Lovescenes

She turned away quickly and reached for the door. ‘Then there's nothing for us to discuss, Mr. Morgan. Thank you for the tickets. It's been an interesting evening.'

Cade grasped her wrist as her fingers closed around the doorknob. ‘Interesting? Even unfavorable critics come up with better words than that to describe my con­certs.’

‘Someone actually said something unfavorable about the great Cade Morgan?’ she said softly, raising her eyes to his. ‘I’m shocked.’

His hand curled more tightly around her wrist. She could feel the heat of his touch burning through her jacket, through her silk blouse to the naked flesh beneath.

‘What’s your problem, lady?’ Can’t you get through five minutes without insulting me?’

‘I was simply being honest,’ she said, looking down at his hand on hers. Suddenly, all she wanted was to escape the sti­fling confines of the small room. Morgan’s presence seemed overwhelming.

‘Were you?'

‘It doesn't matter. I’m not really in a position to judge your music or your performance.’

He drew closer. ‘We’re not talking about that, Padgett, are we? You just don’t like me.’

‘That has nothing to do with it,’ Shannon said quickly.

A tight smile spread across his mouth, leaving his eyes untouched and cold.

‘It has everything to do with it.’ He drew her towards him, his eyes riveted to hers.

He was going to kiss her again. She could read it in his dark eyes, in the sultry ex­pression on his mouth. This time, she’d slap his face. This time, she’d tell him she didn’t like cavemen…

But a honeyed weakness was spreading through her, fuelled by the soft, licking flame that was his hand on her wrist.

‘Let go of me,’ she said, thinking the words as a command, saying them as a plea. ‘Please...’

His eyes searched hers for the span of a heartbeat and then he took a deep breath. Carefully, as if he were letting go of something that might turn on him, his hand re­leased hers and he stepped back,

‘Look,’ he said gruffly, running his hand through his dark hair, ‘maybe we got off to a bad start. I didn’t mean to insult you this afternoon. I wish you’d just forget all about that kiss.’

Of course, Shannon thought grimly. His apology, if that’s what it was, was all the proof she needed. The decision to hire Cade Morgan had already been made. And the man wasn’t a fool; he knew it would be a lot better to have her on his side than not.

Well, he could forget that. She’d deliver when she had to—when the lights and the camera were on—and he could be damned when they weren’t.

‘I’ve already forgotten it,’ she said evenly, as she pulled open the door. ‘As I told you earlier, there wasn’t that much to remember.’

She turned her back on him and stepped out into the hall. Cade followed her, and suddenly Claire moved toward them both.

‘Hey,’ she said with artificial good cheer, ‘let’s take it easy, kids.’

Cade watched Shannon walk away. Then he swung toward Claire.

‘Miss Holden.’ His voice was ice. ‘Tell your client I’m going to take that part. Tell her she’s going to have lots to remember by the time I’m finished with her.’

Claire nodded and closed the door quietly behind her. Shannon was almost running down the corridor, her high heels tapping an angry tattoo against the floor.

Cade Morgan and Shannon Padgett, playing lovers.

"Wow," the agent whispered.

It was going to be like touching a lighted match to a fuse. Dangerous, vol­atile—but with breathtaking results.

And the explosion would make Shannon a star.

CHAPTER FOUR