Alex didn’t say anything immediately, so Olivia returned to her dinner while he gathered his thoughts. But Olivia had lost her appetite, so she ended up just pushing food around her plate, waiting for him to speak.
“I can help you with that.” His voice was low. Without even looking up, she already knew that his eyes were blazing with that sensual stare that gave her shivers.
“Help me with what?” she asked in almost a whisper. But she already knew the answer. And while it scared her, it also warmed her to her core.
“Forgetting him. Moving on. I’m okay with being your rebound. I’ve already said that I want you.” Olivia’s fingers trembled at the thought and she quickly put down her fork before he could see the resulting vibration. Not that it would really matter, since she was positive every emotion showed on her face…the shock, the fear, the desire.
She hesitantly brought her eyes to his. He looked like the devil himself drenched in candlelight. Her eyes drank in the broadness of his shoulders and the warm desire in his eyes. “Sex, you mean,” she breathed. He didn’t respond, but the firm set of his jaw told her the answer. “And you always get what you want.”
“Only if you want it too,” he replied. Such a simple reply, but the pounding of her heart told her it was much more complicated than that.
She paused. But did it have to be complicated? He was offering her sex, pure and simple. But was she really the type of woman that could have sex without an emotional connection?
She had to be if she was going to agree. Even though Miles had been an asshole, she had still been in a relationship for six years. Opening herself up emotionally to someone else was unimaginable right now.
Suddenly shy, she met Alex’s eyes again. “Can I think about it?”
His lips quirked, “Of course. But do me a favor.” He leaned closer to her. “Don’t over think it. If we do this, it will get complicated. But try to remember that it’s okay if it does. It just means we’re doing something right.” She could feel herself start to melt at his words. Oh yeah. This man would be trouble for her. “Oh, and another thing. I think your breasts are perfect.”
He chuckled while Olivia turned crimson. She didn’t even have a chance to admire the sound due to her own embarrassment.
Oh yes, this man would be pure trouble indeed.
Chapter Four
Alex glanced up at the building Olivia stopped before. Seeing as it was an apartment complex, he figured it was time to say goodbye to her for the night.
After finishing the remainder of their dinner in relative ease and flirtatious teasing, he discovered she only lived down the street from her shop. She told him she didn’t mind walking home alone, but he had insisted that he accompany her.
She turned then to look up at him and he almost smiled when he saw a trace of uncertainty and a hint of nervousness. She was a marvel. Truly. He wanted to discover every emotion that passed over her features.
“Give me your phone,” he said. The softness of his voice transformed it into a question rather than a command. Her eyes briefly unfocused and Alex caught a hint of desire in their depths. The knowledge sent blood rushing to his groin.
The phone she handed him made his eyebrows raise in genuine surprise. “They still make these?” he asked, looking down at the tiny silver flip phone in his palm. There were scratches marring its surface along with a deep gouge near the battery. It looked ancient to him, judging by the simplicity of its design.
The defensive look she leveled at him made him feel like a scolded schoolboy. “That phone has served me well, I’ll have you know. I’m just not into all that techy gadget stuff.”
He wanted to kiss her so badly.
“Techy gadget stuff?” he repeated dumbly, his eyes focusing on her lips. They were currently pulled down into a disapproving frown.
“Yeah, you know. The texting, those app things. As long as my phone can call actual people, it works just fine for me.”
“You do know that I work for a company that produces that techy gadget stuff, right?” He enjoyed teasing her. He liked to see her get riled up and feisty. He had a taste of that over dinner and he wanted more.
Her eyes flashed as she stared him down, even though he was at least a half-foot taller than her. “Yes, I heard you the first time, Mr. Sales Director.”
“Director of Sales,” he corrected her, with a purposeful cocky grin. She made a frustrated sound in the back of her throat and his smile broadened. He looked back down to the phone in his hand, flipping it open. “Let me see if I can even work this thing,” he grumbled teasingly. He felt a light slap on his arm as he attempted to locate the contact list. But before her hand could retreat, he caught it with his free hand.