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Chapter 2

How in the hell could four French investors disappear from a hotel lobby? And how could they leave without so much as a note? They were the ones who'd arranged this meeting, and now they stand her up? They'd better have left an explanation at the front desk, or she'd cut all ties with every company in France.

" What exactly do you think you're doing?" A voice sounded from a few inches behind her, after she'd walked past him and straight to the front desk.

She laughed under her breath, and shook her head. Of all the people, it had to be him. " None of your business." She said stopping only long enough to toss the words over her shoulder.

"Since you've cut in front of me, I would say you made it my business."

"This is important," She fired, taking a step to start towards the desk again.

" I'm sure it is, " He countered, raising an eyebrow at her, " but that doesn't give you free reign to cut in front of me."

" Do you know who I am?" She asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

He paused for few seconds, watching her face twist and her eyes flicker with anger, "Oh," He finally said, " you're that model."

" Erica Kane," She tossed at him, less then amused by him or the smug grin that was playing on his lips, " That doesn't mean anything to you?"

" Not really." He tossed back shrugging. If looks could kill the one she'd flashed him would have sent him straight to the grave.

" You think you're so cute don't you?" She asked, assuming what he could only guess was a defensive position, " You think if you flash that smile, look at someone with those big brown eyes and long lashes that they'll melt at your feet."

" Oh, you like my eyelashes?" He asked, raising a suggestive eyebrow at her.

" You're an arrogant, pompous ass." She hissed.

He laughed back at her, and folded his arms across his chest, " You don't know anything about me." He challenged, "And hat's an awful lot to assume about someone you just met, and you know what they say about assumptions..."

" I know your type. Tall, dark, handsome. You think you can be a cad and treat women like they were put on earth solely for your benefit." She threw at him angrily, shaking her head, " I don't know why I've wasted this much time with you."

" Must be, because you think I'm handsome." He said with a raised eyebrow.

" Ha," She laughed dryly shaking her head, " in your dreams." She fired at him, moving to take a step towards the desk.

"Oh, no you don't." He breathed, reaching out to grab her forearm before she could take another step.

" Let go of me." She demanded, but didn't move to pull her arm from his loose grasp.

Her eyes burned into his, and his burned into her as they stared each other down. Sizing one another up, both refusing to back down.

" Ms. Kane," A voice sounded from behind her.

She tore her eyes from him and whipped her head around to place the voice.

The voice belonged to the hotel manager, who was nearing them. " I was told you were looking for me." He said stopping in front of her.

" Yes," She breathed, pulling her arm from the other man's grasp. " My investors…" She started, motioning for him to follow her and walk away from the line.

He watched her go, eyes burning into her back, and shook his head, running a hand threw his hair. So that was the infamous Erica Kane. She was everything he'd ever heard about her. Gorgeous. Sexy. Savvy. Egocentric. Self centered. He shook his head again and slowly started to turn to face the desk and the clerk who was trying to get his attention. Part of him hoped that was the last of her that he'd ever see and another part of him couldn't help but be intrigued by the idea of running to her again.

He laughed. That's probably the effect she'd been going for he thought as he finally turned is attention back to the clerk.

To be continued….

Thanks for the review. I hope others are reading and enjoying. I love feedback. LOL It's going to start getting really good, and you're going to need the password for the the NC-17 section if you dont already have it.

Chapter 3

Of course the restaurant was filled to capacity. Of course she couldn't even get inside to drown her sorrows in biggest piece of chocolate cake in the hotel had to offer. Of course her only other choice was the stuffy bar, that was almost completely filled with people. She shook her head and blew out a breath. All she wanted was to sit down, order a piece of cake, and wash her anger down with dark chocolate. Try to forget her husband. Her missed meeting. Her blown opportunity with the biggest cosmetic company in Paris. She spotted what seemed to be the only open seat in the entire bar and zeroed in on it.

" I knew you couldn't resist me." He said, the smile on his lips playing in his voice.

" Oh god," She breathed shaking her head, " You."

He nodded, and flashed her profile a wicked grin, " Nice to see you too."

" There's nothing good about your being here." She said dryly, refusing to look at him.

