Marriage by Mistake

for dinner together with me and your friends, the Hunsington's?" Troy asked.
    Felicia inclined her head. Forget her speeding heart. This was what she'd been after. Establishing a normal footing between them. Getting things back to the way they'd been before.
    "Really," Troy demanded.
    Felicia smiled. "Really."
    Troy's lashes lowered while he reached out his free hand to snag another cashew. Felicia watched with a low heat beneath her bodice as he put the nut between his lips. His gaze flicked up to hers again. "You're just so all-fired cool with me that you could do anything."
    "Really, Troy, you give yourself too much credit." She leaned closer to whisper. "Just because you kissed me isn't going to change the world, you know. It was no big deal."
    Troy's gaze didn't leave hers. "No big deal."
    "That's right." Felicia lifted her wine. She maintained her lighthearted smile. No big deal . It had only reversed twenty-eight years of believing herself immune to men. It had only made her realize the incredible vulnerability she had toward Troy, of all people. Troy! Even now the blood was racing through her veins.
    "Then..." Troy watched her closely. "Then you wouldn't mind going out to walk on the terrace with me...right now."
    Felicia's wine paused on its way to her lips. "What?"
    "If you're so unaffected by me, then you wouldn't mind going out on the terrace with me right now. There's something I want to ask you...in private."
    It took every ounce of self-possession Felicia owned to maintain her composure. He wanted to go outside on the terrace with her, so they could be alone...to discuss something private? Well. It was one thing to pretend indifference when she was sitting in the safety of the lounge, with the bartender and a few elderly couples scattered here and there. But to be alone with him, in the dark...
    Felicia drew in a sharp breath. To be alone with him, in the dark, would teach him once and for all that she was not in his thrall. It would put them squarely back on the normal footing she so wanted. "If there's really something you must discuss with me in private, then I have no problem going out on the terrace with you."
    Troy's eyes glittered, suddenly looking dangerous, but Felicia was certain he didn't intend to kiss her again. Troy might be tricky, but he had his pride. He wouldn't kiss her now unless she indicated she wanted to be kissed. Meanwhile he straightened and held out his hand. "Come on, then."
    Felicia took his hand. Her stomach did an amazing somersault at the touch of him, but she kept her expression bland. Fortunately, once she was off the barstool he let go of her and let her simply walk by his side as they strolled toward the glass doors that led out to the terrace.
    The night was cool, but not uncomfortable. Troy led the way to the stone balustrade that overlooked the grounds. A dark mass of trees stretched in front of them. On the terrace, they were alone. Felicia gritted her teeth together to keep them from chattering.
    Nothing untoward was going to happen. Instead, she would make certain they went back to a normal footing, one where he held no kind of power over her, sexual or otherwise.
    He turned and leaned his hips against the balustrade. With his arms crossed over his chest, he announced, "I'm not going to apologize."
    "Excuse me?"
    His jaw set. "I'm not going to apologize for kissing you."
    "Well, I—" Felicia was glad it was dark enough he couldn't see her blush. "I'm sure I never asked you to."
    "No." Troy's reply was curt. "You didn't."
    "Fine." She started to turn. "Then I can go back inside?"
    "No."
    Felicia's brows went up.
    Troy hissed out a breath from between his teeth. "We are not through dealing with this."
    "I think we are."
    "Then you're nuts."
    Felicia drew herself up and raised her eyebrows. "Excuse me?"
    "It's still between us," Troy gritted out. "You know it is. We want to get each other's clothes off."
    Stunned, and to be truthful, excited, Felicia did her best to appear yet haughtier. "Speak for yourself."
    "I'm speaking for both of us and you know it." Troy uncrossed his arms and pushed off of the balustrade. "That kiss was...addicting."
    Felicia's heart was going crazy again and her breathing sped. "That kiss was...the simple result of a release of psychic energy," she declared.
    "What?"
    Felicia waved a dismissive hand. "We were both angry at each other. The kiss came out of that. It was a natural result of the built-up angry energy. Nothing more."
    Troy's