Thankful to be out in the cool evening air, Erin heaved a sigh of relief. Much as she tried to ignore Ethan, the man still managed to unsettle her. She resolutely pushed thoughts of him out of her mind and turned to Todd.

Todd gave her an uncertain look. “You know what, forget this. I'll drive you home, and then go to the hospital. There should be enough time.”

“Don't be silly. There's life to be saved and all that.” Erin laid a comforting hand on his arm. “Go on, I'll be fine.”

“I can get you home.”

Erin froze at the voice behind her.

She whirled around, heart plummeting when she found Ethan and his companion standing behind them and she stifled a groan.

What have I done to deserve this? She wondered, wishing the day would just end.

She really couldn't deal with Ethan for the fourth time in one day for fear her already frazzled nerves would snap. Damn the man, couldn't he leave her alone? And how come he was even standing here? When she'd passed his table, there had been no signs that dinner was even over and yet, here he was, shamelessly eavesdropping on her conversation.

“What?” Todd asked, looking startled at the intrusion.

Ethan shrugged broad shoulders, setting off a chain reaction of rippling muscles beneath his beige jacket. “I can drop Erin off home, there's no need to call a cab.”

“No.” She forced out between clenched teeth, aiming a glare at Ethan. His date didn't look too pleased at the suggestion either, judging from the scowl that crossed her face. “I'll be much more comfortable in a cab. Thank you for the offer, but it's not necessary.”

The corners of Ethan's mouth lifted in a grin, eyes glinting in amusement and Erin could clearly see the challenge in them. “Don't be childish Erin. My apartment is only a few blocks from your hotel. Besides, you may have to wait a whole hour before a cab arrives and you could be home in that time.”

He lived close to The Gosling? This was news to Erin who up until now hadn't the faintest idea where the slimy devil resided- not that she cared to know anyway. And how dare he accuse her of being childish? She opened her mouth to denounce him soundly but was cut short when Todd's pager went off again.

“Aw hell.” Todd raked a hand through his hair and looked at Erin in exasperation, clearly eager to be off. “I really need to leave now Erin, I'm sorry. Look, to be honest, I'd feel safer if you went with him. That way I can rest easy knowing you're safe.”

I’ll be safer in a taxi. Erin thought, furious at how the situation was slipping out of her control and why was Todd so eager to throw her to the wolf when he was well aware of the tension simmering between them all evening?

She shot him an angry look but he'd already turned away to take his keys from the valet who'd just pulled up with the BMW and she had to be content with glaring at his back.

“Scared I'll maul you Sweetcheeks?” Ethan's voice sounded so close to her ear that she jumped, startled to find him so close without being aware he'd moved.

She took a step back, eager to put a safe distance between them, her pulse racing at the proximity.

“Why are you so interested in my wellbeing of a sudden?” Erin muttered, deliberately avoiding an answer to his question. “I thought your life mission was to seek my downfall.”

He grinned, lifting a hand to brush away a tendril of hair from her face, the grin turning to a chuckle when Erin flinched. He dropped his hand and raised an eyebrow. “Perhaps, perhaps not.”

“What's that supposed to mean?”

“Erin?” Todd came up beside her. “You'll ride with him right?”

“Yes, she will.” Ethan cut in before Erin could form a single word. He held out a hand towards Todd. “I don't think we've been formally introduced. I'm Ethan Lachlan.”

Todd's eyebrows rose in surprise and he whistled, taking the offered hand in a firm handshake. “Ethan Lachlan? The Ethan Lachlan, of Holbourn Enterprises?”

“’fraid so.” Ethan's voice held no hint of modesty and Erin sighed. Trust men to bond in the most impossible of situations. She cast a sympathetic look at his date, the poor woman looked just as frustrated as she felt.

“It's a pleasure to meet you.” Todd was saying, still looking impressed. “Your firm was featured in The Times last month, very impressive I must say. I'm Doctor Todd Haskell by the way.”

“Don't you have to be on your way Todd?” Erin cut in, fed up with the entire situation.

“Yeah.” He leaned down to place a chaste kiss on her cheeks then straightened. “May I call you later tonight when things have quietened down at the hospital?”

“Sure. Good night.”

He nodded at Ethan and Imogen in farewell then jumped into his car.

Erin sighed as the BMW raced away in a cloud of exhaust fumes and turned to Ethan.

“Well, I'll be bidding you good night too.” She made to walk away, but his arm shot out and grabbed her arm.

“Where do you think you're going?” His tone was hard, mouth set in a determined line. “I said I would take you home and I am a man of my word.”

Erin wrenched her arm from his grasp and glared at him. “I made no such promise. You were the one who assumed I'd want to be in the same vehicle with you for even a short time. Well, you're mistaken because I would rather walk home in these heels before I set foot in your car.”

A muscle worked in his jaw, clearly displeased at being thwarted. “Don't tempt me woman.” He growled, taking a menacing step towards Erin. “I'm not adverse to hurling your behind into the car if I have to.”

