He still affect me!

His deep, velvet voice trickled over her nerve endings like dark gold honey, soothing and seducing. 'Yes. Yes, I am', she stammered.

He really was a hunk of a man and the years since they had last met had been kind to him. If anything he was more attractive than she remembered age giving character to his stunningly handsome face, with perfectly carved features, high cheekbones and a sensually curved mouth. As for his eyes deep brown and as dark as sin with thick black curling lashes. The kind of eyes that would melt any female's heart and the slightly long silky black hair would tempt any female's fingers. Liza was no exception ; she wasn't even aware she was starting and she never saw the brief glitter of triumph in his gorgeous eyes.

Nick Menendez's physical presence was almost hypnotic ; he excluded a lethal charm, an aura of potent masculine sexuality that called out to every atom of femininity in a woman. On a scale of one to ten, he had to be a twenty. Liza almost groaned out loud as all her deeply buried teen - age fantastics rose up to haunt her.

'I' m amazed. ' His eyes twinkled. ' A lovely girl like you, alone! But grateful. ' Her blue eyes widened to their fullest extent on his darkly attractive face at his teasing compliment.' So, unless you would like another coffee, how about joining me in the Jeep? ' A strong hand gestured to where the vehicle was illegally parked on the pavement. 'Before some official tows it away. I have to inspect the building site but after that I am at your disposal.'

If only! A vivid image of a naked Nick at her disposal filled her head and ashamed of her sexy thoughts, she answered hastily. 'I was going to return to my hotel and laze around the pool.' She was slightly wary of this new, charming Nick. Over the years she'd worked hard to block out any sign of emotion where this man was concerned, and she wasn't sure she liked the way he cute through her defences like a knife through butter with just a smile.

He had been scathing in his contempt of her, brutally so, in the past. So why the turn - around, the flattering comments now? she wondered. Nick was a powerful, dynamic man; add wealth and looks, and it wasn't surprising he was so arrogantly sure of himself. But surely he must be married by now with a handful of children, yet her mother had never mentioned it. 'And maybe your wife, Sophia, would object.' Fool, fool, she castigated herself as soon as the words had left her mouth.

Hooded eyes narrowed intently on her slightly pink face. Nick was a man of considerable expertise where the female sex was concerned, and despite her cautions reserve he sensed an underlying attraction. She wanted him, and the question on his material state confirmed it. 'Sophia and I parted years ago. I have no wife, no ties, and I like it that way. Now, no more argument.' Nick rose to his feet and held out his hand. 'Come on, you know you want to,' he opined with sheer masculine arrogance and a wicked grin. 'I have reliably informed I am a charming companion. Surely you would not want to disappoint me and deny my fragile ego.'

Liza grinned back; she couldn't help it. 'That would be an impossiblity,' she mocked. 'But surely a man in your position must have better things to do than spend a day sightseeing with me,' and she nearly added of all people. Memories of the past made her super- cautious ; Nick had made his dislike of her very plain, and she was still not convinced of his sincerity now.

' Are you still angry with me? ' Shrewd dark eyes bored down into hers guessing the reason for her hesitation. 'For lecturing you as a child?'

Lecturing her! So that was how little he thought of crushing her burgeoning sexuality under a diatribe of insults and a savage kiss and grope. But with the benefit of maturity Liza wondered if maybe he was right, and she had made too much of what had happened. 'No, of course not' she denied. If he could be so casual about their fight, then so could she, and putting her hand in his, she allowed him to pull her to her feet. Liza was tall at five feet nine. But Nick towered over her, and she had to tilt her head back to look at him. 'Why should I be?' she asked, and suddenly she was conscious of the nearness of his great, virile physique, but was incapable of moving away.

'No reason at all,' Nick drawled throatily, pinning her with a smouldering glance, and after a provocative pause added, 'not now.' He lifted her hand to rest on his broad chest, and she felt the heat of his flesh though his shirt and involuntarily she shivered. 'What is not acceptable in a girl of sixteen does not apply to the beautiful woman you have become,' he declared huskily and gazed at her, his eyes smouldering with an explicit sensual promise.