“This isn’t business. I won’t have you gambling with my future, with Tuck’s future.”

“It’s the way I operate. Take it or leave it. Since I hold the winning cards where your brother and his band of merry thieves are concerned, I don’t think you have a better option.”

“Is it sex? Do you want me to sleep with you? If that’s it-just say so.”

“Sex?” His black gaze raked her. “I won’t say that offer doesn’t tempt me. Did you mean tonight?”

When she didn’t deny it, when she bit her lip and said nothing, he cupped her chin. Again, his hold was gentle, only this time it was more intimate as he studied her, his black eyes lingering on her lips before traveling lower. His hand stroked her throat. When his fingers slid briefly beneath the neckline of her dress, causing her skin to burn and her pulse to race even faster, she gasped in anticipation.

“I want you in bed, but it’s not that simple,” he finally murmured, removing his hand.

Only after he stopped touching her could she breathe again.

“I want you in bed, but I want you to be willing. So, this isn’t just about sex. Not by a long shot.”

No, it was about submission, about complete domination and control. She’d read plenty about how ruthless he was. He wanted to humiliate her as thoroughly as he’d humiliated his stepmother.

She shut her eyes because his gaze was too powerful and her own desire was beginning to feel too palpable.

“I loved you,” he whispered. “I trusted you, but you betrayed me.”

“I…I…loved…you, too.”

“Shut up, Summer! You and your stepfather and his cronies nearly sent me to prison. For statutory rape. I was nineteen. Now, any time a reporter shows up here or in Houston to do a new story on me, they dredge up the past. That’s not something I’ll easily forget. Or forgive-ever.”

“But…”

“Even though my uncle got me out of that mess, even though I’ve made a success of myself, a cloud has hung over my name. For years. No matter how much money I made. Because of you. Do you understand? At the least opportune times, when delicate deals hang in the balance, a belligerent press will hound me about those trumped-up charges, especially because you’re so famous now. No matter how high I climb, somebody’s always there, wanting to throw me back in the gutter where you put me. So, I came back to this town-to set things straight once and for all. I want to bury the past and silence my accusers. If you move in with me, everybody around here will think you approve of me and always have.

So, yes, this is about more than sex or revenge or whatever the hell else you think.”

“You seem to have done okay in Houston.”

“No thanks to you! If you’d had your way, I’d be a registered sex offender today. My uncle was at least able to get that part of my record expunged.” The rough bitterness that edged his low tone made her shiver.

“Despite what you say, your plan sounds like revenge.”

“You owe me,” he muttered. “You don’t want me to press charges and sic the crazy justice system on your brother, the way you stuck it to me. Because we both know how destructive and long-reaching the consequences for that would be.

If you do what I ask, Tuck gets a free ride. My plane and pilot will be at LaGuardia Airport every Friday at 3:00 p.m. to pick you up and fly you here for as long as your companionship amuses me. Be there, or by damn, I’ll forget how beautiful and vulnerable and innocent-looking you are and do as I please with your brother.”

“You wouldn’t-”

“Are you willing to risk Tuck’s future on that assumption? My anger over the way you railroaded me fueled my ambition to achieve all I’ve achieved. I doubt Tuck will be so lucky if you throw him to the wolves.”

She was shuddering violently when he let her go. Still, his burning eyes didn’t release her for another long moment.

“And I have one more condition-you’re not to tell a soul about our little bargain.”

“Don’t do this,” she pleaded softly.

“If it gives you any pleasure, I feel as trapped as you do,” he muttered.

“Then why are you punishing us both?”

“This meeting’s adjourned!” he said in a harder tone. “I intend to finish swimming laps. Naked. You can watch me or join me or leave. Your choice.”

Grinning darkly with cynical, angry amusement that stung her to the quick, his hands moved to his waist to shed his towel. Even though he took his time, and she had plenty of time to turn away, she stood where she was, daring him.

Like a raptor, his black eyes gleamed diamond hard as he ripped the white terry cloth loose. With a shocked gasp she watched, mesmerized, as it fell down his long legs and pooled in an untidy heap beside his bare feet.

His tall legs were planted firmly apart as his hard eyes locked on hers. His full, sensuous mouth smiled wickedly in invitation.

Although she willed herself to turn away, he was so uncompromisingly male, so fully aroused, she was too compelled by him not to look.

