A flighty, flirty female would scream, holler, giggle, and pummel helplessly at his back while her big strong man carted her off to his bedroom. She, however, was not that kind of female. Even the Old Josie wouldn't succumb to that, so the New Josie most definitely must resist.

So, what to do?

Appear perfectly calm and in complete control of the situation and of her hormones. And don't think about how she could feel the muscles rippling his back as she balanced herself. "So...are you taking me upstairs to have your way with me? Because if you are, you don't need to abduct me. Put me down and I'll race you up there." Whoops. How did that slip out of her mouth? Hadn't she already decided not to tango with him because she was having difficulty remembering why she hated him? So what was her mouth doing rattling off more sexual innuendoes? The stakes were too high for her now.

Evan stopped.

On the other hand, it was fun to tease him. It wasn't as if he'd actually take her up on it. Women had such power over men. Utter one suggestive comment and they were putty. Maybe she should let herself play the game, knowing that he'd never betray his commitment to his nasty brother.

"You want to go upstairs and..." He sounded too shocked to finish.

She decided to have no mercy. "I'm sorry, I didn't catch that last bit. What did you say?"

His arm flexed over the backs of her thighs. "I'm not interested in you. Sexually."

"Oh, please, Evan. Who are you kidding? We both know why you've got me over your shoulder. At the same time, I drive you crazy, you want me. It's okay to admit it." Oh, wonderful. There she went, getting herself all stoked up by talking about it. Why couldn't she control her thoughts about Evan? Why couldn't she stop from playing this dangerous game? Maybe because she really didn't want to. She never claimed to be anything other than an utter fool when it came to men.

He made some sound like he was being strangled, and she couldn't help but grin at his discomfort. And then she upped the stakes, at the same time she ordered her mouth to shut and be silent. "And how could I possibly want you when you have the same blood running through your veins that Buddy has? But strangely enough, I do. And you aren't even my type."

"What's your type?" His voice was gritty and snarly. Perfect. No doubt he was getting ready to fling her to the ground and run for his life. Which was good because his shoulder was really digging into her stomach, despite which, she was getting more turned on the longer she hung there in her undignified position so far off the ground. Dump me before I do something really stupid, like convince you to make love to me.

"I've always been attracted to weak, pathetic men, no doubt because I thought they needed me. I've been working really hard on breaking that cycle, and voila, I meet you. Arrogant, independent, and wealthy with absolutely no need for me at all, and I'm thwumped."

"Thwumped? What's that?" He shifted his weight, and she felt his shoulder muscles contract under her belly.

Nothing like making up a word to get a man's attention. "When I say I'm thwumped, it means I..." She needed to think of something good. "It means all I can think about is making love with you." There. That should send him packing. She shuddered, thinking about what would happen if it had the effect of breaking his last vestiges of resistance. There was no way she'd stop him if he decided to whisk her upstairs.

She felt him tense and she braced herself, her stomach quivering with nervous excitement. Upstairs or freedom? Which would he grant her? She wanted both so badly she felt like her mind had descended into addled disarray.

Then he spun away from the staircase and walked back toward the kitchen.

Good. She'd won. He wasn't going to take her upstairs and dump her in the shower to wash off the blood gushing from her ankle, only to have it descend into a session of passionate lovemaking in the shower. The pit in her stomach was definitely not disappointment because she didn't want him. It was merely the result of having rock hard muscles crushing all her internal organs for an extended period of time.

Evan carried her through the kitchen, pulled open the backdoor and walked outside.

"Um... Evan? Whatchya doing?" No need to sound panicked. "Are you going to make love to me on a carpet of pine needles?" Great, Josie. If she kept making suggestions like that, she was going to have an orgasm right where she was.

He made another strange sound, but didn't answer. Simply marched across the yard through a gate and nearly flung her onto a lounge chair. Well, he didn't exactly fling her. It was more of a caressing, careful toss. "Stay."

"I'm not a dog." They were by the pool. That held all sorts of interesting options. "Are we going skinny dipping?" She'd never been skinny dipping before. That sort of thing was far more adventurous than she was. But she wasn't feeling too resistant to the idea right now... Great. Evan had turned her into a sex fanatic and he wouldn't even participate. Jerk.

"Stop it." He walked to the other side of the pool enclosure, grabbed a hose and dragged it back across toward her. "I know you're just trying to get to me, but it won't work."

"You're going to hose me off? Like a horse?"

"Yes. Stick out your foot."

Josie did as commanded. "I feel so nurtured, having you spray off my gushing ankle."

"It's not gushing."

