In Forbidden Territory by Shawna Delacorte

friends.” Mac extended a smile, but it looked more nervous than sincere.
    Ty bristled inside at the barely veiled insinuation that Mac was unhappy with how much time he and Angie had been spending together. He also didn’t like the reference Mac had made to his many lady friends as if he was a blatant womanizer. It sounded as if Mac didn’t want him to see Angie anymore. It was the moment he had been concerned about. Was he going to have to make a choice between his feelings for Angie and his personal and business relationship with Mac?Would he have to sacrifice his relationship with Angie in order to preserve the company?
    The dilemma presented itself as a double-edged sword. If he was forced to make a decision it wouldn’t matter which side he chose because either way he would lose something special and important to him. He took a calming breath. Maybe it was his own fears that were directing his thoughts. He didn’t want to jump to a wrong conclusion about what Mac really meant.
    He drew in another steadying breath, held it for a moment, then slowly exhaled. He leveled a serious look at Mac and carefully measured his words. “What exactly are you saying? Are you telling me you don’t want me to see Angie anymore? Have you even bothered to discuss this with her or are you making this decision for her according to what you think she should be doing?”
    â€œBe reasonable, Ty. Angie is a young and very impressionable girl. She’s not at all the type of woman you usually go out with, not experienced enough to travel in your league. You do have to admit that you have a rather casual attitude toward the women you date. I don’t believe Angie can handle that type of a…well…that type of a no-strings-attached casual situation.”
    Ty fought to keep the anger out of his voice. “Open your eyes and look around. Angie is not that little girl you lived with before you went away to college. She’s an intelligent, mature woman capable of making her own decisions. If she wants your advice, I’m sure she’ll ask you for it.”
    Mac’s expression turned very serious, his intense gaze almost becoming an adversarial glare. “I don’t want her to be an innocent pawn in one of your it’sonly fun and games interludes. I don’t want to see her get hurt.”
    Ty returned Mac’s pointed attitude with one of his own. “Are you telling me I’m not good enough to go out with your sister? Are you telling me I have to stop seeing her and if I don’t there will be consequences for me to deal with? I want to know exactly what you’re trying to say so that there won’t be any mistake or misunderstanding between us.”
    â€œI’m just saying that Angie is a young, inexperienced girl. Her emotions and feelings could be easily hurt, even if that wasn’t your intention. I…uh…” Mac glanced down, uneasiness and a hint of uncertainty covering his features. “I don’t know what has gone on between you and Angie, but I don’t want to see her hurt because you’ve made her think you’re offering her a relationship with a future when all you’re really offering her is a one-night stand. She’s already been hurt by one broken engagement.”
    Mac’s words caught Ty off guard. “Broken engagement? I didn’t know she’d been engaged.”
    â€œYes, she was engaged for a while to a man from Portland…Caufield Woodrow III.”
    â€œWhat happened?”
    â€œShe told me the engagement was off, but I don’t know what happened or why. I don’t know which one of them broke it off. She didn’t volunteer the information and I didn’t ask her. I don’t want her to be hurt again by something she thinks is real when it’s nothing more than another of your flings.”
    A whole new level of discomfort pushed at Ty. He wanted out of the conversation and