"I thought you had this rule you didn't - how did you so charmingly put it? - take second place when it came to your lovers. Apparently that doesn't include your brother's leftovers." The jibe stung and Selina nodded in satisfaction at Blake's scowl. "So it's true, Katie Whitcomb-Salgar didn't waste any time substituting one McCord man for another. I'd love to know her secrets. Any woman that could convince you to be your brother's replacement must have something special."

He made himself smile, but it was as hard as his voice. "Katie is something special. She's a beautiful, intelligent woman and a friend. But much as I hate to disappoint you and the rest of the gossips who are apparently bored for lack of a scandal, I'm not Tate's replacement and am never going to be."

"Honestly, Blake," Selina said with a harsh laugh, "do you expect anyone to believe that? You spend most of your time looking at her as if you're thinking of everything you want to do to her once you get rid of the rest of us."

Selina's husband coming up to claim his wife saved Blake from a less than honest answer but rejoining Katie and the conversation of Parker's intended contribution, he couldn't easily discount Selina's observation as pure spite. It made him hyper-conscious of his expressions, his gestures around Katie, wondering how much he was betraying without being aware of it.

Even more grating was the idea that he was considered Katie's second choice after Tate. Worse was the unwelcome thought that Katie might look at him that way, as a substitute for the man she loved and desired but couldn't have.

He was still dwelling on it, hours later, when he and Kate said their goodbyes to the last of the guests.

With a sigh, Katie leaned her back to the door. "I always have a hard time enjoying these things. They're too much like work."

"It was quite a success, though. Parker in particular agreed to double his contribution. You should be proud of yourself."

"Yes, that will certainly make a difference," she said slowly. She looked closely at him, a slight frown between her eyes. "What's wrong?"

"As you said, these events are too much like work." Aware of the shortness of his tone, he tried to amend it. "It's late and I'm sure you're tired. I should be going."

She ignored his attempt to avoid subjects best left alone. "Selina said something to you, didn't she, about me taking up with you on the rebound from Tate?"

"She said something along those lines, but it's hardly an issue, is it?"

"Apparently not," she said quietly. Straightening, she turned away from him. "You're right, it's late. Thank you for coming, Blake."

"Katie - "

"I can't stop people from talking," she spun back around. "All I can tell you is they're wrong."

"Are they?"

"Exactly what is that supposed to mean?"

A volatile mix of frustration, banked desire, doubt, and anger cracked his façade of indifference and he eliminated the distance between them, grasped her shoulders, and covered her mouth with his. He took advantage of her lips, parting in surprise, to kiss her deeply, his tongue sliding along hers in intimate possession. She matched him with a throaty moan that spiked his need and urged him to take what he wanted, what he'd wanted for months, for years but had refused to acknowledge to himself.

He couldn't deny it now. But he hated the idea Katie might be comparing him to Tate; hated more the uneasy feeling that he might not care, that he might be willing to sacrifice his pride if he could have her.

Abruptly, he broke off, breathing hard. "I won't be second best. Not now, not ever."

Before she could confirm or deny it, he strode past her and out the door, not sure which of them was more shaken by the complete loss of his prized control.


From the book "The Texas CEO's Secret"
By Nicole Foster
Silhouette Special Edition
October 2009
by Danette Thompson and Annette Chartier
® and TM are trademarks of the publisher.
The edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S. A.
For more romance information surf to: http://www.eHarlequin.com

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