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It appears, she thought, they were leaving Good Because if there was one thing her ht her, it was that a lady didn't do battle in public

Twelve

Tessa pulled away frorasp as the valet drove before the hotel entrance "I swear you turn into the rudest man when you're mad"

"Mad?" He stopped short, absently taking the key from the attendant "You think that's it?"

She e of the open car door "Of course it's not Pigheaded, irritating, jealous and stubborn come to mind real quick"

"Describing yourself, Tessa?"

"Hah!" she scoffed and slid into the car, taking clear delight in showing off her legs and the knowledge that his glance, though laced with anger, devoured her

He moved around the front and clinition and gunning the engine

"Chase, calrow up"

It was the fear in her voice that stopped him cold He looked at her and his expression softened a bit He drove cautiously away fro out her , Chase with his eyes on the road The tension rose with every mile that passed

When the city was only a glie to open a wound and ask, very softly, "Are you going to tell , or just brood?"

"I'"

"Of course not"

He shot her a deadly glare

"Fine, brood See if I care" Tessa glanced into the back seat, noticing a large cooler and his bags beside hers And a briefcase The papers are in there, she thought, and she realized it didn'tas they were alone Tessa's et hier and hurt radiated froht she wanted this end, this total exclusion from her life Well, he was in for a few surprises She wasn't signing anything And when he loosened the tie and opened his shirt collar, her attention focused on how seductive he looked, even glaring bullets at her

She wanted hier for his kiss, the way his hands felt on her body She'd thought about it sohiht She wanted desperately to postpone the argument, the inevitable torture of e her forever A knot worked in her throat and she looked at her lap, fidgeting with her purse strap

Chase glanced to the side and noticed she was biting her lip She looked scared and his anger softened "Tessa, I want you to know—"

"Yes?" she said when he hesitated and her stomach pitched

"I—I'm sorry" He relaxed visibly "Back there" He inclined his head to the city in the distance "I swear I hated seeing you gawked at by all those men"

"Hated it because of how you feel about me? Or because of the dress?"