Page 22 of Mr. Scandalous

She was exactly what he’d been searching for.

Her attractiveness went much deeper than surface appeal. Sure, she was pretty, but her looks weren’t what really captivated him. Rather it was her zest, her fire, her lusty attitude that snatched him by the short hairs and refused to let go. Her sensuality was intrinsic, interlaced within her flesh and bones, not blatant or fabricated or forced.

She was earthy and alert and curious. And he couldn’t stop wanting to lay his hands all over her curvaceous body. Or wanting to kiss that small but potent mouth again or thrust his fingers through that thick mass of chestnut-colored curls, tugging them aside to allow his mouth full access to the long, delectable neck.

Do it. Say it. Tell her what you want.

“Eden,” he said, surprised at how raspy his voice sounded. “I’m laying my cards on the table.”

She moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. “Yes?”

“Alec Ramsey!” A masculine voice cut through the sexual tension like tungsten steel.

Startled, they both jerked their heads toward the man who’d approached their table when they weren’t paying attention.

“Yes?”

Alec didn’t recognize the muscular guy in his early twenties but apparently the man recognized him. From the looks of his clothes and his privileged carriage, Alec pegged him as a trust-fund baby who was trying hard to come across as hip and streetwise. A diamond-studded young woman, barely out of her teens, hovered at his elbow.

“Jeff Brockton.” He thrust his hand toward Alec.

Alec shook the guy’s hand. “Have we met?”

“Not formally no, but I’m a huge fan. I’m a subbie of your podcast and I’m a Top Tier patron. I’ve followed your amateur extreme sports career from the start. I was at the Banff snowboarding competition when you did the one-eighty-to-fakie and ended up bonking a trash can. Even though you got disqualified, it was a totally awesome performance, man.”

“You’re a boarder?”

“Dude, I’m so there!”

Alec wished the guy would buzz off, but he remained polite. “That’s great. Thank you for all your support over the years.”

“Do you have any idea how much you’ve influenced my life? I follow the advice in your book religiously and I get chicks like crazy.” Jeff jerked at thumb at his date who hovered behind him. “Check out Tiffany here. Phat, huh?”

Alec smiled and nodded at the woman.

Tiffany wriggled her fingers and winked in open invitation, letting him know all he had to do was crook a pinky finger and she’d ditch Jeff without a backward glance.

He’d seen that look many times. Alec kept his fingers completely flattened against the leg of his trousers. He wasn’t interested in fickle Tiffany. He only had eyes for Eden.

“Any time a chick starts pressuring me for commitment, I drop ’em like a stone,” Jeff said. “I’m a lone wolf, ya know.”

“Well, Jeff, it’s been really nice meeting you, but our meal is getting cold. If you’ll excuse us…”

“Gotcha.” Jeff raised his thumb and pointed his index finger like a gun. “Lunch at a slick restaurant with a hot babe and then it’s back to your place for a little sumpin’ sumpin’, right?”

“Right.” Alec loaded his voice with sarcasm, but Jeff didn’t pick up on it.

“Later, dude.” Jeff flashed him the Hawaiian hang loose sign. “Keep shreddin’ the slopes.”

“You too.”

“Let’s go, Tiff, I’m ready for a little sumpin’ sumpin’ myself.”

The minute the couple left the dining room, Alec returned his attention to Eden. Her passion had definitely cooled. In fact, her arms were crossed, and a faraway look was in her eyes.

“Nice fan.” No mistaking her disdain.

“He’s just one guy. Young and immature.”

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