Page 71 of Dangerous Temptation
She should have expected nothing less from a technology guru.
Yet even with as much black-and-glass as she found around her, the place had more soul. More comfort. The sofa alone probably cost more than her yearly rent, but it begged her to curl up on it to watch the huge television that disappeared into the wall.
This was Alex’s true home. She swept her fingers over a plush recliner. He’d been torn away from this place and all his belongings to be put in a prison. They’d locked him in a barren cell with no diversions for that brilliant mind.
She bit her lip as she felt a pang. She couldn’t imagine how that must have felt. He’d had his freedom ripped away, but he was finally home for the first time in eighteen months.
And he’d brought her with him.
She took an uneven breath and perched on the arm of the chair to watch him. He was speaking with his security people. He was in full business-shark regalia: grey suit, blue tie and gleaming Ferragamo shoes. He looked rich and powerful, but the tussled hair and dusty five o’clock shadow pushed the sex appeal into another realm.
She was wearing her Vera Wang blue sheath dress that fit her like a glove. She’d pulled her hair back in the clip that seemed to entrance him so, and new Jimmy Choo shoes smiled prettily from her feet. On the outside, they looked like a power couple. No traces of the nature lovers showed.
Yet he fit into this role so much better than she did.
‘Elena?’ He held his hand out to her. ‘Could you come here for a moment?’
She crossed the room to the foyer. It felt funny to be walking in heels, and it added another element to her gait. As properly as she was dressed, she felt sexy.
Apparently, it showed.
Alex’s gaze glinted and the bodyguards averted their gaze to become overly intrigued with the skylight.
‘I want to introduce you to the security team. This is Smith, Hanson and Vasquez. If you need anything at any time, you can go to them.’
‘Hello.’ She looked over the trio and tried not to be intimidated. Smith and Hanson were the size of linebackers, while Vasquez was whipcord lean. They all had that dangerous quality to them that made a woman’s radar ping. With their concrete chins and scarred knuckles, she was glad they were on Alex’s side.
‘Gentlemen,’ he said, looping an arm proprietorially around her waist. ‘This is Elena.’
So he had seen the male appreciation in their eyes.
‘Miss,’ Smith said.
‘Good day,’ Hanson greeted.
Vasquez merely nodded his head.
‘Whatever she wants, she gets.’
‘Yes, sir.’
Alex turned to her. ‘If I’m not around, you go to them, but don’t ask them to do anything that would put you in danger.’
‘Danger?’
‘You never know which way a crowd will turn, ma’am,’ Smith explained.
A crowd. The paparazzi, protestors and gawkers would soon be here. She knew they were going to congregate.
Alex nodded in dismissal. ‘Thank you. That will be all.’
The three men turned like soldiers who’d been given their marching orders. They left as silently as they’d appeared.
Elena looked up into Alex’s face. He appeared calm and in control. He was back in the scene and on his game.
He was also more closed off than she’d seen him in a long time.
He ran a finger along her cheek. ‘You’re pale.’