" You were the one who sat down next to me, " He retorted, all smiles.

" If I would have realized it was you sitting there, I'd have ran the other way." She told him firmly, anger laced in every word.

He knew her anger wasn't meant for him From the little he'd read about her, she was usually far more calm and composed, pulled together. Obviously she was using him to vent her anger. And judging by her reaction to him, it was anger directed at another man, probably her husband. That didn't mean he wasn't enjoying the fact that he could evoke such a passionate reaction out of her. For whatever reason, he was utterly intrigued by her. " You don't have to pretend, we both know you wanted to see my bat my eyelashes at you again."

She blew out a breath that was filled with angry laughter, "In your dreams."

" If you'd like." He teased, knowing the reaction he'd get from her.

" Ass." She tossed at him, shaking her head.

He laughed flashing a smug smile at her profile, " While that's true, you really shouldn't make assumptions about people you don't know."

" I already told you, I know your type." She countered, immediately.

" Yes, and you branded me a bastard just on my looks if I remember correctly."

" I'm not that shallow," She countered, " I branded you a bastard because you bumped into me in the hall. Which made me miss my meeting. And then you so rudely refused to let me check my messages."

" Oh," He breathed, laughing, " is that all?"

" You're just like all of them." She breathed, shaking her head, the first hint of what was really causing her anger starting to show itself.

" All of who?" He asked, watching her eyes flutter closed.

" Men." She breathed, completely frustrated, "You're just like all men." She continued, " All you think about is yourself and what makes you happy. Never mind what your wife wants. No, you read her the riot act and claim that she's not devoted enough to you. Never mind how amazingly successful, incredibly attentive, and totally devoted she is." She finished her small rant, before realizing what she, implied. "Not that I would know about that."

He smiled and nodded at her profile, "Of course not.." He said, " Well, even so any man who would do that to is wife deserves the bastard title." He watched a slight smile play at the edge of her lips, before she finally tuned to look at him.

" Don't you have somewhere else to be?" She asked, wanting to not only change the subject, get him to leave before she let anything else slip. Though, she had a feeling that's what he was going for.

He shook his head, " No. I'm all yours."

She laughed again, letting her eyes flutter open, so that she could finally look at him, " Don't flatter yourself."

" You haven't left yet." He countered, raising an eyebrow at her.

" There's not another open seat in the bar." She tossed back, almost enjoying this game they were playing.

" Well then aren't you lucky." He said, flashing her a knowing grin.

" Oh really, why is that?" She asked raising an eyebrow at him this time.

" Because I saved you a seat." He replied, the duh in his voice making them both laugh lightly.

" You read minds too?" She asked, trying and failing to keep the slight smile that was playing on her lips from spreading.

He nodded, " One of my many talents."

" Cocky much?" She asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

He shook his head, and moved to take a drink of the scotch the bartender had just placed in front of him, " Confident in my skills."

She raised an eyebrow at him, and he smiled at her.

" Comes with being a doctor." He told her, flashing her a devious smile.

" A doctor." She said, nodding.

" What?" He asked curiously.

She shook her head, " I was just thinking that I hope your bedside manner is better then your bar-side manner."

" If you ever want to find out," He started, his eyes taking on a wicked gleam.

" Not on your life." She tossed back shaking her head.

" I was going to tell you that if you ever needed a cardiologist and were curious about my beside manner, I'd be more then willing to treat you." He finished, " You can ask around, but I think you'd find out that I work extremely well with my hands."

She rolled her eyes and laughed lightly, less then impressed. " I'll keep that in mind." She told him.

" Mmm," He nodded, throwing back the last of his scotch.

The clock behind them started to chime, signaling the top of the hour and Erica sighed loudly, before taking her purse from where she'd placed it on the bar and throwing it over her shoulder.

" You haven't even ordered." He said, watching her move to stand up.

She shook her head, "They're busy. It's been a long day. And I have a 5AM flight." She told him, with a flip of her hair, " It's been…interesting." She said, and he nodded, " Good night, doctor."

He nodded, " Good night, Miss Kane." He said with a smile watching her turn around. He pulled some money from his pocket a second or so later, and told the bartender to keep the change. He was on his feet and heading for the door a second later.

