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stood facing him. Challenge and defiance were written in her stance. "I hate to tell you this, but, while losing my temper is rare, it's not exactly the first time it's happened. Believe it or not, I do have a temper."
    "I'm beginning to believe it." Slowly Jess got to his feet, his eyes softening as he studied her rigid stance. "But I'm afraid you're not going to be able to terrorize me with it."
    "Why not? Because you've been terrorized by much more exciting displays of temper? You're immune to my more mundane explosions?"
    Jess reached out and tugged her gently but forcefully against him, his arms locking around her with undeniable strength. Helpless, Elly stood stiffly, aware of her captor's lips in her tangled hair.
    "You aren't going to be able to drive me away from you with a show of temper, honey. I know you too well. Believe me, after my experience with the Carringtons , I became an excellent judge of human nature, my own as well as others. I know you're exactly the kind of woman I want and need. When you've calmed down you'll realize that I'll be a good husband for you."
    "If you really think I'd marry you after what happened tonight...!"
    Very gently Jess shut off the flow of hot words by putting his fingers against her mouth. He shook his head warningly. "Don't say things you'll only regret in the morning. Trust me, honey. I know what I'm doing, and I know what's best for both of us. We're going to have a good marriage."
    " Even if it is a little on the dull side?''
    His patience gave a little under the taunting. Jess removed his fingers from her mouth and kissed her, a quick, hard, possessive caress that was unlike any other she'd ever had from him. It was definitely not of the more familiar, more casual variety she had become so well acquainted with during the past two months.
    "I don't think we're going to have to worry about boring each other, do you?" he asked with suspicious blandness as he watched the color flood her cheeks. Then he relented, pushing her face gently down onto his shoulder. "Stop worrying, Elly . Everything's going to be fine. You know you want to marry me. You know that you're going to say yes."
    "No, I do not know that. And you can give up any idea that I'm going to be pushed into making a decision this weekend. I want more time, Jess. A lot more time. I have a great deal more to consider now. It seems there's a lot I don't know about you."
    "That's not true, Elly . You know the real me."
    She lifted her head, her eyes overly bright from the effects of unshed tears. "Do I? What happens if you get a sudden craving for the old style of excitement? What if you start seeing Marina's ghost in our bedroom? I'm not sure I can cope with that, Jess."
    His face hardened. "Stop it, Elly . You're being ridiculous."
    She moved away from him, and he let her go. "You may be right. It's been a traumatic night. Unlike you, I'm not accustomed to so much excitement. I think I'll go to bed."
    " Elly —"
    "You can have the sofa. There are some sheets and blankets in the hall closet. Help yourself." Without waiting for him to respond, she turned and headed toward the staircase. Her foot was on the first tread when he caught up with her.
    " Elly , you're upset and you're overreacting. You need reassurance."
    "No kidding." She didn't look at him.
    He hesitated and then said deliberately. "I don't think you should spend the night alone."
    Her eyes swung to his. Then, half in shock and half in sudden fury, she said, "Are you by any chance offering to reassure me in bed?"
    "Why not? After all, what's really changed, Elly ? Earlier this evening you made it clear you needed exactly that kind of reassurance. You were begging me for it, in fact. I'm willing to give it to you. By morning you'll know that everything's going to be all right."
    Elly was beginning to seethe. "Your generosity overwhelms me. As I said, I just don't think I can handle all this excitement. Good night, Jess. Let me know if you see any more