Page 7 of Landen

Her tapered eyebrowslifted. “You think you can flash your supposed wealth around toget me to go out with you?”

“Is itworking?”

“No.”

“I can alsotestify that I am dynamite in bed.”

That startled a laughout of her and had the lust inside him increasing. Her complexion waswhat he could call caramel and very flawless. Her dark brown eyesreminded him of the Hershey’s chocolate he loved as a child.And her lip - bloody hell! He had to have her.

“Can youproduce that in writing?”

He shook his head,struggling to ignore his intense attraction. “That would be ininferior taste. I could give you a demonstration after dinner.”

“I am afraid Iwill have to pass.”

He lookedcrestfallen. “You are turning me down.”

“I am surethat’s a novel experience for you, but yes.”

“Might Iask why?”

“You are astranger.”

“That can beremedied. I offered you dinner and sex. We could get to know eachother in between.”

“You live in -where do you live?”

“London.”

“Thousands ofmiles away, and I don’t indulge in casual sex.”

“It would notbe casual.”

“I havework-”

“First, let mepurchase the painting and then go on.”

“Do you wantthe painting? Or is this a way to prolong our encounter?”

His eyes twinkled.“It might be both. Shall we?”

*****

He tried to lingerover the paperwork, but she was swift. He then tried to get her totell him something about the painting, and she did it quickly, whichbrought him out of her office in just a few minutes.

“The offerstill stands.”

“Which one? Fora meal or sex?” She asked mildly as she verified his creditcard. Everything about him screamed money and not just new wealth,but old and established. Working at the gallery, she had learned totell the difference.

“Both.”He was smiling at her charmingly, green eyes watchful.

“No to both.”

“You know, Iwill keep coming until I break down your resistance.” Somethingoccurred to him. “Unless you are being so persistent in sayingno because you are married.” He glanced at her left hand. “Orinvolved.”

“Neither.”

“That’s adefinite relief. I would hate to think I am poaching someone’sproperty.”