With Love From Las Vegas. Cat Schield

nothing else this morning. Were you hoping I’d spend the day in bed with you? Our deal was for one night.”

      Her eyes widened in dismay, but her clenched fists told Sebastian she wasn’t going to be cowed by his bad mood. “And one night is all you’re going to get.”

      “All I’m going to get?” He leaned forward, feeling her sharp inhalation like a punch to his solar plexus. Her parted lips drove him mad with longing. He wanted to taste her again. Cherries and lemons. The memory of her kisses was carved into his brain. “The bet and the terms were your decision, not mine.”

      “You went along with it happily enough,” she shot back.

      Why were they fighting when all he wanted was to haul her tight against him and claim her mouth? “I didn’t think I was going to lose.”

      “But you did.”

      “And I honored my part of the bargain.”

      Her eyes almost popped out of her head. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish on land. Her hands formed tight fists at her sides.

      “Well, excuse me for forcing you to have sex with me.”

      Seeing that she was completely exasperated with him, Sebastian pulled her phone out of his pocket and extended it. “You left this behind earlier.” She took the phone, but he didn’t let go. Fighting with her hadn’t eased his suffering. In fact, he wanted her more than ever. The urge to sweep her into his bedroom and find out what she was wearing under that black and white dress was close to driving him mad. “Someone named Tim called you.”

      “Tim called?” Obviously that gave her hope that their relationship wasn’t over. Her lashes lowered to her cheeks but not fast enough for Sebastian to miss the delight shining in her eyes.

      Annoyance growled like a cornered badger. “I suppose he wants you back.”

      She reined in her emotions until nothing showed in her expression. “I doubt that. He broke up with me because he found his soul mate online.” She checked her phone’s display. “There’s no voice mail. I’ll bet he called because he wants his anime collection back.”

      “Maybe he forgot to wish you a belated birthday.”

      “Maybe.” Missy’s gaze sliced to Sebastian. “Did you listen to my messages? You did.” She speed dialed and put the phone to her ear. “And deleted one from Tim.”

      He stared at her impassively.

      She shook the cell phone at him. “Why?”

      “You deserve better.”

      “Did it ever occur to you that I can’t do better?”

      Is that what she thought? From her downturned lips, Sebastian gathered that’s exactly what she believed. Foolish girl. She was better than a hundred Tims put together.

      “Any man would be proud to call you his girlfriend.”

      “Any man but you.” The slight lilt at the end of her statement made it sound more as if she asked a question.

      Sebastian ignored the desire to assure her that he had not excluded himself. To tell her that would create possibilities, and he couldn’t do that to her. He needed an executive assistant—not a lover or a girlfriend.

      “I’d like you to change,” he said.

      “And I’d like world peace. Seems neither one of us is going to get what they want tonight.” A smile curved her lips, but her eyes resembled granite. “Excuse me. I’d better make sure everything’s perfect.”

      Once again her cheeky attitude left him without a comeback. She slipped past him and headed toward the buffet table. He stared after her, the delectable sway of her hips turning his mouth into a sand trap. He remembered trailing his fingertips from her nape to the small of her back. She’d shivered. Her body’s reactions had been exquisite, delicate perfection.

      With an impatient snort, Sebastian headed for the bar and ordered a scotch.

      An hour later, he stood on the opposite side of the suite’s living room from Missy and made small talk with the president of their hydro division and his wife. His assistant hadn’t glanced his way once since walking away from their conversation. She’d drifted through the crowd, exchanging pleasantries with everyone, laughing and charming each guest and acting as if Sebastian was no more to her than a piece of furniture.

      Her snub battered his pride. He regretted inferring that he’d felt obligated to sleep with her last night, but she had to believe that nothing like that was going to happen again.

      A cleared throat brought Sebastian back to his companions. He swiveled his head and found two pairs of curious eyes on him. “I’m sorry. Did you say something?”

      Owen Darby shot his wife a wry look. “I was just saying that I didn’t recognize Missy when I first saw her. She looks wonderful.”

      “She did something different with her hair,” Sebastian said.

      “And she got rid of her glasses,” Owen added.

      “Her dress is fabulous,” Alicia Darby said. “She has terrific taste.”

      Sebastian’s attention slid toward the source of his frustration. “Yes, I suppose she does.”

      “I hear you’re going to be an uncle,” Alicia said. “Your mother is excited about the new addition to your family.”

      Nathan’s wife, Emma, was pregnant. Sebastian smiled to cover his wince. His future niece or nephew wasn’t related to his mother by blood, but that didn’t stop her from being thrilled. Susan Case had been looking forward to grandchildren for a long time. She’d hidden her upset, but Sebastian had seen the shadow in his mom’s eyes each time Chandra had enacted her pregnancy dramas when he brought up the topic of divorce.

      After two years, he’d ended his marriage almost as much for his mother’s sanity as for his own. He couldn’t put her through any more disappointment. She longed to be a grandmother. That’s why she was so excited about Nathan’s child. She would love it the way she’d loved Nathan when he came to live with them.

      Sebastian pushed aside old bitterness. Resenting his mother for being a loving, generous person was wrong on so many levels. “She’s already setting up a nursery so she can babysit.”

      Alicia gave a wistful sigh. “Do they know if it’s a boy or a girl?”

      “Not yet.” Talking about the baby was no more comfortable for Sebastian than discussing Missy’s makeover. Every time his mother mentioned the things she was planning once the baby came, he calculated how old his own son or daughter would have been if Chandra had actually been pregnant when he married her as she’d claimed. Or if she’d gotten pregnant at any time during their two-year marriage. “I think my mother’s hoping for a girl. She complains all the time about how she missed out on the fun girly things by having all boys.”

      “I know all about that,” Alicia said. “I have two boys of my own who love to hunt, fish, golf and do all the same things their father enjoys.” She smiled up at her husband to take the sting out of her words. “But they are my pride and joy. I just wish they’d get married and start giving me some granddaughters.”

      Sebastian’s attention wandered in Missy’s direction once more. She’d cornered Lucas Smythe. From the expression on the old man’s face, Sebastian guessed Missy was feeding him the same improbable tale she’d told his mother. Why couldn’t she just do as he’d asked and leave the matter alone?

      He excused himself from the Darbys, but was intercepted by the president of the chemical division. By the time he extricated himself from that conversation, Missy had disappeared. Nor did she return to the party. As the wait staff cleaned up and then left, he half hoped that with the guests gone she’d reappear and they could continue …

      What? Fighting? Making love?

      Sebastian