Dangerous Proposition by Jessica Lauryn

told from the start!”
    “If you want to ruin your clothing, that’s your choice.”
    Which was probably exactly what he wanted, just so he could insult her about how frumpy she looked the next morning.
    Julia sighed. What was she going to do? One evil was as bad as the other. Though the thought of sleeping in her clothes all night did sound particularly uncomfortable, especially after the ordeal they’d just been through.
    “Does this thing”—she swallowed—“tie in the front?”
    He grinned. “I believe it does.”
    Not that that made a difference. Come the morning, she would have no dignity left at all. That was if she made it to the morning. She wasn’t entirely convinced the man who’d attacked them didn’t plan on tracking them down and killing them in their sleep.
    “Fine, whatever,” she said, snapping off the tag. “Just get me a blanket and pillow so I can make up the couch.”
    “The couch”—Colin stared her down—“would feel like a rock to you after ten minutes. You’re not sleeping there. The bed is plenty big enough for two. And this way, I won’t have to worry about you sneaking away from me in the middle of the night. “
    A flash of the two of them came into Julia’s mind. God, the thought of Colin’s skin, his warm, wet kisses was almost too much. Imagining his musky male scent, his strong arms wrapped around her, she cleared her throat. “Guess you aren’t too worried about me kneeing you again.” She stormed from the room.
    Colin followed her. Entering the living room, he sat on the sofa, draping his arm across its back. “Do you think that you’ll be comfortable here?”
    She shrugged. “I’m used to roughing it.”
    “Then I believe you’re in for a surprise.”
    He came to his feet. Making his way across the room, he approached the patio door. He pulled a cord, moving the curtain it was attached to from his way. It revealed a stone balcony. Beyond it, the sky seemed to go on forever. There were white stars illuminating the atmosphere.
    Standing beneath them, Julia said, “I guess the place isn’t horrible.”
    “Come outside and look at the view. You can’t possibly appreciate the stars from behind a glass window.”
    She followed him as he opened the door. Colin stepped back, allowing her to walk ahead of him onto a very wide terrace. It was long, and it extended several feet from the door. Placing her hands against the railing, she looked up into the night sky.
    Staring, she couldn’t help admiring the glittering expanse. Everywhere she looked there were stars, shining against a blank canvas. It seemed to go on forever.
    Colin stood beside her. Bracing his hands against the rail, he said, “There aren’t too many places in the City you can really see the sky from. Tonight is exceptionally clear.”
    “I never would have pegged you for a stargazer, Westwood.”
    His pearly white teeth shined in the moonlight. Taking her hand, he aimed her pointer finger toward the sky. “Right there,” he said, moving her finger so it traced the dots. “See how that cluster of stars forms the shape of a swan?”
    “No kidding,” she replied.
    “It’s called Cygnus. According to the myth, Phaethon, son of Helios, got his father to let him agree to drive his sun chariot. But his reckless driving threatened to destroy the earth. So Zeus hurled a thunderbolt at Phaethon, and he fell into the Eridanus River. Phaethon’s friend, Cygnus, dove into the water in search of the body. That’s why Apollo took pity on Cygnus and changed him into a swan, placing him in the heavens.”
    “Come on,” Julia said, warming at the realization that he was still holding her hand. “You don’t actually believe in all that mythical hooey, do you?”
    “Personally, yes. I think we can learn a lot from mythology.”
    “Well, if you ask me,” she said, taking a respectful step back, “Phaethon was lucky to have a friend as good as Cygnus. If the guy hadn’t been so irresponsible,