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Cassie bit down on her lip to keep from telling him that when and if he caught pneumonia she
hoped he died a slow, agonizing death, but then dished the thought from her mind. She wasn t
a heartless or cruel person, although he was the last human being on earth who deserved even
a drop of her kindness.
Fine, she snapped. The laundry room is this way, she said, walking out of the room
knowing he had to walk briskly to keep up with her. And I suggest you stay in that room
until your clothes are dry.
Why? Don t you have a towel I could use while they re drying?
She shot a look at him that said he was skating on thin ice and it was getting thinner every
minute. I have plenty of towels but I prefer not seeing you parade around in one.
Okay.
She abruptly stopped walking and turned to face him. Look, Brandon. Apparently everything
you ve done in the last three days was nothing but a joke to you but I hope you don t see me
laughing. You don t even see me smiling.
The humor that had been in Brandon s eyes immediately faded. When he spoke again his
voice was barely audible. No, I don t think the last three days were a joke, Cassie. In fact I
think they were the most precious I ve ever spent in my entire life. The only thing I regret is
coming to this island thinking you were someone you are not and because of it, I screwed up
something awful. The only thing I can do is be honest with you now.
She refused to let his words affect her in any way. There was no way she could trust him
again. It really doesn t matter what you say when we talk, Brandon. I won t be able to get
beyond the fact that you deliberately deceived me.
Not all of it was based on deceit, Cassie. When I made love to you it was based on complete
sincerity. Please don t ever think that it wasn t.
You used me, she flung out with intense anger in her voice.
He reached out and gently touched the cleft in her chin and said in a low voice, No, I made
love to you, Cassie. I gave you more of myself than I ve ever given another woman, freely,
unselfishly and completely.
Knowing if she didn t take a step back from him she would weaken, she said, The laundry
room is straight ahead and on your right. And since you re so terrified of catching pneumonia,
there s a linen closet with towels in that room. But I m warning you to stay put until your
clothes dry. I have enough to do with my time than worry about a half-naked man parading
through my house. I need to fill all the bathtubs with water in case I lose electricity.
And if you do lose electricity, the thought of being here in the dark won t bother you?
For your information, I won t be here. As soon as your clothes dry and you have your say,
I m going to the hotel to help out there.
You re going out in that weather? he asked in a disbelieving tone.
I believe that s what I said, she said smartly.
Weren t you listening when I said the authorities are asking people to stay off the streets?
he asked incredulously, refusing to believe anyone could be so pigheaded and stubborn.
She lifted her chin. Yes, I was listening with as much concentration as you were when I was
telling you to leave. She narrowed her eyes and then said, Now if you will excuse me, I
have things to do. When your clothes are dry and you re fully dressed again, you should be
able to find me in the living room.
Narrowing his eyes, Brandon watched as she turned and walked away.
Cassie kept walking on shaky legs, refusing to give in to temptation and glance over her
shoulder to look at Brandon once again. The man was unsettling in the worst possible way
and the last thing she needed was having him here under her roof, especially when the two of
them were completely alone.
She shook her head. At least he was taking off those wet jeans. She hadn t missed seeing how
they had fit his body like a second layer of skin. She was glad he hadn t caught her staring at
him when he had been putting the shutters up to the windows. Every time he had moved his
body her eyes had moved with it. Not only had his wet jeans hugged his muscular thighs but
they had shown what a nice tush he had, as well as a flat, firm stomach.
She sighed deeply, disgusted with herself. How could she still find the man desirable after
what he had done? And she d had no intention of accepting his help with the shutters but he
hadn t given her a choice in the matter. He did just whatever he wanted. Even now his
behavior and actions were totally unacceptable to her.
After filling up all the bathtubs and making sure there were candles in appropriate places and
extra batteries had been placed beside her radio, she called the hotel. Simon had assured her
that he had everything under control and for her to stay put and not try to come out in the
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