Hands On. Debbi Rawlins

collaring this guy. And now he had to bargain with this nutty blonde.

      She moistened her peach-tinted lips and furrowed her brows. “Work together how?”

      Nutty, but damn pretty. Maybe it wasn’t a bad idea to use her. Bask would jump at the bait. “I don’t know. I gotta figure it out.”

      She rubbed her arms with misgiving and nibbled at her lower lip. If he didn’t know better, he would’ve thought she was trying to make him crazy. Her lips were perfectly shaped, perfect fullness, and even when she wasn’t returning a kiss…

      He promptly derailed his thoughts. He didn’t need his jeans getting all tight and uncomfortable. Besides, he had some fast thinking to do and that meant blood needed to flow up and not down.

      “Look,” he said in a low coaxing voice. “At this point, our chances are much better if we work together, however necessary.”

      The indecision vanished from her face. “By ‘at this point’ you must be referring to the mess you made in there.”

      He gritted his teeth, and then forced a smile. “Right.”

      With a smug curve to her lips, she said, “Okay, I’ll work with you as long as it’s not anything—weird.”

      “Define weird.”

      Concern darkened her face.

      “Only kidding.” He checked the door again. All clear. “Well, we can’t shake on it. We’re supposed to be married. Couples who’ve just made up usually…” he shrugged and tried to keep a straight face “…kiss.”

      She gave him an unexpectedly sweet smile. “Or maybe we haven’t made up. Maybe I’m still angry with you. I could slap your face again.”

      He reflexively touched his cheek. It still stung. “I’ll pass.”

      Regret briefly clouded her eyes. “What do we do now? Go back in? Wait for him to leave?”

      The decision was taken out of their hands. Bask stepped outside, stopped to put on his sunglasses, and then looked their way.

      “Show time.”

      “What?” Cassie started to turn around.

      He grabbed her hands and forced her to face him. “Bask is headed this way. Talk. We need to talk.”

      “About what?”

      “Married stuff.”

      “Oh, so we should keep arguing then.”

      He snorted. Obviously she’d been married before. “Follow my lead, okay?”

      She hesitated, and then gave a curt nod.

      Bask had gotten within a few yards. Dalton pulled her closer and slid his hands around her waist. “Baby, you want to make this marriage work, don’t you?”

      “Frankly, I’m not sure anymore.” She tried to wriggle out of his grasp.

      He hauled her against him. “Come on, baby, we’re good together. Think about what you’d miss.”

      She let out a dismissive laugh. “Not much, lately.”

      He reminded himself this was only playacting. Nothing personal. “Then let me refresh your memory.” He slanted his mouth over hers and used her startled gasp to his advantage.

      His tongue easily slid between her lips. At first she tensed, and then she opened more to him, her tongue tentatively touching his. She tasted like cherries and oranges and soft feminine mystique. Her soft full breasts pushed against his chest and one of her hands flattened over his chest.

      She let out a soft whimper, and Dalton dove deeper, sliding his hands over her bottom and pulling her harder against his straining fly.

      Someone cleared his throat.

      Bask.

      Shit! Dalton had forgotten about him.

      He retreated slowly and met Cassie’s glazed eyes. “Did that help your memory, honey?”

      She blinked, the fingers of the hand on his chest curling, her nails digging into him. Fire chased the daze look in her eyes. “This is what I’m supposed to miss?” Her breathlessness seemed to anger her more.

      Made him smile.

      “Bastard,” she whispered.

      Bask cleared his throat again. “Excuse me, folks.”

      They both looked at him. Cassie did a good job of pretending she didn’t know he was there. Her eyes widened and her cheeks got pink.

      “I’m sorry to interrupt,” Bask said, the megawatt smile that had netted him illegal millions in place. “But I couldn’t help overhearing you two in the bar.”

      “Yeah, so?” Dalton gave the guy a challenging glare.

      Bask’s smile didn’t waver. “I may be able to help.”

      “Mind your own business, pal.” Dalton turned away from him to look at Cassie.

      She jerked away from him. “You don’t have to be rude to the man. After all, you did cause a scene he couldn’t help but overhear.”

      “I caused a scene?”

      “Too bad you didn’t inherit your mama’s manners as well as her money.”

      Dalton forced back a surprised smile. She was good. “You leave my mama out of this. You never complain about the cushy lifestyle she’s provided for you.”

      “You’re right. My only complaint is you.” She lifted her chin, turned back to Bask, and gave him a sugary sweet smile. “I must apologize for my husband’s rudeness. Please. You were saying?”

      Bask homed in on her receptiveness. His body language even changed subtly. He angled toward Cassie and maintained eye contact, even mirroring a couple of her movements, a trick to further put her at ease. The guy was slick. No doubt about it.

      “I’d like to give you my business card.” He plucked one out of the leather billfold he withdrew from his blue Armani sports coat. “My name is Robert Blankenship and I own Back to Basics.”

      Before he could actually hand the card off to her, Dalton snatched it out of his hand. “I’ll take that.”

      Cassie made a sound of disapproval.

      “Actually, I was planning on giving you each one.” Bask presented her with a card and a wide smile, showing off his expensive caps.

      “Thank you.” She gave Dalton a withering look, and then her gaze lowered to the card.

      He’d already read it. Back to Basics was a marriage encounter resort. Bask promoted himself as the facilitator.

      What a gig. Dalton had to admit the guy had smarts. How many rich, unhappy divorcées ended up crying on his shoulder while he emptied their pockets?

      Cassie looked up at Bask, her blue eyes narrowed in confusion. Her lips formed this cute little pout that could distract a man from his objective if he weren’t careful.

      “I don’t understand how this could help us.” She looked from Bask to Dalton. “What do you do at one of these things?”

      Dalton couldn’t tell if she really didn’t know or if she was acting. He didn’t say anything but instead watched Bask spin his web.

      “Well, there are usually five couples who go on a kind of retreat for a week. There would be one facilitator there, which would be me, and my assistant who would help guide you through the exercises.”

      “We’re not going on any damn retreat, or doing any exercises. Come on, Cass.” Dalton grabbed her arm and tried to steer her away.

      She reacted perfectly by jerking away from him. “Did you not just minutes ago say you wanted