She smoothed her hair as she spoke and the light glinted off her engagement ring.

Engaged. What would that be like? To make a commitment to someone permanently. To decide to make it forever, to only be with that person?

It wasn’t the fidelity he minded. After a while, sleeping with different women got to be more of the same. His objection was about the expectation that he would give his heart to someone. Say the words, feel the feelings and live in an emotional place that left him exposed.

“Tell me you love me.”

The words exploded in his brain, his father’s voice followed by the dull sound of a fist on flesh.

“Say it! Say it or I’ll make you sorry.”

His mother had said the words, then begged for mercy. Sometimes his father had stopped and sometimes he hadn’t.

Love was pain, Cruz thought, shaking off the past. Love was weakness and submission. Love was nothing he wanted.

“Cruz? Are you all right?” Lexi looked concerned.

“Yes. I’m fine.”

“Senator Jackson is here. He’s a California senator but his wife is a born and bred Texan. Do you know him?”

“No.”

She slipped her hand into his. “Then let’s go introduce you. He’s a hard-drinking, hunting, cigar-smoking kind of guy. You’ll like him.”

“I’m none of those things.”

She laughed. “You’re tough and your own man. So is he.”

Was that how she saw him?

She led him across the room, her fingers laced with his. But before they arrived at the knot of men talking, he drew her to a stop.

“Never mind,” he said.

“What? You should meet him. He’s important.”

“Not tonight.”

She frowned. “We have a deal.”

“You’ve done enough, Lexi. I can meet the senator on my own.”

“I don’t understand.”

Probably because he didn’t either. Nothing had changed, yet he didn’t want her providing introductions anymore. He would make his own way. Find his own connections.

“Let it go,” he told her.

“But…”

He kissed her on the mouth. “Come on. Let’s dance.”

“Okay.”

She didn’t sound convinced, but she went with him. She trusted him. They had a good partnership, he thought. They complemented each other.

That’s what Margaret saw, he told himself. Not love. A different kind of connection. He and Lexi understood each other. They were good together. So why was he interested in finding anyone else?

Cruz turned the question over in his mind. Lexi was exactly what he was looking for. A woman with good bloodlines and family connections who would allow his children to have a much easier beginning than he’d had. She was intelligent, beautiful, funny, smart. She drove him wild in bed. Hell, she even liked Kendra.

Why hadn’t he considered her before? He wasn’t planning on finding the love of his life. He was looking to make a deal. Who better than Lexi?

He led her to the dance floor. The music was slow and sexy. He pulled her into his arms.

She felt good next to him. He liked her curves and the way her body melted into his.

“At least you’ve met Senator Vantage,” she said. “He’s thinking of running for president. That would be very cool. You could get an invitation to the White House.”

“Have you been?” he asked.

“Only on the tour, years ago. Our high school class went.”

“Of course they did.”

She laughed. “What does that mean? Are you saying I lived a life of wealth and privilege?”

“Uh-huh.”

“You’re right, I did. On the surface everything was perfect.”

He knew that behind the facade, there had been problems. Jed might not have hit his children, but he was no less a bully.

“You’d never let that happen to your kids, would you?” he asked. “You’d get between them and Jed.”

She stumbled. “Ah…Of course I would. Why are we talking about children?”

Because she would be a good mother, he thought. She led with her heart. She tried to be tough and the world saw her as capable and cool. The ice princess. But underneath, she was just like everyone else. Good at some things, terrified of others.

“We’re not,” he said, wondering the best way to approach her about changing their arrangement. Would she be interested? There were advantages to her-unless she wanted romance and false promises of love. He wanted to say Lexi was too practical for that, but women were different. And in many ways, she remained a mystery to him.

“You’re a very good dancer,” she said as they moved to the music. “You slept with your instructor, didn’t you?”

Now it was his turn to stumble. “What? Why would you ask that?”

“Because there’s an element of sexuality to the way you dance. A sense of claiming your partner. You’ve danced to seduce and you’ve never forgotten the lesson.”

He had slept with his dance instructor. She’d been a fiery beauty who warned him not to fall in love with her. He’d enjoyed all that she offered and when it was time, they’d both walked away satisfied, but untouched.

