Maverick / The Playboy's Passionate Pursuit. Emilie Rose

Though many men before him had called her beautiful, his compliment left her speechless for a long moment. Finally she found her voice, if rather weak and a bit breathless.

      “Thank you,” she murmured, feeling herself grow warmer. “That was very nice of you.” Oh, gag me, she thought, disgusted with the inanity of her response.

      “You’re welcome.” Tanner’s lips twitched, betraying his urge to grin.

      She didn’t blame him. She joined him, laughing easily at herself. “Pretty lame, huh?”

      He shook his head. “No, surprising. I would have thought you’d be used to compliments.”

      “Well, yes,” she said. “But—”

      “But what?” His eyes gleamed with a teasing light.

      “Oh, let’s just forget it,” she said, certainly not for a moment about to admit he flustered her simply because she felt a physical attraction to him. A strong attraction.

      “Why?”

      “What do you mean, why?” She frowned. “Because it’s getting silly, that’s why.”

      “Too bad.” He sighed. “I thought it was just getting interesting.”

      Bri rolled her eyes. This man is impossible. Gorgeous, sexy as hell, but impossible. “I think it’s time to get down to the business at hand.”

      He gave another, deeper sigh. Boy, this guy was some actor, Bri thought, struggling against the urge to laugh, amazed at how much she was enjoying their banter, not to mention his company, his appeal. No, let’s not go there again, she told herself. As they were going to be spending a lot of time together, it would be in her best interest to avoid thinking about his appeal.

      “Are you sulking?” she asked after several long moments—moments in which she had thought about nothing but him.

      He smiled. “I never sulk. Children sulk. And, just on the odd chance you hadn’t noticed, I’m a man, not a child.”

      “Oh, I’ve noticed,” she said, thinking she had noticed too damn much.

      He smiled again. “Oh, I’ve noticed you, too.”

      His smile was an invitation to sheer temptation. Pull it together, Bri told herself, fighting to control her rapid heartbeat and leaping pulse. You’ve had one go-round with a sweet-talkin’, overconfident type. That encounter was one too many.

      But Tanner was an attractive, sexy man. And she was every bit as susceptible as any other normal woman. Why did the devil have to look so angelic?

      Tanner smiled—a devilish, suggestive and too damned appealing smile.

      Now Bri not only felt warm, she felt hot all over. And tingly. And funny inside. Stop it, she told herself. As if that helped.

      “Uh…um…business,” she said, stumbling a bit over her words—something she had never done. “I really think it’s time to get down to business.”

      “Too bad.” Tanner shook his head, looking or trying to look sad. His gleaming eyes gave him away. “But, if you insist, we’ll get down to the nitty-gritty.”

      “I do. And that is?”

      “Set a day to leave and gather the supplies needed for this hunt.”

      “I can leave tomorrow.”

      “I haven’t told you yet everything we’ll need to take with us,” he said. “So how can you be ready by tomorrow?”

      She shot him an impatient look. “If you’ll recall, I did tell you I have been hunting since I was a kid. I know how and what to pack.”

      “Okay, kid,” he said, heavy on the kid. “But I think I’ll do a list, just to be on the safe side, make sure we’re on the same page, so to speak.” Getting up, he walked to the counter and pulled open a cabinet drawer. He took out a pencil and a pad of paper, then hesitated, turning his head to glance at her. “More coffee?”

      “No, thank you.” Bri shook her head and shot a glance at her watch. “How long is this going to take?”

      His lifted one brow. “Why? Are you in a hurry?”

      “No, but the only thing I did was check in to the hotel and get my room card. I left my stuff with the bell captain and came right here.”

      “How did you know I’d be here?”

      “Lisa told me.” She smiled, maybe a bit smugly. “She spoke to your mother last night, who told Lisa you had called and said you had just returned.”

      Tanner scowled.

      Bri rushed to clarify her statement. “Your mother knew I was coming here to try to hire you.” She drew a breath and went on more normally. “She told Lisa she would let her know as soon as she heard from you.”

      “Women.” He heaved a sigh and shook his head.

      She bristled at his dismissive tone. “What’s wrong with women?”

      Tanner slid a wry look at her. “Most of the time, like children, they should be seen and not heard.”

      Stunned, Bri was speechless for a moment. Though sorely tempted to explode all over him, she forced herself to remain calm, icy calm. “Mr. Wolfe, that is the stupidest, most sexist remark I’ve ever heard. What century are you living in?”

      “Honey, I’m right here and now,” he said, every bit as calm and icy. “I may not be politically correct, but I’m honest. I’m a women jabber. Simple as that.”

      “Forget it.”

      “Gladly. Now…”

      “No,” she shook her head, sliding her chair back and rising. “I mean forget about finding that poor excuse for a man. I’ll hire someone else.” Before the last word was out of her mouth, she turned to leave. “Or hunt him myself.”

      “No, you won’t.” His voice was sharp with command. “I’m going, with or without you,” he repeated her earlier ultimatum back to her. “Now, Brianna, sit down and let’s get down to business.”

      Bri hesitated, telling herself that if she had any sense or pride, she would tell Tanner Wolfe to go to hell, walk out of there and look up another hunter. Her sense must have deserted her, for she sighed and swallowed what was left of her pride. In the final analysis, she was determined Minnich would be caught and she wanted the best mountain hunter. So, still glaring at Tanner, she reseated herself.

      “Smart girl.” He offered a slight smile. She refused the offer. Instead he shrugged. “Okay, let’s get it done.”

      Smart girl. Yeah, right. She had caved to the caveman, dammit. She soothed her tattered composure by reminding herself Dani’s well-being was worth her pride.

      “Guns.”

      Bri blinked herself out of her musings. “What?”

      “You said you had your supplies,” he said patiently. “What kind of weapons do you have?”

      “Oh.” Bri felt flustered and foolish. Telling herself to get with it, keep up with him, prove she was a smart girl, she replied, “I’ve got a.270 rifle with a three-by-nine scope and a.357 hunting revolver.” She arched her brows at his sudden intent expression. “What do you pack?”

      “A.30-06 and a 7mm rifle with the same scope, and a.44 mag.” He looked impressed. “And you really do pack some heavy-duty heat.”

      Not as much as you do, she thought, referring not to his weapons but to his body. “I told you I knew what I was doing,” she said, working at not sounding too smug or too breathless. “Anything else?”

      His lips twitched, evidently amused by her. “Clothes, backpack, sleeping bag?”

      “Yes.”