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interest.
    He shot her a sidelong glance, clearly trying to assess her mood before he committed himself. „Has it
    occurred to you that I’m in love with you?“
    „No.“ She waited expectantly.
    He scowled, his hand on the gearshift again as he slowed for a red light. „You don’t believe me?“
    „No,“ she repeated. „But I’ll admit I am getting curious. What’s going on here, Flynn?“
    „Eight months of wanting you is what’s going on, damn it. Can’t you understand that? I didn’t have to
    take that Saudi Arabian job, you know. I could have stayed here and sent someone else to manage the
    project. I grabbed that job for myself because I knew I had to get away for a while. I needed time to think.
    Time to work things out. Things that had been eating me alive before I left Tucson. You said earlier you
    didn’t want to hear about them, but I want to explain. You always understood things, Heather. You were
    always willing to understand them.“
    „Did your private problems justify the way you treated me?“
    Flynn swore softly as he eased the Porsche into a parking space in front of Heather’s home. „I’ve al-
    ready told you they didn’t. I’m not trying to make excuses. I’m trying to get you to understand.“
    „I’m not in the understanding business anymore.“ Heather opened her car door without waiting for him.
    „Thanks for the meal and the proposal, Flynn. You certainly livened up an otherwise dull evening.“
    He slammed out of the car and strode up the walk behind her, reaching the door before she could close
    it in his face. Without any apology he shoved his foot over the threshold and eased himself into the hall.
    „Heather, I’ve asked you to marry me,“ he said steadily. „The question deserves a polite, considered
    response. Whatever you may think of me, you know I’ve never lied to you. I’m offering marriage and it’s
    an honest offer. I want an honest answer, not some flippant attempt to put me in my place.“
    Heather felt her mouth go dry as she looked up at him. He was serious and she knew it. The knowledge
    shot through her senses, making her pulse beat faster and threatening whatever control she had over her re
    sponses. Eight months ago she had loved this man with a willing, eager heart. Some things, she was dis-
    covering, don’t change.
    „I don’t know why you’re doing this to me, Flynn. I can’t believe you’re so desperate to get me back
    into bed that you would lie about marriage.“
    He moved before she could retreat, taking her in his arms and folding her close. „It’s not a lie,“ he mut-
    tered thickly. „I want you and I want marriage. What’s more, I think you still want me, too. In spite of
    everything I did to you. Believe me, Heather, when I tell you that eight months ago I was so involved with
    my own anger that I didn’t realize what I was throwing aside when I let you go. I’ve had time to think.“
    Heather stood perfectly still, her eyes wide and luminous as she looked up at him. Very deliberately she
    repeated what she had said earlier that evening. „I will not go to bed with you, Flynn.“
    „I’m not asking you to go to bed with me. Not tonight. Please, Heather, kiss me. Kiss me just once the
    way you used to before I behaved like a fool and put an end to everything.“
    It was the aching need she saw in him that overrode Heather’s common sense. In the past she had been
    so terribly susceptible to that need, and that was something else that apparently hadn’t changed. Instinc-
    tively she found herself responding. Her hands had been braced against his shoulders and now her nails
    sank into the fabric of his shirt in a silent display of her inner reaction. Flynn felt the gentle kneading touch
    and groaned. His mouth came down on hers.
    Heather whispered his name and then she could say nothing else. His lips were warm and compelling on
    hers, but there was no arrogance or demand in the kiss. It was a tender, sensual caress