Free Mad About The Man by Stella Cameron

way of knowing how sick he was that for most people he was a product rather than a man. "Yeah. Before I became a candy king. Just call me luscious Ledan and I'll know you're not talking to anyone but me."
    Regarding him speculatively, she sipped her drink. "What's it like to be filthy, stinking rich?"
    That was a novel approach. "Past a certain point, money doesn't have much actual meaning."
    "You haven't answered my question."
    "I think I have."
    "Mmm." S he rolled her frosty wineglass against her jaw. "So, you're so used to being weal thy it doesn't mean anything anymore. And you think hav ing the corner on chocolate-covered truffles gives you the right to have whatever you want—even if you only want it for a short while and even if you might do damage by having it at all."
    Jacques narrowed his eyes. "What are we talking about here?"
    Gaby lowered her gaze. "Nothing, I guess. I was just thinking aloud and not making much sense."
    Sure. Only he didn't believe her. And neither was he confused about her meaning. "I don't ever set out to hurt people, Gaby." The local populace wasn't the issue here. She assumed he used women as diversions and that he intended her to become his temporary antiboredom device. "We interest each other."
    "Do we?" Almost absently, she set her glass on a tiled counter and turned to look through the window at well-tended plantings in a courtyard enclosed by a white stone wall.
    Jacques went to stand behind her. "We're very attracted to each other." Her hat had been discarded. A hint of red gleamed in her black hair. "We are, Gaby. Admit it."
    She glanced back at him. "The kind of attraction you're talking about can be dangerous to the health."
    "Sometimes." He smoothed her hair carefully, from the crown of her head, to within inches of her waist. "But you aren't denying you feel it." At this first hint of victory his muscles tensed. "Good." Cautious not to make any sudden moves, Jacques slipped his hand beneath her hair to settle loosely on her nape. "This kind of attraction doesn't happen often, Gaby. We've got to make the best of it." He rubbed his thumb up and down the side of her neck.
    Gaby sighed and smiled up at him. "This is some line."
    "You and I are two magnets on a collision course. We— What did you say?"
    "I said, this is some line. You must have had a lot of practice."
    He smothered a laugh. "This is no line, sweetheart." This lady would never be dull. "I know what I feel and you feel it, too. We're going to have to do something about it."
    "You're a dreamer."
    "I certainly am." Jacques closed his eyes. "You should see what I'm dreaming. We're just going to have to make my dreams come true … and yours."
    "I'm not dreaming. My eyes are wide open."
    She was going to make this very difficult. Jacques didn't entirely dislike that idea. "Don't tell me you haven't thought, at least briefly, about how we would be together."
    "No! … Yes." The last was said as if it cost her dearly.
    Jacques grinned and turned her toward him. "Good. Now we've settled the preliminary stuff. Why don't we go up to my place?"
    "Go up to your place?"
    "We could have a nice, intimate little dinner. Swim some, maybe … or maybe not." What did he see in her eyes? "If you'd rather, we'll just light a fire, and… "
    "And?"
    Her face was turned up to his. Jacques looked at her moist, slightly parted lips and almost forgot her question. "And we could get to know each other bet ter." Slowly he brought his mouth closer to Gaby's.
    "Better than what?" She settled her hands on his chest.
    The shadow between her breasts showed at the open neck of her shirt. A breath raised that full, soft flesh. Jacques felt his body harden. Her nipples stiff ened against the thin, white cotton.
    Jacques brought his lips even nearer to Gaby's. "Better and better. Just better and better." He cupped her breasts, closed his eyes and drew her bottom lip gently between his teeth. "So much better." His thumbs found the rigid centers of her