What it Takes by Kathryn Ascher

head tilted to the side and she studied him silently for what felt like an eternity. “You’re right,” she practically whispered. He turned his head toward her, shocked by her quiet confession. “Is that a first for you?” Her soft voice was doing nothing to change the direction of his thoughts. It was actually making them worse. She’d probably hate that.
    He closed his eyes and considered her question. His whole career, he’d done whatever he pleased, and the only person who had ever expressed her displeasure with his “reputation” had been his mother. Most actresses used it to their advantage. None had ever balked at the idea. And no one had ever, ever given him the cold shoulder.
    When he opened his eyes again, he found hers still fixed on him. “Actually, yes,” he muttered, unable to hide the petulance as he nodded. The corner of her mouth twitched but she looked down before it could completely turn up. “Do you find that funny?” He ducked his head to try to see if she would laugh when she answered. She shook her head but wouldn’t look up. “So you’re just humoring me again then?”
    “I don’t humor you.” She raised her head, amusement still played on her features. “That’s the last thing I want to do.”
    His eyebrow lifted. “Yes, we’ve established that,” he said flatly. She finally beamed at him, the look he’d been waiting for, and it was glorious. It lit her face and took his breath. She was beautiful. How had he not noticed this before? He had to drag his thoughts back to the conversation. “Is that really all you think I want? Indulgence and pleasure?”
    “Isn’t it?” Her grin faded and he was sorry to see it go.
    “You should do that more often,” he blurted out and she tilted her head. “You have a beautiful smile. I wish I got to see more of it.”
    Kelsey nodded and glanced at the door. “You didn’t answer my question.”
    Her clear desire to leave was a punch in the gut. “You either find my company extremely revolting or you have a hot date. Which is it?”
    She lifted her chin, her eyes focused defiantly on him.
    “Tit for tat, love. You answer mine, I’ll answer yours.” He folded his arms across his chest and held her rebellious glare.
    She rolled her eyes and looked away. “I don’t know why you care.”
    “So, the only thing I’m supposed to care about is getting into your pants, and since you refuse to have anything to do with me, I can’t be your friend?” he questioned resentfully. There was the slightest nod of her head and a knot formed in his stomach. “Now I am offended.”
    “Good,” she murmured so softly he almost missed it.
    He frowned and she immediately regretted her words. What was wrong with her? There was something about Patrick that seemed to bring out her worst behavior. He sat up taller and pulled away from her as he turned his attention to the living room.
    He nodded once. “No, I’m not only after indulgence and pleasure. I’m actually sitting here, taking your abuse, because I want to get to know you. If you’d rather leave, please feel free. You know where the door is.”
    Her mind scrambled to come up with an apology. But apologizing might only encourage his attentions. She didn’t want to do that.
    Or did she?
    It was ridiculous that he caused her so much confusion. She brought her knees back up to her chest and laid her cheek on them, looking away from him. With Tim, she’d always been the kind of woman who put her needs on the back burner. She’d done everything to please him. She’d treated him like a minor god. Looking back on that behavior now made her gnash her teeth.
    When she and Tim had broken up, she’d decided that she would never be that kind of woman again. She’d never bend over backward to make a man happy. She would be her own person and if someone didn’t like that, then too bad. She’d become very comfortable in her own skin in the past six years. For the last four weeks, she’d watched