"Real cute?"
Emily sniffed. "She's probably the most glamorous woman in the world--"
Rex broke in on her with soft laughter. "Emily! Glamorous? You just saw her with wet hair in a worn terry robe!"
"She's still glamorous."
"She's flesh and blood," Rex said irritably, wondering at the bitterness in his own tone. He wanted her to be real, an ordinary woman, he thought dismally.
"Nice flesh," Emily commented dryly, pouring the eggs into the frying pan.
"Very nice." He grinned. "When did you meet?" "A few nights ago." "Oh."
Her lips were pursed in silent disapproval, and Rex couldn't help but laugh again and give her a quick hug. "There's nothing going on, Emily. Alas, and woe is me-- but that's the truth. She called over here this morning because her house was suddenly infested with snakes." "Snakes?"
"Just some harmless ringnecks." "How many?" "Five."
Emily shuddered. "That poor creature! Well, you were right to bring her over here. I wonder if she should stay the night."
"I'd just love it," Rex told her wickedly.
"I'll stay, too, Casanova," Emily warned him. When she saw that he was about to take another pepper, she rapped him on the hand with her wooden spoon.
"Emily...you're showing no respect to me at all."
She sniffed again. Emily had a great talent for sniffing, he thought with a smile.
“Well, Mr. Popularity, maybe this is just what you need. The lady is far more renowned than you."
"Oh, really?"
"She's glamorous. You're merely...notorious."
Rex laughed good-naturedly.
"And you're usually rude to women," she went on.
"I am not."
"You are. You had a bad break with your wife, and you think they're all after something. So you figure you'll just use people first--and not get hurt in the end."
He was grateful that Emily didn't see that his features had gone taut; she was busy adding ingredients to her omelet. She wouldn't have cared anyway; she loved him like a son and had no qualms about treating him like one.
“Emily, Emily, you should be opening an office instead of cooking and cleaning for me," he said coolly.
"Well, it's true," Emily murmured. "I've seen you do it a million times. Some sexy thing moves in and you're all charm. Then you get what you want--and you're bored silly when the chase is over. But you always win. You've got the looks; you've got the way with women." She turned, pointing her spoon at him. “But maybe you are in trouble this time. She has tons and tons of her own money, and..." Emily paused to grin. "She's prettier than you are, too."
"Thank you, doctor!" Rex retorted. "What makes you think I'm after her?"
"You're not?"
"I'm not half as black as you paint me," Rex said flatly. "I only deal with ladies who know the game--and are willing to play. By my rules."
"The rule being fun only."
"Emily, come on! Fine, I've been around; they've been around. What's so wrong?"
"What's wrong is that you're lacking caring and commitment, growing together--love!"
"Love is a four-letter word," Rex told her flatly. Then he paused, swinging around. He could have sworn he'd heard movement by the kitchen door. He strode toward it and got there just in time to see the figure clad in white hobbling across the hall toward the parlor. He followed, angry. He didn't like being spied upon.
She had almost reached the couch. He didn't let her make it; he caught her elbow. "Can't I help you, Ms. Jordan?" She spun to look at him, her cheeks flaming. "I--" "You were spying on me!"
"Don't be absurd! You're not worth spying on! I was trying to see if I could do something, but I realized that I had stumbled on a personal conversation and I didn't want to hear it!" She jerked her elbow away from him, lost her balance and crashed down onto the couch.
Rex didn't know why he was so enraged at her. He didn't move to help her; he just stared at her. “The thing to do would have been to make your presence known!" "This is ridiculous!"
Her eyes really were emerald, he mused, especially when they glittered with righteous anger.
She squared her shoulders, undaunted by his wrath or his form, which was rather solidly before her. She managed to stand, shoving by him, limping out of his way. "This whole thing is ridiculous! Thank you--I really do thank you for picking up the snakes. But I think I'll go home now. The snakes, at least, have better manners!"
She really was going to try to stumble home by herself. She was already heading toward the door. "Alexi!"
She just kept going.
"Alexi, dammit--" He came after her, caught an arm and swung her around. He knew she would have to clutch at him to maintain her balance. She did; she curled her fingers around his arms and swore softly under her breath, tossing back her head to stare at him. Her hair was drying and it was wild, he saw, a beautiful, disheveled golden mane to frame her exquisite eyes and perfect features. He inhaled sharply, remembering what it was like to feel her body. Fool, he chided himself. He knew why he was so angry. She had heard everything that Emily had said to him. Every damning thing.
And he wanted her. Really wanted her, as he had never wanted anything in his life.
"Alexi...I'm sorry." Apologies weren't easy for him. They never had been.
"And I'm leaving," she said.
He smiled. "Back to the snakes?"
She looked down fleetingly. "There are all kinds of snakes, aren't there, Mr. Morrow?"
He laughed. She had heard everything. "Look, Ms. Jordan, I really am sorry. Be forgiving. After all, you cost me ten years of life with that scream this morning. Stay... please."
She lowered her head. "I feel--ridiculous. Your housekeeper must think that I'm--that I'm worse than what the tabloids say. And I can't wear a robe all day..."
"You can take it off," Rex said innocently, which immediately drew a scathing glance from her.
He shook his head ruefully. "No...you can't take it off. Look, sit down with Emily and have some breakfast. I'll go back over for your things. Maybe the exterminators will be there by now and I can get them started."
"You don't need to--"
"I want to. Relax. Enjoy Emily's company." He stepped away from her and whistled. "Samson!" The German shepherd came bounding in. He was huge, and when he swept by Alexi, she teetered dangerously, trying to catch her balance again. "Samson!" Rex chastised him, stepping forward quickly to catch Alexi. He smelled the soft, alluring scent of her hair as he caught her; he felt its velvet texture graze his cheek. He wanted to swear all over again.
"You'd better stay seated," he muttered, lifting her swiftly and depositing her upon the couch. Another mistake. He felt too much of her body. Too much smoothness beneath the terry. Smoothness that reminded him that there was nothing beneath it.
"I'll be back with your things," he said brusquely, then strode out, the shepherd obediently at his heels.
He was barely gone before Emily came to the doorway, smoothing her hands over her apron. She smiled shyly at Alexi. "I have everything ready." She frowned. "Where'"
Rex?"
"He--he went back over to my house. To Gene's house," Alexi said apologetically. She flushed again, wondering what the woman must think of her. Rex Morrow-he was like a cyclone in her life. She never knew what to think. One moment she was fascinated; the next second she wanted to carve notches in his flesh...slowly. He was dangerous to her. To any woman, she thought, flushing all over again at the pieces of conversation she had heard. Oh, she couldn't be so foolish as to imagine having an affair with him. He was striking, sensual and sexual--and she was still reeling from the impact of her marriage. If there was anything she didn't need, it was an affair with someone like him.
Emily smiled at her suddenly; the smile was warm, shy only slightly awkward.