impressionable girl in her final important year of university, spending time with a man who is best known for his rave parties on Mykonos.’
‘One rave party.’ His rumbling voice held a reproving note. ‘And that was a year ago.’
‘And twelve months is such a long time.’
‘People mature.’
‘Not everyone.’ When his brow furrowed, she exhaled heavily. ‘I didn’t come here to insult you, Devlin.’
‘Of course not.’ His gaze gleamed with unadorned mischief. ‘I’d hoped it might be to confess that you’d missed me.’
Her heartbeat skipped and she coughed out a bitter laugh. He was incorrigible. Conceited. And so frighteningly close to irresistible…
She knotted her arms over her chest and studied him through narrowed eyes. ‘You really are an arrogant son of a—’
‘And you’re just as gorgeous as I remember.’
His gaze brushed her face, as intimate and thrilling as a lover’s touch. Needing to make believe the flames licking her belly were shards of ice, she sat further back in the Glastonbury chair and crossed her legs. ‘Are you going to help me or not?’
One big shoulder rolled up, then down. ‘I’m not sure I know what you want.’
Fine. She’d spell it out. ‘I want you to speak with your brother. Tell him to back off and leave Sabrina alone. She’s delicate, Devlin. Easily hurt.’ The couple at the next table slid over an enquiring glance. Reminded of their public setting, Eden tipped forward and dropped her voice. ‘If this goes on any longer, she’ll be shattered when Nathan ends their affair.’
‘Who says he’ll end it?’
She deadpanned back, ‘How about the scores of heartbroken souls he’s loved then left before now?’
Devlin held her gaze for a long considering moment as a muscle in his jaw popped. ‘Admittedly Nate’s had a few girlfriends—’
‘More than a few,’ she muttered.
‘—but you’re forgetting one thing. My brother is an adult. And your sister, I gather, is over twenty-one.’
‘Barely.’
‘We have no place interfering in their affairs.’
‘That’s easy for you to say. It’s not your flesh and blood who’ll spend months crying into her pillow every night—’
When his eyes flashed with interest, her cheeks caught light and she pressed her lips together. Way too much information.
Reaffirming the goal in her mind—to save her sister suffering the same pain she’d endured at the hands of a Stone—Eden tried again. ‘I’m asking for your help.’
His pupils dilated until the deepest blue of his eyes became black. ‘They’re not kids, Eden. It’s none of our business. It’s nobody’s business but theirs.’
At the implacable set of his jaw, she held her breath but couldn’t stop the energy and hope seeping from her body.
So, that was that. She should’ve known this was useless. Worse than useless. Devlin Stone lived for two things: his next adventure and his next seduction, in that order, which didn’t leave room for the compassion she’d hoped to find.
He’d probably instructed little brother more than once on the moves required to lay off a girl without accepting any blame. How dense to believe she might be able to talk to him. Worse, she’d put herself in this vulnerable position. He’d sent out the vibes, baiting her, testing her.
Tears born of frustration prickled the backs of her eyes.
She’d sooner scale the Harbour Bridge in a hailstorm than succumb to Devlin Stone’s magnetism again.
‘I’m sorry for wasting your time.’ She pushed up on rubbery legs and calmly collected her purse. ‘But I’m sure I’ll feel sorrier for Sabrina.’
Devlin acknowledged and immediately dismissed the overwhelming urge to grab Eden’s arm and haul her right back. She’d wanted to meet. He was here to talk. Yet ten minutes into their reunion he was watching the most exquisitely infuriating woman he’d ever known walk out on him.
Again!
Eden wanted him to step into the middle of his brother’s affairs. Tell Nate who he should or should not see. She chose to ignore the fact that Nate and Sabrina were adults, old enough to make up their own minds, whether she approved or not. She might be slightly built, but Eden Foley entertained an Amazonian mentality.
She liked to be in control.
The waiter appeared and poured the champagne. Devlin sipped, barely tasting the fruity bubbles. His thoughts were stuck on the determined set of Eden’s shoulders, the defiant passion in her apple-green eyes…
His gut muscles clenched and his line of vision darted to the restaurant’s glass frontage at the same time Eden came into view. She looked edible in that cream-and-black dress, her chin and arm lifted high as she hailed a passing cab. That yellow didn’t stop, but another would roll by soon enough. In a few minutes she’d be out of his life.
Again.
He ran a finger around his inside collar then, growling, pushed aside the crystal flute and strode towards the exit, tossing enough cash on the desk as he passed.
Damnation, what was it about that woman? Her exceptional figure? Her sharp wit? That glossy honey-blonde hair?
Yes, yes and yes.
And something more. Something that gnawed at him whenever he woke and wondered in the still dead of night.
The remnants of a need to tame her?
He claimed his jacket from the brunette at the counter, threw it over a shoulder and headed out.
No, submission wasn’t the prize. He’d never had the desire to tame any woman—only enjoy them. Spoil them. In his younger day the world had seemed full of alluring possibilities. Then his offshore oil and gas support company had taken off and he’d met Eden—a woman who possessed the contradictory seeds of both natural innocence and darkest temptation…a curious and, as it’d turned out, addictive combination.
Yesterday, when his secretary had said Eden Foley was on the line, his palm was damp by the time he’d picked up. He’d accepted Eden’s invitation and had spent a restless night anticipating their coming encounter. When he’d jumped out of that cab earlier, God help him, he’d wanted to shirk civic duty and bypass that whacko hitting a home run on some poor bastard’s car. Her husband’s car, so that officer had said.
Stepping outside, Devlin sucked in a cleansing breath while thunder grumbled overhead.
Marriage. What a racket.
He spied Eden on the footpath, raised on the balls of her sexy black heels, flagging another cab. He scrubbed his
