Page 56 of Enchanted Hero
He pulled back so swiftly, his grip was the only anchor preventing her from falling. Her heart galloped, as she sucked in a breath of heavy night air. What had she done? Why had he stopped?
What was he doing to her?
“I’m sorry,” he said gravely.
It was bad enough they kissed, but for him to regret it so quickly? “This was a mistake.”
“No.”
What?
He stepped forward. “Kissing you wasn’t a mistake. Kissing you while you were under the influence of alcohol was. I want you fully aware of every single moment when we do this again.”
“Again?” she whispered.
He nodded solemnly. “I would never take advantage of a woman. Please accept my apologies.”
She shook her head curtly. “There’s no need to apologize. It’s not like I’m drunk, just lightheaded. But itwasa mistake.” She tried to move back, yet he didn’t let go. “We’re nothing more than business partners. You’re Alexander Stone, famous business mogul who’s friends with presidents and kings, and I run a small holistic company that sells candles and lotions. You go to state dinners at the White House and I go to spaghetti dinners at the local chamber of commerce. You have A-list actresses chasing after you, and I socialize at the local bowling league. We live in completely different worlds. I can’t afford to be your distraction while you play with your new company.”
His expression darkened. “You are not a distraction.”
“Yes, I am.” Once again, she tried to move back, and once again he stopped her. “I’ll admit you are attractive… very attractive.” She cleared her throat. “Yet I am not willing to serve as your local entertainment. Have you seen your picture all over the Internet?” A preliminary search had yielded thousands of results. “You’ve been linked with dozens of women.”
“I would never consider a woman entertainment,” he said darkly, “and just because I appear in a picture with a woman does not mean we are together. I’m always honest about what I can offer.”
“What about me?” she implored. “You act like we are already in a relationship.”
He looked at her… and said nothing.
Her heart stumbled.
She opened her mouth to respond, stopped as his attention scattered, clearly caught on something behind her.
His features tightened. “What in the world?”
She twisted and gasped.
A yacht bobbed in the water next to them, three levels high, sleek white and silver. At first glance all seemed normal… until a thick gray plume rose from the top deck.
“It’s on fire!” she cried as an orange glow illuminated wide windows. It spread rapidly, the thin plume transforming into thick billows in seconds. The scent of burning wood scorched her lungs, and the flames’ crackling overtook the roar of their own engine. Then…
A scream.
“We have to help!” Everleigh cried. She struggled in Alexander’s grip, surprising him enough to let go. She raced to the rail and had one foot on the bottom rung before he grabbed her.
“What are you doing?” he demanded.
“Swimming to the boat!” she shouted. “Someone is trapped.”
“You’re not leaving this ship.” He motioned to the water, swirling like black lava in the nighttime shadows. “You could drown. Even if you made it, how do you plan on getting aboard the boat?”
She squinted through the darkened world, pointed. “There’s a ladder!”
“And then what? You’ll pass out from smoke inhalation before you reach anyone.” He stared at the boat, took a deep breath, as if he’d come to a decision. Suddenly, he picked her up, grasping her legs and back in a single fluid movement.
“Put me down!” She struggled, but he paid her no heed as he raced toward the interior of the ship. “What are you doing? We have to help them!”
“I intend to.” He reached an opulent room decorated in sapphire and gold. “But I won’t be able to focus if I’m worried about you.” Swiftly but firmly, he deposited her on the bed, then turned.
