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“Would you like to go hiking?”
    She released a breath, so thankful for the suggestion. It had been difficult for her to plan this out, but executing a fantasy with a man you’d die for without some kind of personal connection was a little bit too much for her.
    Relief rushed through her. “I’d love to.”
    He smiled, cupping her face, his thumbs caressing her temples. “Harder than you thought to jump into bed with me?”
    Her eyes squeezed closed. “Yes,” she said in a shaky voice.
    â€œMy guess is that a little romance won’t affect your article. It’ll probably make it better because that’s really what a woman is looking for. The sex is just icing.”
    â€œAren’t you just the perfect guy.”
    â€œI’m real, Haley. Flesh, bones and heart.”
    He placed her palm over his heart and the steady, sure beat calmed her tight nerves.
    He was real, all right. As his soft, hot mouth touched hers, Haley thought he was as real as he could be.
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    T HE HIKE WAS INVIGORATING and fun. The scenery was gorgeous, but not as gorgeous a sight as watching Dylan’s tight backside navigate rocks and climb over fallen logs. It was late afternoon when they returned to the cabin.
    Dylan insisted on cooking, delaying their fantasyeven longer. Haley didn’t argue because as soon as they got back to the cabin, butterflies assaulted her stomach. Food might help to quell them and would delay the actual lovemaking just a while longer.
    Dylan started to prepare the steak he’d pulled from the freezer before they had left on their hike. When he started slicing potatoes for an au gratin, Haley said, “Doesn’t quite fit with your corporate image.”
    â€œWhat? Cooking?”
    â€œYeah. I’ve got a feeling that in your firm, image is very important.”
    Dylan finished assembling the au gratin and put the glass pan in the oven. “It’s certainly part of climbing the ladder. Why would you say that I was worried about image?”
    â€œThe perfect haircut, the power suits, just the right amount of muscle to make you look powerful, yet not too much to make you intimidating.” Haley picked up a zucchini and began to slice the green vegetable.
    â€œNo. Intimidation wouldn’t work for selling ad campaigns to possible clients.” Dylan handed her a pan to put the slices in.
    â€œI rest my case,” Haley said as she took a bite of a slice of zucchini.
    â€œDo you?”
    Dylan studied her silently. “It looks like we both do what needs to be done to get ahead,” he said softly, leaning on the counter toward her.
    â€œTouché. How far would you go to get ahead?”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œWould you marry the perfect wife to promote your career?”
    â€œThat’s part of the game, but I would hope that I love the woman I ask to marry me.”
    â€œSo what’s more important? Love or image?”
    â€œHaley, that’s really hard to say when I don’t have to make that choice. Who knows how someone will act when put into a specific situation.”
    She should stop right now. Why was she bringing up this topic? Why put herself through this? Because she had to make sure that he couldn’t possibly be interested in her. This was a fling. Granted, a calculated fling, but Haley desperately needed to know that there was no way she could be allowed into Dylan’s life. Knowing this would somehow make it easier to deal with.
    Dylan chuckled. “What exactly are you getting at?”
    Haley took a deep breath. “Take me, for example. I think it’s clear that I, the woman from the other side of the river, would never fit in with your high-society friends and co-workers.”
    He looked away and his mouth tightened. “No. You wouldn’t.”
    â€œSo you could possibly damage your career by making the wrong choice.”
    â€œYes. You could say that it would be