Brazen by Bobbi Smith Page A

credit for that.
    "That's true," she agreed. "And speaking of your
mother's comments, there is one thing we definitely
should get straight between us."
    "What's that?"
    "We may have to live together, but that's all we're going
to do."
    "You're saying you want a marriage in name only?"
Michael looked at her skeptically. For some reason, her
suggestion bothered him. Not that he had wanted to have
an intimate relationship with her far from it. He had
never been fond of Casey, and he wanted very little to do
with her. Her outright refusal to even consider that kind
of relationship with him, though, was a slap in the face.
It almost seemed like a challenge to him.
    "Are you saying you don't?" she asked, suddenly nervous that he would be expecting more from her than she
was willing to give.
    "No," he answered quickly, wanting to strike that
thought from her mind. "This kind of arrangement will be
fine with me."
    "Then we understand each other?"
    "Perfectly."
    "You want to shake on it, like our fathers did?"
    "Why not?"
    "I'm glad we got this settled between us."

    Casey faced him and extended her hand, ready to seal
the deal. She was relieved that Michael had proven so
agreeable to her terms. When his hand engulfed hers, she
was surprised at the warmth and strength of his touch.
She shook his hand firmly, then tried to draw away, but
Michael held on to her, refusing to release her.
    "We may have settled this deal, but not everything is
settled between us," he told her in a low voice.
    "What are you talking about?" Her eyes widened as she
looked up at him. She thought she'd heard a bit of a threat
in his tone.
    "I still owe you for our little run-in here."
    "You wouldn't."
    "Oh, yes, I would."
    Before Casey could react, Michael made his move. He
was a strong man and he picked her up with ease.
    "What are you going to do?" she demanded as she
found herself helplessly crushed against his chest, unable
to move. Her heart began to race at this close physical
contact, and she looked up at him, her eyes wide and
uncertain.
    For just an instant, Michael paused. The feel of her soft
curves so tight against him was unsettling. He had never
thought of Casey as having a womanly figure, but he'd
just found out different. He hesitated, staring down at her
for a moment, before the temptation to exact his revenge
overpowered him. He tossed Casey bodily into the water.
    She came up sputtering and coughing in outrage at
being so manhandled.
    "Why, you-!"

    Michael stood on the bank laughing at her. "It's not so
funny when you're on the receiving end, is it, my dear?"
    Casey glared up at him as she stood in waist-deep water, dripping wet. "Are you happy now?"
    "Very." He grinned in satisfaction. "Want me to help
you climb out?"
    "No. I want you to just leave me alone," she snarled,
starting to wade out of the river. Never one to give up
without a fight, she smiled as an idea came to her. She
started to climb up the bank and then pretended to slip
and lose her footing.
    Michael had been watching her, and he reacted automatically, going to her aid when he thought she might
fall.
    His reaction was just what Casey had been hoping for.
    This time she pretended to appreciate his help. She
took the helping hand he offered, but instead of allowing
him to pull her up, she yanked him forward with all her
might, hoping to catch him off balance on the slippery
bank.
    Her plan worked.
    Michael realized immediately he'd made a serious mistake in trusting her, but it was too late. He slipped and
fell forward, landing with a splash right beside her in the
water.
    "Gotcha!" Casey was howling with delight and feeling
quite proud of herself for having gotten even with Michael
so quickly.
    "Oh, yeah?"
    Casey knew a sudden moment of uncertainty. She turned and tried to flee, but the water slowed her escape.

    Michael lunged at her and snared her around the waist.
He dragged her backwards and dunked her.
    Casey fought to free