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worked to keep her cheeks from growing warm.
    When at last he looked back at her she let her gaze drift to the cliffs beyond just as though that was all she’d ever been looking at. She smiled. “The best part of my job is this view.”
    Her gaze found his face again. His lips were parted as his blue eyes bored into hers. She felt that blush climb her cheeks anyway. When his gaze fell to her chest, she knew he was doing the same thing she’d been doing.
    She said with forced cheer, “I didn’t expect to see you again. The truth is, I can’t imagine why you would be here since I think I made my position on the winery clear in my fax from a couple of days ago.”
    After a good long moment, he lifted his gaze to her face. “Your fax was only specific as to how and when I could obtain your winery, although over my dead body was a little gruesome, I thought. But you failed to say why you were so adamant against selling. I thought maybe we could talk about that.”
    How had she forgotten the deep timbre of his voice? She could still hear his rough resonance sliding over her cheek, come for me. And she had—how many times?
    Stop it, Carly.
    Focus.
    “Okay, let’s talk. Why do you want my vineyard?” Her knees trembled so she sat down in one of the brown leather club chairs opposite her desk. She gestured for him to do the same, but he remained by the window.
    He took on his mountain lion look. He fixed his gaze, predator-like, on her face.
    So this wouldn’t be simple.
    No surprise.
    “Does it matter?” he asked.
    She narrowed her gaze. Was this his strategy? He would ask, she would answer, that sort of thing?
    Her hackles lifted prickling her skin.
    Well, she had no intention of offering up information if he wasn’t going to take part in the conversation. She crossed her arms over her chest and just looked at him. Maybe she didn’t know a lot about negotiating, but she did know that he had come here wanting something she had, not the other way around and he could damn-well answer her questions.
    He returned her firm gaze, stare for stare, and within a few seconds the air became charged. Her chest constricted and her breathing grew uneven.
    Regardless, she held her ground.
    His direct blue gaze never left her face.
    She shivered. She had looked into those gorgeous eyes so many times, on her back, on her side while looking over her shoulder, tangled up in his body.
    He had made love to her how many different ways?
    Stop thinking about that.
    She kept silent, then blinked at him as ironically as she could.
    Then the corner of his mouth tilted just a little. His lips twitched.
    She couldn’t help it. This was silly. She smiled.
    He chuckled. “You know, your smile got me all the way up to the Rim. No wonder I set up camp in your bed for the whole night. I forgot how beautiful you are.”
    Carly swallowed hard. “Just stick to the point at hand, Mr. Barron.”
    He chuckled again. “I want Red Canyon Vineyards because it will help me put a deal together with prospective clients who own wineries in the California Napa-Sonoma area. Common ground is an excellent springboard and Sedona is a perfect place for sightseeing and shopping. But more than that, I want a winery in my portfolio. Period. And I’ve set my sights on yours.”
    “Then you don’t have a particular love of vine-tending or farming or viticulture?”
    “No,” he stated. “Although I do enjoy a good glass of wine.”
    “You have a love of money and my vineyard will help you get more. Is that it?”
    “Yes.”
    “Well, I’m not interested in selling. This winery has been in my family for over a hundred years. I intend to keep it there.”
    He narrowed his gaze. After a lengthy pause, he said, “At least let me buy you dinner.”
    “There’s no point.”
    “Maybe not, but I drove all this way and I’m hungry. This was your last tour so I’m thinking you’re as ready as I am for a good meal. You choose the restaurant.”
    She ought to say no.