"Stings like heck though. You think you could dump some alcohol on those scratches afterwards and try to make me pass out from the pain? That would sure be fun." Okay, so maybe she was feeling a little bit spurned and was being a trifle sarcastic as a result. Being a sarcastic bitch would be certain to turn the tide in her favor. Not.

Evan turned the hose away and peered at her ankle. "Looks clean."

Josie bent forward and inspected her leg. "It's such a treat to have a man pamper me instead of me trying to take care of the man."

He stood up, glaring at her. "Don't get used to it. I'm just keeping you alive until Buddy returns."

Okay. That was it. She was completely sick of the Buddy angle. She jumped to her feet, grabbed the hose from Evan's hand, kinked it, then aimed it at his face, like a loaded gun with her finger on the trigger. "Take it back, Dorsett."

"Take what back?"

"This matchmaking nonsense about your psychotic brother and me."

"He loves you. It's my job to ensure a happy ending."

Josie lifted the hose higher, unkinking it enough to let a tiny trickle emerge. "I have news for you, Bucko. In this society, the fact that one party likes another party doesn't guarantee a happy ending. I suggest you accept reality and go buy a skunk for your brother to sleep with at night. That's a better fit for him anyway."

Evan's grin faded. "I'm beginning to tire of you insulting my kin."

"And I'm way tired of you telling me I belong with Buddy."

"I'm wearing you down."

"No, you're just annoying me."

"You belong with Buddy."

"I belong with no man."

He raised a cocky eyebrow. "I find that hard to believe."

"Why? Because I'm a woman and therefore I must need a man?" She didn't let him answer. "For your information, I have transferred my nurturing proclivities to Max, so no longer will I need a man to take care of. I have Zeus to beat me down, Max to love me. I can have interesting conversations with myself. What do I need a man for?"

"Sex."

Sex.

The word hung in the air, getting larger and larger, hovering like an invisible blimp above their heads.

"Why are you thinking about sex right now?"

Evan shrugged. "I'm a guy. I always think about sex."

"I don't believe you."

"What would you believe?"

"That you're thinking about sex because the sight of me only a few feet from you is too much for you to resist. Because you haven't stopped thinking about our kiss. I know the shower incident has been interfering with my concentration constantly." Heat crept up her neck, but she didn't look away. She simply couldn't stop herself from being attracted to him. It was because he was strong and tough, the protector of the innocent, yet a dog snuggler. He could take care of her.

And she liked that.

Wanted it.

Had to have a taste of that.

And damn it, if she ended up with a broken heart, she didn't care. How much more broken could it get? All she knew was that she wanted him, and she couldn't bring herself to resist anymore, regardless of the fact that she also liked him. Not that he didn't still annoy her, because he did. "You want me to run to Buddy, just so you'll stop being tempted by me."

"No."

"Prove it."

He blinked. "What?"

"Prove you don't want me."

"How?"

"Kiss me and walk away."

"Already did that."

"Yes, but I was trying to drive you away."

He lifted a brow. "Why?"

"Because I didn't want to want you."

"And now?"

"I still don't want to want you."

"Then what's the difference?"

She took a deep breath. "I've realized that you have a couple redeeming qualities."

"I find that hard to believe."

"That you have redeeming qualities, or that I've noticed them?"

"I have plenty of redeeming qualities."

"Well, I don't know about plenty, but I've noticed two, and that's pretty much enough to trample roughshod over all my inherent dislike and distrust of you. I mean, it's still there, but your redeeming qualities combined with your absolutely unfair sex appeal make me utterly unable to fight it anymore." Phew. That was a mouthful. Liberating, though. Exhilarating. Maybe it was because, for the first time, she was attracted to a man who didn't want anything from her, who didn't need anything from her, to whom she didn't have anything to offer that he didn't already have. All she had was herself.

It was amazing. She took a deep breath, watching Evan's eyes trail over her body, as if he were sucking her image into his brain.

Stop resisting, Evan. Let's just see what it's like.

Evan narrowed his eyes. "You belong with Buddy."

"You have got to be kidding." Disgust positively dripped from her words, and he didn't even flinch.

"It doesn't matter what I want. You and Buddy..."

She unkinked the hose and let the water blast him in the face.

"Hey!" Evan dove for the hose, his face averted from the spray, but Josie sidestepped him easily, using her thumb to direct more water at the side of his head as he lunged for her.

"You stop bringing up Buddy and I'll relinquish my weapon." She yanked the hose out of his grasp as he came after her again, his hair plastered to his head, water running down his chest in rivulets that were oh-so-tempting. Kinda like an X-rated Vegas show. Hmm...interesting.

He didn't even answer her, just grabbed the end of the hose, giving it a solid yank that hauled her across the patio straight at him.

