Сандра Браун: Fanta C

"I knew all about romance in my fantasies." Lovingly, she touched his lips. "But I didn't expect to find it in my own backyard. I don't need to expand my business to find a new challenge. Every day of loving you will — "

"Hey, whoa, back up. What was that about expanding your business?"

"Nothing. It doesn't matter now. Adam invited me to lunch today and made me an offer."

"What kind of offer?"

"Thad, I told you, it doesn't matter now. I'm going to marry you."

"What kind of offer?" he repeated stubbornly.

Sketchily she outlined the proposal Adam had made her. "But, of course, I'll have to turn him down now."

"Why?"

She gazed at him in amazement and gave a short laugh. "Why? Because I can hardly be a wife and mother and manage a chain of Fantasy stores all at the same time."

He propped his head on his hand. "Why not? I'll be a husband and father and manage my business all at the same time. If I have a career, why can't you? If you want one, that is."

She started to speak several times, but the words were tumbling through her head so rapidly she couldn't form a coherent sentence. Finally, smiling timidly, she said, "It would be a golden opportunity, the likes of which don't come along every day."

"Then go for it." He kissed her soundly. "You have my blessing."

"I'll give it some more thought, but I must say, the idea is sounding more tantalizing all the time." She twirled a clump of chest hair around her finger and glanced up at him from beneath lowered lashes. "What about Adam? I'd be spending a lot of time with him. Aren't you jealous of him anymore?"

"Nope. It wasn't his lap you were straddling a while ago. And it wasn't his tongue licking champagne off your nipples. And your soft, warm mouth wasn't closed around — "

She laid her open palm across his lips. "Enough said."

He grinned. "Besides, I can't be too mad at him. The guy made me a fortune." Inquisitively, she angled her head to one side. "Every inch of concrete in the Hotel Cavanaugh was poured by Randolph Concrete Company. Didn't you know that?" She shook her head. "I doubt Cavanaugh realizes it, either, since I worked through the primary contractor. But in answer to your original question, no, I'm no longer jealous of him. I can't blame Cavanaugh for being attracted to you."

She turned rosy all over with pleasure. "It was never a sexual attraction between us. He likes me. I like him. But I could never love a man like him. He's too single-minded. Too driven by ambition. Too intense."

Thad rolled to his back and stacked his hands beneath his head. "What kind of man could you love?"

His conceit and complacency were endearing. She climbed over him, stretching her body lengthwise along his. She had the pleasure of watching his eyes turn hot with pleasure. "One just like you." She kissed his lips softly and murmured against them. "The one who stepped out of my fantasies."