She slid back against the sheets to look at the ceiling. Perhaps he was right. If she wasn't ready for total commitment was it fair to keep him in midair?

"I'm sorry," she whispered, turning on her side to face away from him, not quite mustering the will to leave the bed. "I don't mean to toy with you, Alex. It's just that ... I didn't plan on this happening."

"Damn it!" he exploded, drawing her back to face him. "That's your problem-or one of them. In your work you can plan everything out to perfection. That's what makes you as efficient as you are. But in the world of human relationships you can't plot out a beginning and an end. You can't outline what's going to happen. You can't plot the whole thing out, then follow your plan to the letter. It just doesn't work that way!"

Alanna saw frustration in the depths of his charcoal gaze. She saw the faint lines of tension by the corners of his mouth. And she wanted desperately, desperately to give in. How simple it would be to agree to marry him! But the thought of marriage and a family sent tremors of apprehension through her. Until those tremors ceased she couldn't, in good faith, accept his proposal.

Sitting up on the bed, oblivious to her own nakedness, she faced him. The soft light from the dresser cast a golden glow on her hair, her shoulders, the gentle fullness of her breasts. It was a picture of innocent supplication she made as she began to talk quietly.

"I feel confused about so many things. What you've said is right. But it's difficult to change one's way of thinking overnight." She averted her eyes. "I never thought I'd say I loved you, but I have. Doesn't that give you hope?" A crooked smiled played at her lips.

Alex sat up to join her. "Hope can only take me so far. I want you for my wife. I won't rest until you're mine." There was a grim set to his lips that vouched for his determination. For an instant Alanna also wondered whether there was a touch of insecurity in this man who presented the image of strength and confidence at all times to the world. Was he afraid of losing her? Was that what was, in truth, behind his demand for marriage? Even as the thought of his possessiveness pleased her, she seized upon his words for diversion.

"So that's it, Alex Knight! You're using me!"

His ruggedly etched features formed a full-blown frown. "What on earth are you talking about?" he growled, his unusual lack of perception adding evidence of his vulnerability where Alanna was concerned. Her grin grew more mischievous.

"You can't sleep without me! Come on ... confess! Did you sleep well last night?"

"Of course not!" The hint of a smile softened the straight line of his lips. "Did you?" he made his counteraccusation.

Her laugh was light and brief. "I certainly did," she looked toward the ceiling in recollection, "from roughly midnight till three, then from perhaps five till seven." When her gaze dropped to meet Alex's once more her humor had returned. "But, no, I didn't sleep through the night as I do with you," she confessed softly, meaningfully.

With a low groan Alex took her in his arms and hugged her tightly. "You will tonight, love. I promise you that!"

She did, as did he. By unspoken consent, they shelved all serious discussion in favor of an evening in bed talking of lighter things. Alex told Alanna of his childhood, of climbing Mt. Washington, of canoeing through the lakes of upstate Minnesota, of sailing on the Atlantic off the coast of Cape Cod. He talked of his college years, of receiving his master's degree, of joining the family business and having to fight for the respect of the men below him. He spoke of his brother and sisters, of his nieces and nephews, never once directly referring to the children of his own that he hoped to have one day.

In return for the wealth of information he freely offered Alanna related more of her own story, a less exciting one in her mind, but one by which Alex seemed fascinated. He encouraged her to talk of her parents, of the occasional good times they had had despite the legacy of bitterness which she had inherited. He coaxed her into telling him of her days at school, her friends, even her bouts of puppy love. And he drew from her a vivid picture of her life as a working woman and the pattern it had fallen into over the years. All the while he held her propped against him, his arms about her, her head against his shoulder.

When the intimacy of the interchange yielded to something more erotic Alanna grew aware once more of the love she felt for Alex. It was this love that emboldened her in her initial response to the masterful male hands that scorched her body. For the first time she was unafraid to face the extent of the arousal which only Alex could evoke in her. She felt free to exert herself as a woman, as a creature of passion. If there was a challenge now it was within her; she had to convince herself of the strength of her love by expressing it in Alex's arms.

