Falling For His Proper Mistress by Tessa Radley Page A

big decision,” she said finally, slithering off him to sit beside him.
    His hand fell away.
    â€œI never meant marriage?” Guy’s smile slipped. The intimacy between them widened into a chasm. “Don’t make more out of it than it needs to be, Avery. There’s no reason why we can’t enjoy each other for as long as it lasts.”
    Avery’s jaw dropped. This only demonstrated one more difference between them. A more lasting arrangement had different meanings to her and Guy. For him it hardly lasted past tomorrow…nothing more than hot sex with the gold-digging ex. For her it had meant a surge of hope. Stupid.
    Emotionally, Guy wasn’t available. To be fair, he’d always made it clear that he wasn’t in the market for a long-term relationship. She’d simply believed she could change his mind. Her mistake.
    Say no. Now!
    Yet if she did say no, she’d always wonder…
    What if…
    No regrets.
    Drowning herself in dead-end yearnings wasn’t going to get her over the man. What had Matt said last night? If you’re going to live it up, pumpkin, Aspen is the place to do it. Indulge yourself.
    Avery bit her lip.
    She didn’t want to indulge herself with just any one…she wanted Guy. Her body wanted Guy. So why not give in? And get over him?
    â€œSo what do you think?” His hand brushed her leg underthe water. Clearly he’d decided she would go along with it. Her indignation flared up all over again.
    Her good sense returned. “And what happens when the festival ends? When it’s time for me to leave?”
    He shrugged. “Does it matter? Let’s take it one day—” his eyes grew slumberous “—and one night at a time.”
    Yes, an affair would suit him just perfectly.
    â€œI’d want to think about that.”
    His look of surprise would’ve been comical if Avery had felt like laughing.
    â€œI’m sure there’s enough work in all the exclusive Aspen resorts and restaurants to keep you busy for a while. I’m sure I can help you secure some contracts.”
    â€œI’m sure you can,” she muttered, her irritation with him escalating. Didn’t he have any idea how that would look? People would take one look at her, at her obvious closeness to Guy and she’d be written off as a millionaire’s paid-for mistress. The professional reputation she’d worked so hard to establish would be gone in a puff of smoke.
    Of course, it was partially her own fault. She should never have fallen into his bed so quickly. But she’d been unable to resist him. She’d thought he was her soul mate.
    Damn. Damn. Damn.
    Discovering Guy still set her on fire would make it so easy to agree. She wasn’t caving in so easily this time. She stood up and the water streamed off her. Conscious of Guy’s smoldering gaze, she squared her shoulders. “I’m not sure I want to stay in Aspen.”
    â€œWhy not? You know you want to.” The corners of Guy’s mouth curled up. He reached up and ran a finger down her leg until it came to rest in the hollow behind her knee. “I’m here.”
    His arrogant certainty took her breath away. She stepped away, over the lip of the hot tub. Picking up her terry robeshe slid her arms into the sleeves and yanked the sash into a knot, then said brightly, “And so will I be—until the end of the month but I can’t guarantee anything past that.”
    â€œMaybe by then the flame would have burned itself out.”
    She could only hope…
    â€œMaybe,” she agreed. “And maybe I’ll be homesick for California.”
    â€œThere’s that, too.” Reserve entered his tone and the slumberous warmth seeped out of his eyes. “Not even this kind of chemistry will survive the distance. In terms of my father’s will, I have to stay in Aspen. So we’ll only have the time you’re here.”
    Lifting