Matt woke up with his arm around a woman. He blinked, disorientated for a moment. And then it all came back to him.

Cassandra.

The bet.

His grandmother.

How had he allowed his life to become so complicated?

Cass muttered something in her sleep and rolled onto her back. He froze, his hand spanning her ribcage from waist to chest. He should probably move, give her some space, but he wasn’t going to. She felt too good in his arms, as though she belonged there. He squinted, wishing it wasn’t too dark to make out her features, although his mind painted a vivid picture anyway—one of a high, stubborn forehead and long curling lashes over sea-green eyes. A cute little nose, expressive mouth, and chin with just a hint of a cleft.

Her shirt had pulled taut under his fingers. He resisted the urge to loosen the snaps to make her more comfortable—and allow him access to all that velvet smooth skin—but it wasn’t easy. She tempted him. He loved to hear her snappy comebacks to his wisecracks, and the way her expressive eyes betrayed her emotions when she thought no one was looking.

Matt was no angel. He’d had his share of relationships, but somehow, with Cass, he felt like a teen drooling over his first crush. He’d been drawn to her from the moment he’d seen her standing up to the security guard at the casino. She had an inner fire impossible to ignore.

“Matt?” The sleepy, husky tone of her voice flowed through him like warm rain, heating him from the inside out.

“Yeah, it’s me,” he answered, tugging the covers under her chin.

“What time is it?” Her breath sighed over his skin like a kiss.

“Early. Go back to sleep,” he murmured, brushing the hair away from her brow.

“Hold me?” she whispered.

Forever.

Matt’s heartbeat stalled as he leaned over and did what he’d been dreaming of doing all week; he kissed her sweet, luscious mouth—and lost his soul.

Their lips touched and hers curved in a soft smile as though welcoming him home. Her slim arms wound around his neck holding him in place. No fear there, he wouldn’t move now if a bomb exploded. She still tasted faintly of the peaches they’d eaten for dinner. Matt groaned deep in his chest. He’d never be able to eat the honeyed fruit again without thinking of her.

His hands roamed, eager to discover her secrets. To make her ache for him the way he longed for her. Their legs twined, his hands restless, seeking. Matt cursed the hindrance of their clothes and how it stopped him from touching her silky skin. Undeterred, he slid his hand under her shirt and found the soft rise of her breast. She must have hung her bra to dry with her clothes. Her nipples were peaked and so responsive to his touch he had to taste them. He ripped open the snaps on the shirt, smiling at her gasp, and leaned down to sample a little slice of heaven.

God, she was sweet.He thanked the man above for the rain storm that left them stranded in this cabin.

Her back bowed as though offering him the gift of her body. One he was eager to accept. “You’re so damn beautiful,” he muttered, lips pressed to warm, female skin.

“Matt,” she breathed. “Matt, we have to stop.”

He heard, but her body was telling another story. Her hands glided up and down his back, sending shivers in their wake. And those long legs he’d admired all day in tight-fitting blue jeans were currently wrapped around his hips, holding him a willing captive as she rocked back and forth against his hardness. Soon, there would be no going back. His body was already screaming for release. And so was she, just not in so many words.

He lifted his head, tried to find her eyes in the dark. “You don’t want me to quit,” he rasped.

He felt more than saw her shake her head.

“No,” she said. “I don’t want you to stop. But that’s why we have to.” She pushed at his shoulders in a futile effort to get him to move. “I’m engaged, Matt. I can’t do this.”

Fuck.

He threw himself off her, landing with a whoosh on the eiderdown cover, and put a forearm over his eyes, struggling to regain control of his body. She touched his shoulder and he flinched away.

“Don’t. Just give me a minute, okay?”

She was silent, then he felt the mattress give as she rolled off the bed.

“I’ll make some coffee,” she said quietly and shuffled over to the stove to add another log.

Soon he could feel the warmth from the fire and saw the flickering shadows on the wall. He knew he was acting like a spoiled child who’d had their favorite toy taken away, and to an extent, that’s how he felt. But this was so much more than that. His heart ached with the loss of something special. They were right for each other, dammit. Why couldn’t she see that?

Frustrated, he sat up and glared at her across the room. Her back was stiff, her hair a tumbled mess, and still he wanted her.

“Why?” he asked.

She kept her back turned, pretending to fiddle with the coffee grounds, though he was almost sure she had no idea what she was doing.

“Why what?” she answered. “Why won’t I betray the man I’m supposed to marry for a one night fling?” She flung the empty scoop onto the counter and gripped the edge of the sink with white hands. Bowing her head, she whispered, “I can’t afford to fall for you.”

Her words caused a surge of hope. Matt strode to her side. He reached out and grasped her chin, turning her head so he could look into her eyes. She’d been crying. His chest one big ache, he tugged her into his arms.

“Come here, honey. I’m sorry. Men are dicks.”

She laughed at that, her shoulders shaking under his grasp.

“You won’t hear me arguing,” she mumbled. She looked up, tears sparkling like dew on her lashes. “I am sorry, Matt. I didn’t mean to lead you on.”

He kissed the tip of her red nose. “It was my fault more than yours. But I want you to know this thing between us…” He kissed her again, lingering on the lips this time, and groaned at her response. “It’s not a one night stand.”

Leaving her to think that one over, he turned away and took over the job of making the coffee.