“I’ll take my chances. Do you think she’ll like me?”
“She’s a sweetie and she’s female, so the chances are better than average.”
“Stop. Your view of me is distorted. I’ve told you that I’m monogamous. Don’t you believe me, Angel?”
“Sure.” She shrugged and turned a little in her seat so she could study his profile, searching for some clue to what he was really feeling. If he was feeling anything other than lust. “But, I also know that you’re not married and never get tied down, so I don’t expect this to last. My eyes are open.”
Alex was vested more than she was aware. He wasn’t willing to admit it to her for fear she wouldn’t believe him, or worse, retreat from him. He didn’t stop to analyze the reasons. He enjoyed her company, both in bed and out of it, more than any woman he’d ever known and that was enough for now. “Close them, then. Do you enjoy being with me? Be honest, I can take it.” He grinned.
“Your head’s already big enough.”
“Why, thank you. I was hoping you’d think so,” he replied with a cheeky grin.
“Shut up!” Angel laughed.
“I’ll let you shut me up, later.” He smiled and pressed her hand further into his leg. Angel’s fingers closed around the muscle beneath the dark denim, provocatively. “Yes, later.”
When they pulled up outside Becca’s apartment building, Alex came around and opened Angel’s door, extending a hand to help her out.
Always the perfect gentleman, yet so hot behind closed doors, Angel mused. Her eyes took him in, casually dressed in dark jeans, Adidas, and a white T-shirt; he looked younger and more carefree than she usually saw him. His fingers closed around hers as they walked into the building.
“What?”
“Nothing. This will be fun.”
He pulled off his sunglasses and bent to place a soft kiss on the tanned skin of her shoulder, left bare by the strapless coral sundress she was wearing. “I like this dress. Did you wear it to torture me?”
“Always.”
He burst out laughing as Becca’s door opened and Jillian toddled out ahead of her mother.
“Anga!” she squealed, and Angel scooped her up instantly, planting a big kiss on her cherub cheek.
“Jillybean! How’s my girl? Hi, Becca.”
“Hey. Hello, Alex.” Becca stepped aside to allow them all to enter.
Chubby arms wrapped around Angel’s neck, and Jillian’s lower lip popped out in a pout and she frowned. She pointed at Alex.
“Who’s dat?”
Angel smiled down into her face. “Jillian, this is Alexander. He’s my friend, and he wanted to come with us to the zoo today. All right?”
She looked at Alex skeptically. “Are you nice?”
“Jillian!” Becca was horrified. “Sorry, Alex.”
“No problem.” Alex extended a hand toward the little girl, who took it hesitantly but pulled away quickly. “It’s nice to meet you, Jillian. That’s a very pretty bow you have in your hair.”
Her little hand reached up to touch the bright pink ribbon as she nodded. “Yes. Do you yike ice ceam? We aways have ice ceam.”
Alex laughed. “Yes! I love it! Chocolate is my favorite.”
“Me, too!” Jillian’s blonde curls bobbed as she nodded enthusiastically.
“Great! Maybe we’ll get a bunch of it, okay?”
“Yay!” Jillian was now beaming at Alex, and Angel felt sure that it wouldn’t be long before he’d have her in his arms. “Anga yikes ohnge.”
“Orange ice cream?”
“Surboot.”
“Oh! Orange sherbet. That’s yummy, too.”
“No. I yike choc-yut best.”
“Okay. You and I will have chocolate. Deal?”
“Yep.”
Becca rolled her eyes at Angel, both of them smiling.
“Another one bites the dust,” Becca said under her breath with a small laugh.
“He’s nice, Anga!”
“Oh, he’s nice, all right.” Angel flashed a bright smile, and Alex winked at her, his dimples deepening in a pleased grin.
Alex’s time with Angel and Jillian had been magical and eye opening, showing another side of her that was unexpected. His gaze fell on Angel and he’d studied her reactions with the toddler throughout the day as they meandered through the zoo’s various exhibits. He adored how she held Jillian, pointing out beautiful things, explaining and teaching about the animals and not just showing. Alex found his heart pounding on several occasions where he had to take a moment and regroup. She was so gentle and understanding, it was no wonder that the little girl worshiped her. Angel became more and more amazing the more time they spent together. The more he learned about her as the days passed, the more enthralled he became. It was exhilarating and, at the same time, daunting.
They’d come back to Angel’s apartment at the end of the day and Angel made dinner of chicken fingers, French fries and applesauce. She apologized profusely to Alex for the unsophisticated fare, but he laughed it off.
“Thank you, Angel. This is delicious, isn’t it?” he asked as Jillian, now fully ensconced on his lap, lifted one of her pieces of chicken to share with him. He took a bite with relish, the two of them happily munching away as Angel watched in amazement.
“You’re wonderful with her.” It occurred to her they’d never talked about kids. Maybe he was a father. “Do you have children?” She wondered if he had some hidden past that he didn’t discuss.
“No.” Alex smiled at her. He picked up his glass and took a swallow of ice water.
“That’s pretty incredible. It comes so natural to you; you must have experience. Nieces or nephews?”
His expression was wry. “Allison has only been married a few months, and Cole, well, I’m praying he doesn’t get some floozy knocked up. That’s all we’d need. I’ve encouraged him to get clipped, but he refuses.”
Angel knew he was teasing and she laughed, reaching out to stroke Jillian’s silky head. The two days had been heaven, but it was Sunday night and reality loomed.
“Are you out of the country this week?”
“I’m supposed to go to Athens. Why?” His curiosity was piqued, and his heart quickened that she’d ask.
“Oh, no reason.”
“Something’s come up here that needs my attention, so I’m thinking of putting off the trip. Unless… Angel, do you want to come with me?” His voice was soft and seductive, and she started in surprise. Alex had finished but Jillian was still eating, licking the ketchup off the end of a fry, only to dip it in again. “It’s only a book audit of one of our properties, so I should have a lot of free time. I can’t think of a better way to enjoy the city than with you. There’s so much history, and the Mediterranean is beautiful and really breathtaking at night.”
“I have a lot of work to do. It sounds amazing, though.” Her heart pounded in her chest. A whole weekend together, talks of trips, getting gooey over seeing him with Jillian; it was all overwhelming and unexpected. It completely contradicted her mental image, and he was scaring the shit out of her.
“Like I said, I can put it off. I’d love to take you with me.” And get you away from that bastard and his goons, he thought.
“I’d love to go.”
“Would you?” His eyes searched hers until Jillian lifted a ketchup-coated piece of meat and shoved it toward his face, completely missing his mouth and landing on his stubble-covered cheek. “Ugh,” he said but laughter filled his green eyes.