Page 51 of Enchanted Hero
“As much as possible. I enjoy the water.”
“Do you usually come by yourself?” She bit her lip. “I mean do you entertain women?” She flushed. “I mean do you entertain businesspeople?”
He leaned back, all handsome features and muscular power. She fought to keep still amidst the urge to move closer. She fanned her face with her hand.
An eyebrow raised, even as he smiled softly. “I usually come with friends or family. Sometimes I entertain large groups. But no…” He lowered his voice. “I have not entertained women here.”
“Oh,” she said most eloquently. “Not that it matters. I was just curious.” Yet somehow it did matter, even if it wouldn’t ultimately change anything. On social media and in the news, he’d been linked with more women than she could count.
That called for more wine, yet it seemed all but tasteless. She’d been fairly hungry when they arrived, but not so much now. She refilled her glass again, downed it quickly.
Bemusement danced in his expression. “You don’t usually drink more than a glass, do you?”
“Never.” She grinned, lifted the bottle. “Must be you.”
“Indeed.” He put down his mostly full glass. “So tell me, Miss Lacey, what do you do when you’re not searching for supernatural treasures?”
“Lots of things.” She tried to grab the railing,missed. She would have fallen if he hadn’t reached out and grasped her.
Desire.It was immediate and it was pure, in the arms of six-foot-three of solid muscle. She pressed flush against his hardness, clutching bulging biceps as he grasped her. Heat streaked between them and back again, as every cell demanded she move closer. In his fiery eyes, shemelted.
For moments he stared at her, caught in the same maelstrom. With a soft sigh, he moved back, allowing a sliver of space and an ocean of uncertainties between them. He lifted the wine from her hands. “I believe you’ve had enough.”
Her heart sped as she clung to him. She stumbled slightly, caught herself. “I just need to sit down for a minute.”
“Certainly.” He led her to the deck, with dozens of chairs, and an intimate loveseat that was his destination. “How are you feeling?”
“Wonderful.” She hiccupped. “You just make me so off–” She giggled. “Balanced.”
“Don’t worry.” He gave a crooked smile, and touched her back. “I’ll make sure you don’t get into any trouble.”
She made a very unladylike snort. “Youaretrouble. Did you plan this? Get me toasted so you could have your wicked way with me?” She clamped her mouth shut. Was it obvious she wanted him to have his wicked way with her?
Or better yet, she would have her wicked way with him.
He chuckled. “No, Miss Lacey, I did not get you drunk for any nefarious purpose. If you recall, I tried to cut you off after two.”
She frowned. So he didn’t want to have his wicked way with her.
He laughed again.
“Hey, cut it out.” She meant to give him a playful punch, but he caught her hand. All humor fled, replaced by unfettered desire. Yet as before, he edged away.
The alcohol was making her feel things she shouldn’t feel, want things that could never be hers. He apparently agreed, because when he spoke again his voice was businesslike and professional. “I want to talk about the other night.” He paused. “I know you were the woman in the video.”
“How?” She gasped. She’d meant to deny it, yet the word slipped out of her alcohol-laced lips.
“Don’t worry.” He held up a hand. “You didn’t confess anything I didn’t already know. I have video evidence.”
“But you told the men your security cameras were destroyed.” Why had he lied to the officials? She licked dry lips. “Do you know something about the supernatural being?”
“There is no supernatural being,” he said firmly. “Nevertheless, I don’t need scientists looking into my private business on a fruitless search for little green men. I do, however, know you were there.”
For a second, she paused. Yet hiding anything from Alexander Stone was a practice of the impossible. “It’s true,” she admitted. “It was the scariest moment of my life. For a moment, I thought I was going to… to…” She blinked watery eyes.
“It’s all right.” Alexander grazed her arm, an innocent touch that portrayed so much more. Support and strength flowed through the light contact. “I won’t ever let anything happen to you.”
She nodded, even though he could never keep such a promise. “I was right there, and the shape was undeniable. It was definitely a man.”
