by Rosemary Mcclease

Created on: May 20, 2008   Last Updated: June 20, 2011

A Lonesome Knight

"The trouble with you, Miss Victoria Harding, is you have no idea of the forces you are dealing with."

The way he emphasized her given name showed his disdain for the shortened form she preferred. Tori bit back a reply. What did it matter to him if she felt not at all like 'Victoria' and that the only people who called her that were her parents and their country club friends. His tone seemed to imply that her nickname was used to somehow make her more acceptable, more like the clients she worked with.

Taking a step forward and grasping her by the shoulders, he looked into her eyes. "You are messing with dynamite, and all it would take for me to show you is to get you alone some night."

"Don't bother," she replied, "I have already found one."

His brows drew together in curious confusion. What was she talking about. "What?" He asked angrily. "You are not making any sense."

"I am making perfect sense. You said you would find me a lonesome knight. I have already found one. You. Although you adamantly deny being lonesome, I can see it quite clearly."

With that pronouncement, she turned on her heel and headed for the stairs. Starting at fifteen for the the top step, she counted down until she reached the bottom. In the foyer, she stood for a moment and admitted to herself that counting back from fifteen to one had not abated her anger one bit. Despite her cool exterior, it still burned, hot and fierce within her. Had she not walked away, she knew her temper would have gotten the better of her and she would have said something to Connor she bitterly regretted. Taking several deep breaths, she headed for the coffee shop to sit and think. She had 30 minutes before her next session and she needed the time to calm down so she could do her job properly.

Connor was still standing where she had faced him down in the upstairs hallway his mouth open. He had watched the sassy sway of her hips as she walked away from him sure that she was smiling triumphantly at her put down. His body reacted to hers as it did with no other woman and he had no intention to carry out his threat. He knew instinctively that holding her, kissing her, pulling her deep into his embrace would be explosive, but the heart that was shattered by the dynamite reaction between them might very well be his. A heart that he was determined to protect at all costs.

A lonesome knight indeed. He scoffed at her description of him. His life was just as he liked it thank you very much. He had no need of a woman to complete him, no need of the aggravation of looking after a demanding partner who would enslave him and make him weak. Lonesome. Ha! He had his fill of women at work and was glad of the respite from them when he got home to his own place.

Checking his watch, he saw that there was only a short time before his first appointment. He turned and hurried toward his room. There was a lot to do before she got here. He picked up the phone and called down to reception to let them know he was in the Sapphire Room waiting. He checked on the client and was pleased to hear it was one of his regular ladies, that meant an easy couple of hours. As he checked the room and stepped under the stinging spray of the hot shower, he mentally reviewed the woman. Recalled the name of her children, and the details of her life so he could ask about them. His apparent interest in their lives had most of his clients sure that he cared about them. It was all part of his service.

He toweled himself dry and dressed quickly, but with care. Any minute the knock would sound on the door and he would be playing his part with yet another needy woman. He suppressed a sigh and put on his 'work' smile as the knock came and he called "Come in."

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