Page 80 of Mr. Scandalous

“You okay?” Holden asked, concern pinching his forehead in a frown.

“Fine.” Listlessly he picked up the mail from Holden’s in basket and thumbed through it. For some inexplicable and illogical reason he checked the return addresses to see if he’d gotten anything from Eden.

“You don’t look fine. You look sick. Usually you come back from your trips hyped up and full of energy.”

“Not this time.”

How could he begin to tell Holden the jump from Kjerag had been as boring as watching paint dry, when he didn’t even understand it himself?

“Randy and Jill are in your office. They just returned from Tahiti, and they broke into your champagne. I’ll order more.”

Alec shook his head. “Don’t bother. I’ve got nothing to celebrate.”

Holden’s frown deepened. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Why do you keep asking me that?”

“Where is your lively stride, and your boisterous grin? I’m supposed to be the dour one around here.”

“Can’t a guy be quiet once in a while?”

“You?” Holden snorted.

Glaring at his assistant, Alec turned on his heels and went into his office. He found Randy and Jill perched on the love seat, locked in the throes of a soulful kiss.

“Ahem.” He cleared his throat.

They ignored him.

“Ahem,” he said again, much louder this time.

Jill giggled and Randy finally broke the kiss.

“I take it the honeymoon was a rousing success.” Alec arched an eyebrow.

“You have no idea how rousing.” Randy’s gaze was zeroed in on Jill’s face. She couldn’t seem to take her eyes off him, either. They looked so radiantly happy together a peculiar feeling had Alec rolling his eyes. Could they be any more of a romantic cliche?

Why, Alec Ramsey, you’re jealous.

Jealous of a married couple? No way, no how. He was free, single and loving it. Oh hell, who was he kidding? He was so jealous it was a wonder his hair hadn’t turned green.

First Randy. Now Mac. What was the point of being a footloose bachelor if all your buddies were happily paired up? Where did that leave him?

All alone.

The urge to drown his loneliness in activity swept over him, but he realized his old coping mechanisms were no longer effective. He couldn’t keep running away from the truth, couldn’t keep cloaking his emotions with planning and playing. He couldn’t keep lying to himself about his feelings.

He was in love with Eden Montgomery.

Alec never met anyone like her. Sweet yet sassy. Silly yet sublime. He thought of the smell of her hair, the touch of her fingertips against his skin, the taste of those small pert lips and he knew he simply could not live the rest of his life without her.

But what about your brand? asked the bravado that had convinced him marriage was for suckers.

To hell with his brand, roared the new Alec. If his audience couldn’t deal with a married man at the helm ofSex andSingle Guy,if falling in love meant his reputation in his social milieu was kablewy, then so what? He’d build a new brand and get a whole new circle of friends.

What he couldn’t get was another woman like Eden. A woman who engaged him mentally, emotionally and sexually. She made him want to commit. She made him want to shout to the

World that he’d been wrong. He was in love, and he wasn’t ashamed any longer.

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