Page 37 of Alistair

She’d been around her sister’s crocodile tears enough to know that she was crying because she felt called out and put on the spot.

“Oh, for crap’s sake,” Maggie said. “When you get your head out of your ass, call me.”

She squeezed Alistair’s hand, and they walked from the ballroom.

It wasn’t until she was in his vehicle and they were exiting the parking lot that she let the tears she’d been holding back free. Not only had Seth caused a problem, but he’d managed to spin it in his favor and widen the rift between her and Penny.

“It’s hard enough being ten years older than her,” Maggie said with a sniffle. “We were never really close because we were so far apart in age. Hell, I was graduating high school when she was just starting school. She’s always been like this, though. She has never taken my side in anything. She thought I should stay with Seth, that I blew the cheating out of proportion.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” Alistair said. He put his arm around her, and she leaned into him. “That was shitty on all fronts. I wouldn’t have thought we needed to tell your sister what happened first before he could turn things his way. Family shouldn’t act like that.”

“Yeah.”

He kissed the top of her head when he stopped for a red light. “It’ll be okay. You don’t have to see him again, and your sister can believe whatever she wants. You and I know the truth, and the truth is that he’s toxic and dangerous, and I’m glad you’re not with him anymore.”

“Oh gosh, me too! Plus, if I was still with him, I wouldn’t be with you. And I’m happiest with you.”

“Good. I want all the happiness for you, Maggie.”

“I think you’re the guy for the job.”

“One thousand percent.”

Maggie stepped into her apartment and said, “I have a thought.”

“Oh?” He followed her inside, closing and locking the front door. “A sexy one? Because you smell like you have wicked things on your mind.”

She paused as she was balancing on one heel to take the other off. “You can smell that I’m turned on?”

He nodded slowly, his eyes a stormy gray color edged with amber. “You smell good to me all the time, but when you’re thinking sexy thoughts, it’s even better.” He joined her, taking her heel out of her hand and dropping it to the floor. As she took off her other heel, he kissed her bare shoulder. “Deeper. Sweeter. Sexy as hell.”

“I didn’t know people could smell that.”

“I think it’s just for me. I think,” he said gruffly, hauling her against him so her breath gusted from her lungs, “that you only smell so good for me because I turn you on more than any male ever.”

Male.

What a strange and primal word.

But she liked it.

“You do,” she said, biting her bottom lip. “Everything about you turns me on. But tonight, when you stepped between me and that asshole and protected me? I’m…falling for you, Alistair.”

He lifted her higher and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He held her so easily, like she weighed nothing. It was a heady feeling to be held by someone so strong.

“I’m falling for you too, Maggie.”

She kissed him, tugging on his bowtie until it loosened and then slipping her fingers down the buttons of his shirt. He carried her to the bedroom and set her on the bed, turning her to her knees facing away from him. He undid the zipper of her dress, the sound loud in the quiet apartment. Once the zipper was down, he gathered the dress and lifted it up her body.

She was wearing only a thong, and her skin prickled at the coolness in the room. He laid her dress on the chair in the corner and turned to face her, divesting himself of his tux while she watched. It was the sexiest strip tease she’d ever seen.

Inch after inch of him bared to her, his muscles tense and his cock thick and ready for her.

Stars, she was more than falling for him!

She’d fallen.

Hard and fast, but it felt so freaking right. He wasn’t like any other man she’d ever known in her life. Sweet, protective, a miracle between the sheets.

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