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women do you know that have their own scent?
Gina thought about what he said without turning to look at him. He was right of
course, that had always been her real argument anyway but she wouldn't tell him that.
 It fits you and you did a wonderful job with that perfume by the way.
Gina was inordinately pleased with his compliment.
All through their intimate lunch Alan was very attentive and considerate. Gina
couldn't help but notice that most of the women present in the dining area looked
lingeringly in Alan s direction. They deliberately tried to catch his attention yet Alan
seemed to remain oblivious to everything except her. Gina wondered if women were
continually throwing themselves at him like that.
She felt a slight stab of jealousy when one lady brushed past the table
provocatively rubbing Alan s arm to get his attention. She kept telling herself that this
man didn t mean a thing to her.
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It didn't do any good. She was drawn to him too much herself, just like the other
women who wanted him.
Determinedly she tried to get down to the point of her coming out to lunch with
him in the first place. The meal was finished there was no use in putting it off any longer.
Alan didn't seem in a hurry to discuss things.
"Alan, can we talk now?" She waited to watch his response. He wasn't ruffled.
His face didn't give away any of his emotions. "I thought we had been but by all means,
do all the talking you want Gina." Alan told her briskly.
 I'm not going to change my mind though if that s what your after. If you want to
spoil a perfectly nice lunch then go ahead, get it over with for all the good it is going to
do."
She stared at him and frowned, the least he could do was hear her out first. Was
he really made of stone? Perhaps reasoning would work. "We both know that this isn't
going to work." Gina told him frankly. "There is no reason to go on with this& "
Alan cut her off abruptly.
So much for logical reasoning. He had his own reasons.
"There is every reason for me." Alan told her coldly. "I have been wanting to take
a wife for a long time. You will do just as good as any; probably better since I will know
where I stand with you. With the others I would always wonder when they would turn off
the charm after they got what they wanted.
She stared at him dumbfounded.
 It doesn't matter to me Gina, you can decide which way you want it, marriage to
me with all of the benefits or we can go through the courts again and battle it out." Alan
sat back in his chair and finished off the last of the wine in his glass before pouring
another.  But there are all the people to think about at the Gazette. Their jobs could very
well depend on your answer.
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The ball was now in her court. Gina looked across at him and realized his face
gave away nothing. It was unnerving not to be able to read him, so to speak.
"I really can't marry you Alan and I just can't believe that you would use your pull
to have the Gazette closed down, although I can easily believe you will take me to court."
She paused hoping that he would deny either of her statements. When he didn't say a
thing she began to wonder, maybe he really would get his kicks by destroying the
Gazette. She didn't know and that was the worst part.
Quickly she decided to change her tactics. "Doesn't it bother you that I have my
own life to live? I find it hard to believe that you of all people would have a problem in
finding a wife, that you would stoop to blackmailing me!"
He finally showed some spark of emotion.
"Blackmail? He raised an eyebrow. "I would hardly call it that." He was nearly
laughing out loud at her. Gina knew she wasn t wrong.
"Just what would you call it then?" She snapped unnerved by his calm demeanor.
Couldn't anything ruffle his self-assurance?
"Just a little self protection by way of friendly persuasion."
He was literally impossible.
"I imagine I could find a wife else where easily enough."
Gina didn't doubt it for a minute either.
"However I already have my mind set on you, and even you must admit that
we've got something going on in that department."
"Oh and just what is that?" She knew it was a mistake to ask him that the minute
the question was out.
"You melt in my arms every time I just hold you and you shiver ever so
delightfully when I touch you. I can t believe you even asked me that question." Alan
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laughed at her derisively. He was enjoying himself. "Your acting was superb but no one
could have faked a response like I got from you."
Gina felt herself starting to blush at the truth of his statement and fought against
it.  I am not going to marry you.
"Are you saying then that you would rather ignore what will happen to your editor
and paper, not to mention yourself?
"You wouldn't." Gina was feeling trapped again and she was confused. Would
Alan really go through with this strange alliance? Would he really hurt so many other
innocent people?
Her attraction to him and their sexual chemistry was causing her to loose sight of
giving him the brush off. His eyes that raked boldly over her body didn't help matters
either She already knew what it was like to be held in his arms and found herself longing
for his touch. She fought to stay with what was being discussed.
"Wouldn't I? Think about it Gina, it isn't like we haven't had any differences
before." Gina bit her lower lip nervously "I've told you how I feel and I plan to see it
through to the end one way or the other."
"And if I do agree?" Gina forced the unwilling words to pass her lips. She had to
know every angle.
"Then I plan to be married and in the blissful state of matrimony by next Friday
evening." He told her calmly, never taking his inscrutable eyes off of her.
Momentarily subdued Gina just sat there staring at him. Next Friday? That was so
close. Would she really have to go through with this? Bitterly she realized that Alan was
right, no one would believe her story that it was just an accident and not some elaborate
set up.
Of all the people in the world to run down in the middle of a blizzard, why did it
have to be him? Would he really go through with his threats? She didn't know and she
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didn't know if she had the courage to find out either. Yet something else exciting was
fighting for control, what would it be like to be married to a man like Alan Sullivan. She
couldn't understand the confused feelings she felt for him. They over rode everything
else.
"Well?" Alan broke her long silence. Gina just shrugged her shoulders. What
could she say to get him to change his mind?
"I take it you are starting to accept the idea at least. "
"What else can I do?" Gina asked him grudgingly. "You seem to hold all of the
cards at the present time.
Gina finished her own wine and looked at him defiantly.  The thing that really
gets me is that I'm innocent and I can't even prove it.
"Ah don't look so glum." Alan reached across the table and took her hand with his
own. "After all, I'm a wealthy man and there are some who tell me that I'm not so bad to
look at."
When this failed to net a laugh like Alan wanted he tried again. "Personally I
think I'm letting you off easy considering the circumstances. She needed something to [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]