She shot the hose in his face as she careened toward him, but this time he didn't avert his head. Simply stared through the water at her...oh...she was in trouble now.

Excitement trilled through her as he dragged the hose toward him...hand over hand along the green plastic...she could release the nozzle and run...but not today.

Today she was going to stay and play the game.

Closer and closer he pulled her, never flinching as she continued the onslaught of water at his face. His running pants clung to his muscles, showing every curve and bulge of his body. Chiseled and masculine. So much stronger than her. So much more powerful. He could pick her up and snap her in half if he wanted to. A man she couldn't dominate. A man with more strength than she, both physically and emotionally.

Why had she waited her whole life to notice what a man like this could do to her?

His hand closed over hers, turned the nozzle away from his face, toward her. She grinned and fought, but it was hopeless. She had no chance against him...and she loved it.

With no effort, he turned the nozzle onto her, drenching her instantly with freezing water. Who would want to be an Amazon woman who would dominate her men? No, thanks. She grinned at Evan through the spray still splashing her.

"What are you laughing at? You lost." But he was grinning too.

"That's why I'm laughing. I never realized how fun it was to lose."

"Being sprayed is fun?" As if to reinforce his point, he turned the hose over the rest of her body, thoroughly drenching her. "Aren't you cold? Wet? Humiliated?"

"Absolutely," she said cheerfully, tilting her head and closing her eyes, holding her arms out as if she was worshipping the water gods. "Biggest turn-on of my life."

"Are you insane?" He let the stream of water trail down from her chest toward her hips.

"I wouldn't contest the label, but is that so bad?" She lifted her head and opened her eyes, startled by the blazing heat emanating from Evan's. Holy cow. The man looked ready to tear her clothes right off. Excitement surged through her. "So, I've just discovered that I like a man who is tough but tender. Who would've guessed?"

The water continued to batter her body, but it didn't cool her off. If she looked down, she knew she'd see steam rising off her, as the cold water met the heat from her core.

This was the moment.

Her moment.

Their moment.

She could see it in Evan's eyes.

He'd forgotten his resolve to protect her for his brother. He was thinking about her in the same way she was thinking about him.

There was no way on earth she had the willpower to resist the opportunity.

Josie reached up and clasped the nozzle of the hose, her hand on top of his. She directed it away from her face, so it thudded on the wet patio.

Evan didn't resist, and she felt his gaze on her body, no doubt seeing her clothes clinging to her in the same sexy fashion his were clinging to him.

She caught her breath and laid her hand on his chest.

He didn't stop her.

And she knew he wasn't going to.

A man as strong as Evan was defenseless to her touch. Never had the upper hand felt so exhilarating.

It was one thing to dominate a weak man. It was destructive and boring. But to reel in a man like Evan, who was like an ancient warrior? It was unbelievable. And it was going to happen.

She lifted her face to his, started to stand on her tiptoes...then Evan grabbed her around the waist, whisked her off the ground, and crushed her against him.

God, this was going to be good.

She was smashed against his body, could feel his heart pounding against her chest, so powerful it shook her body. His lips dove for hers, taking them with an authority she should have the good sense to resist...but she didn't want to. She loved it, loved having his hands all over her body, like he owned her, like he wanted her and was determined to have her.

He wanted her every bit as much as she wanted him.

Quivers raced through her body and she clung to him, meeting his kisses with as much of her own authority as she could muster. As strong as he was, she was his equal, at the same time she had no chance against his strength if he ever turned it against her. But she knew she was safe. Even as his hands closed over her breasts, even as his lips trailed down her neck, she could utter a peep and he'd stop.

The big, strong, independent man would stop at a whisper. She was so powerful. Yet helpless in his arms. She wouldn't stop him if her life depended on it.

She wrapped her arms around his neck as he carried her across the patio. Where were they going? It didn't matter. She was in his arms, he was kissing her as if she was the oxygen that kept him alive, and she didn't want to ever be anywhere else.

He lowered her onto something moldable, not breaking the kiss long enough for her to look. He stretched her out on her back with the force of his presence and his kiss.

Suddenly, his whole weight landed on her and her breath was crushed out of her body. "Ump."

"Sorry," he grunted. "My knee slipped through the straps."

"Straps?" She lifted her head enough to look at what they were on. A pool lounge chair, the seat of which were horizontal rubber straps. Knees and elbows would go between the straps if they weren't careful. "This should be fun."

He didn't answer, already preoccupied with nibbling on her neck.

Straps, shmaps. Who cared if they fell through? She arched her back, tipped her head back to provide easy access as his hands tugged at the bottom of her shirt. She tensed, waiting for the feel of his hands on her bare skin.

