Rancher's Choice
Silhouette Intimate Moments, Feb. 1994
ISBN: 0373075529
"Will you quit it? There is absolutely nothing between us!" Kaly shot up from the couch, and this time Jackson didn't try to stop her. He watched as she paced agitatedly in front of him. "Okay, I'll admit there's a certain..."
"Attraction," he supplied.
"...attraction between us. But I for one am sure I can handle this...this..."
"Chemistry." Jackson sat back. He was starting to enjoy himself.
"...without giving in to..."
"Sex," he offered.
Kaly paused and glared daggers at him. "I was going to say lust, and I will thank you to stop putting words in my--"
"Mouth."
"Stop that! You make me so mad I could--"
"Spit?"
The contents of her glass were streaming down his face before she was even aware that she'd moved. She stared at the results of her loss of control in horror. Even more terrifying was the calm, almost negligent ease with which Jackson mopped himself off with his handkerchief. Then he rose from the couch. Kaly took a few steps back. She was ready to run at the first signs of retribution.
He slowly slipped his stained suit jacket from his muscled shoulders, all the while maintaining eye contact with her. Next he untied his tie and pulled it from his shirt.
Kaly measured the distance to the door and dismally acknowledged that she'd never make it. Her gaze swung back to Jackson, who was unbuttoning his damp shirt.
"Um...Jackson?" She wet her lips nervously while she inched her way toward the door. "You understand that was an accident, right?"
He remained silent, slowly moving the next button through its hole.
She moved a few more inches, speaking desperately. "I didn't plan to do it. I didn't even know I was going to do it until I did it. I mean, doing it wasn't something I meant to do. That's what I mean. And you pushed me, Jackson, you know you did. But still..." A few more inches to the door, another button. "But still, Jackson, I won't hold a grudge if you won't, so let's let bygones be bygones..."
Kaly's speech ended in a yelp as she swung open the door and made a rush for freedom just as Jackson lunged for her.