Silver Linings

you're not my type. I should have seen that from the beginning.”
    “How do we know we're not each other's type? We haven't given ourselves a chance.”
    “I gave you a chance,” she reminded him in a scathing voice. “I offered to follow you to the ends of the earth, remember? And you turned me down flat.”
    “I've told you before, you've got lousy timing. And last year your timing was all wrong.”
    She was incensed. “Oh, sure. Blame it all on me.”
    “Why not? I'm tired of having you blame everything on me. And your timing is bad, babe. Look at the way you're starting this stupid fight while we're trapped in this goddamned cave in the middle of an island that's undergoing an armed revolt. Talk about lousy timing.”
    “You started this, Hugh Abbott.”
    “Is that so? Then I might as well finish it.”
    He used the grip on her wrist to yank her into his arms. And then his mouth came down on hers with enough force to swamp her senses.

CHAPTER

Three

    Mattie clutched at Hugh's shoulders as he released his grip on her wrist to encircle her with his arms. He pulled her tightly to him and leaned back against the rocky outcropping. She was lying on top of him, her breasts crushed against his chest, her legs tangled with his. Her emotions were in chaos. She wanted to scream. She wanted to swear. She wanted to slap Hugh Abbott as hard as she could.
    But most of all she wanted to let herself savor the heat of him and the fierce, hot, masculine passion she had known so briefly all those months ago.
    “You feel like you've been waiting in cold storage for me, babe,” Hugh muttered. “There hasn't been anyone else this past year, has there?”
    “No, damn you, no .”
    “Yeah. Good. I told Charlotte to let me know right away if she saw any man moving in on you. Mattie…Mattie, babe, you've been driving me crazy.” His mouth shifted heavily on hers and his fingers kneaded her back with hungry impatience. He kissed her throat and then his teeth closed lightly around her earlobe. The small nip was wildly sensual. “Lord, you feel good.”
    Mattie shut her eyes, inhaling the scent of him. His clothing smelled of sweat but his skin smelled of the sea. The stubble of his beard was like sandpaper against her cheek. She was vibrantly aware of the swift arousal of his body under hers.
    “Kiss me, Mattie. Kiss me the way you did yesterday afternoon when you were grateful to me for getting you through those damn caves.” He lifted her chin and captured her mouth once more.
    Mattie surrendered to the excitement this man seemed able to elicit so easily in her. With a soft little moan of passion she opened her mouth and let him inside.
    He accepted the invitation instantly, his tongue plunging hungrily between her lips, his hands sliding down to her breasts. She felt his fingers on the buttons of her silk shirt and then he was inside, unhooking her bra, touching her.
    There was a certain rough care in the way he cupped her breasts, as though he was almost in awe of her feminine softness. He touched her the way he would have touched a kitten, his big hands moving a little awkwardly, but cautiously on her. Mattie sighed as his callused thumbs glided over her nipples.
    “It's been so long,” he breathed. His voice was husky with desire. “Too long. Why the hell did you keep ducking me this past year? We could have had all these months.”
    His big, warm palms slid down her stomach to the fastening of her trousers. When Mattie heard the metallic hiss of the zipper she finally came to her senses.
    The thing you had to keep in mind about Hugh Abbott was that he always moved fast. If a woman was going to say no, she had to say it quickly.
    “ No ,” Mattie gasped, levering herself up and back. “No, damn it. What in the world do you think you're doing?” She wriggled farther away from him, sitting back on her heels. “Pay attention, Hugh Abbott. And get this clear. I'm not about to have another one-night stand with you.”
    “For God's sake, Mattie.” He reached for her, his gaze still gleaming and intent with desire.
    But Mattie was already scrambling to her feet, her trembling fingers refastening her clothing. “Good grief, I can't believe I let you do this to me. Of all the stupid, asinine…”
    Hugh swore and gave up the attempt to pull her back into his arms. He collapsed back against the rock and watched her through narrowed, brooding eyes. “You wanted it. You wanted it as much as I did. Don't lie to