But first she heard the tearing of fabric and a muttered curse from Evan. "Sorry."

She propped herself up on her elbow to inspect the damage. "I've never had a man want me so much he tore my clothes."

He grinned, holding up a piece of fabric. "Your clothes are so wet that they're sticking to you. Your jeans are like a chastity belt. I couldn't get your shirt out."

"It's so sexy that you're strong enough to tear my clothes. Do it again." Why not? Might as well up the ante and immerse herself in the strength and power of the man sitting on her.

Evan's face darkened. "You want me to tear your clothes?"

"Whatever it takes to get them off." She'd never felt like this before. Desperate for his touch, his kiss, his nearness. Why was he so slow? Treating her as if she were a delicate flower. "They're just clothes." She trailed her fingers over his shoulders, down his arms, and kissed his chest. "I swear, you have the sexiest body I've ever seen." Then she looked up. "Sorry. I'm not usually that blunt." Or that turned on, but that was a different story.

"I like your bluntness." He slipped his hands under her shirt and tugged it over her head, seeming to have mastered the wet-material-sticking-to-wet-skin problem. Or maybe he was so male and so suave that he could be seductive doing anything.

Didn't matter anyway.

She was smoldering lava regardless.

"I didn't realize there was anything you liked about me." The words barely made it to the surface, nearly smothered by her gasp as he undid her bra and cradled her breasts in his hands.

Heaven. Bliss. There were no other words to describe the sensations racing through her body.

His lips found hers again, and she threw her arms around him, pulling him as close as she could, basking in the feel of her body pressed up against his bare skin. His fingers skimmed her ribs, tickled her skin, and sent waves of tremors cascading through her body.

She couldn't wait anymore.

Her body trembling, she dropped her hands to his waist and untied his running pants. She'd barely even gotten her fingers on the drawstring when she felt him fumbling with her zipper. It was like they were in a frenzy, driven by some insatiable need for each other that simply couldn't be satisfied fast enough.

Evan had her pants unfastened before she'd even gotten her fingers to work. He tugged on the wet denim.

Nothing.

"They're stuck."

"Tear them." She wiggled her hips and tried to free herself.

"Tear wet denim?"

"Yes!" She grabbed her waistband and yanked, but gained only a fraction of an inch. Never had those extra fifteen pounds she'd gained since college been so annoying. "Okay, so maybe I shouldn't have skimped on updating my wardrobe."

Evan grinned. "I rather like how your clothes fit you."

"Even now?"

"Maybe not so much." He renewed his focus on her jeans, his face landing in her belly when his knee went through the straps of the chair again.

"I love when you bury your face in my stomach," she said.

"Really? I can do it on purpose too." He extricated his knee from the chair and settled himself carefully on the straps.

"Go for it."

The jeans struggle faded for a moment while he proved his immense talents when it came to his mouth and her body. She had melted into the lounge chair by the time he got to the waistband of her ornery jeans, an obstacle which caused a very unwelcome halt to his ministrations.

"Dumb jeans." Josie laid back on the chair, grabbed her waistband and pushed, wiggling her hips and trying every trick she could think of to get the heavy, wet material off. Evan joined her, but the things were like glue. It was like she'd spray-glued them to her body. "Argh!"

Evan rolled off her to his feet.

"You aren't giving up, are you?" She tried to prop herself up on her elbows, only to have her left one slip through and crash to the patio below, sending shooting pain up her shoulder.

"That chair is a death trap. Come on." He grabbed her hands and pulled her to her feet. "I can't wait any longer."

He grabbed the jeans and gave them a determined yank. With gravity now working with them and the twisted angles of her body eliminated, Evan was finally victorious. His pants, much looser than hers, followed in short order, giving her a second view of a truly magnificent specimen.

Only this time, it was different. In the shower, she hadn't been supposed to look. But now...

He grabbed her, hauled her up against him, and lifted her to his chest. "No chair."

"No argument." She wrapped her legs around his waist, clung to his shoulders and let him support her...guide her...direct her... "Oh, wow."

Holding her as if she weighed no more than a feather, an impressive feat given her actual weight, he kissed her lips, her neck, her collar bone, whispering her name as if it were the password to heaven. She shuddered, her body trembling as he drove deeper into her, with a strength and a passion she'd never felt before.

This was the man she'd been looking for her whole life.

She needed his strength, his tenderness, his independence.

Nothing less would ever do again.

And when the heavens shattered around her, she felt him shudder and groan, holding her to him as if she were the biggest treasure he'd ever touched, fragile and beautiful.

He made her feel beautiful.

And treasured.

She could fall in love with this man.

No doubt about that.