Page 15 of The Aries Alliance
“Good to know.”
“May I come in?” Without waiting for me to answer, Scarlett gently pushed me aside and crossed the threshold.
She half turned to me with a mischievous smile.
From her softened voice to the glow of her skin that peeked beneath her dress like a tempting chocolate bar, Scarlett touchedeverything that made me a man. I whistled at her under my breath.
“You’re beautiful.” I memorized the features of her oval face, particularly her plump, kissable lips that turned upward when I complimented her again.
“Who are you with all this praise, and what did you do with Warrick Redmond?”
I closed the distance between us and lifted the back of her hand to my mouth for a barely-there kiss.
“War, sweetheart.”
I expected her to come back with something punchy, but instead, she released my hand and scanned the room, nodding her head before returning her gaze toward me.
“This is a nice place.”
“I agree. Very intimate and demure.”
“A woman with good sense wouldn’t have been so eager to follow your instructions, especially after you treated her so poorly in your office.” Scarlett’s smoky eyes crinkled at the corners as she pursed her lips.
“Who said I like women with good sense?”
Scarlett sucked in her breath as if she wanted to laugh but held it in.
“You can laugh.” I teased her, wanting her to show me her playful side.
“Hardy har har, Mr. Redmond.” Sarcasm oozed from her pores, making me wonder if, underneath her composed demeanor, she could be as goofy as I was.
“Mr. Redmond is at EFU. War doesn’t do business as usual.”
“What does that mean?”
“Think shades of gray, business of a different nature, one I think you will enjoy, given your passion for equity.”
“I’m intrigued.” Scarlett faced me and boldly brushed her hand down my shirt, causing my breath to catch from the gentleness of her touch.
Her pheromones popped off her body like fireworks, capturing me in a trance I didn’t expect. I brushed a couple of her long locs behind her ear, enchanted by how they framed her face to perfection. Scarlett had me imagining possibilities far beyond what I pictured when I summoned her to the cottage. How far might she go to please me?
When her eyes darted to the dining room with its low R&B music playing in the background, I snapped out of my trance and gestured to the table I had set for dinner. Scarlett walked in front of me, swaying her hips ever so seductively, giving me a satisfying view of her apple bottom.
“Appetizers are ready. Please have a seat.”
“It smells good in here. Let me wash up first.” Scarlett continued her seductive walk to the kitchen, where she washed her hands, keeping her eyes on me as I stood by the island.
She wiped her hands, then slipped into the side of the bench closest to the door. I sat on the opposite end of the bench near the wall. Once settled, I gestured to the food on the table.
“I’ve prepared garlic hummus, warm pita, vegetables, roasted whole peppers, and calamari to get us started.”
Scarlett’s eyes widened.
“This looks delicious. Is eating well how you stay in such great shape? You enjoy flaunting that body of yours on social media.” She eyed my chest, then met my eyes with humor behind them.
“It’s one of many ways I take care of myself.”
When I winked at her, she turned her head to her water glass and picked it up to take a drink. I patted the space beside me.