“You’re more than a pretty face,” he said.

“So I’m right.”

“Words every woman longs to say.”

“It does make me feel special.”

He leaned in and kissed her. He kept the contact light, but was unable to resist claiming her as his. His woman. His…wife?

He straightened.

Lexi looked at him and for a second, he thought he saw tears in her eyes.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Nothing. I’m fine.”

I love you.

The words appeared without warning. He took a step back. He didn’t love anyone. Not ever.

Lexi didn’t notice. She touched the corner of her eye. “I, um, need to visit the ladies room. Can you entertain yourself for a few minutes?”

“Yes. Are you sure you’re all right? I can take you home.”

“No. I just need to…” She smiled. “Don’t worry about it.”

He watched her walk away. Should he go after her? Find Margaret and ask her to check on Lexi?

Before he could decide, he felt a hand on his back. The hand slid down as a familiar perfume surrounded him.

“Hello, Sabrina,” he said without turning.

“Cruz.” The other woman stepped in front of him. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Sabrina looked good. Her dress hugged every impressive curve and her breasts seemed to be fighting to free themselves. There was a time when the sight of her lushness would have had him searching for somewhere private to indulge them both. Now he couldn’t stop thinking about Lexi and wondering what was wrong.

“I see you’re still engaged,” Sabrina said. “How sad. I was hoping that was just a phase.”

“I’m not interested in being your next husband.”

“Maybe you could be my last.”

“Only if you’re going to start murdering them instead of divorcing them.”

She laughed. “Are you saying I have a short attention span?”

“Yes.”

She drew in a breath. Her breasts quivered. The fabric was cut so low, he would swear he could see a hint of her nipple.

The orchestra began again.

“You’re really saying no to me?” she asked. “As in you want me to stop asking?”

“That would be best.”

“All right. But I insist on one more dance.”

Sabrina had been good to him. They’d parted as friends and she’d introduced him to a few influential players. One dance was little enough repayment.

He reached for her hand.

She stepped into his arms, but didn’t move too close. There was space between them. He relaxed.

“You’re going to find marriage messy,” she said. “It’s not the sameness that wears you down, it’s always having to remember there’s someone else who has an opinion. You can’t go and do what you want. There always has to be a conversation about it.”

“I think I can handle it.”

Her eyes were blue. Lighter than Lexi’s but still pretty. She wrinkled her nose.

“You say that now, but talk to me in a few years. When you’ve gotten tired of the demands. Most women can be very demanding.”

He remembered Lexi’s insistence that he give her more when they made love. She lost control and then demanded. It was heaven on earth. She could demand all she wanted.

“Why are you trying to scare me away from getting married?” he asked. “You’re looking for husband number three.”

“Four, but let’s not count. I miss you. I want things the way they were between us.”

Sex and nothing else. Not even a lot of conversation. Had that really been enough? He glanced over her shoulder, hoping to catch a glimpse of Lexi.

She sighed. “You’re not even paying attention.”

“Sorry.”

“You’re not. You have it bad. I should have recognized the signs.” She stopped dancing. “Okay, I’ll give up. Begging isn’t good for the skin, anyway.” She cupped the back of his head and drew him toward her. “Good luck with everything. Goodbye, Cruz.”

Her lips were familiar, but no longer exciting. He kissed her out of habit, because he’d done it a hundred times before and it still didn’t mean anything. But when he started to straighten, she hung on and parted her lips.

He grabbed her by the shoulders and held her in place while he pulled back. “So much for giving up,” he said, not even surprised by the attempt to get him interested in-

She was talking, maybe saying how she had to try one more time, but he wasn’t listening. Instead he stared into Lexi’s shocked eyes.

Sabrina turned. “Oh, dear. This can’t be good.”

Lexi looked him up and down. “I can’t even say I’m surprised,” she told him, then walked away.

He stood in the center of the dance floor, watching her go. Beside him, Sabrina gave him a poke in the back.

“If she matters at all, you’d better go after her. She’s not the type to forgive you kissing another woman. Tell her it was all me. Tell her you’re sorry. It’s true.” Sabrina sighed. “Cruz, I didn’t mean for her to get hurt. Now go on.”