Page 24 of Mr. Scandalous

“Nope.”

His heart stuttered. “May I ask why not?”

“You worry me, Ramsey.” She let go of the red thread and he watched it drift to the white tablecloth between them as she drummed her fingers on the stem of her wineglass.

“Worry you? How do I worry you?”

“Either you’re the most arrogant man I’ve ever met or...”

“Or what?”

She shook her head. “Never mind. No doubt my first impressions were correct. You’re probably just very arrogant.”

He wasn’t arrogant. Was he?

He touched her arm. “No, please, spill it. I want to hear what’s on your mind.”

“Well...” She dragged out the word, the saucy gleam in her eyes provoking him. “You’ve made such a production of telling me you’re not into commitment that I’ve got to wonder what you’re so afraid of.”

“Afraid? I’m not afraid of anything.” He shook his head, but at the same time his lips were flapping, his knees were quaking. “What do I have to be afraid of?”

She ran a fingernail over the sweater thread, that thin red fiber stark against the white linen, slipped him a Mona Lisa smile and murmured, “Strings.”

ChapterSeven

Do you think I’m arrogant?”Alec asked as he slammed the blue rubber ball against the back wall of the racquetball court with an echoingthwack.

He and Randy Sterling were playing at the exclusive Gentlemen’s Gym on the Upper East Side, where they both held a lifetime membership courtesy of Uncle Mac. Two days had passed since his frustrating lunch date with Eden, and he couldn’t stop thinking about her or the way she’d turned him down.

You worry me, Ramsey.

He worried her. What had she meant by that? Why would she worry about him?

“She humbled you!” Randy hooted and dove for the shot, his sneakers squeaking on the waxed wooden floor of the court. “Priceless.”

Alec returned the volley with a fierce backhand. “She didn’t humble me. She rejected me.”

“She called you arrogant and it bugs the hell out of you.”

“What’s arrogant about being honest?”

“I’m guessing it wasn’t the honesty she considered arrogant, but rather your supposition that she would find your no-strings-attached proposal irresistible.”

“I didn’t mean it that way,” Alec growled, and whacked the ball hard, channeling his frustrations with gusto.

“Howdidyou mean it?”

“A mutually beneficial arrangement where we both have a good time.”

“Look at it from her point of view. Rich, good-looking guy says, ‘Hey, baby, I wanna do you and drop you like a hot potato when I get bored.’ Yeah, that’s an offer no woman could refuse.”

Alec glared. “Don’t get on your high horse. You used to do the same sort of thing before you met Jill.”

“I’ve matured. I now realize there’s much more to a relationship than sex.”

“Is Jill is still sticking to that second virginity thing until your wedding night?”

“I can handle it,” Randy said.

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