The frenzied passion of earlier that evening had taken the edge off the awesome physical need they had for each other. This slow, more studied lovemaking was an exploration into depths they had skimmed but never probed. Soft words of love accompanied the gentle movements of arms and legs, lips and tongues. The heady wine of love drugged them, prolonging the moment of union with languorous strokings and tender caresses.

With his hands tracing the curves of her sides and hips Alanna found herself above Alex. Looking down at him she caught the golden highlights, cast by the lamp, which burnished the rich brown of his hair. Was he angel or devil, to have such magnificent power over her?

It didn't matter. For she gloried in that power, absorbing it in every cell of her being, then exerting it over him in turn. It was this last which astounded her even more, the strength of the force her woman's body could wield over the sturdy, muscled mass of masculinity which now held her weight.

With the grace of a swan she arched toward him. Her breasts touched his broad, hair-roughened chest, teasing electrically as her lips brushed his. The tip of her tongue circled his mouth, then ventured within its moist bounds when he moaned his pleasure. It was as though time itself had slowed to half speed. Haste was nonexistent. There was only the exquisite savoring of a physical arousal that warmed and heated and reached the near-boiling point in a drawn-out eternity of luscious touching and feeling.

When at last Alex groaned his urgent need, then echoed it with the strength of the hands that lifted her, Alanna was just as eager, taking him to her in a moment of mind-sweeping joy.

"I love you," she whispered between deep kisses.

"You've got me," he drawled as softly, letting her take the lead, seeming to revel in the strength she possessed.

Tiny beads of sweat glistened on her body as the heat of passion burst from within. She felt herself the embodiment of all that was desirable. Alex's hands held her breasts as she arched her back in mindless delight. Her rosy nipples flamed at his touch, reacting as much to his faintly roughened fingertips as to the taut pull of the passion they shared.

Again they savored their joy with leisurely delight, their movements deliberate and thoroughly sensed. Alanna had never felt as rich, as filled with contentment, as when she held him and reveled in his virility. Adding to her happiness was the look of pure love that held Alex's gaze enmeshed with hers. He, too, had risen above the simply physical; he, too, understood and shared this spiritual elevation.

It was only the white-hot explosion of bliss that sent them at last to the spiraling heights from which they fell slowly, reluctantly, still wrapped in each other's arms. Alanna could no longer differentiate Alex's thudding heart from her own, his rasping breath from hers. They were one in every sense. As one they fell into the deep, deep sleep that had been denied them when they had been apart. As one they slept, fulfilled and satisfied, through the night and into the morning of the day that Alanna had been dreading.

The news came shortly before noon to Alanna at her desk. Within five minutes she found herself in the board-room being introduced to the board members as the next Executive Vice-President of WallMar Enterprises. These were men whom she would come to know well in the future, as she would frequently be called to sit in on these board meetings. Some of them she knew already; others received her cordially, if guardedly. It was a reaction that would seem mild in comparison to that of some of her fellow workers.

Words were kept to a minimum, the traditional "congratulations" and "good luck"s filtering in throughout the afternoon. But the sidelong glances, the wary looks, the speculative gazes aimed her way said far more potent things. It was, once again, her usual adversary, Brian Winstead, who put it all into words.

"So it paid off, Alanna," he taunted, not quite daring to fully enter her office, but merely propping himself up in the threshold.

Alanna knew just what was coming. Prepared, she presented her most composed veneer. "Hard work always pays off, Brian," she replied with deliberate innocence.

But the leer Brian sent her way contained no innocence. "And it's meant a lot of nights filled with hard work, hasn't it? Boy, I'm really amazed; I never dreamed that Wallace had the stamina."

