Matt stared at the plump fullness of Cassandra’s lips, still moist from the peach syrup he’d accidentally-on-purpose dribbled, and fought the urge to throw her on the bed and have his way with her. What started out as a teasing prank on his part had developed into a sensual experience and it didn’t help that the warmth of her body between his thighs was making it difficult to think.

Her eyes had darkened to deep pools that hid her thoughts from him. But he didn’t need to see what she was thinking; it was obvious from her flushed cheeks and tensed body.

He got to her.

The rush of satisfaction was tempered by the fact the feeling was mutual. Which meant they had a problem.

Namely, a fiancé.

Suddenly, Matt wanted to know everything there was to know about this paragon of virtue. A man who trusted his bride-to-be so much he left her alone in Sin City while he was off doing whatever it was dentists did when they weren’t causing untold pain with fiendish delight.

“I don’t think you told me, where is your fiancé? Why isn’t he smashing down our doors in search of his beautiful bride?” He sat back and folded his arms.

She looked down and frowned. “To be, it’s bride-to-be, and he had a conference. It couldn’t be avoided.” She met his gaze, defiant. “It’s only a matter of time before he hears where I’ve gone. This is a mistake, Matt. You need to tell your grandmother the truth.”

She was right.

He didn’t want to though. If he did, all of this would be over. It was bad enough thinking about his abuela’s disappointment, but the thought of never seeing Cassandra again… It terrified him.

When did this annoying, opinionated, maddening woman come to mean so much to him? And what was he going to do about it?

Fight for her.

But how? He was a professional gambler, for crying-out-loud. Not much to recommend himself with there. They were too different. Cassandra craved stability, while he was a rambling man. The two didn’t mix.

But, that didn’t stop him from wanting her.

Matt gazed upon the cabin his great-grandfather had built, the furniture his grandfather had made, and the woman in the center of it all, and accepted his fate.

Impossible as it seemed, he’d gone and fallen in love with Cassandra Gardener. Now he just needed her to feel the same way before the week was over and he lost her forever. And in order to do that, he needed to convince her to continue their charade.

Even with the glow from the fireplace the room was getting dark as clouds moved in and the sun sank behind the hills. Grateful his family kept the cabin stocked, Matt lit the kerosene lantern sitting on the table, setting the wick down low before replacing a smoke-blackened glass shade. Cass’s nose had crinkled up rather adorably at the pungent aroma of the burning fuel and he had to smile.

“There’s been a lot of firsts for you since meeting me, huh?”

She gazed at him wryly. “You could say that, yes. Can’t say I’ve ever been thrown from a horse before, or gotten lost in the wilderness, either.”

“Hey. Who said we were lost?” He waved a hand at their surroundings. “I knew where we were going.” He grinned. “Just not the method of our arrival.”

She lifted her coffee to her lips and blew gently on the liquid. Matt’s gut tightened. She took a sip, grimaced at the strong taste, and set the mug down.

“What do we do now?”

Well, there was a leading question. He had all sorts of ideas. Most of them involved getting naked. An image of Cassandra on a bearskin rug in front of the fireplace, the glow highlighting her alabaster skin as she held out her hand and waited for him to join her, sprang immediately to mind.

He groaned under his breath and rose on the pretext of grabbing more coffee, when really, his jeans had grown too snug for him to remain in his seat.

“I don’t know about you,” he said, keeping his back to her until he could regain control of his body, “but I could use something to pass the time.”

He set his coffee down to search for the pack of cards he remembered seeing here before. Finding the familiar rectangular box, he turned and grinned at Cass.

“Strip poker anyone?”

* * *

Matt stared at her with a smile that was filled with a cross between mischievous little boy and carnal intent. Cass wasn’t sure whether to laugh or find a fan.

“I am not playing poker with you, strip or otherwise. That’s how we got into this mess to begin with.” The moment she said the words and the smile faded from his too-handsome face, Cass was sorry. She didn’t mean that the way it sounded. Well… yes, she did. But, now that she was here and had gotten to know Matt and his family it felt less like a mess and more like… fate.

Uncomfortable with her thoughts, she gestured to the table. “Why don’t you let me teach you a game instead?”

She was selfishly glad to see the humor return to his eyes.

“You’re going to teach me a card game?”

Cass pushed his chair, inviting him to sit. “C’mon, wise guy. You scared?”

Matt laughed. “Princess, you frighten me to death.” He joined her at the table, dropping the cards in front of her before taking his seat. “Okay, luck of the draw, show me what you’ve got.”

Now that the ball was in her alley, Cass had no idea what to do. The last time she’d played cards she’d been eight. What could she show Mr. Three Time State Champion that he hadn’t already seen before?

And then it came to her. She mixed the cards awkwardly, dealt out their hands, and held hers up in a fan.

“Do you have any fives?” she asked, peering at his dumbfounded face over the top of her cards.

Then a slow smile flirted with his lips.

“Go fish.”