Page 123 of Resolve

She wondered how she was able to stay so calm. The urge to laugh was the most surprising. “Aren't you carrying this alpha male thing a little far?”

“It used to turn you on.”

“Turn me on? What are you talking about? Oh no—”

“What? You don't relish the good old days?”

“Thereareno good old days.”

He turned a feral smile on her. “That's not what you used to say.”

She wasn’t so sure she was up for bedroom talk that had happened between her sister and her too-hot co-star. “Oh, and what did I used to say?” she heard herself asking.

“Harder, faster, deeper.”

Her face flamed and her wet panties were a lost cause. “Keep your voice down,” she hissed, glancing around. But the guy next to her raked her with a sleezy look.

“You can’t beat having a chick who likes it harder, deeper, and faster,” the bastard next to her said.

Maylis edged closer to Aiden just as two beers slid in front of them. In fact, she stepped in front of Aiden, using his massive body as a shield. She shook her head. “You’re making a huge mistake.”

“Drink your beer.” He handed her one of the mugs. “You're the one who's made a mistake. A scout from Broadway will be at opening night and you're not fucking me out of this opportunity. I've waited too long for this.”

“Wait, what? Broadway?” All other thoughts flew out of her head.

“Don't give me that. You knew it all along.”

She downed half her beer. “How would I have known?”

“You’ve been trying to undermine me since day one.”

That was news to her. “Look, Beau—” he shot her a hard look, “I mean, um, Aiden. We need to talk.”

“Here’s your order. Ready to go,” the bartender said, handing Aiden the tab.

He glanced at it and dug some cash out of his pocket and tossed it on the counter.

“Dude,” the jerk piped up, “if you decide you don’t want her, bring her back.”

“Let’s go,” Aiden growled. “Before I flatten the bastard and end up going to jail.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you,” she quipped. She turned to follow Aiden but brought her foot up under the guy’s chair and sent him to the floor in a hard fall. Then stepped on his hand for good measure.

Aiden turned around. “What the hell?”

“Ready?” Maylis slipped around Aiden and out the door. “We’d better hurry, in case he decides to take issue.”

4

Aiden hurriedafter Tamera stunned by what she’d managed. He refused to think of her as “Maylis.” Who picked such an obscure name? They got in the beamer—his prize possession, and he dropped the container holding their dinner in her lap and drove the two miles to his English-style cottage. It wasn’t a welcoming sight. He’d forgotten to turn the porch light on. Nor were any lights on inside.

He’d owned the house five years now. Tamera would hated the idea of living on a quiet street. Not that things had progressed that far. She was big city all the way. There was a perverse sort of pleasure in bringing her here, knowing she would hate it.

He flipped the switch next to the door, filling the living room with a warm glow from two lamps that couched the sofa.

“This is so quaint.” Her breathless tone sounded from behind.

She’s an actor,he reminded himself. Granted, a much better actor than he remembered. It wouldn’t do to forget. He reached the kitchen and turned that light on, flooding the area with harsh florescent tubes. The kitchen was next on his list to update.

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