Erica was just about out of the door way, when she stopped and turned around., seeing David headed her way. " Are you stalking me?" She asked, and she flashed her a knowing grin.

" Hardly." He said, coming to stand in front of her, " I was finished with my scotch,. And it's rather lonely with no one to talk too. I might as well go back to my room."

She narrowed her eyes at him, " All I have to do is call and security will be at my side."

He nodded and motioned out the door way to her. She tossed her hair and shook her head, and started out of the door. He shook his head and sighed, watching her walk for a couple of seconds before he started out the door.

To be continued….

Chapter 5

She blinked her eyes a few times, trying to adjust her eyes to the darkness of the night. She rolled her head to the side, trying to shake of sleep. She was to tired to move. And her body felt like lead, she realized shaking her head against the pillow as her eyes finally opened. Her eyes went wide as she saw the face of the man laying next to her.

She'd been lying on her side, and he was one his stomach, his arm draped across her stomach.

That's why she was exhausted. That's why she was laying naked under the sheets. That's why she was sticky with sweat, and why she and the entire room smelled like sex.

Her eyes slammed shut, visions of the previous few hours flooding behind her closed eyes. They'd had sex three times, before they'd collapsed against the bed.

She blew out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She hadn't even known his name when she'd fallen into his arms. She'd known him a total of an hour before she'd had his lips, his hands, all over. Before they had sex. Sex, probably wasn't the word for it, she realized, shaking her head. She'd never felt that before. That hard. That fast. That intense and full. That's probably why she'd done it again, and then a third time. Needing him to fill her with all he had to give while he could.

She tuned over quickly, and her eyes opened, she had to get out of here. Had to shower, wash him off her. If that were possible. Wash off his finger prints she could almost feel against her skin. Wash the smell of hot, reckless passion off her body. She shook her head and slowly and softly began to slide out from under his arm.

" Leaving without saying goodbye," His voice radiated from behind, low and sleepy, " That's usually my job." His arm, tightened around her waist as he finished, pulling her back to him.

She gulped in a breath and swallowed hard, shaking her head as she rolled over to face him. " I have to go."

"Mmm," He breathed, pulling her to him again, " you don't have to leave for over an hour."

Her breath caught in her throat and she shivered a bit, not sure if it was from the breathy tone of his voice, the rumbled from sleep look that made his already handsome features even more irresistible. " I have to go…" She repeated shaking her head and closing her eyes, refusing to look into his eyes any longer.

" So you said," He breathed, shifting his hips so that they touched from chest to toes, the only thing between their naked bodies a thin white sheet, " but you don't seem to mean it."

She wanted to tell him to go to hell. That he was nothing more then a mistake she would never make again. She wanted to get out of this bed, grab her clothes and leave him without a second glance, but he was leaning in and she could feel the heat from his breath against her lips. She opened her mouth to protest, instead a soft moan floated out.

He flashed her a victorious smile, and slid his arm further around her, grabbing her ass as he pulled her to him. His lips were waiting for hers. It was a slow, deep kiss, his lips moving slow and deliberate over hers. His tongue teased at her lips, flicking against them, a few times before she pulled away. He opened his eyes to her shaking her head.

" I'm married," It was soft, weak protest, but it was all she could muster as a last attempt to keep her resolve.

He nodded, leaving his lips against hers, "You were married before." He reminded her, breathing it into her parted lips.

She was falling slowly. " Plane…" She murmured, against his lips as she fought to make herself pull away.

" Hours…." Was his only reply and it was hot and hard against her lips as he deepened the kiss.

His tongue slid past her lips and dove into her mouth, and she surrendered. She let her body press against his. She let his lips take over hers. She let his arms encircle her waist and his fingers grip against the her back. She let her lips part and let her body shift so that the sheet slid from their chest and they were skin to skin. She let her guilt, melt away as he turned her over onto her back and settled over her...

