your scent drives me crazy and makes me think about all sorts of things I'd like to do."

She closed her eyes. Don't ask. For the love of God, don't ask. "What kinds of things?"

Until that moment, she had foolishly believed she'd been holding her own against a master. She had been the one to start the

erotic conversation, and she knew from the way he was holding her that she'd definitely shaken him.

But then he began whispering in her ear, and she realized she was in way over her head. In a low, husky voice he told her

exactly what he'd like to do to her. In his fantasies, she was, of course, the star, and every part of her body, including her toes, were featured players. The man had an active imagination, and he certainly wasn't shy about sharing. Michelle had no one to blame but herself. She had asked. But that didn't matter. By the time he finished describing several creative ways he would

make love to her, the blood was roaring in her ears, her bones felt as if they'd turned into mush, and she had melted against him.

The song ended. He kissed her cheek, straightened, and let go of her. "Thanks for the dance. You want a beer or something?

You look kind of flushed."

Kind of flushed? She felt as if it was a hundred fifty degrees inside the bar. When she looked into his eyes, she could tell that he knew exactly what he had just done to her.

"It's kind of stuffy in here. I think I'm gonna go outside and get some fresh air," he casually announced.

She watched him walk away. He had just pushed the door open and stepped outside when she went running after him.

"That's it."

She caught up with him outside, standing in the moonlight. She poked him between his shoulder blades and said it again, much louder this time. "That's it. You win."

He turned around. "Excuse me?"

She was so angry she poked him in the chest. "I said you win."

"Okay," he said calmly. "What did I win?"

"You know what I'm talking about, but since we're alone, why don't I spell it out? This game we've been playing. You win.

I honestly thought I was holding my own, but obviously I was wrong. I'm just not good at it. Okay? So you win."

"What exactly do I win?"

"Sex."

He raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"You heard me. We're going to have sex, Theo Buchanan. Oops, I mean we're going to have great sex. Got that?"

A devilish smile crossed Theo's face, and then he seemed to stare off into space. Was he already thinking about making love,

or couldn't he pay attention long enough to listen to her concede?

"Michelle, honey-"

"You're not paying attention, are you? I want to have sex with you. The bad kind," she qualified. "You know what I'm talking about. The hot, steamy, tear-our-clothes-off, mind-blowing, scream-out-loud sex. Like in the old song 'All Night Long,' that's

you and me, babe. All night long. You name the time and the place, and I'm there."

She'd apparently rendered him speechless. That had to be a first. Maybe she wasn't so bad at this stuff after all. Theo just

stared at her with that lopsided grin in place. She suddenly felt as cocky as a rooster getting ready to crow.

She folded her arms across her waist and demanded, "So? What have you got to say to that?"

He took a step toward her. "Michelle, I'd like you to meet an old friend of mine, Noah Clayborne. Noah, this is Michelle Renard."

He was bluffing. He had to be bluffing. She gave a tiny shake of her head. He nodded. She shook her head again, whispered, "Oh, God," and closed her eyes. This couldn't be happening.

She didn't want to turn around. She wanted to vanish into thin air. How long had he been standing there? Her face began to

burn. She swallowed, then forced herself to turn.

He was there, all right. Tall, blond, amazing blue eyes, and a killer smile.

"It's nice to meet you," she stammered. Her voice sounded like she had laryngitis.

Until she'd turned, she hadn't thought it could get any worse. She was wrong about that. Her father was standing in the

doorway, just a few feet away from Noah, and he was definitely close enough to have overheard what she'd said to Theo.

Maybe he hadn't heard, though. Maybe he'd just gotten there. She gathered her courage and glanced at him. Daddy looked thunderstruck.

Michelle came up with a quick game plan. She would simply pretend it hadn't happened.

"Did you just get here?" she asked nonchalantly.

"Uh-huh," Noah drawled. "So, Theo, are all the pretty ladies in Bowen this friendly?"

The door slammed shut behind her father as he rushed forward. Now he appeared mortified. "When I said 'put out the

welcome mat,' I thought you understood what I meant. There's friendly and then there's real friendly, and I raised you to

know the difference."

"Daddy, Theo was flirting, and I was simply calling his bluff."

"I wasn't bluffing." Theo shrugged.

Her foot came down hard on top of his exactly one second later.

"Yes, you were," she said. "Honest, Daddy, I was just… teasing."

"We'll be talking about this later, young lady," Jake said as he turned and walked back inside.

Then Noah piped in. "Theo was flirting? You're kidding about that, aren't you?"

"He was flirting."

"We're talking about the guy standing behind you. Theo Buchanan?"

"Yes."

"It's hard to believe. I don't think he knows how to flirt."

"Oh, he's really good at it. Honest," she insisted.

"Yeah? It must be you, then. I was telling Jake that this is the first time in over five years that I've seen Theo wearing anything

but a suit and a tie. He's always been a workaholic for as long as I've known him. Maybe you bring out the bad," he. said, drawing the word out, "in him."

She took a step back and bumped into Theo. She wasn't thinking about running, but she didn't like knowing he blocked her exit. "Could we please change the subject?" she asked.

Noah took pity on her. "Sure we can. Theo told me you're a doctor."

"Yes, that's right." Good, she was back on safe ground. Maybe Noah had some kind of medical problem and wanted her advice. God, she hoped so.

"What kind of a doctor are you?"

"She's a surgeon," Theo answered.

Noah grinned. "Aren't you kind of young to be playing with knives?"

"She operated on me."

Noah shrugged. Then he moved forward. "Dance with me. We'll find a nice Willie Nelson song and get to know each other."

He draped his arm around her shoulder and led her back inside. Theo stood there frowning as he watched the familiarity.

Noah was a blatant womanizer. He'd made more conquests than Genghis Khan, and Theo didn't like seeing him work his

charms on Michelle one bit.

She perked up. "You like Willie Nelson?"

"Sure I do. Everyone likes Willie."

She glanced back at Theo. "Your friend has good taste."

Then Noah drew her attention. "Could I ask you a question?"

She was so thankful she'd gotten past her embarrassment, she said, "You may ask me anything."

"I-was just wondering…"

"Yes?"

"Is there any other kind of sex besides the bad kind?"