Ian’s gaze roamed down her body, traveled back up and landed on her mouth as he stepped forward. “You look like the same woman to me,” he said, closing the gap between them. “What makes you think you’re so different from the woman I spent the night with?”
She couldn’t think with him this close, the way his eyes studied her, the woodsy scent of his cologne, the way she felt his body when he wasn’t even touching her.
“Well, I...” She smoothed her hair back behind her ears and tipped her head to look him in the eye. “I’m afraid you think that I look for a good time and that I’m easy.”
A ghost of a smile flirted around those full lips of his. “I rushed to judgment. I don’t think you’re easy, Cassie. Sexy, intriguing and confident, but not easy.”
Sighing, she shook her head. “I’m anything but confident.”
Now his hands came up, framed her face and sent an insane amount of electrical charges coursing through her. As much as she wanted his touch, she couldn’t allow herself to crave such things. Hadn’t she learned her lesson? Physical attraction and sexual chemistry did not make for a solid base for family, and, right now, all she could focus on was her family. Between Emily and the race with her sister, Cassie had no time for anything else.
But, oh, how she loved the feel of those strong, warm palms covering her face, fingertips slipping into her hair.
“You were amazing and strong in the attic,” he told her. He placed a finger over her lips when she tried to speak. “You may not be like that all the time, but you were then. And that tells me that the real you came out that night. You had no reason to put on a front with me and you were comfortable being yourself. Your passion and ability to control the situation was the biggest turn-on I’ve ever experienced.”
Cassie wanted to tell him he was wrong, that she wasn’t the powerful, confident woman he thought she was.
But she couldn’t say a word when he leaned in just a bit more, tickling his lips across hers so slowly that Cassie feared she’d have to clutch on to his thick biceps to stay upright.
She didn’t reach up, though. Didn’t encourage Ian in tormenting her any further.
But when his mouth opened over hers so gently, coaxing hers open, as well, Cassie didn’t stop him. Still not reaching for him, she allowed him to claim her. His hands still gripped her face, his body pressed perfectly against hers and she flashed back instantly to when they’d had nothing between them. He’d felt so strong, so powerful.
More than anything to do with his looks or his charming words, he made her feel more alive than she’d ever felt.
Ian’s lips nipped at hers once, twice, before he lifted his head and looked her straight in the eyes.
The muscle ticked in his jaw as he slowly lowered his hands from her face and stepped back. “No, Cassie. Nothing about you or this situation is easy.”
Without another word, he turned and walked through her house and out the back door. Cassie gripped the edge of the sofa and let out a sigh. She had no clue what had just happened, but something beyond desire lurked in Ian’s dark eyes. The way he’d looked at her, as if he was wrestling his own personal demon...
Cassie shook her head. This was not her problem. Sleeping with the man had brought up so many complications—the main reason she never did flings.
Was that why she kept feeling this pull? Because sex just wasn’t sex to her? For her to sleep with someone meant she had some sort of deeper bond than just lust. How could she not feel attached to the man who made her feel this alive?
Glancing down to sweet Emily, who was chewing on her stuffed horse, Cassie rested her hip against the couch. This baby was her world and no way would she be that mother who needed to cling to men or have a revolving door of them.
Better to get her head on straight and forget just how much Mr. Hollywood Agent affected her mind.
Trouble was, she was seriously afraid he’d already affected her heart.
Ten
“My girls ready for next week?”
Cassie slid the saddle off Don Pedro and threw a glance over her shoulder to her father. Damon Barrington stalked through the stables that he not only owned, but at one time had spent nearly every waking hour in.
Even though the Barringtons’ planned to retire from the scene after this racing season, Damon still wasn’t ready to sell the prizewinning horses. He’d had generous offers, including one from his biggest rival in the industry, Jake Mason, but so far no deal had been made. Cassie highly doubted her father would ever sell to Jake. The two had been competitors for years and had never gotten along on the track...or off it.
“We’re as ready as we’ll ever be,” Tessa said as she started brushing down the Thoroughbred. “My time is even better than before. I’m pretty confident about the Preakness.”
Damon smiled, slipping his hands into the pockets of his worn jeans. The man may be a millionaire and near royalty in the horse industry because of his Triple Crown win nearly two decades ago, but he still was down-to-earth and very much involved in his daughters’ careers.
“I know you’ll do the Barrington name proud, Tess.” He reached up and stroked the horse’s mane as Cassie slid in beside her father.
“What are you doing down here?” Cassie asked. “Thought you’d be keeping your eye on the film crew.”
Damon patted the horse and reached over to wrap an arm around Cassie’s shoulders. A wide grin spread across his tanned, aged face. His bright blue eyes landed on hers.