After he'd helped her to get out from the car, Alanis was disconcerted to find that he kept a casual arm around her waist as they walked to the door, which had just been opened by a pretty little maid complete in a black dress, and immaculate apron. “‘Bonjour, Monsieur McLean. Bonjour, Mademoiselle Roswell.’” (French for ‘Hello, Mr. McLean. Hello, Miss Roswell.’)           Bright black eyes flashed interestedly over Alanis's face before being demurely lowered as the girl stood aside for them to enter. “‘Bonjour, Josephine. Comment ça va? Ça va bien? Je suis si content de te revoir après si longtemps.’”  (French for ‘Hello, Josephine. How are things? All well? I’m so happy to see you after such long time.’), he said to the little maid in perfect French.           As they stepped through the

         She'd won? Really? Alanis followed Brody out into the vast hall and up the long, winding staircase to the first-floor bedrooms with a feeling of disbelief tempering the awe that the beautiful house inspired in her. She had the distinct feeling that very few people had ever won a battle of wills with Brody McLean, and she didn't trust him.“Your room.”          Brody stopped outside a pale oak door halfway down the landing and glanced down at her, his eyes hooded now and cold.“I'll come back for you in ten minutes when you've got your stuff together.”“There's no need,” Alanis said quickly. “You go down to the pool as you'd planned. I can find my way about and…”“Ten minutes, Alanis!”          He opened the door and stood aside for her to enter. After

          Alanis still kept her hot face buried, and it wasn't until she heard him walk away that she dared move.“Are you stupid or what?” she scolded herself faintly. “How could you? How could you have come so near to…?”          ‘To what?’ she heard her inner voice.          Probably just a kiss. He had probably only wanted a kiss. But then Alanis shook her head at her own gullibility. Men like Brody McLean didn't stop at a kiss in a situation like the one they had been in and she knew it.“You’re so stupid… So, so stupid… How could you have succumbed to such an obvious seduction attempt? What happened with John taught you nothing?” she whispered to herself blindly as burning humiliation set her whole body aflame.     &nbs

          She met his eyes then, forcing herself to begin the speech she had rehearsed the night through. Twenty-eight-year-old unattached businesswomen didn't usually bolt like startled rabbits if a member of the opposite sex kissed them, she knew that.          Alanis also knew that she could’ve put a stop to things going so far weeks ago, right back in Germany, but… But somehow, she couldn't send the right signals where Brody was concerned. So… she was partly to blame for this ridiculous situation, but it had to be dealt with right now, once and for all.“Brody, last night was a mistake, and I think we need to have a talk about it,” Alanis said quickly before Josephine or Madame Marais appeared on the scene. “If you feel it would be better if someone else from the agency took over now, you must know that I have no objection…”“Alanis

“What?”          Alanis stared at him, unable to believe she was hearing right.“And don't play dumb, it doesn't suit you at all. You know exactly what I’m talking about, Alanis. He knows about your past life, your old boyfriend, this John… What is Jacques Benoit to you? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Yet, I'm left standing there like a fool under the sun. Oh, to hell with it!”          Brody ground out the words through clenched teeth.“What does it matter anyway?”“But I don't know Jacques Benoit,” she said confusedly, utterly bewildered by the rage darkening the rugged features.“Exactly! He’s a stranger to you, a complete stranger, yet he knows more about you than I do. How do you think that made me feel?” Brody asked furiously, his eyes slits of silver.“I&h