A Woman's Touch

and an interest in others that made anyone who talked to her, even in passing, feel special. Men and women alike preened and glowed under the impact of that genuine interest.
    She stood somewhere around five-foot-five or five-foot-six, although the impossibly high heels she wore tonight gave an illusion of added height. The rose-colored, drop-waisted silk dress she had on skimmed her slender figure, hinting at the small, high breasts and nicely rounded hips.
    Kyle was thinking about the subtle, feminine strength in that slender body when he noticed a familiar figure in a dark Italian-cut jacket move in on Rebecca. Broad male shoulders cut her off from Kyle’s sight. He saw the smile of welcome on her lips as she turned to greet the newcomer, and a shaft of pure, primitive possessiveness knifed through him. Instinctively he started through the crowd to stake his claim.
    He knew then with absolute certainty that he had to take her to bed tonight. He had to end the torment he had unwittingly inflicted on himself for the past two months. It was the only way he would find any peace now. Afterward he would tell her everything.
    There would be time enough to tell her the whole truth after he’d made love to her. She’d understand. She had to understand. He would make sure of that.
    Rebecca saw Kyle moving toward her. Out of the corner of her eye she watched him cut through the crowded room. He moved with the arrogant assurance of a nineteenth-century western gunslinger walking through a saloon full of gamblers and rowdies. No one got in his way for long, she noticed. Rebecca hid a smile as he reached her side.
    „Hello, Harrison,“ Kyle said. There was enough of an edge on his low growl of a voice to make the other man blink.
    There was also a strong hint of the western drawl that only emerged when Kyle was annoyed. „I didn’t know you were going to be here tonight. Thought you went out of your way to avoid these things.“
    Rick Harrison, a young, up-and-coming member of the marketing department of Flaming Luck Enterprises eyed his boss with due caution. Then he smiled at Rebecca. „Becky talked me into doing my duty tonight. She says I ought to mingle more with the clients. She also gave me her word she’d made certain Flaming Luck was using a new caterer for its corporate entertaining these days. I think I was poisoned last time.“
    „Since you’re here for the food, why don’t you give the buffet table a try?“ Kyle suggested meaningfully. „It sure as hell is costing me enough, though, so leave something for the clients. Looks like every damned one of them turned up tonight. Nothing like free food and booze to bring ‘em out of the woodwork.“
    Rick’s brows rose at the obvious dismissal. He gave Rebecca a knowing grin. „I see he hasn’t stopped complaining about the tab for this little extravaganza.“
    Rebecca laughed. „He’s been screaming for a month. You’d think I’d hired a four-star chef and served nothing but caviar and champagne. I’m sure I’ll get lectures on unnecessary corporate extravagance until the next Flaming Luck anniversary party. Then he can start grumbling all over again.“
    „Be glad you’re not married to the man,“ Rick murmured quite audibly as he turned away. „You’d probably have to account for every little charge-card expense.“
    Rebecca felt herself turning pink. The thought of anything permanent with Kyle, let alone the thought of marriage, was enough to set off a wave of longing and excitement deep within her. She tried to suppress the heady emotions, deliberately avoiding Kyle’s too-observant gaze as she took a discreet sip of the drink in her hand.
    It was Kyle who broke the tiny, taut silence that followed in the wake of Rick’s parting remark. „I never scream,“ he said mildly. His green eyes were gleaming.
    Rebecca gave that some thought. „Roar might be a better description.“
    „Lately people have been depending on you to pacify me when I feel like roaring. Didn’t take them long, did it? You
    ’ve only been working as my executive assistant for two months, and already everyone from my secretary to the janitor counts on you to keep me happy and content.
    You’ve been elected chief soother of the savage beast.“
    „That’s nonsense.“
    Kyle shrugged and took a swallow of his whiskey. „No, it’s not. I’ve seen the way people check with you first to find out what kind of mood I’m in before they come into my office. And