In Too Deep Read Free Page B

“What do you think you’re doing, Carmen?”
    His voice sounded strained and his breathing shallow. “What does it look like I’m doing? I just finished taking a shower and now I’m putting on clothes. You should have knocked.”
    Carmen watched as something flickered in the depths of his dark eyes and a muscle clenched in his jaw. He took hishands out of his pockets, causing the material of his pants to stretch across the huge bulge at his center. It was quite obvious he’d gotten aroused from seeing her half-naked. She inwardly smiled. He’d taken the bait just the way she’d planned.
    â€œI own this place. I don’t have to knock, Carmen. And why are you still here? Why aren’t you gone or at least packing?”
    She crossed her arms over her chest and followed the movement of his eyes from her face to her breasts. She was very much aware that her curves were outlined through the silky material of her robe. It seemed he was very much aware of it, as well.
    â€œI decided that I won’t be leaving.”
    He pulled his gaze away from her chest. “Excuse me?”
    â€œI said I won’t be leaving. I’d assumed you would be in L.A. all summer, which is why I made plans to spend my vacation here. I don’t intend to change that just because you’ve shown up.”
    A muscle clenched in his jaw again, making it obvious her statement hadn’t gone over well with him. She wasn’t surprised when he said, with an icy gaze, “You should have checked my plans for the summer. If you had, I would have told you this place was off-limits. I regret that you didn’t. I also regret that you have to leave.”
    She inched her chin a little higher and declared, “I’m not going anywhere, Matthew. I deserve some peace and quiet. I’ve worked hard this year.”
    â€œAnd you don’t think that I have?”
    The sharpness of his tone had her gearing up for a fight. But she had to be careful what she said or he would toss her out and halt her plan. “I know you work hard, Matthew.In fact, you carry working hard to the extreme,” she said bluntly.
    His gaze narrowed and she wondered if perhaps she’d pushed him too far. But she couldn’t help saying how she felt. The amount of time he’d spent away from her would always be a wound that wouldn’t heal.
    He began moving toward her in that slow, precise walk that could make women drool. She wished she didn’t notice his sex appeal or just how potently masculine he was. She had to get a grip. Her objective was to make him regret ever taking her for granted, to give him a taste of his own medicine, so to speak. She intended to turn her back on him like he’d done to her.
    Carmen swallowed when he came to a stop in front of her but she refused to back up—or down.
    â€œYou,” he said with deep emphasis, “are not staying here. I think things were pretty clear in the divorce settlement. You wanted to end our marriage and so you did. Under no circumstances will we stay under the same roof.”
    Carmen saw the hardness in his features. This face that once looked at her with so much love was staring at her with a degree of animosity that tore at her heart.
    â€œThen nothing is different, Matthew, since we seldom stayed under the same roof anyway. I’m not leaving. I was almost mobbed by the paparazzi getting here and they are probably hanging around like vultures waiting for me to leave. Your recent love life has caused quite a stir and they are trying to bait me into giving my opinion.”
    â€œThe media isn’t giving me any more slack than they’re giving you. And your affair with Bruno Casey isn’t helping matters, either. I’m sure if you return to California, he’ll be able to put you up for the summer in that place he owns off the bay.”
    It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him nothing wasgoing on with Bruno,