Reckless Passion by Stephanie James Page A

someone who could give her a lot more than I could, and I had another chance to go back to school. Which I did."
    "Emerging a proper, dignified accountant at last, hmm?" Dara smiled, relaxing finally now that she had the whole story.
    "Satisfied?" he asked sardonically.
    "Just think," she retorted, "if you'd given me all those answers last night we would never have wound up in that awful situation!"
    "So it was all my fault again?"
    "It's been your fault from the beginning!"
    "The argument is academic at this point," he told her evenly, slowing as they approached the street on which her apartment was located. A jogger passed the Alfa Romeo, headed in the opposite direction along one of the many paths the town had established for cyclists and joggers.
    "Meaning?" she challenged.
    "Meaning you're mine. Regardless of how it all happened, the ultimate result is the same."
    "Damn it! Don't talk like that!" she suddenly yelped as he parked the car in front of her apartment.
    "Like what?" Yale asked innocently, turning in the seat to face her.
    "As if...as if you own me or something because of what happened last night!" Her temporary satisfaction at having her questions about him answered evap -orated in the presence of his continued threat.
    "But I do," he explained gently, hazel eyes gleaming. He moved, uncoiling with astonishing speed to forestall her effort to dive out of the car.
    "Don't run away from me, honey," he soothed, his hand manacling her wrist with a grip that would only hurt if she struggled too hard. "I've told you I'm sorry about the way everything happened. It wasn't the hearts and flowers and romance you deserve, I admit that. Let me show you I can do better than a truck-stop motel...."
    "You're out of your head if you think I'm going to let you hang around for...for more of what happened last night!" Dara gasped, appalled at the intensity in him. Dear God in heaven! Why did he have to look so sincere? But maybe he was sincere, she corrected herself grimly. Maybe he had decided he was in the market for an affair and she had practically invited him into one!
    "Last night was good and you know it," he told her firmly, voice deepening with husky meaning. "Stop fighting it, Dara . It's happened and we're involved now. Nothing's going to change that."
    "The hell it isn't! You may have decided you're content with the 'transaction,' but I've had a lot of second and third thoughts! I'm withdrawing from the bargain. Give your damn account to someone else!'
    "I apologize for that remark..." he began, his fingers tightening on her wrist . " Let me explain!"
    "Explain! Explain that you're accustomed to bargaining for...for love? I don't want to hear your explanations!"
    "Love?" he questioned softly, mouth curving. "Was that what I was going, to get out of the deal? Your love?"
    "You'll never know, will you?" she charged violently, horribly afraid he might feel the trembling anger and pain in her. Desperately she tried to keep her voice cold and callous, "Because the deal is off!"
    "How can it be when it was so perfectly consummated?" he murmured, pulling her forward until she fell lightly against his chest. "And you are quite perfect, you know," he went on whimsically, ignoring her struggles while he used his free hand to smooth the curve of her hair. His finger trailed from the burnt-russet wave to the edge of her angry mouth.
    "Can't you at least try to resurrect some of those fine Southern manners you were showing off last night before you reverted to a...a trucker?" she managed breathlessly, aware of the heat and strength of him as he held her close. "I don't like being mauled on a Saturday morning in front of the entire neighborhood!"
    "It wasn't my fine Southern manners you wanted last night," he reminded her, bending his head down until the hard mouth hovered an inch above her lips. "What you got was the real me, and don't try telling me you didn't like it. You were all softness and warmth and sweet, feminine demand in