Impasse

"He was obsessively wary of love and marriage
Slade Western was arrogant and overbearing, bent on having his own way. Passion seemed to be the only emotion he understood--that and possessiveness.
Lee had always wanted a home and a man willing to share a lifetime commitment, but Slade had always misunderstood her. Finally her dissatisfaction with being little more than a mistress to Slade created an impasse between them, and she left him....
Now, five years later, Slade might still not love her, but he desired her more than ever--enough, at least, to ruin her engagement to someone else!"