Had the venom been saved for her alone Alanna might have preserved her patience. Listening to Brian insult Jake Wallace, however, tried her beyond control. Rising from her desk, she held herself with confidence as she approached the door.

"I think you should come in, Brian. We've got something to discuss and I'd rather not have all of WallMar listening."

Surprised, Brian stepped across the threshold and Alanna slammed the door, her only sign of frustration. To all other appearances she was utterly composed, a remarkable feat considering the challenge before her.

"Privacy suits me well." He shrugged, sauntering toward a chair opposite the desk and sinking into it. His smugness irritated her beyond belief. Determined to squelch it, she perched on the edge of the desk to give herself the advantage of height.

Arms crossed before her, she spoke with quiet disdain. "I'm getting very tired of your accusations, Brian. Are you that jealous?"

"Of Wallace?"

"Of me!" she snapped.

He seemed momentarily startled by her force. He had never seen her so livid. "I'm not jealous of you or anyone else."

"No? Then why the problem each time I receive a promotion?" Her smile was deceptively benign.

"No problem. Just stating the facts."

"And the 'facts,' in your view, are...?"

For the first time he grew defensive. "You know them. There's no need for me to repeat them."

"You've never been hesitant before," she goaded him, her gaze hardening quickly.

"I've never been specific-"

"You're right!" she interrupted, her temper flaring briefly before she forced herself to be calm. "You've always been vague, but very definitely suggestive. Now I'm asking for details. If you have accusations to make, back them up."

For long moments the battle was purely visual. Each stared at the other, refusing to back down. The stalemate was broken only by Brian's absurd declaration. "Everyone around here knows how you've gotten to this office, Alanna." His gaze fell to the gentle curve of her breasts and it was all she could do to keep from showing the nausea she felt, but she held herself firmly.

"Go on." When his eyes continued to linger she added, "Say it."

Slowly Brian looked up. "It's common knowledge that you're having an affair with the boss."

Alanna's hands balled into fists behind her. "Is it? Common knowledge? Based on what proof?"

"Aw, come on. Look at you, Alanna." He did, once more, and she felt positively raped. "You've got all the right curves in the right places. What man in his right mind wouldn't take what's offered?"

Her eyes narrowed angrily. "And how do you know exactly what has been offered, Brian?"

He sat back. "You've gotten the promotions, haven't you? That speaks for itself."

"It does not!" she exploded, unable to contain her fury. "Has it ever occurred to you that I've earned those promotions through hard work," her forefinger jabbed at the desk, "in this office? No," she shook her head, "that would be too threatening for you, wouldn't it? It would imply that I legitimately earned a promotion over you. A sexist accusation is more your style; that way you can overlook any possible professional failing within yourself!"

Brian spoke evenly. "A psychoanalyst, too?"

"It's common sense, Brian," she spat out. "Another thing you seem to be lacking." She paused to steady her breathing and lower her voice. "I've been willing to put up with your sly little hints in the past because they're so absurd that they're not worth bothering about. But when you came out and mentioned Jake Wallace's name just now you went too far."

"If the shoe fits..."

In that instant Alanna realized she would never get anywhere with Brian Winstead. Perhaps that was why she'd never said anything before, intuitively sensing the futility of it. Now he was simply an outlet for the tension that had built up over this latest promotion.

Straightening, she slowly rounded the desk, tempering her annoyance to ponder the next step. When she reached her chair she slid fluidly into it, leaned back and feigned utter calm. Through it all Brian sat with a maddeningly impassive expression on his face. He didn't even blink when she began to talk quietly.

"I have three things to say to you." Her gaze was filled with an anger clearly held back at some cost. "First, I don't want to hear anything else from you on this matter unless you plan to produce concrete proof of your accusations. Second, I don't ever again want to hear Jake Wallace's name muddied by your tongue. He's worked too hard, too honestly and too respectably to build WallMar Enterprises. He doesn't deserve your filth." She inhaled sharply. "And finally, if I do catch wind of anything further, you can very probably fear for your job. Despite what your ego might lead you to believe, you are not irreplaceable."

