Free Marry Me by Cheryl Holt Page A

the dreary possibility out of her mind. At the moment, he was saying it to her, and there was no other woman in the room. Just her. Just Faith Benjamin. And she'd given him the ride of his life.
    "I'm so happy." The words slipped out before she could stop them.
    "I am too."
    He looked stunned, as if he was shocked to be happy, as if he never previously had been.
    She rested a palm on his cheek and peered into his blue, blue eyes.
    "You'll stay till Sunday, won't you?" she said. "You weren't kidding?"
    "Wild horses couldn't drag me away."
    "You better mean it."
    "Where you're concerned," he replied, "I'm always going to mean it."
    She didn't know what he was confiding and wouldn't speculate. She'd initiated an affair and had gotten what she wanted from him:  hot, sweaty, terrific sex.
    He'd been as thorough as she'd predicted he would be. No matter what happened between them in the future, no matter how short their liaison—and she was sure it would be very, very short—she would always be grateful to have had this time with him.
    "You'll be the death of me," he claimed. "I'm still hard for you."
    "You're an animal, Merriweather. An animal."
    He was laughing. "I've already come twice, and I'm still hard."
    "I guess you're not all talk."
    He flexed his hips, letting her feel his erection. "I'm all action."
    "As a woman, I'm very, very excited to hear you say that."
    "I told you:  When we're through, you won't be able to walk for a week."
    "Silly me. I didn't believe you."
    He took a slow, deep stroke. "Do you believe me now?"
    She smiled, loving the way he was looking at her, as if she was his, as if he'd never wanted anyone else.
    "Oh, yes, Lucas, I definitely believe you."

CHAPTER SIX
    "Pick up the phone, dammit!"
    Lucas listened to Faith's voice— I'm not available right now— and hit the off button.
    He was in the kitchen at the family's Denver mansion and wondering why he was still in Colorado. He should have been sailing in the Caribbean. Instead, he was twiddling his thumbs, trying to connect with Faith, trying to schedule another weekend getaway, but apparently, she couldn't be bothered.
    Five days had passed since their sojourn at the bed and breakfast. He'd left a half-dozen messages, but she hadn't responded to a single one.
    Their time together was the most satisfying he'd ever spent with a woman. The sex had been fantastic, but the entire encounter—the quiet conversation, the shared meals, the playful teasing, the easy relaxation—was beyond his prior experience.
    He genuinely liked her and definitely lusted after her, and there was no reason why they couldn't date for awhile. She wasn't his type, but hey, he could turn over a new leaf. He could actually involve himself with a female whose company he enjoyed.
    He was vain enough to suppose that she could benefit from a liaison with him. He could take her places and introduce her to people she'd never have the chance to meet on her own. Hell, he'd have taken her to the Caribbean if she'd exhibited the least bit of interest.
    But no. She was too busy or too stubborn or too fickle. He'd never been able to read a woman's mind, so he couldn't imagine what was going on in her head.
    Still, he hated to be ignored. Blasted woman! Until he talked to her, he'd never get anything accomplished. Was that her strategy? Was she trying to drive him crazy?
    Well, he was halfway there.
    In a temper, he snatched up his phone and punched redial. When he heard her voice recording, he snapped, "I'd like to see you. Call me!"
    It was obvious she didn't care to speak with him, so why was he pestering her? He never chased after women—he didn't have to—and he was starting to feel like a stalker. Her silence was telling, her opinion very clear. Why didn't he move on?
    The pathetic fact was that their romantic interlude had unsettled him in ways he hadn't expected. It hadn't been 'just sex'. It hadn't been a casual roll under the blankets. It had been fun and fulfilling and