was tired of keeping her emotions bottled up inside her. Tired of pretending to always be strong when she harbored worries and fears just like everyone else.

“Okay, I’ll admit I’m suffering from a bit of separation anxiety,” she said, and glanced over his shoulder because she couldn’t bear to look him straight in the eyes while she confessed such a pathetic weakness. “She’s been such a huge part of my life for so long, and it’s hard to imagine what it’s going to be like not seeing and talking to her on a daily basis.”

“It’s not as though she’s stepped completely out of your life,” he said gently.

“No, but she has another family now, and she’s like a daughter to Greg’s mother and father.” Considering that Celeste had spent more than half her life without one parent or the other, Rebecca was certain her sister would readily embrace the normalcy of a real family.

Connor swept the back of his fingers along her cheek as they continued to dance to the slow music. “Rebecca, you’ll always be her family.”

She bit her lower lip, feeling another swell of emotion come over her. “It’s just…hard,” she said, unable to explain.

“I don’t doubt that it is.” His voice was infused with more understanding and patience than she knew she deserved. “But you’re Celeste’s sister by blood, and that’s a bond that will never break or falter.”

God, I hope so, she thought as the band finished playing. She waited for Connor to loosen his hold on her, but instead he put his mouth near her ear and spoke so only she could hear him. “Will you stay with me tonight?”

Funny, but she could have sworn she heard the slightest bit of uncertainty in his voice, and realized that Connor wasn’t taking anything for granted. He was openly stating his desire for her, as well as issuing an invitation to share his bed, and other pleasures, with him tonight, without knowing if she wanted the same.

Her answer came much too easily. Connor was quickly becoming another weakness, like the Sinfully Sweet chocolate they’d indulged in the past two nights. But there was no chocolate clouding her judgment or thoughts now.

She didn’t want to be alone tonight. Didn’t want to think about the empty, unexciting life waiting for her back at home. What she wanted more than anything was to feel, and Connor did that for her in a way no man ever had before.

She met his gaze and smiled. “Yes, I’ll stay with you tonight.”

5

EVEN THOUGH SHE was completely and utterly sated, Rebecca couldn’t sleep. Why was it that tonight Connor didn’t seem to have any problem drifting off after the second time they’d made love, yet here she was, wide-eyed and awake?

Closing her eyes, she released a soft sigh, enjoying the way Connor had cuddled up behind her, wrapped a strong arm around her waist, and pulled her close to the heat and strength of his body. His hold on her was possessive yet caring, secure yet loose enough for her to move away if she wanted.

At the moment, she was perfectly content.

She immediately blinked her eyes back open, startled by her thoughts-as well as the frightening realization that she’d fallen hard and fast for Connor Bassett in such a short amount of time. Suddenly, she felt caged in and restless. She needed space, along with air to breathe that didn’t include his scent.

Gingerly, she eased away from him and off the bed. Finding one of his T-shirts on the floor, she slipped it over her head and quietly made her way into the living room. Leaving the lights off, she stood by the large plate-glass window that gave her a beautiful view of Crystal Lake. She watched the way the moonlight dappled the rippling water with an ethereal glow, which reminded her of last night when Connor had taken her for a ride on his motorcycle and they’d ended up at the secluded spot by the lake.

A smile curved the corner of her mouth as she remembered just how exhilarating it had been to ride on his bike, and the way he’d listened so intently when she’d talked about her past. While the sensible, practical side to her personality told her that their time together was nothing more than a brief affair to slake their attraction to one another, a newer, whimsical part of her wondered about the possibility of more.

Shaking her head at that foolish thought, she headed across the room to the small refrigerator to get herself a drink of water. Except when she opened the door and peered inside, it wasn’t the chilled bottles of Evian that caught her attention, but a blue-foil wrapped half-heart she recognized from Sinfully Sweet.

It was obvious by the crinkled foil that Connor had unwrapped the candy to read his secret message inside, then covered it back again without eating the chocolate. More than a little curious to see what his note had said, she picked up the piece of candy, retrieved the small strip of paper tucked inside, and read the typed message.

Opposites do attract.

Be bold. Be spontaneous.

Go for it!

Her stomach twisted and turned as she read, then re-read, the familiar words that had given her the courage to jump into an affair with Connor, unable to believe that he’d received the same message that she had. Out of all the hundreds of chocolate hearts Sinfully Sweet had been giving away, what were the chances that she and Connor would end up with identical messages and matching hearts?

Very slim, her mind whispered, quickly dousing her flare of excitement with doubts and suspicions.

She thought back to all the times Connor had subtly used those same words with her. Like when he’d coaxed her to be a little spontaneous and try something new so she’d take a ride with him on his motorcycle. Or how he’d told her that maybe it was time for her to think about what she wanted for a change and go for it.

It could have all been coincidence, but every feminine instinct within her told her that there was more at work than just fate. No, she was beginning to suspect that Connor had taken advantage of an opportunity that had presented itself to him. Not that she could blame him for what had happened between them, considering how quick she’d been to jump into an affair with him.

But discovering the truth of how he’d manipulated her certainly put everything back into its proper perspective. Like the fact that their fling was a temporary thing, that every one of his other relationships had been short lived, and that he’d made her no promises of anything more. He was still six years younger than she was, he still played computer games for a living and he was far too frivolous with how he spent his money.