Page 40 of Mr. Scandalous

Everyone tittered.

“But beware,” Madame Xavier said.

“Beware?” Eden repeated, a shiver pressing against her spine.

“Your plans may backfire if you’re not careful.” Madame Xavier’s eyes darkened. “Remember, you cannot cage the wind.”

Uneasiness pierced her skin. “I don’t understand. What does that mean?”

Madame Xavier didn’t answer her. She had already moved on to read the next woman’s tea leaves.

But Eden didn’t really need a response. She knew Alec was the wind of which the woman spoke, and she didn’t want to cage him, honestly, and yet, she couldn’t shake the vaguely queasy sensation rolling through her.

After the fortunes were all told, they moved on to the gifts. When Jill opened Eden’s gift basket and slowly drew out the contents, people oohed and an aahed.

“Eden’s baskets are so inspired,” Sarah said.

Jill’s eyes met Eden’s. “How did you know my secret?”

Eden wasn’t quite certain what Jill was talking about, but she assumed she was referring to the bon vivant and the virgin fantasy. “Alec was a big help with creating your basket.”

Jill returned everything to the silver champagne bucket that served as the container for the racy theme. “Thank you.”

“It’s Alec’s gift to you and Randy, not mine.”

“But you’re the creator. It’s very special.”

“I’m happy you’re pleased.”

By the time Jill finished opening the packages, Eden was antsy to leave. She was supposed to meet Alec at the Grand Duchess at seven and it was already five-thirty. She didn’t have much time to get back to the city.

Just then the back door opened, and the sound of masculine voices filled the house. Then the three guys appeared in the doorway of the den, one of whom was Alec. Eden’s pulse quickened at the sight of him.

“Great timing,” Sarah said. “We were about to have refreshments. Why don’t you join us, fellas?”

“Can’t,” Alec said, looking at his watch. “I have an appointment in the city, and I can’t be late.”

The tallest of the three guys moved across the room to sweep Jill into his arms and plant a hot, passionate kiss on her lips. He had to be Jill’s fiancé, Randy.

“Missed you, babe. How’s the party?” he said to Jill.

But Eden’s gaze was glued to Alec.

He was dressed in a faded basketball jersey and a pair of gray sweat shorts that molded to his muscular butt and showed off his long, lean, athletic legs. He had an orange basketball tucked under one arm and he was resting one shoulder against the doorjamb.

Eden squinted against the shaft of late afternoon sunlight slanting through the window behind Alec, bathing him in a bright wash of yellow light. His insouciant, rebel’s slouch and sultry half-lidded eyes belied the steadfastness of his strong chin, the reliable promise of his chiseled cheekbones.

The contrast between his looks and his attitude was striking.

A wolf in sheep’s clothing. A Greek god gone wrong. A cherubic choirboy with a deep-seated penchant for sin.

When one of the women hopped up from her seat and rushed over to sling an arm around his neck, a blind rush of possessiveness raised the hairs on her arms and had Eden fighting off a barrage of strange emotions.

This was exactly the reason she hadn’t wanted to meet his friends and family. Getting to know him outside of the restricted perimeters of the Grand Duchess was not part of her game plan.

He hadn’t yet spied her tucked away in the corner beside the draperies. Eden’s gut fisted. What would he think about her being here? She’d violated one of her own rules and she had no excuse for it. She wished she could melt into the furniture.

Then his gaze landed on her, and a sexy, lopsided grin lifted one corner of his mouth and he leisurely strolled toward her, charming away her doubts and fears. Eden’s heart swelled with a fresh tumble of new emotions.

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