Even now, with him standing so close, her temperature soared. She plucked at her shirt to get some air. Even though there was plenty of space around them, he seemed to absorb it all. It was hard breathing around him.
If only he still looked like the casual guy from Joe’s. In the guise of Alex Markov, rich golden boy, he was right out of her league. In fact, he was so far out of her league, he was in another dimension.
It wasn’t that she thought he was better. He was just so otherworldly.
She hadn’t exactly been feeling like she was part of the world lately. She felt removed somehow, set apart.
Other.
She’d been trying so hard to tell herself she wasn’t missing any pieces, but it wasn’t always easy. Her time at Vice had been a hotbed of emotion, for more than one reason, and it was when emotion throttled her that her power flagged.
Alex looked at her as if she was pretty and whole and strong.
Not hollow.
Was it so wrong to want more of that?
“Dana.” Was it possible his voice just got huskier? “You haven’t answered my question.”
“I…it’s because…I just.” She let out a puff of air. “You should really pull that lip in, you know.”
“The pout’s too much?”
“Maybe a little.”
He relaxed his lips but they were no less full and tempting. “Please come.”
“Why?”
He searched her eyes, serious once again. “I like talking to you. I like looking at you. And I want to flirt with you some more.”
“I see.” If she’d been chewing gum, she would have swallowed it. “I’ll run it by the others but I can’t promise anything.”
“Fair enough. I’ll still make sure you’re added to the guest list, but why don’t we trade numbers in case something comes up?” When he produced his cell phone, she surprised herself and brought hers out as well. They traded mobile numbers, like normal people.
The little digits on her phone display fascinated her. Alex Markov’s contact information in her phone. He’d given her both his personal number and an office number.
It shouldn’t seem strange. They’d done the nasty, and in a nasty place to boot. And yet having his number in her contact list seemed as plausible as having ET’s.
“I guess we’re set then.” With a nod, he slid past her toward the chapel entrance.
“Alex?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you. I don’t know why you’re being so nice to me.”
“Yeah, you do.” With that, he left the chapel.
Dana waited a moment and then followed him outside. She watched as he walked down the corridor, entranced by the way his hard body moved under that nice suit, hoping she’d find some clarity in his wake.
She only had more questions, the main one being why he’d singled her out. Had that night at Joe’s affected him as much as it had affected her?
I want to flirt with you some more.
He’d given her an opportunity to party all night at Covet, the place that was destined to become the Strip’s most famous nightclub. Would it be so wrong? It was just a party, and they’d already planned to hit the clubs.
This was fate telling her she needed to stick to her plan and try to enjoy herself. The universe had clearly ushered Alex in her direction, knowing she needed a little nudge.