“Don’t you dare threaten me!” She blazed at him, the fragile dam she'd built around her temper bursting at his words. Their argument was rapidly garnering an audience- passersby stopping, diners leaving and entering the restaurant, but for once, Erin didn't care. “I'm not afraid of you Ethan Lachlan, and I swear, if you so much as lay a hand on me, I'll sue your ass till doomsday.”

*****

A wave of anger surged through Ethan as he stared at the annoying little minx. In his thirty-four years and encounters with women of every kind, he had never come so close to physically man-handling one as much as he wanted to do to Erin every time they met. Even more exasperating was how little control he had over his body when it came to this brunette.

For fucks sake, he'd been with women far lovelier and certainly better behaved, but none of them had eroded his self control or ignited his desire the way Erin did. He was supposed to despise her, bring about her complete and utter humiliation and yet, here he was, offering to give her a lift and having to watch her throw his offer back in his face.

Foolish woman.

A valet handed him his car keys, and Ethan took it without taking his eyes off Erin. Even acting like a spoiled little brat, she still looked utterly stunning and his groin responded, much to his disgust.

He gritted his teeth and moved closer, each step slow and intimidating and he had the satisfaction of seeing her eyes widen in alarm.

“Get – in – the – damn – car.” He growled, enunciating each word slowly and deliberately. He flexed his shoulder muscles, prepared to carry out his threat if she resisted again.

Ethan watched as she hesitated, apparently alarmed at the way things were going. A gamut of emotions ran through her features as she bit her lip and considered her options. He knew the exact moment she made her decision, the defeated slump of her bare shoulders told him she was going to concede to his demand.

“Fine then.” she snapped. “I'll get in.”

She stalked to the black Mercedes, wrenching the passenger door open and slid in, making sure to slam the door shut with enough force to rattle the windows. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared straight ahead, jaw clenched in fury, the very act causing a smile on Ethan's face. She looked like a child who'd just been denied a lollipop, he observed in amusement.

Ethan crossed to the driver's side and opened the door, just as Imogen stepped up to lay a restraining hand on his arm.

Imogen cleared her throat, non too pleased at the way things were going. “Will you come to my place tonight?” She pouted up at him, her expression promising pleasures he no longer had a need of.

He shook off her arm. “You should go home Imogen, I'll call you tomorrow.”

She gasped, stung at his words and stared at him for a few seconds then whirled around, stomping off towards her own car. Ethan slid into his seat, grinning when Erin scooted to the very edge of her seat to avoid any contact, though he noticed the slight hitch of her breath in sexual awakening.

“You really are a despicable man Ethan.” Erin said, glaring at him. “You talk about being a man of your word and yet, you just dismissed your date like she meant nothing to you. How two –faced.”

“It was a business dinner. She means nothing to me.” He shrugged and pulled out into the street.

He could feel her eyes searing holes in the fabric of his suit jacket.

“Are you serious? 'She' is a human being for your information, and given the way you were practically making love to her with your eyes at dinner, I'd say she means something.”

“Were you watching me Sweetcheeks?”

“No.” The denial came swiftly, though the tinge of heightened color in her cheeks told him otherwise. “In case you failed to notice, I had a date of my own.”

“Oh I noticed. He must not be a very good lover though.”

“I beg your pardon?”

He pulled up at a red light and turned to look at her. “The chemistry between the both of you was wrong. You barely touched him all evening and you couldn't keep your eyes off me. If he satisfied you in bed, you would be unable to keep your eyes and hands off him.”

Her gasp of outrage made him grin even wider. “Why – you…” She spluttered, struggling to find the right insult to throw at him.

But Ethan did not give her time to think. He leaned over and kissed her.

His lips were firm but supple and she could taste the tangy remnants of the wine he’d been drinking earlier. His tongue brushed her closed lips, gently coaxing until she opened up, tongue slipping into her mouth, exploring the sweet taste of her.

Erin melted into the kiss, her hand sliding into his incredibly soft hair to pull him closer.

As quickly as it began, the kiss ended, a moan slipped from her when he pulled back. Dazed, she stared up at him, lips tingling.

Ethan grinned. “See what I mean by chemistry?”

Erin flushed, hatred and humiliation replacing the desire of only a minute ago.

“You bastard.” She hissed. “You played me.”

The light turned green and Ethan returned his attention to the road.

“I was merely proving a point.” He feigned a nonchalant attitude, while his body raged with the need to have her, to complete the seduction and assuage the need tormenting him right this moment. “There has to be chemistry between a man and a woman for a relationship to work, and there is none between you and the good doctor.”

“I hate you.” She declared.

“No, you don't.” He countered. “Don't play childish games Erin, it doesn't suit you.”

She said nothing, merely stared ahead in stony silence, until he pulled into the hotel. Then she gathered her purse and bolted without a word as though there were wild dogs after her, not sparing him another glance.

Ethan sighed, frustrated and annoyed.

Damn it. He pulled back into traffic and continued on his way to his apartment, his erection still raging hard. He couldn’t believe he had turned down a chance to be with a willing woman simply because Erin had flashed those eyes at him.

I’m such a damn fool. He could have been in bed with Imogen tonight. Instead, he had a date with his hand and a fucking shower.