Page 7 of Mr. Scandalous

“From what you tell me, Randy seems pretty flamboyant all on his own.”

“He is.”

“So maybe opposites attract?”

Their gazes met and that same arc of electricity that had called to him on the street surged again with startling clarity. Opposites attract, eh? What about this sudden chemistry between them? They were anything but opposites. A woman who spent her days concocting erotic fantasies had to be just as sexually adventurous as he was.

“Maybe. They’re doing this second virginity thing. Personally, I don’t get it, but Randy claims they’re not having sex until after the wedding to prove their love for each other.” Alec shrugged. “I guess whatever floats their boat.”

“Randy’s newfound celibacy and choice of mates isn’t what’s really bothering you, is it? It’s the simple fact he’s getting married.”

“Bothering me?” Alec stepped back. “Who says I’m bothered about Randy getting married.”

“You’re losing your stag partner.”

“What?” He blinked.

“When Randy got engaged to Jill, you no longer had someone to go carousing with. No strip-club buddy. No one with whom to take potshots at married domesticity. Plus, as his business partner you’re worried that his marriage will affect Randy’s business acumen.”

Taken aback by her insight, Alec stared, open mouthed. How could she know that ever since Randy met Jill he’d felt not only left out but also scared about the future of their business?

It was one thing for two carefree bachelors to run a social media empire calledSex and the Single Guy.It was quite another for one of those bachelors to be shackled in matrimony. Alec was terrified that Randy would forget how to connect with their single-and-loving-it audience and the business would lose its edge in an intensely competitive market space.

And secretly, in the dark recesses of his mind, in a place he mostly refused to acknowledge existed, Alec was jealous.

Not of married life. Oh, no. He’d realized that particular institution wasn’t for him years ago, but of the special closeness Jill and Randy shared. Seeing them together sometimes made him wonder if daredevil sports, hopping from trendy nightclub to trendy nightclub, attending lavish parties, and wining and dining local celebrities was all there was to life.

He hated being forced to examine his lifestyle choices.

What he needed in order to shake off this woefully inappropriate “third wheel” feeling was a good old-fashioned fling with a woman who knew lots of naughty bedroom tricks. Indulging in the thrill of the chase never failed to lift his spirits.

And from the looks of this erotic shop and the seethe of sexual chemistry oozing between them, he suspected Eden was exactly the kind of woman he was looking for. And he was already having wickedly wonderful thoughts about how to please her in bed.

She was asking him more questions about Jill and Randy. What kind of fabrics they liked, their favorite movies, music, foods and activities that inspired them.

But Alec wasn’t listening. All he could think about was kissing her luscious lips.

“I had no idea this process was so involved,” he said, but he was thinking,how can I get you into my bed?

“Oh, yes.” She nodded. “When you buy an Eden Montgomery original you’re getting much more than sex toys in a basket. You’re purchasing a gift of art from the heart as well as a treat for the senses.”

Man, did he ever want to experience her treats firsthand. She was exactly what the doctor ordered. A shot of pure sexual adventure to chase away his “my-best-friend-is-getting-married” blues.

“Sarah did tell me she’d never seen anything quite like your baskets,” Alec said.

“I must warn you, that gift consultation can take as long as an hour to complete.”

“No kidding.”

“I’m a stickler for details, but you can rest assured your friends will appreciate your gift. I guarantee my work. Although, if you prefer, you can go online and fill out the form.”

Alec checked his watch. “No, no. I prefer to do this in person, but if the consultation takes an hour then I can’t do this today. I’ve got an appointment in Midtown in forty-five minutes. Plus I don’t have all the info you need. How about this—I talk to Randy, find out more about Jill’s likes and dislikes.” He reached into a pocket for his business card and passed it over to her. “You drop by my office around one tomorrow afternoon, I’ll buy your lunch, and we can do the consultation then. How does that sound?”

Eden accepted his card and stared down at it. She hesitated a moment and his heart did that idiotic beat-skipping thing again.

She’s going to say no.His spirits plummeted.

What in the hell was the matter with him? He hadn’t been this nervous since his high school prom. Blame his uncharacteristic anxiety on a long dry spell.

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