Alexander moved even closer on the leather sofa until the heat from his body warmed her, and she breathed in his scent. If he kissed her, the bit of stubble darkening his cheeks would tickle. What would he tastelike?
“Close your eyes and don’t move until I say.” His voice took on a commanding tone she couldn’t—or didn’t want to—ignore.
For several breaths, shewaited.
Then, a gentle kiss took her breath away. No other part of their bodies touched, but his demanding lips sent heat flooding through her until she fought to stifle hermoan.
He tasted of wine and the promise of passion. A quiet sound, almost animalistic, rumbled in his throat. A lingering tug on her lower lip punctuated the kiss, and she tried to follow him, but then remembered his order. Squirming, she dug her hands into theleather.
Alexander chuckled. “Look at me,chérie.”
Her eyes flew open. He sat a few inches from her with light sparkling in hisgaze.
“Why are you laughing?” Frustration sharpened hertone.
“Because, Elizabeth, you gave yourself to me. You trust me, even if you don’t want to. I saw such amazing strength in you that first day. A woman strong enough to know what she wants and go after it, yet self-aware enough to consciously trust me with her body and maybe even her heart. You fascinate me. I want to know everything about you. Down to the smallestdetail.”
Alexander’s words were too smooth, too perfect. Yet they drew her in, so when he offered her his hand, she tookit.
He kissed her knuckles. “Relax. Make yourself at home. I have to finish up the meal. I’ll be a fewminutes.”
“Can I come with you?” She gripped his hand firmly, not letting him pull away from her. When he cocked his head, she tried a tentative smile. “You want to get to know me. Leaving me alone in this imposing house isn’t the way to do that. Aren’t you afraid I’ll run awayagain?”
“Touché,” he said with a smile. “I wanted to cook for you. Unfortunately, I’m not the best in the kitchen. Donatella is going to be very upset with me tomorrow. I’m a tad bit embarrassed to show you the mess Imade.”
Nowthiswas a side of Alexander she could deal with. “You want me to share my secrets? Then you’ll share yours. I want to see the great Alexander Fairhaven fumble around in the kitchen. Maybe it’ll knock a bit of that swagger out of hisstep.”
He led her through the cavernous dining room and into the kitchen. A bubble of laughter fought to escape as she took in the mess. A tossed salad rested in a large wooden bowl on the counter, small bits of greenery scattered all around. On a cutting board, a lopsided loaf of bread rested. Flour covered every prep surface, splatters of marinara sauce dotted the six-burner Viking stove, and various bits of vegetable detritus littered the floor around thesink.
“When was the last time you cooked?” Elizabeth asked, biting the inside of her cheek to keep from embarrassing himfurther.
In this room, the confident, self-assured billionaire disappeared. Rolling up his sleeves, the corded muscles of his forearms flexed as he reached for a set ofpotholders.
“Something more complicated than scrambled eggs? Three years ago,” he said, cursing under his breath as he pulled a bubbling dish out of the oven. Lasagna. “Shite. It isn’t supposed to look this...runny.”
Elizabeth stifled a snort. “It’ll set. Give it a few minutes. It smells delicious.” The smile she earned warmed her down to her toes. “You’re not planning on us eating in that big formal dining room, areyou?”
He paused halfway to the door with the salad bowl in his hands. “I was.Why?”
“Because that’s not the way to get to know me. That’s a party.Thisis an intimate dinner for two.” She slid off her stool and withdrew a bread knife from the knife block on the counter. Arching her brows, she drew the knife across the loaf of sourdough. “Pull up astool.”
Alexander stammered for a moment, but whatever he saw in her eyes convinced him. “I’ll get thewine.”
This is more likeit.
Despite the grandeur of the kitchen, the mess and the familiar smells calmed her. They both wanted the same thing—to find out if they had anything in common besides the basic chemistry that burned between them. If she was going to be off balance, she wanted him just as unsteady. Sharing a meal tucked close enough for their knees to touch at a messy counter leveled the playingfield.
“This is amazing,” she said, savoring a generous bite of the slice of lasagna he’d served her. “Nonno Giuseppe would beproud.”
“Nonno Giuseppe?” Alexander sipped at hiswine.
“Toni’s grandfather. Antonia,” she clarified when he frowned at her. “A friend of mine. Her family owns a pizza restaurant in the North End. I’ll take you one of these days.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them. She’d just committed to another date. Oh, who was she kidding? Shewantedanother date. She worried she wanted a lot more thanthat.
“I look forward to it,chérie. To Nonno Guiseppe.” They toasted Toni’s grandfather and exchanged smiles—hers shy, histriumphant.
Change thesubject.
“Tell me something about you I can’t learn from the press,” Elizabeth asked, eager for a change ofsubject.
