Page 29 of Master of Pleasure (Lessons From the Rack 3)

“She told me that we didn’t need to pick anything up because she found what she thought she’d left here in the lighthouse.”

“Run that by me again.”

“She found what she was looking for in the lighthouse.”

A table just big enough for two people sat in one corner of the kitchen. Terrence pulled out one of the chairs and indicated for her to sit down.

It wasn’t until he’d taken his own seat with a heavy sigh that she realized how late it must be. Yet he didn’t act as if he was in any hurry to head to the dock before it was too late.

“We should probably leave, don’t you think?” She pushed her chair away from the table. “We need to get on the road if there’s any chance of us making it back to the island tonight.” He leveled his gaze at her, and she sat back down heavily as the truth of the situation hit her. “It’s already too late, isn’t it?” But of course it was. Hadn’t she been told on her first day on the island that academy boats didn’t run after dark and that it would probably be difficult to find someone willing to make the trip at that point? “Damn,” she said before he could answer.

“It’s so dark now the probability of finding someone both willing and able to make the trip is nearly nonexistent. I suppose we could rent a boat and make the journey ourselves. I know how to operate a boat. I’ve even made the trip from the mainland to the island and back again a time or two. But only ever in daylight.” He shook his head. “I doubt I should attempt doing it in the dark.”

In other words, they were stuck on the mainland together for the night.

She supposed she’d known that if she were being truthful. “All things considered, it could be a lot worse. At least we have a comfortable place to stay. First thing in the morning, we can head back to the island.” She didn’t mention the fact there was only one bed in the house. It wasn’t as if he could change anything, and besides, it’d only be for one night.

That being the case, why did Terrence look so angry? It wasn’t as if it was anyone’s fault they were stuck on a beach outside Portland for the night.

Was it?

There was only one way for someone to be responsible.

“You think Andie sent us here on purpose?” Veronica asked, not believing it was possible. “Knowing we’d be stuck for the night?”

“I don’t think so. I know so.”

Veronica tilted her head. “Really? You honestly think she concocted a plan to keep us on the mainland together for a night?” He remained silent. “Seriously? What could she possibly think would happen?”

He looked at her, a combination ofyou’ve got to be kidding meand something else she couldn’t quite put a name to, but the sight of it made her insides quiver with need.

In an instant, the look was gone. Terrence stood and took his phone out of his back pocket. “I’m going to call her.”

Moving faster than she thought possible, she stood and ripped the phone from his unsuspecting hand. “No. You can’t call her. It’ll ruin everything. Look at it this way. If we spend the night here, it adds more credibility to our plan to make them think we’re into each other.”

His expression didn’t change. It was as if she hadn’t spoken at all. “Give me my phone back.”

She held it away from him, like he was a child and couldn’t just reach over and take it back. “No,” she said with a haughty liftof her chin. “Not until you promise you won’t call anyone on the island.”

“I’m not going to negotiate with you for my phone. Hand it over.” He paused to level his gaze. “Now.”

The heat in his eyes, the commanding tone of his voice when he spoke that one word—that was all it took. Her knees threatened to go weak, and the flicker of something she’d tried desperately to ignore ignited and threatened to burn her completely.

She said the one thing she could. “No.”

“Did you just tell me no?” He kept his gaze leveled at her.

Uncertainty wound around her, but she refused to let it win. More determined than ever, she replied, “Yes.”

“Tell me why.”

What?

He tried again. “Did you tell me no in order to get a response out of me or to see what I’d do?”

She felt her cheeks heat and her eyes drifted to the floor.

“Look at me and answer.”

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