She blushed fiery red. ‘He didn’t want me because of my looks, he wanted me because I don’t want him.’
Jake sat back, crossing one leather-clad foot over the other. ‘Feminine logic?’
‘If you like,’ she said stiffly. ‘If I showed an interest in him he wouldn’t want me. I have a friend who thinks he’s fantastic, but adoration isn’t what he wants. Oh no, Paul Forbes likes his women unwilling.’
‘Really?’ He sounded amused.
‘Yes, really!’ she snapped. ‘And it isn’t in the least funny!’
‘I couldn’t agree more,’ he said grimly.
‘You—you couldn’t?’
‘I wouldn’t like to think that you could be attracted to someone like him.’
Stacy looked puzzled. ‘He’s a very attractive man, a lot of women would feel honoured to go out with him. He’s tall, very good-looking, has lovely styled blond hair, and the most twinkling blue eyes I’ve ever seen. He’s very young-looking for his age too.’
‘Does that mean you find him attractive?’ he asked harshly.
She couldn’t repress her shudder of disgust. ‘No!’
‘Good. Because besides those obvious attributes he’s nothing but a bastard. If I thought you could go out with him I wouldn’t be sitting here.’
‘No one’s asking you to stay,’ she said in a stilted voice. ‘You seem to have invited yourself to sit with me.’
He restrained her from moving by the tight hold he had of her wrist. ‘Stay here, Stacy. Don’t be so sensitive. It’s just that I consider Paul Forbes to be the lowest form of life, a man who trades on his wealth and fame.’
‘Any man in his position would do the same.’
‘Jake Weston hasn’t.’
Stacy looked with amusement at the author as he chatted amiably with a group of people on the other side of the room. She turned to her companion, her green eyes twinkling merrily. ‘I hope you’ll excuse my saying so, but he doesn’t really have a lot going for him.’
‘No, I don’t suppose he does. Tell me about yourself, Stacy,’ he commanded abruptly.
‘Have you finished questioning me about Paul Forbes?’ she asked tartly.
Jake sat forward, running a caressing finger down her cheek. ‘I was just curious as to why you refused his invitation.’
‘And now you’re satisfied?’
His blue eyes mocked her. ‘Hardly. But that can come later, when you know me a little better.’
‘You mean—’ she broke off in confusion.
‘I mean exactly what you think I mean. But don’t worry, I’ll give you time to get to know me first.’
She gave an incredulous laugh. ‘Are you honestly trying to tell me—’
‘I believe in being honest about these things,’ he interrupted. ‘I want to go to bed with you, I want to put my brand of possession on you as soon as possible, so there’s no point in trying to hide it. I told you earlier that I find you desirable.’
‘Yes, but—’
‘I know, I know, you take things a little slower over here. I’ve lived in the States so long I’ve forgotten I’m supposed to be one of the reserved English.’
Stacy gave him a curious look. ‘You aren’t American?’
‘As good as—I left England when I was five years old. I was born not far from here. I guess I’ll have to try and get a little of this reserve you all seem to have. But like I said, I’m not going to rush you into anything. If you find you don’t feel the same way about me after a couple of dates then we’ll forget the whole thing. I don’t like my women unwilling.’