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few precious moments he’d literally felt consumed by her.
    In business Alex knew to expect the unexpected and to always be prepared for new developments. In his personal life he sort of adopted the same rules. In the case of Monica Lakefield, he didn’t really know which road to walk. Lightening the mood seemed to be the better idea.
    When he’d first arrived at the cabin and had begun unpacking some of his things he’d come across the board games in the bedroom closet. Looking at the childhood favorites of his—Twister, Battleship and Sorry—had him thinking that maybe a family with children had stayed in the cabin before him and had forgotten their games. Fleetingly he’d thought the staff should have cleared them out before the next guest. But after the new developments of the afternoon he’d begun thinking that his family and Monica’s had a droll sense of humor in their matchmaking scheme. Fill the kitchen with food and the closest with juvenile games—how that paved a road for seduction, Alex had no clue. Maybe it wasn’t their intention for him to seduce Monica. Maybe they just really wanted both of them to take some time to relax and get away from their businesses. Monica would prefer to think the latter, he was sure.
    The way she was looking at him now was proof that the last thing on her mind was seduction.
    â€œLook, we have to pass the time or we’re just going to drive each other crazy. I found some games in the closet and thought it might be fun.” Her gaze kept going from the game box to his with growing agitation…and interest.
    â€œBesides, you’re the one who came up with the idea of ground rules. I don’t think either one of us should just dictate what the other should do. So why not play for the bedroom rights? If you win, the bedroom’s yours. If I win, it’s mine. Simple.”
    One elegantly arched eyebrow lifted and Alex felt a tightening in his groin.
    â€œSimple, huh?”
    She was thinking about it, weighing the odds. He noticed she thought about things a lot, probably over-thought them. That either made her very careful or paranoid, both bringing him back to the conclusion that something had happened in her past to make her the way she was now. A natural fixer of all things wrong, as his siblings often accused him of being, Alex wanted to know what happened. He wanted to know more about Monica Lakefield, about why she’d built this enormous shield around herself and practically dared anyone to attempt to knock it down.
    â€œCome on, Monica. You’re not afraid of playing one game with me, are you?”
    â€œI’m not afraid of anything” was her quick retort.
    Just the words he’d expected to hear from her. “Great. Then kick off your boots and let’s get started.”
    â€œI can’t play dressed like this.”
    He looked at her pristine slacks and sweater and had to agree. “You go change and I’ll get the game set up.”
    After a brief hesitation she said a quick, “Fine,” and was out of the room before he could say another word.
    Alex cleared the floor in the middle of the living-room area and spread out the giant plastic sheet filled with colored circles that would be their playing board. Then he looked down at his own jeans and shirt andthought he should probably change, too. As he remembered, Twister was a game of flexibility, which he wouldn’t have much of in the constricting denim he was currently wearing. One of his bags was still in the bathroom so he grabbed a pair of gym shorts and slipped them on. He returned to the living room and his throat went dry when he saw her holding the cardboard dial that would instruct them throughout the game. It looked as if she’d put on gym clothes, as well—black spandex pants and a hot-pink top that just barely covered her midriff.
    â€œWhat? I didn’t pack any play clothes. This was a business