“Why don’t you stay and swim, too? We could start your weekends a week early,” he murmured in a low, seductive tone.

Hot color crept into her cheeks. How could just looking at him be so electrifying? If only she could have hidden her admiration. “I…I don’t think that would be wise.”

“We’re way past wisdom,” he murmured drily. “You want to. I want you to. We’re both adults. You start serving your time, maybe I’ll get my fill of you sooner rather than later. I could let you off early…for good behavior.”

Tempted, she trembled as she fought the fierce need to move toward him, to touch him. Her hands clenched. Looking at him took her back to the most glorious, sensual night of her life. He was so virile and handsome she couldn’t think.

She wasn’t that foolish, naive girl any longer. She’d been fiercely independent for years.

But the foolish hopes and dreams of that girl still lurked in her heart, tormenting her. If Summer didn’t turn and walk away, or run-yes, run!-she would do something incredibly stupid, something she would regret for the rest of her life.

Just as she regretted their past love.

Only, she didn’t feel as if she regretted it anymore.

Why not? What was happening to her?

Did some crazy part of her want to try again? Did she really want to risk everything she’d achieved for a second chance with him?

He got you pregnant. When you tried to tell him, he wouldn’t even talk to you.

But how could she blame him for what he hadn’t known?

“I see you’re unsure,” he murmured with a faint, derisive smile.

“I-I’m not unsure,” she said even as the burning desire in his eyes made her feel as if she was melting. “I think you’re a monster, so I-I’m leaving. R-right now. Really.”

He laughed. “Then check with Davis for my phone numbers. Call me if you decide to take my offer so I can tell my pilot and my caretaker. Since I’m a gambling man, I’ll wager that you’ll be here next Friday. We can swim together then. Or do whatever else we feel like. We’ll have the whole weekend to enjoy each other.”

He spoke casually, as if her decision meant little to him. Then he turned and walked away.

Her stomach in knots, she watched him much too hungrily until he vanished behind a wall of shrubbery.

Four

Manhattan

Summer loved Central Park, especially on a sparkling September day when the leaves had begun to turn and a cool front had put a chill in the air.

“Hugh, I’m so sorry I can’t fly out to L.A. this weekend.”

Hunched over her smartphone on a bench near the fountain at Bethesda Terrace during a rare break, Summer chose her words carefully.

Guiltily, she pushed a blond strand of hair out of her eyes. “My brother’s in trouble, so I have to go back to Bonne Terre.”

“But…”

“Truly, there’s nothing I’d rather do next weekend than be with you at the premiere of Kill-Hard.”

“My agent swears it’s my breakout role.”

“I’m so sorry. Truly. I’ll be there Sunday…late.”

After Zach.

When Hugh hung up, seething, she was a little surprised that her guilt was overwhelmed by relief.

At least Hugh’s premiere was one thing she could scratch off her to-do list.

Summer began to flip through her calendar, deleting or canceling other engagements. For the next few weekends she would be doing her own script work, so she could juggle the commute to Louisiana. Later, when rehearsals began in earnest, getting away from New York would be trickier, maybe downright impossible.

She would worry about that later. Zach would probably be tired of her by then anyway.

Daily, hourly, all through the week, she’d resented Zach for causing such immense upheaval in her life. His demand was outrageous, medieval, and she told herself she was furious with him and with herself for going along with him.

And yet, if that were true, why did her breath catch every time she remembered the avid desire in his eyes? Why did she dream of him holding her close every night? Or awaken hot and sweaty from the image of writhing in his arms like a wanton? She would toss her sheets aside, go to the window and stare out at the stars, imagining spending two days and nights with Zach.

Being a man, no matter what he’d said, all he wanted from her was sex.

But what did she want?

She didn’t know. And she didn’t know what she could tell Gram. Summer didn’t want her grandmother to get her hopes up for no reason. Since she couldn’t figure that one out and didn’t want to lie, she wouldn’t call Gram or take her calls until Summer saw her again in Bonne Terre. Until then, Summer would concentrate on her career goals, on developing and playing her roles. It wasn’t healthy to obsess over a man whose sole goal was to punish her.

On Friday, at three o’clock sharp, she met Zach’s pilot. Once aboard the jet, she pulled out her script, intending to figure out her character for the scenes with Hugh scheduled to be shot in L.A. next week.