Free Pirate's Gold by Lisa Jackson Page A

business. I want to see you again.”
    â€œI don’t know.” Once again her heart was racing. What was it that scared her so?
    He wouldn’t be put off. “I want you to come to my home in La Jolla for the weekend. I want to walk on the beach with you. I want to show you where I live. I want to get to know you…all of you.”
    â€œYou live alone?” she asked breathlessly. She was afraid of the answer and she prayed for any excuse to avoid the intimacy they had shared this evening. It was much too perilous. She couldn’t afford to fall in love with Kyle Sterling and she realized that it would be easy…too easy.
    â€œMy housekeeper is gone on the weekends.”
    â€œBut…I thought…don’t you have a daughter?”
    His silvery eyes darkened in pain. “My ex-wife has custody.”
    â€œEven on the weekends?”
    His jaw tensed and his eyes hardened against the bitter memories. “I don’t see my daughter very often. Holly prefers it that way.”
    â€œI’m sorry…”
    â€œDon’t be. It’s not your fault.”
    For the first time that evening Maren had some insight into another, more private side of Kyle Sterling. It was a part of his life that was shielded from the press and definitely brought him torment. Maren was surprised to understand that he, too, had suffered at another’s hand. She saw it in the set of his jaw and the shadows under his eyes. All of his money and fame hadn’t bought him happiness. “I…I didn’t mean to pry,” she said, avoiding his gaze.
    He dismissed the subject with a frown. “It’s all right.” His fingers pressed more warmly against her shoulders. “Will you see me again?”
    She forced back the lump that had swollen in her constricted throat. “I don’t know…if I want to get…involved with you,” she replied, attempting to control her ravaged emotions. “There’s a part of you that seems so remote…so untouchable. Not only are you wealthy, but you’re famous…really famous…and you own the company that is the single largest account of Festival Productions. It’s all so overwhelming…” Her voice faded into the night. It wasn’t like her to be indecisive. Kyle was disturbing her equilibrium. She wasn’t thinking rationally.
    â€œI’m a man who just wants to spend some time with a very interesting woman. Can’t you understand that?”
    She smiled wistfully. “I suppose so. I just don’t know what to do about it.”
    â€œTrust me.” The words echoed dully in her brain. She’d heard them in the past and they had betrayed her.
    â€œI want to,” she allowed.
    â€œBut you can’t?”
    She smiled despite the unwanted tears burning in her throat. Had she really come to the point where she could trust no man? “I guess I’m just not a trusting soul.”
    His hands slid down her arms and she felt the pressure of his fingers gently holding her wrists. “Because you were hurt by someone else?” His features contorted with anger. Despite the threatening tears, she looked upward at him defiantly. The silvery glow of the streetlamp reflected in the unshed teardrops. She brushed them away with the back of her hand, refusing to cry because of painful memories.
    â€œI don’t think I know you well enough to discuss what has happened to me—anyway, it’s not all that interesting.”
    He looked down at her hopelessly. “You’re hiding something from me. What is it?”
    â€œIt has nothing to do with you…or your company.”
    â€œTo hell with the company. Something’s bothering you.” If only she would open up to him, perhaps he could help. He had the urge to protect her.
    â€œIt’s none of your affair,” she replied, her eyes once again dry. “And none of your concern.”
    She shook her head