When he held out his arm, Mallory shook her head. ‘No, we don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea. A foot apart at all times. Nobody should think that we’re a couple.’
‘Heaven forbid. Very well.’ But he drifted closer and by the time they entered the hall he was only a few inches from her side.
A tuxedoed waiter approached them holding aloft a silver tray of wine glasses. Alexander handed one to Mallory. She took a sip and immediately made a face.
‘Not good?’ he asked.
‘It’s a little … tart.’
He raised it to his lips, swallowed a mouthful – and choked. ‘If the wine is anything to go by, this evening will be a bust.’
‘It’s a good thing the wine is terrible,’ Mallory told him decisively. ‘You need a clear head. I have high hopes for this party.’
He eyed her. ‘I thought this was supposed to be a practice run.’
‘That doesn’t mean you won’t meet Miss Right. And either way, practice makes perfect.’
As she put her wine glass down on a table and glanced around the room, her eyes immediately alighted on her first candidate. Excellent. ‘You see the blonde woman over there in the long red dress?’
He followed her gaze. ‘Yes.’
‘That’s Alicia Van Borgen. She’s a witch – she leads a coven that’s small but definitely up and coming. She’s whip smart, adept at magic and she’s not long out of a relationship.’
‘You mean she’s on the rebound.’
‘I mean,’ Mallory said patiently, ‘that she’s single.’
As if the witch had heard her, she lifted her head and looked in their direction. Her eyes slid over Mallory and settled on Alexander with a very direct, very approving stare. Mallory grinned.
‘Too easy,’ Alexander said as he watched her. ‘She’s already giving me come-hither eyes.’
‘You’re not looking for a one-night stand,’ Mallory reminded him. ‘If that were the case, I’m sure you’d have no difficulty.’
‘Because I’m handsome and charming and, let’s face it, sex on legs?’
Unbelievable. ‘You arenotlooking for a one-night stand,’ she repeated. ‘You are looking for a life partner.’
‘You didn’t answer my question, Mallory.’
Exasperated, she muttered, ‘Sure. Whatever. You’re handsome, charming and sex on legs.’ She nudged him. ‘Now go and talk to Alicia.’
‘No.’ He raised his glass politely in the witch’s direction and turned away. ‘She’s not the one.’
Mallory’s mouth fell open. ‘You’ve not even spoken to her!’
‘I know her type and I know what she wants. If I speak to her now, the entire evening becomes a fait accompli and carnal knowledge is guaranteed.’
‘How is that a bad thing?’ she asked. Surely that was why they were here.
‘I don’t want sex, Mallory.’
She couldn’t help herself. ‘Ever?’
Now Alexander sounded exasperated. ‘You’re being deliberately obtuse. As you pointed out, I don’t want a one-night stand. That woman, lovely as she may be, doesn’t want a relationship. She wants a shag. There’s nothing wrong with that, although it might irritate you.’
Mallory crossed her arms. ‘The only thing that irritates me is that you’ve made up your mind about her before you’ve exchanged so much as a single word.’
‘I’m an excellent judge of character.’
