Call It Destiny

is to run off to California again. Do you really want me to let you do that?“
    „I’m not a child. You’re not going to decide what I do or which option I’ll choose,“ she flashed. The feeling of entrapment grew stronger, making her desperate in a way she hadn’t been in years. Like a cornered animal she scrambled for an escape. There was none.
    „Heather, every argument you used with me the night you proposed still exists and is still valid. The only difference is that you now know I own the Hacienda.“
    „That’s a rather huge difference!“
    „No, it’s not. Once you’ve accepted it, recovered from the shock of finding out you’re not going to be the only one in charge, you’ll see that I’m right. Everything can be exactly as we both want. We’ll have our home and our combined interest in the Hacienda. You’ll have achieved everything you came back to achieve. Including the happiness of your family.“
    He was throwing her a lifeline and Heather knew it. It would be embarrassing going back after that scene this morning but it would be a nine-day wonder that would eventually die down. Life could go back to normal in some respects. She could soothe some of the pain and humiliation she had caused her family.
    Wearily Heather lowered herself to the bed, rubbing her forehead with her hand. „What have you done to me, Jake? I can’t even think straight.“
    „Only because you’ve been so busy painting yourself into a corner.“ He stretched out a strong hand. „Come with me, honey. I can help you out of that corner.“
    She stared at his hand. „You’re the one who got me into it in the first place.“
    He drew a breath. „We both made mistakes because we both wanted the Hacienda and everything it means. But there’s something else we both want just as much, Heather. Each other.“
    „Don’t play any more games with me, Jake. I’ve had all I can take today.“
    Jake moved to stand in front of her using his extended hand to stroke the curve of her head. Heather flinched but she didn’t try to evade him. „It’s true and you know it, don’t you? The attraction between us is very, very strong. It’s a wonder one of us hasn’t given into it.“
    „Probably because we’ve both had our eyes on more important things,“ Heather snapped. „The Hacienda, for example.“
    „No, I don’t think that’s the reason. I’ve held back because I didn’t want to risk upsetting you. I’ve been trying to play that side of things strictly as you ordered. Give me credit for that much, at any rate. Why have you been holding back?“
    „I told you. I had other, more important things on my mind.“ She tried to move and found it impossible. He was standing directly in front of her as she sat on the bed. His legs were slightly apart, caging hers, and his hand was still stroking her hair.
    „I don’t think that was the reason at all. I think you were wary of me; perhaps even afraid because you know that when you’re in bed with me you’re going to lose that fine sense of poise and self-control you’ve worked so hard to develop. All that passion and fire and spirit are going to be set free. I won’t settle for less and I think you know it.“
    She reacted violently to the threat in his words, surging to her feet and shoving at his lean, hard body with both hands.
    „No!“ The single word was torn from her lips, a cry of frustration and rage and fear.
    „Heather, honey, stop it. Calm down. You can’t fight me and win. Not on this level.“
    But she struggled to win, nevertheless, frantically trying to free herself and make for the door. In a flurry of arms and legs Jake tumbled her back onto the bed, pinning her by her wrists and using the weight of his body to hold hers quiet.
    Heather stared up at him through slitted catlike eyes, her teeth slightly bared in a primitive reaction. What she read on Jake’s face was not rage or disgust or violence. What she saw in the depths of those gray eyes was desperation, and the discovery of such an emotion in this man shook her to the core. It suddenly chilled her own fury and fear.
    „Jake?“ Dazedly she moved her head, trying to find her feet mentally if not physically. „Jake, I don’t understand. What are you…?“
    „I can’t let you go, Heather,“ he groaned heavily as he lowered his head. „You’re a part of it. I need you to make it all work. Don’t you understand?“
    „No, no, I don’t, and I don’t want to,“ she heard