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there’d been a gentleness under the heated passion. An emotion that made the act more than simply coupling. It made it special. And damned if she didn’t like that, too.
    She was a study in contradictions and the direction of her thoughts scared her. Right now was not the time for distractions. She had her purpose, and she needed to follow through quickly and efficiently.
    She said a silent thank-you that he’d be gone tomorrow. That knowledge alone quelled her fears. Yes, her reaction to him was uncomfortable and strange. But what did it matter? He’d be gone soon enough. And she could get on with her plan.
    And with her future.

‡
Chapter Five
    D ante woke up slowly , the woman soft and warm in his arms. He had no desire to be anywhere else. No thoughts of moving, no plan to get on.
    And yet that’s exactly what he had to do.
    He closed his eyes, fighting the inevitable, and instead shifted closer, the heat of her body firing senses that by all rights should have been dulled from sheer exhaustion.
    They weren’t. They weren’t dulled at all.
    If anything, his body was ready to stand up, salute, and jump right back into the fray. And it took every ounce of willpower not to kiss her shoulder, roll her over, and do exactly that. He couldn’t, though. The bright green numbers on the digital clock made that perfectly clear. He had three hours to get dressed, get packed, and get to the airport.
    He actually considered staying. Not for his father, of course, but for this woman. But he knew that wasn’t possible. No matter how much he might wish otherwise, the woman beside him was little more than an illusion. A sexy, hot, responsive illusion, but fantasy nonetheless.
    His chest tightened with longing, because the truth was that he wanted her name. He wanted her name and her phone number and her address. He wanted to knock on her hotel room door, take her arm, and escort her down to a romantic dinner.
    Last night with the anonymous vixen had been beyond incredible, but now he wanted more. He wanted real.
    And damned if he couldn’t have it.
    Best to just go as planned. Besides, if he stayed, he’d just get sucked into some damned power play with his father. Even more, though, he knew that the woman in his bed didn’t want the date. Didn’t want the romance.
    Above all, she didn’t want to tell him her name.
    They’d uttered no promises, and yet the rules were clear all the same. One night. No names.
    And then he’d leave Monte Carlo.
    As much as he now regretted that silent promise, he knew that he wouldn’t break it. He couldn’t.
    With a sigh, he moved slowly, curling himself out from under her arm and sitting up. He bent forward, stretching as he tried to work up the enthusiasm to move to the shower.
    A warm palm pressed against his bare back, and all semblance of motivation vanished. Staying here was fine; the bed was just fine.
    “Hey.” A soft whisper from behind, accompanied by a subtle shift of the mattress. A quick brush of lips on the back of his ear, and soft hands snaking around his body to stroke his chest. “Good morning.”
    “Good morning to you,” he said, his body testifying to just how good a morning it was suddenly becoming.
    “It is rather exceptional, isn’t it?” Her words were soft, laced with a tease, and punctuated by the fingers dancing over his bare skin.
    “And getting better by the second.”
    “You’re getting up. Taking a shower?”
    “That was my plan.”
    “You have a plane to catch,” she said. It was a simple statement, and yet Dante ripped it apart, trying to analyze nuances, tone. Did she want him to hurry and leave? To stay? He didn’t know. He knew only that he wanted to hold on to the fantasy that this woman wanted him as much as he wanted her.
    “I do,” he finally said, which was completely inadequate, but the best he could do.
    “When do you have to leave?”
    A hint of invitation colored her voice, and Dante jumped all over that. “Why do you