"Is that a threat?" Brian sat forward for the first time, more indignant than worried.

But Alanna was not about to give him the upper hand. She, too, sat forward, mirroring his movement. "It's a promise!"

"And you'd swing your weight with Wallace to see it through." It was not so much a question as a statement, verging on the very slander which had prompted their present confrontation. Again Alanna marvelled at his gall.

"Let's get this clear, Brian. Regardless of how you believe I got here, I am now the Executive Vice-President of WallMar. I won't need to swing any weight to send you packing. Based on job performance alone your position has been questionable at times. It's on the record, entered by hands other than mine. But you are familiar with the company and, when you want to, you can be quite effective. If, however, that effectiveness is hampered by thwarted ambition you might do better to seek employment elsewhere. As it is," she ventured, feeling suddenly drained, "if you continue with these unfounded accusations your co-workers may just begin to realize what a jealous and petty mind you have."

The object of her scathing denunciation slowly unfolded himself from his chair as though determined to be the one to end the audience. He cocked his head arrogantly. "People may just believe me." And with that he walked to the door and left.

Alone, Alanna settled back in her chair, took several deep calming breaths and proceeded to stew. The confrontation with Brian was but one small aspect of the situation. Now the force of the whole problem came down on her. Should she have accepted the promotion? Why had she accepted it, given the very serious reservations she had? Hadn't these past few minutes made real what she had feared?

But Alex's parting words of that morning echoed in her ears, her only source of courage. As he had stood at her door preparing to leave he'd taken her shoulders and held her firmly before him.

"Now, listen, Alanna." His gray eyes had reached her soul. "I want you to take it."

"Take what?" She'd feigned ignorance, preferring to bask in the pleasure she'd found in his arms such a short while earlier.

"The promotion, damn it!" he had growled impatiently. "You're more than capable of doing the work and you owe it to yourself to have the title."

She had shaken her head then, blond tangles falling about her shoulders. "I don't know...."

But his voice had lowered in the tone of challenge she recalled from that very first encounter she'd had with this man she now loved. "Can't stand the heat? Fire too bright? You can always retire, give it all up, become a full-time homemaker...."

His point had been well-taken. Business had been her whole life until Alex had entered it such a short time before. The precise nature of their future as a couple was still an enigma; her future at WallMar Enterprises was more fully sketched out. She realized that it wasn't Alex's dare that had goaded her into accepting the promotion. Rather, it was his underlying message. She had entered the corporate world in large part for the challenge it offered; to shy away from that challenge now, even considering the sordid aspect of one part of the drama, would be to turn her back on everything for which she'd worked so long and hard.

When Jake appeared at her office door at six and insisted on buying her a celebration drink she was more than happy to leave her work for another day and focus on the positive nature of this promotion. Alex had planned to pick her up at her own apartment for dinner at eight, so she had the time to spend with Jake, to whom she owed so much.

"I only wish Elaine could be here," she mused wistfully after Jake had toasted her future with the champagne he'd ordered as they sat together in a lounge not far from the office.

Jake's eyes sparkled with pleasure. "She's waiting for us at home. Drinks are just the beginning. There's a full-course meal on the agenda!"

Alanna was touched and excited. "How sweet of her, Jake! But she shouldn't have gone to the trouble!" Then she realized that Alex would be waiting, also. How nice it would be to bring him along, to have him meet these two people who had been so wonderful to her over the past few years!

Her face must have told the entire story, for Jake responded, "Alex should be there by the time we arrive."

The soft brown pools of her eyes warmed with pleasure. "But how did you...?"

"Elaine did all the arranging, Alanna." He brushed the details away with the gentle sweep of one pudgy hand. "You'll have to ask her. You were planning to see him tonight, weren't you?"

"You know I was." Her answer held her smiling resignation. "You're a pretty sharp fellow, Jake. Have I ever told you that before?"

