He drew her fast against him, and his mouth came down hard on hers. The shock of his body pressing hers was like a lightning charge, his lips hungry, demanding. Powerless to resist him, her hands moved over his shoulders, around his neck, into his hair.
He raised his head, wondering whether she would draw away from him, but she didn’t. Her eyes glowed, darkly amethyst.
“I’m afraid I couldn’t help myself,” he said softly.
“What?”
He grinned at her bemused condition. “Look around you, beautiful.”
She did, and blushed scarlet to the roots of her hair. Stephanie was staring at her in amazement. Sheila was grinning. Trudi Baker and some other girls were giggling. The men in the room were trying hard to pretend they hadn’t seen anything. She wanted to die.
She looked back, saw her hands wrapped around his neck, and pulled them back, stepping away from him. “How could you?” she hissed furiously.
“Very easily, and with pleasure,” he replied, taking her arm and leading her a little distance away from their audience. “Why don’t you ask yourself that question? You have just acknowledged me as your husband to everyone present.”
“Well, aren’t you?” she snapped.
“No.”
Her eyes opened wide. “So itisyou! How despicable you are, Slade. I’m only surprised that you admitted it.”
“Slade?” He raised a dark brow in that infuriating way. “Now why would you think I’m Slade?”
Sharisse shook her head. “Don’t try to confuse me. You’re registered at your hotel as Slade Holt.”
“So your father has been checking up on me—again.” His voice turned cold.
“Again?” she asked hesitantly. “You know about the man he sent to Newcomb?”
“That’s why I’m here. I want to know about that. That—and a few other things.”
“But he was looking for Lucas, not you. Oh, I could just scream!”
He chuckled. “Then I guess we’d better find somewhere private. How about your sister’s bedroom?”
“As if I would trust myself in a bedroom with you,” she said. “The garden will have to do.”
She led him outside to the enclosed garden in back of the house. There were benches and a small fountain nestled among the roses. Light from the house softly illuminated the garden, and it was pleasantly cool. After closing the doors, she turned around to face him.
“If you don’t start explaining yourself, then we have nothing to discuss,” she told him plainly.
“Me? Honey, you’re the one who has the explaining to do.”
“Not until you tell me who you are.”
His eyes narrowed. “I’m the man you married in Arizona.”
“Then why did you deny you’re my husband?”
“Because that paper you have that says we’re married is worthless.”
She stared at him, open-mouthed. “You mean the preacher wasn’t—”
“Oh, the preacher was real. And you and I know I married you. But can you prove it? If I go by another name, am I your husband?”
“I don’t understand. You can’t get out of a marriage just by changing your name.”
“I can. And you know I can…if the other name I use is ‘Slade.’ Having a twin brother has some advantages.”
