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hadn’t spoken. He was ignoring her!
    “In case you missed it, I said no.”
    “I didn’t miss it. But I’ve learned that when a person says no, they usually just need more information.”
    The last thing in the world she needed was more information. Any more information like he dished out would land her smack on her back, bare naked, caught up in some apocalyptic orgasm that would leave her damn near dead.
    Oh Lord, she wanted more information. Lots more. Just not from him!
    Nope. Out of the question. He had some nerve.
    “Well, now, let me introduce you to my kind of no. It means exactly what it sounds like. No way. Nadda. N-O. Huh-uh.“ She shook her head for emphasis and for self-encouragement.
    His smile said he didn’t believe her.
    “Let me make things a little easier. This business proposition I have doesn’t translate well in a public venue like Charlie’s.” He waved his hand around the room and leaned forward again.  
    “Nina’s gone tonight. She’s with your niece actually. Maybe if we met at my house, we could discuss terms you’d be more comfortable with.”
    She was so out of her league here.
    “Or you could get the pleasure of driving out after me, building my hopes up and telling me to take my offer and go to hell once we got to my house. Either way. You choose.”
    Now that was an idea. She needed to remember why she was here. He was the enemy. He was after her daddy’s job.  
    She took a deep breath.
    “Let me make sure I understand. This whole meeting is a business proposition. So this is about more than you wanting me. This is about what I want, too?”
    He nodded. “The basic rule in business agreements is compromise. There’s got to be something in it for you.”
      “So if I follow you to your place, we can talk, even agree, maybe even write up in a contract what I want.”
    His smile said he thought he’d won.
    “Come home with me and we’ll negotiate to your heart’s content.”
    Interesting. Intriguing. Insane.
    Her brain screamed this was a trap. But when she closed her eyes she remembered the pride on her father’s face, remembered his hug.
    She could do this. She had to do this.
    “All right then, Mr. Millionaire. Let’s go negotiate.”

Chapter Three
    “What the heck was he doing?”
    Brenton watched Mallory’s headlights bump down the road in his rear view mirror. He might find success down this path, but it sure as hell wasn’t guaranteed.
    He’d planned on showing her what a genuinely good guy he was. Planned on convincing her she should spend some time with him.
    Within minutes it was obvious if he wanted her to get to know him, if he wanted to get to know her, he would have to force the issue.
    And this was certainly one way of doing just that.
    If she didn’t tell him to get lost.  
    He punched a button on his sun visor to open the gate to his drive and wondered exactly where this was headed.
    He hadn’t lied. He did want Mallory Baber.  
    With the steam they’d been generating back at the diner, he knew what a relationship with her could be. And damn it would be good.
    But faced with the reality, he wasn’t certain that was the best course of action. She’d be bargaining for her father’s job. And that was out of his hands. She’d also be bargaining for her home town. His plans weren’t changing there.
    He wouldn’t lie to her about that.  
    But it didn’t change the simple fact that he wanted her like he’d never wanted another woman in his life. And he was used to getting what he wanted. He’d convince her. Just as he’d convinced her to come out here.
    He pushed the garage door opener and drove his SUV in next to his new Thunderbird convertible. When he jumped out of the truck, Mallory was just pulling into the drive.
    He met her as she opened her door and held out his hand to help her up.
    She ignored him and shut her door.  
    “I’m glad you came.”
    “I’m not sure that I am. Let’s just talk business.”
    “Okay, business