While she loved and adored her family, their dreams weren’t hers, and besides, the resort catered to women.The pool of men on the island wasn’t an enticement to stay.
These days, instead of dating, she spent her free time gathering raw materials for her jewelry creations.A pros and cons list had helped her to this decision.She’d fought and persisted until her brothers now only grumbled when she told them she was off to Dalcon to buy precious stones.A white lie since she foraged for materials on neighboring planets.
A chuckle escaped as she recalled a recent gathering trip and the man who’d grabbed her, accusing her of theft.When she’d kept fleeing, he’d chained her before he’d taken a snooze.For a cute man, he’d sure slept a lot and hard-out.He’d never heard her shift to feline and slide free of the binding chains.Never heard her collect her bag of clinking tools.Never heard her reclaim her precious stones.
But she’d escaped more than an irate man.
On first seeing him, every single feline sense had gone gaga, for want of a better word.Yep, she’d grabbed her spoils and beat a speedy retreat before the situation worsened.Ever since the encounter, her nerves and senses had jangled, setting her on edge because her feline pined for the man.
A growly alpha.Sexy.Tasty.
Too bad he didn’t fit with her life plans.
Now if he’d shown interest in a down-and-dirty fling…
She might’ve written a list forthat.Memories of the trip led her mind back to her jewelry.Earlier this morning, she’d finalized the design for the ring Joe had commissioned her to create for Mungo.Her fingers itched to start work with the gorgeous purple stone she’d discovered while fossicking.She’d combine it with the golden metal she’d located in the Dalcon market.
Next up—earrings to sell in the resort store.Scarlett tapped the compuscreen.She required more stones, but the best ones came from…
A ferocious roar broadcast from outside.Every muscle in Scarlett stiffened as she turned to the doorway.
A huge naked man stomped into reception.Tattoos decorated one side of his torso and right arm, and his black hair grew long enough to strike his shoulders.A scowl dug into his face, pulling the faint scar that ran from the corner of his eye and bisected his cheek.But it was his gaze that drew her—his glitter of determination.
It was him.
For one traitorous moment, her pulse spiked with joy.Her feline perked right up with equal excitement until Scarlett seized her senses and reined them into submission.
Oh no!This was not happening.She refused to allow this man to do his caveman act again, even if his body was a muscular work of art.
A group of women passing through reception stopped to gape.Not that Scarlett blamed them.He’d gained weight since their last meeting, and his eyes—not green or brown but a shade in between—fired salvos of wrath.
He was…
Breathtaking.
Her feline issued an appreciative sigh, and it echoed, full of sexual heat and possibilities.
No.No.No!
She gave her head a hard shake and retreated half a step.
“You!”The man wore his arrogance like a cloak.
Every particle of self-preservation urged Scarlett to bolt.Instead, she lifted her chin and stared at him coolheaded.“This is a women-only resort.You need to leave.”
The man stomped closer.“I intend to hie off, Thief, and you’ll be coming with me.”His rich voice held anger, implacability.A can-do attitude that didn’t bode well for her.
Oh-oh.Along with anger, his features held resolve.Certainty coalesced in Scarlett’s mind.This was what her subconscious had tried to tell her.The flimsy compudesk didn’t provide enough protection.Maybe she could talk her way out of this situation.
“You’re creating a disturbance and upsetting our guests.Why don’t we discuss this in private?”She slid her hand beneath the desk and pressed the alarm to bring security and her brothers running.A quick glance told her the naked man had attracted more women, and rather than fear, his audience radiated interest.
She inhaled and scowled.
Arousal.
It polluted the air, and a growl escaped Scarlett.
His eyes widened, but her aggressive snarl didn’t stop him from snatching her, trapping her against his hard chest.
