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“True. I guess you’d just have to trust me.”
I give a short laugh. “Yeah, right.”
He turns to face me, sliding his hands into the pockets of his trousers, tips his head to the side, and raises an eyebrow.
“What?” I say, my heart beginning to pound.
“Would you like me to supply you with professional references?”
“George said that although the Cavendishes are ruthless in business, they’re always true to their word.”
He looks startled. “You really say what you think, don’t you?”
“Do I? I suppose. I don’t know any other way.”
“I wouldn’t call myself ruthless. Determined, maybe, when I see something I want.”
His blue eyes fix on mine again, and for some reason it makes me think he’s talking about me.
“No,” I say without thinking.
His eyebrows lift. “No, what?”
God, he’s so handsome, and the look in his eyes is… well, I don’t know how to describe it. Hungry, maybe. Like the big cat he reminds me of, it’s like he wants to ravish me. My mouth has gone dry, and I’m trembling a little.
“Stop it,” I say.
His lips curve up, a frown appearing on his brow at the same time. “Stop what?”
“Looking at me like that.”
His gaze turns sultry. “Like what?”
“Like you’re planning to act out your family motto.” See, want, take. That’s exactly what he’s thinking.
He doesn’t protest, so I know I’m right. But he does say, “Not where girls are concerned. I’m only interested if they’re willing.”
I take a step back. “I don’t believe you. I know men enjoy the chase. You’ve seen something that’s not fallen immediately into your hands and so now you’re interested.”
His eyebrows lift and he extends a hand toward me. “Scarlett…”
“Well money can’t buy everything, Mr. Cavendish, so if you think you can—”
“Scarlett!”
“No!” I move back, scared because I know that if he touches me, I’m not going to be able to resist him… and then the world gives way beneath me.
I hadn’t realized I was so close to the edge. I fall backward into the river, completely submerging. Before I can scramble to my feet, I immediately feel the tug of the current, which rolls me over and disorients me. My arms and legs flail, and alarm spears through me at the thought that I’m perilously close to the edge of the waterfall. I’ve jumped off several times and survived, but that was a controlled fall after I’d taken a deep breath, and this time I’m already confused and spluttering.
I bump against a rock and squeal, then cough as water pours into my mouth. Oh shit. I’m really in trouble here…
But even as the thought enters my head, I feel something grasp my wrist, and I’m hauled up out of the water. The momentum sends me shooting forward, and I land on him, forcing him to stumble and lose his footing. A strong arm wraps around my waist, though, and then he gets to his feet, bringing me with him.
“Scarlett?” Orson is standing waist-high in the water. “Are you okay?”
I tremble, partly from the cold, partly from the realization that I had been extremely close to tumbling over the edge. Without meaning to, I burst into tears.
He sighs, bends and slides an arm beneath my knees, then lifts me into his arms and carries me to the side. Still holding me, he sinks onto the ground, legs crossed, and lets me sit in his lap while he tightens his arms around me.