Powerful and Proud: Beneath the Veil of Paradise / In the Heat of the Spotlight / His Brand of Passion

She looked so pathetically and yet endearingly vulnerable that Chase had to keep himself from reaching for her. What he would do when he had her in his arms, he wasn’t completely sure. He did know one thing. ‘I’m attracted to you, Millie. More than I’d ever expect.’

She let out a short laugh. ‘Because I’m not your usual type.’

‘No, you’re not. Does that matter?’ He wasn’t even sure what he was asking. Where was she going with this conversation?

‘No, I don’t think it does.’ She didn’t sound completely sure.

‘But, trust me, I am.’ If she risked a glance downwards, she’d know.

‘Well. Good.’

‘Glad we’re on the same page.’

She let out a breath and looked straight in his eyes. Vulnerability and strength, hard and soft. ‘I hope we are.’

‘Maybe we’d find out if you clued me into where this conversation is going.’

‘Fine.’ She took a deep breath, plunged. ‘I want to sleep with you.’

CHAPTER FOUR (#u05679086-c80e-5dc4-ba86-e2c794dd1af8)

TO HIS credit, Chase’s jaw didn’t drop. He didn’t laugh or raise his eyebrows or even blink. He just stared at her, expressionless, and Millie felt herself flush.

She’d decided on the straightforward approach because, really, what else could she do? She didn’t flirt. She couldn’t play the seductress, and in any case she knew instinctively that Chase would see through any gauzy ploys. No, all she had was a straight shot, and she’d fired it. Direct hit.

‘OK,’ Chase finally said, letting out a breath. ‘That’s...good to know.’

She gave a shaky huff of laughter. ‘I’m glad you think so.’

He rubbed his jaw, the movement inherently sexy. She could see the rippling muscled six-pack of his abs, the glint of sun on his stubble, his strong arms and lean fingers. Yes, she was definitely attracted to him. ‘So,’ he said. ‘What brought this about?’

Of course he’d start asking questions. Most guys would take what she said at face value and drop their pants. Not Chase. She should have realised this wasn’t going to be simple.

She shifted her weight, tried to act at least somewhat nonchalant. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Why me?’

‘You’re here, you’re interested and I’m attracted to you.’

He arched an eyebrow. ‘I take it this isn’t your normal behaviour?’

She swallowed, kept his stare. ‘No, not exactly.’

‘So why now?’

How much truth to tell? She decided to fire another straight shot. ‘Look, I don’t want to get into messy details. This isn’t about emotion, or getting to know each other, or anything like that.’

‘I appreciate your candour.’

‘Good.’ She felt that flush creep back. This had seemed like such a good idea last night, when she couldn’t forget how much she’d wanted him to kiss her. When having a fling with Chase Bryant had seemed like the perfect way to move on from the spectres of her failed life. To forget, at least for a little while.

From here it wasn’t looking so good.

‘So?’ she finally prompted, a definite edge to her voice.

‘Well, I’m flattered.’ Chase leaned over the boat to haul in some kind of rope. Millie waited, everything inside her tensing. He straightened, tossing the rope into a neat coil on the deck. ‘But I’m not that easy a lay.’

She blinked, tried desperately to arrange her face into some sort of blankness. ‘Oh? You could have fooled me.’

He looked almost amused. ‘Now what gave you the impression that I was a man-whore, Miss Scary?’

‘I didn’t mean that.’ Her face, Millie suspected, was bright red. ‘I only meant you asked me out last night and so you must be...you know...open.’

‘Open?’ Now he really seemed amused.

‘To a—a no-strings type of...’ She trailed off, unwilling to put any of it in words. Affair? Fling? Relationship?

‘Thing?’ Chase supplied helpfully, and she nodded, bizarrely grateful.

‘Yes. Thing.’

‘Interesting.’ He reached for another rope, and Millie felt the boat rock under her feet.

‘So do you think you could give me your answer?’ she asked, trying not to sound impatient. Or desperate.

‘An answer,’ Chase mused, and Millie gritted her teeth. He was tormenting her. On purpose.

‘Yes, Chase. An answer.’

‘As to whether I’ll sleep with you.’

She heard the grinding screech as she gritted her teeth even harder. ‘Yes.’

He smiled as he coiled another rope on the deck. ‘The short answer is yes.’

She let out a quick, silent breath. ‘And the long answer?’

‘We’ll do it on my terms.’

He turned to her, completely relaxed, utterly in control. Millie felt her heart flip over in her chest. It wasn’t exactly a pleasant sensation. So, Chase would sleep with her. She would sleep with him. They would have sex.

Her body tingled. Her heart hammered and her mouth dried. Just what she had started here? And how would it finish?

‘Relax, Millie. I’m not about to drop my pants.’

Even if that was what she’d wanted from him originally: a simple, quick, easy transaction. Now she didn’t know what she wanted. She swallowed, tried to ease the dryness in her throat.

‘So what are your terms?’