Call It Destiny

got unself-consciously to his feet and began sorting out his clothing. She was violently aware he was watching her every movement. The knowledge made her feel dismayingly awkward.
    „No, Jake. I’m not like a keg of dynamite. You’re going to know exactly where you stand with me. No surprises.“
    He raised a heavy brow. „Meaning?“
    „Meaning that I will be quite happy to set it all out in black and white for you.“ She straightened from tying her left shoe and stood facing him with her hands planted on her hips, fingers splayed wide.
    „I think maybe we ought to wait until you’ve had a chance to calm down,“ he suggested.
    „Why wait? Nothing’s going to change as far as I’m concerned.“
    „No? Aren’t you about to withdraw your declaration of undying love?“ he challenged, voice hardening for the first time. Methodically he fastened the opening of his jeans. As if the project took great attention, he focused on it, not on her.
    „No.“
    That brought his head up sharply, gray eyes coolly narrowed. „No?“
    She watched him from proud unflinching eyes. „No. I love you, Jake….“
    „Well, in that case I don’t see what all the fuss is about.“
    „You will.“
    He dropped his hands from the front of the jeans and waited, looking resigned. „Okay, let’s hear the rest of the story.“
    „I love you and nothing will change that. Not now. I also love the Hacienda and this land.“ She waved a hand to encompass the high desert valley on which Tucson had been built, as well as the treacherous canyon where they had spent the night. „I agree that we have a lot in common businesswise and we both seem to want a home. I agree, in fact, with all the intellectual and realistic reasons why we belong together. I’m even willing to acknowledge that we might just possibly be able to work together, even if you do own the hotel.“
    Relief flashed into the gray eyes. „Then what is this all about?“
    „Simple. The other side of me, the side you say is dramatic, passionate and given to scenes, won’t be satisfied with a marriage based purely on lots of nice rational reasons. I won’t marry for anything less than love.“
    Jake’s eyes closed in brief disgusted dismay. „You just said you were in love.“
    „I’m not willing to marry until you’re capable of loving me,“ she declared violently.
    „Heather, you’re not making any sense. You know damn well I can toss you back down on those cushions and make love to you until you cry out for mercy.“
    Heather swallowed with a trace of nervousness. Jake was suddenly on the verge of losing his temper and that, she had learned, was not a comfortable state of affairs.
    „I won’t fight you,“ she whispered. „I’ll give you anything you want. Except marriage.“
    His mouth thinned. „Anything I want?“
    „Anything.“
    „You don’t know what you’re saying,“ he told her flatly.
    „Yes, I do. I’ll give you everything but a wedding.“
    He scowled. „You’d move in with me? Take over the responsibilities of helping to run the Hacienda? Entertain our business friends just as though you were my wife? Sleep with me? Eat with me? Shower with me? Work with me?“
    „Yes,“ she agreed simply.
    Jake’s scowl turned into a full-fledged glare. „You’re crazy. It would never work.“
    She shrugged. „I don’t see why not?“
    He moved his hand in an angry arc. „Heather, your parents are expecting a wedding. Those two hundred-plus guests you left me stranded with the other day will expect a wedding. Your sisters will expect it. The entire staff of the Hacienda will expect it. No one is going to understand or approve of you carrying on a full-scale affair with me, damn it!“
    Heather lifted her chin. „I’ve been known to disappoint people in the past. No one should be terribly surprised if I do it again.“
    „I won’t allow it,“ he raged tightly.
    „You need me. You can’t run that hotel successfully without me and you know it!“ she challenged.
    „You’re being totally irrational about this!“ Jake blazed.
    „Take it or leave it. It’s my final offer.“
    „You’re not in a bargaining position, lady.“
    „You can’t force me to the altar.“
    „What the hell do you expect to accomplish?“ He ran his fingers impatiently through his dark hair.
    „I’m going to convince you that I love you and I’m going to teach you to learn to love me. I think that’s the whole problem, Jake,“ she went on with