Free Witchcraft by Jayne Ann Krentz

she remembered the odd sensation of loss she'd had when she'd learned that the father she'd never known had died. "So now the Marlands have no one except you. "They don't have me," Kimberly said with cool finality. "As far as I'm concerned they made their bed twenty-eight years ago. Now they can sleep in it. They chose to wield all that family power and pressure then and they can damn well live with the results. I'll never forgive them for what they did to my mother."
    "That letter from their lawyers implies there would be a large settlement for you if you'll agree to a meeting with the Marlands."
    "I don't need or want their money."

    "How about the sense of having family ties?"

    Cavenaugh pointed out. "You're just as alone now as your grandparents are."

    "I'm not a big fan of strong family ties," Kimberly told him wryly. "Not after what family ties did to my mother."

    "Is that why you're so intent on finding a man who's as free as you are?"
    Kimberly blinked. "Full marks for analysis. You've got it in one. If I ever decide to marry it will be to a man whose loyalty is one hundred percent with me. I won't share him with several generations of responsibility and clout and money."

    "And of course he must share this deep sense of nonverbal communication with you, too."

    "You find it humorous?" she asked coldly. "I think you're living in a fantasy world. You want a man who will materialize out of nowhere with no ties to anyone but you, and who will think the same way you do."
    "It's a pleasant enough fantasy," she returned negligently. "You might like the real world just as well," he suggested. "Not a chance."

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    "Are you sure there won't come a time when you'll need a real flesh-and-blood man?"

    "Not on a permanent basis," she tossed back caustically. "Would you please pass the jam?"

    "Is that a way of telling me you want to change the topic?" He handed her the jar of strawberry jam. "I am continually amazed at your perceptive abilities,"
    She gave him a brilliant smile. "I have a few other abilities, too, but you have so many built-in prejudices against men in my position that you're not going to give yourself a chance to test them, are you?"

    "If you're talking about the way you seemed to read my mind yesterday." He shook his head impatiently. "There was no telepathy involved yesterday. I just put a few facts together and realized it must be you calling the house. Since I had intended to drive over to the coast to see you soon, anyway, I decided to arrive sooner rather than later. No, Kim, I'm not referring to any supernatural abilities. I'm talking about more concrete ones. I'd like a chance to prove my ability to satisfy you in bed, for example." Kimberly drained her coffee in a single, hot swallow and set the cup down with a sharp clatter. "Don't hold your breath. If you think that I'll sleep with you in exchange for your offer of protection, you might as well leave now. I'll take care of myself." Cavenaugh's emerald eyes glittered with sudden proud fury.
    "When I decide to sleep with you, witch, it will be on my terms, not yours.
    And you can bet my terms won't include exchanging sex for protection. You're not the only one who has a few ironclad rules in a relationship but I definitely will not resort to buying a woman, with either money or protection or anything else. Do we understand each other?" Kimberly caught her lower lip briefly between her teeth as she considered the arrogant anger in him. "I didn't mean to insult you, Cavenaugh," she apologized aloofly. And it was the truth, She hadn't meant to antagonize him. It was just that he had pushed her a little too far. "Terrific," he growled sardonically as he reached for the coffeepot. "Maybe we do share some mystic al channel of communication. At least you understand me well enough to know when to back down."

    CHAPTER FOUR.

    The Cavenaugh Vineyards and winery could have served as a