"Save it for him, dear." The older man beamed at her. "He'll need all the bolstering he can get what with the fame you're finding!"

Alanna's blush was unbidden. "Alex Knight isn't about to be threatened by me. You'll see when you meet him."

What Jake and Elaine Wallace saw was a paragon of charm, wit and intelligence. Alex spent some time with Elaine before the others arrived, comfortably assisting her with the last-minute dinner preparations. When Alanna and Jake walked through the front door it was Alex who nonchalantly wheeled a glowing Elaine from the kitchen, Alex who mixed the first round of drinks, Alex who was fully composed and utterly triumphant in his conquest of the Wallaces.

Much later that night Alanna hugged him especially hard for the genuine and forthright warmth that he had shown her friends. "Thanks, Alex," she murmured, burying her face against the strong column of his neck.

"For what?" His arms curved about her slender body reflexively as they stood in her living room.

Alanna tipped her blond head back to survey the gentleness of the features that seemed so perfectly to depict manliness. "For being so wonderful to them, with them. Elaine is often sensitive with new people, but she seemed totally at ease with you."

Silver sparkles shimmered in his eyes. "You should know about my way with women...."

"But you were great with Jake, too!" she quickly went on. "I can't believe how freely he discussed WallMar with you. He's usually more guarded with a potential competitor."

One dark brow arched. "Perhaps he sees me as a future in-law of sorts." His gaze narrowed. "You know, I couldn't help but notice how he looked at you. He does see you as a daughter. And unless I'm way off base, I think he'd like to see you married."

Alanna scoffed at the suggestion though she knew it to be fact. "If that was the case why would he just have had me promoted?"

"Perhaps he agrees with me that you can do the job whether or not you're married."

Sensing that they were on the verge of a discussion she was still unready to tackle, Alanna moved out of Alex's arms and crossed the room to stand by the sofa. Her voice was very soft. "Please don't hassle me, Alex. I've had enough tension today without this. I already have too many second thoughts about taking the job; what I really need is your support." At the instant she said it she knew it to be the truth. Had Alex not been part of her life now she wondered whether she would have had the courage to accept the promotion she knew was so controversial among her co-workers. It had been this time with him that she had looked forward to all day; these moments made everything else worthwhile.

Alex's long strides brought him to her in an instant. His arms were iron bands, surging with strength as he held her. "Have I told you how proud I am of you?" he whispered, the warmth of his breath flowing over the skin of her cheek. "I have to confess, it was very easy to like Jake and Elaine, seeing how much they obviously adore you."

Touched by his words, she could only cling to him. This was the man she loved; his praise meant the world to her. It put things in perspective, made things special. He made things special when he was with her. What would she ever do if she lost him?

Her throat constricted around a half gasp as she understood, at last and with a sudden clarity, the full meaning of fear. It had been hard enough to assimilate the fact that she loved him. This new information-that she did, indeed, want him to be part of her life on a permanent basis-shocked her even more. Shocked her, frightened her, disconcerted her ... and left her at a loss for words.

As it happened there was no need for words at that moment, for Alex's firm lips took possession of her softer ones and expressed his pride in her in a far more sensual way than mere words had been able to do. And, as always, she was helpless against the heady assault, finding herself caught up with lightning speed in the swirl of desire. All thoughts of the future were forgotten in the mind-dazing heat of the moment. For Alanna, this-rather than the promotion she'd received that morning-was what she'd been waiting for. It brought her more spontaneous excitement, more instant gratification, than anything she had ever known. And she gave to it with every atom of her being, offering her own body, burning now with desire, for Alex's adoration. It was an exalted lovemaking they shared, one that was destined to repeat itself at random intervals throughout the night.

Morning brought the unpleasant necessity that Alex had to leave. He was off to the West Coast for three days.

"Must you?" she protested on impulse, well before she realized that she had no right to rebel.