Heath nodded his head sideways, toward the back window and the tiny cluster of people standing behind them. Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! He was right… If they left in separate cars, the journalists would know immediately that she wasn’t just some date he’d taken out on a normal Saturday night. And they’d see her license plate number. Turning back to face him, she glared.“Great! I didn’t need this… So, what do you suggest?”“Have you ever been to 'Angels Meadow'?” 'Angels Meadow'? Was he out of his mind?“No, I haven’t. And we’re not going.” Any other time, Rowena might have thought she’d died and gone to heaven. The sexiest, most charismatic, most amazing man she’d ever met was asking her to take a walk in a park with him. But not because he actually wanted to kiss and touch her. If he had, she’d have said yes in a heartbeat. No… She’d been the one fantasizing about all the fun they could have in the compact sports car.
“What the hell is going on?” Rowena jerked, stabbing herself with her pen and sending black ink gliding across the back of her hand. She blinked at Summer, disoriented and a little unsteady.“What are you talking about?”“This…” her friend replied, slapping a folded newspaper on top of the year-to-date expense report she’d been reading before Summer’s incredulous voice had interrupted. Rowena stared… She’d never seen Summer so agitated. Leaning forward, she furiously scanned the page.“There’s a gala at Paramount Theatre on Saturday?” Rowena said then looked up. “I can’t get an invitation, Summie. You’re the one with family in high places.”“Very funny! No, not that.” Summer glared and pointed to the bottom of the page.“This. The story about Dr. Lovejoy. Accompanied by a picture of him with you.”“What?” Snatching the flimsy paper from her desk, Rowena stared at the unmistakable picture of Heath… with his arm draped around her shoulders. It had
Fighting the urge to hold up open palms in a gesture of surrender Heath smiled at Summer.“We’re just friends…”“Yeah… and I’m a supermodel…” She shifted away. Somehow the widening gap between them didn’t make him feel any more comfortable.“I know lust when I see it… Just remember I’ve got her back. Rowe might not stoop to revenge, but I have no problem with physical retribution.” The fact that she recognized the attraction he was trying desperately to deny set his nerves on edge.“Summer, we’re not involved.” She shrugged.“Okay… Whatever…” Before he could pursue it further, convince her that he meant what he said, Summer turned and left him there. A few seconds later, Rowena reappeared.“Where’s Summie?” she asked looking around.“I guess she didn’t need coffee anymore… She just… left…” Rowena sighed and shook her head.“Dammit… I’m going to kill her…” she whispered. Then, snagging him by the elbow, Rowena tugge
Rowena’s body hummed. That was some kiss. And she wanted more. Of course, from the moment she’d set eyes on him, she’d known. Known Heath could cut through the protective layers she’d built up and melt the ice that kept her frozen for all these years. Known he could turn her on like no one before. Known that with Heath Evans nothing else would matter. And she’d been right. Not that he seemed to care. Heath blinked down at her. His eyes were glazed with the same arousal still writhing through her body. But as he took another tiny step away, it became crystal clear he had no intention of a repeat performance. And Rowena was so ready for an encore. “My God, Heath… Why are you looking at me like that? What are you afraid of?” The words burst from her like an accusation. Rowena hadn’t meant them to be, but he was looking at her like she was Medusa or something. Between the two of them, she was supposed to be the o
Something close to pure jealousy rolled through Steven’s stomach as he watched his son and the pretty little thing Heath was holding and kissing. An odd grin appeared on his lips and he felt his enlarged member pressing against the zipper of his trousers. Steven Lockwood saw himself as a player, through and through… He was able to charm the pants off a woman anytime and anywhere. Everywhere he went, the ladies were falling at his feet. But lately, that luck was starting to run out and he was starting to miss the thrill of the chase. The surge of power he got the moment he knew he had a woman in the palm of his hand was absolutely unique. There was nothing in this world like that feeling, when everything coalesced to perfection, when his brilliance and human nature combined to give him whatever he wanted. And the boy was a chip off the old block. He watched from inside his car as his son moved in for the kill, pulled a fi
Rowena puttered around her kitchen, throwing diced chicken into the sizzling pan. “You are absolutely pathetic!” she scolded herself over and over. “That’s all there is to it. You keep waiting for something that is never going to happen. Girl, even if he said he’s going to think about it, the answer is a very elegant ‘no way in hell’! Heath Evans pushed you away. Even Dr. Lovejoy expressed a resounding ‘NO’. Girl, come on… wake up and smell the coffee.” She added some salt and pepper and started stirring the diced meat. “And to make the matter even worse, you just turned down your best friend’s invitation to go out and have some well-deserved fun… You said no to Summer who’s been nothing but supportive! You are not only pathetic… You’re also the greatest idiot on this planet!” There was no other explanation for why she’d said no to Summer’s invitation for a girl's Saturday night out in favor of eating alone and brooding. Last night, during their weekl
Rowena stared at him across her modest living room. Heath stared back at her but couldn’t read her expression. The urge to twitch seemed to be lodged in every muscle, but somehow, he managed not to move while he waited for her reaction. Instead, Heath stood stock-still in the center of her apartment and waited for a move… a word… anything. Heath had no idea what he was really doing here. He’d gotten in his car, driven around the city, and suddenly found he’d pulled into a parking space in front of her apartment. Sitting there, he’d known he should pull back out again, go home, turn on the game, and put this entire matter and Rowena aside for good, not only for that night. But something had stopped him. What could it hurt to talk to her… again
Rowena slumped into her big, stuffed chair and clutched the throw pillow to her stomach. Dr. Lovejoy had just agreed to have sex with her. Heath Evans stopped by her house, kissed her, and told her that soon he was going to have sex with her. She wasn’t precisely sure what to feel. Excited? Terrified? Aroused? He’d agreed to sleep with her… And then walked out her door, leaving her alone with the hum of anticipation flowing