and concern behind it left Lindsay shaken and emotionally drained. Reaching deep inside herself to admit the truth about her fears had taken a devastating toll, more than she could handle in one night.
âI think Iâd better get to bed,â she said, wondering if Mark would try to stop her. But, once again, he let her go with only a brief, tantalizing kiss.
âNight, love.â
By the time Lindsay finally climbed into her bed, every one of her senses seemed to be screaming in frustration. She was alone again, and, as adamant as sheâd been about not needing anyone, for the first time in her life she didnât want to be alone. She wanted to be back in Markâs arms as she had been earlier. It was a pull more powerful than anything she had ever felt before and she knew that sooner or later she was going to have todo something about it. Running away seemed like a very good idea.
By the time Monday morning rolled around after another virtually sleepless night, she wanted more than ever to go back to Los Angeles. She had admitted during the night that she was becoming entangled in something with Mark that she was afraid to face: her own sensuality, her own rapidly building physical desires, desires that would lock her into the very kind of relationship sheâd always been so careful to avoid.
But leaving Mark Channing to put her life back on an even keel was not just a simple case of packing her bag and going to the airport. There was still the matter of the contract to be settled, and try as she might, Mark seemed to be oblivious to every subtle attempt she made to get him to read it, much less discuss it. Even her more direct suggestions were met with evasive responses and tactical retreats that would have made any army commander proud. They only infuriated her.
âMark,â she finally began as they sat sipping coffee after lunch on Monday afternoon. They had spent the morning laughing like acouple of carefree kids as they built a huge lopsided snowman with a crooked button smile, a carrot nose and an old hunting cap sitting jauntily on his head. It had been fun, but the time for fun was over. She was becoming far too ensnared in a way of life that was all wrong for her.
âYou promised me youâd read this contract, if I spent the weekend with you. The weekendâs up and I have to go back,â she said, rather proud of her decisive, no-nonsense tone. âTrent will be expecting me.â
âCall him,â Mark suggested blandly.
Lindsay glowered at him. So much for her power play. She knew exactly what calling Trent would accomplish: nothing. Her boss would let her stay here until the flowers bloomed in July if it meant that sheâd come back with a deal to have Mark write a screenplay based on his latest book. It was Trentâs current obsession, and no cost was too high when Trent Langston was personally obsessed with a project. He wouldnât help her. She was going to have to get out of this emotional minefield on her own.
âMark, please. I really need to go back. I have other things to take care of.â
He regarded her curiously. âPersonal things? Is there another man in your life after all?â
The way Mark phrased the question and the darkly dangerous look in his eyes implied that he was in her life now and had every intention of staying there without sharing her with anyone else. That look posed a definite threat to any possible lingering commitments from her past. Fortunately, she supposed, there were none to worry about.
âNo,â she admitted at last. âYou know perfectly well after last night that thereâs no man. I just have other work to do. Itâs been piling up while I chased you around the country.â
âNow that youâve found me are you really having such a miserable time?â
Lindsay bit her lip and refused to meet his penetrating gaze. That was precisely the trouble. She wasnât having a
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