Desperado by Diana Palmer Page B

said.
    “Foster brother and sister?” he asked, and he didn’t smile.
    She nodded.
    He let go of her hand and got to his feet. “If that’s what you really want, okay,” he said with cold pride. “But be sure, Maggie. Be very sure. There are plenty of women in the world, some of whom wouldn’t consider it an ordeal to be my lover.”
    That hurt, as it was meant to. She picked up the glass of water and sipped it. She didn’t speak. Words would choke her. She knew he was giving her an ultimatum. It was the old game, all over again, strike out before you were hit. But she wasn’t going to play anymore.
    “No reply?” he taunted.
    She sipped the water again.
    He swore roundly, turned on his heel, went out the doorand slammed it. A second later, he opened it again. “Keep this damned thing locked,” he said shortly, dark eyes blazing. “I told you before, I have an enemy, and he may try to target you. Don’t take chances.”
    “Okay.”
    He waited with visible impatience until she got up and started toward the door. He glared at her. His body ached just looking at her, and she was closing doors before he even got the key in the lock.
    “Don’t worry, you made your point. Bodies are cheap,” she said as she met his eyes. “You can find one anywhere.”
    His jaw clenched. “That was a low remark,” he replied.
    She shrugged. “You’ve already told me I’m not in the running unless I’m willing to jump into bed with you. There are women lined up, waiting. I get the point.” She smiled. “Lucky you!”
    He looked as if he wanted to bite off part of the wall. “That wasn’t the point!”
    “Good night, Cord.”
    He stepped out into the hall, but he turned almost at once. She’d fainted because he mentioned her past. She had hidden terrors because of it. And here he was, pressuring her, when he’d promised not to. It was frustration talking, not his heart.
    He stared down at her with regret eating at him. “I tell lies,” he muttered. “I make promises I don’t keep.” He shrugged. “I wouldn’t want to go out with me, either, after the way I’ve behaved tonight. But keep your door locked, okay?”
    “Okay.”
    He shrugged and started down the hall, both hands in his pockets.
    She stared after him. When he got to the elevator, she was still there, her eyes on him. He got in and started to push the button when he saw her. He hesitated, frowning, his stare intent. He moved, just a fraction, as if he thought about getting off the elevator and coming back, rushing back, to her.
    That thought was frightening. She wasn’t ready for it. She couldn’t bear another passionate embrace tonight, not after the things he’d already said.
    She moved back into her room and closed the door, hard, leaning back against it with her heart pounding.

6
    M aggie slept fitfully for the rest of the weekend and was bleary-eyed and drowsy when she got into the office on Monday morning. She’d showered, and been embarrassed all over again when she looked in the mirror and saw a vivid red mark on her breast where it had been suckled. There were other faint marks, too, all evidence of a torrid interlude.
    Nobody could see the marks, of course. But the memory had kept her awake half the night with burning recollections of Cord in her arms, his kisses on her mouth. After years of futile dreams, the reality was such a shock that she could barely believe it. Above all, he’d been cold sober, and he certainly hadn’t hurt her. He’d been so tender that her body rippled all over just thinking about it. Even days before, despite her feelings for him, she couldn’t have imaginedhim like that. Her memories of his lovemaking were painful. But perhaps the new memories would be even worse. Cord was a wonderful lover. Now she knew what she was missing, and what she stood to lose if she really took a job out of the country.
    But what good would it do her to stay? Cord had been furious with her because she wanted to distance