The Texas Millionaire's Runaway Wife by Mary Malcolm

back to his car and opened the door. “Mrs. Sands,” he said.
    She turned to him. “Yes?”
    “Please, call any time. For anything.”
    A deep bloom of color heated her cheeks as he got in and drove away.
    Stephen’s hand tightened as he leaned in and with a low growl said, “You will not see nor talk to that man again.”
    ****
    The trip to Liz Eden’s was driven in near silence. Stephen felt feral in his awareness of Cassie. Her musky scent, the heat from her profile, the soft curve of her breast under that crisp white blouse. Every turn of the wheel set her shoulder against him in the tight space of the car. Every breath made her breasts strain the buttons.
    Damn Cassie for coming back into his life! He didn’t have time for this. Gritting teeth, he turned down Preston Avenue and parked in front of the old house.
    “Stephen, I—”
    He held up his hand to stop her. “We’re not talking. Not right now.”
    How in the hell had she become entangled with Jordan Giles? That man held the key to one of the biggest deals Stephen had faced so far in his career, and his wife knew him? More so, he was bringing her flowers?
    He would not stand for this. No, if Giles wanted to play hardball, wanted to involve Cassie, Stephen would find a way to make the man pay. Letting loose his grip of the steering wheel, he removed his seatbelt and stepped out of the car.
    Cassie remained in place.
    Storming around the front, he opened her door and took her elbow to lead her out. “We will stay for an hour. Damn it , Cassie. People talk! If you pull a stunt like that again, I will end this.”
    Her lip quivered. “Like what? The mothers, or Jordan?”
    He’d never in his life wanted to punish a person the way he wanted to punish Cassie. Grasping her arms, he pulled her close and bruised his lips against hers. His hands tangled in her hair, then moved down further. He squeezed hard, his tongue roving her lips. No mercy.
    She melted into his embrace and he pushed her away. “Never again, Cassie.”
    She looked stunned and slightly hurt. Confused beyond understanding as she stumbled away from him. A glisten of tears spread across her lashes and Stephen wondered if he’d grabbed her too tight. She swiped it away.
    “You do not own me, Stephen Sands. I am not Abigail. I am not Gayle nor am I any other woman in your life whom you think you own. I. Am. Not. For. Sale.”
    Though he admired her proclamation, it was the fiery look in her eye that made his groin ache. But as his mind went back to Giles, his blood boiled and he felt humiliated all over again. “Never again,” he repeated.
    Taking her elbow, he pulled her toward the front door. She yanked away. “Get your hands off me, Stephen. This is my sister’s house. You will treat me respectfully here. You will not make her suspect anything is wrong. You will not make her feel as if there is anything more between us than a working relationship. As far as Liz knows, you were on your way to Just Desserts to check out the facilities and that’s the only reason you are here. Nothing more, and really, there is no reason for you to come in.” She took a deep breath. “Eventually Liz is going to know. I can’t hide this forever, especially with your sudden desire to share me with the world.” Unlike a month ago. “But for today, you will keep our dealings to yourself or so help me God, I will hurt you.”
    “Cassie, you have no idea who you’re dealing with.”
    She stepped closer to him, her chin tilted in stubborn defiance, her eyes fierce and unblinking. He could read her like a book and this look meant she was deadly serious. “Stephen, you are the one who has no idea what you are up against. I came to you for help. It was wrong for me to blackmail you, but my family means more to me than anything in this world. If anything happens to make her even remotely uncomfortable, or because you think you have some threat over me, I will hurt you. I will make you so miserable you will