She clicked her tongue in disdain. “I don’t feel like playing with the plebs tonight. I’d rather spend some time with my gorgeous host. I hear you live onsite. I don’t suppose I could see the master’s chambers.” She put her hand on his thigh.
Alex met Rose’s gaze. Desire shone there, clear as day.
Rose Harding was exactly the sort of woman the world expected to see on his arm, the sort of womanDanaexpected to see on his arm. Talented and sexy, Rose oozed confidence. She traveled easily through his world, accustomed to privilege and excess. She spoke her mind and took what she needed.
It would be so easy with Rose. They’d be an item in no time. He could already see the headlines.Hotelier and actress set a date.
He’d partied with Rose for a couple of years now and they’d talked at length. He knew her as well as he knew any of his patrons. Certainly, he knew enough to understand there wouldn’t be any concerns about children or the lack of children. In fact, she’d broken up with her last boyfriend because he’d wanted a family and she didn’t. She was perfectly content acting and partying. Hell, a woman like Rose would be gone on movie shoots half the time. To some, that would be ideal. They could do their own things and would meet up periodically to smile for the cameras on the red carpet.
The perfect relationship for his cold heart.
If he had an ounce of sense in his head, he would grab Rose by the hand and never look back.
“I’m going to share a secret with you. I’ve had a crush on you for a long time,” she whispered in his ear. “Take me to your room. You could do anything you want to me. And I do meananything.”
I should have stayed far away from you, Alex Markov.
Dana seemed so far away right now, she might as well have been in the North Pole.
What was she doing right now? Was she thinking of him or had she managed to banish him completely from her thought processes?
The hand on his thigh crept higher. He gently removed it.
“Maybe I didn’t make myself clear.” Rose cocked a perfectly-groomed eyebrow. “I did mention the fucking, right? Lots of fucking?”
“Yeah, I got that.”
“So, you’re brushing me off?”
“I’m afraid so.”
She sat up straight, her head quirked at an odd angle on her long neck. “Interesting.”
“There’s still the guy at the bar.”
“Him? Do you see his outfit? I don’t think so.”
“I’m sorry.” Only he wasn’t.
“Hmm. I don’t think I’ve been rejected since high school. This is a novel feeling. I’m not quite sure what to make of it.”
“I think you’ll struggle through.” He stood and set his glass down on a table. “Have a good night, Rose.”
Alex turned from the starlet’s wide-eyed gaze and walked out of Covet.
As he headed back to his apartment, he wished he could talk to Shannon just then. Despite knowing he’d never cheated on her, it couldn’t have been easy for her to see him in this environment with people like Rose. It wasn’t so much that Rose was a bad sort, but she never heard the wordno. So few of his customers ever heard the wordno.
Shannon had come to the club with him many times. How often would she have heard hushed conversations about him? How many times would she have had to tolerate other women making passes?
He may not have acted on them but they still happened.
And he should have done more to reassure her.
He had another chance now with Dana. He wouldn’t screw this one up.
Chapter Thirteen
When the phone rang that weekend, Dana thought it was her parents again. Ever since telling her folks about her diagnosis, her mom had been bombarding her with emails and phone calls. Most of them referenced articles about “fixing” infertility. So far, Dana had received articles telling her to cook with coconut oil, to drink more water, to avoid stress, and to minimize her exposure to household chemicals.