Chapter 6

Part II

So far, there weren't many charms to living in Pine Valley. They had him staying in a mediocre hotel, in the center of a town that was smaller then some of the houses he'd lived in. He hadn't been to the hospital since he'd interviewed for the position, but he didn't remember it being anything exceptional either. He wasn't sure at moments like this why he'd agree to this. He had it made in San Francisco. He made his own hours. He worked the days he chose. He didn't have to answer to anyone. And now he was taking a job in a smaller, less prestigious hospital located in a small town in Pennsylvania. He could still set his own hours on whatever days he wanted. Pine Valley Hospital was definitely up and coming, and the research grants were practically pouring in, which he'd have full access too. They were practically throwing money at him to head up a brand new Cardiac Wing...This would be his chance to make a name for himself in the research field, beyond his already abundant fame as a world renowned cardio-thoracic surgeon.

He sighed shaking his head as he knocked on the bathroom door, " We're going to be late." He called to the person on the other side of the door. He shook his head again when the voice called back to him, telling him that she'd be ready soon. He'd never understand why this was such a production for women. True, they only had to go downstairs, but it hardly seemed appropriate that he be late to his own function. He wondered if this whole pomp and circumstance was a usual occurrence around here. At least they were having an open bar. "Allie," He called to the bathroom door, "I can't be late to my own party." She yelled back that maybe he should stop bothering her and she'd be able to finish.

He wondered if he should have brought her with him. He couldn't see himself falling in love with her, or ever marrying her, and he was fairly sure she knew that. Though you could never tell with women. He knew their relationship was part sex and the rest was business. She was a doctor herself so by default their being seen together was a benefit to both their careers. Plus, she was easy on the eyes and looked good on his arm. But even that arrangement was starting to lose was starting to loose it's luster.

" Well," He heard Allie's voice flutter from the bathroom doorway, " how do I look?"

He was going to spin around and say his usual, great, lets go, and those were the words playing on his lips as he spun to face her. As soon as he took in the sight of her, however, all words escaped him. He swallowed back a breath and his eyes slammed shut.

" David?" She said sauntering towards him now, "I think red is my color, don't you/?"

Sure the dress looked good on her/. But he wasn't looking at her, or even seeing her in the dress. The second he'd recognized it. The second he'd realized where he'd seen that before and who he'd seen it on, he started seeing Erica behind his closed eyes.

He'd done well keeping his thoughts of her at bay, until Allie appeared in the doorway clad in the same dress. He remembered how it looked on Erica Kane. How it hugged her curves in the right places. How it felt, soft and warm under his hands as he crushed her body into his. He remembered how it felt when he peeled it off her quivering body. He blew out a strangled breath, images of he dress siding down her body whipping behind his eyes. He didn't know what it was about her, that made his heart race. He didn't know why she made his blood burn the say she did. He didn't know what it was about her that made him still able to taste her a month later.

" David," She said, less then amused by his lack of attention.

He vaguely heard her, and he knew that he should comment on the dress or she'd probably tell him to shove it and he'd end up attending the party alone. But he was currently reliving that same dress pooling around her feet as she kicked it off and leaned into his hungry lips. He shifted his hips, and a slight moan escaped his lips.

Allis's stance softened and she flashed him a wicked grin, " I guess you do like it after all," She breathed, knowing his stance and those sounds.

He blew out another breath and forced his eyes open, nodding at her. " Yeah, it looks good." He breathed.

" Gee, thanks." She said back to him, rolling her eyes at him as she turned around. " Most men would be lucky if their girlfriends looked half this good in this dress." She told him, having moved to the desk to drop a few things into the her purse.

" I know, I know." He told her, still trying to force Erica out of his mind, and focus on Allie and the fact that she was the one in the dress. " I'm a cad, and I don't know how to treat a woman."

She nodded, " That sounds about right." She threw over her shoulder with a smile as she headed for the door.

He followed her to the door and opened it, trying to keep his eyes off her. He'd have to pull it together. He'd have to snap out of it and pay attention to the here and the now. Focus on his new job. He had to push all thoughts and memories of Erica Kane out of his mind. He watched Allie head out the door, the red satin of the dress staring aback at him, taunting him. Torturing him. Daring his mind to wander back to her, and the passion he could still feel on every inch of his skin.

He shook his head and blew out a breath, running a hand through his hair before he pulled the door closed behind him.

He had a feeling it was going to be an interesting night.

To be continued...