“We can’t do both?” As he stepped inside, he frowned at the open suitcase sitting on the couch. “Are you goingsomewhere?”
All the joy she’d felt at seeing him fled in a single breath. “Yes. I have to fly to Seattle tomorrow. It’s...complicated, but my lawyer’s there. I won’t be back until Thursdaymorning.”
“You’re in trouble.” Drawing her into his embrace, he stared down at her. How could she possibly lie when all she could think of was his warmth and how she’d never feel it again aftertoday?
“Don’t make me answer you,” she said. Alexander tightened his arms. “Please. Can’t we just have fun? You asked me to give you a chance—to give us a chance. That’s what I want to dotoday.”
A single quirk of Alexander’s lips spoke to his disapproval, but then he leaned in and rested his forehead against hers. A long pause and a hard stare had her holding her breath. “On twoconditions.”
“Anything.” Too late, she realized she’d opened a door she couldn’tclose.
“One. When you return from your trip, youwilltell me what is going on. And two. If I can help, youwillask. I care for you, Elizabeth. It pains me to see you in obvious distress. A state you’ve been in too often since wemet.”
Forcing an answer from her tight throat proved challenging, but she managed a single word. “Okay.”
They stayed pressed together for another moment, and she relished in his warmth. When he drew back, concern tightened his lips, but he didn’t press her further. “May I help you with yourcoat?”
The air in the apartment lightened with that single question. Her deep breath of relief came out almost as a laugh. “Only if you let me go.” She levered up on her toes to kiss him. He tasted of mint: clean and fresh and delicious. Alexander’s fingers twisted firmly through her hair. The delicious tension tightened her nipples. When he released her, she staggered back against the doorjamb.
“You’reterrible.”
“You kissedme. Now get your coat.” He playfully slapped her ass as she turned towards her rickety coatrack.
Please let there be some way out of this—some way I can stop CPH without losingAlexander.
One moment Elizabeth was laughing at Alexander’s poor jokes and the next she was fighting back the tears. Each time the darkness settled over her, he seemed to sense it and nibbled on her ear, tickled her waist, or cupped her cheek and kissedher.
At Boston Common, Alexander helped Elizabeth with her skates and kept an arm around her waist as they made their way out onto the ice. They held hands, following the pace of the crowds for an hour, though she’d swear they’d only skated for a few minutes. Christmas music played, children laughed around them, and from time-to-time, someone stared or pointed at Alexander. Thoughts of CPH skirted the edges of her mind, but never settled, for Alexander kept her distracted with casual banter, frequent kisses, and the occasional brush of his hand to herass.
“Elizabeth, do not be alarmed,” he murmured in her ear, “but I’m afraid we’re beingphotographed.”
A burly man with a professional camera blocking his features aimed in their direction. Her heartbeat quickened, and she tugged Alexander’s hand, urging him to move a little quicker so she could get a look at the man’sface.
Alexander took her hands and swung her around in an arc, giving the photographer a show. When she righted herself and looked back over at the photographer, no longer obscured by the camera, her worldstopped.
She recognizedhim.
Every instinct told her to run. But all she managed to do was send her legs in opposite directions and slide down Alexander’s body until she hit the ice with a bone-jarringimpact.
“Elizabeth!” Alexander hauled her up against him. “Are you all right,chérie?”
“I have to get out of here,” she said before rational thought took over. “Let me go.” CPHwashaving her followed, and now they’d seen her with Alexander—had evidence she was consorting with one of their clients—the lawsuit made perfect sense. Had they watched her at the diner? The Thinking Cup? She tried to pull away from his grip, but he shook hishead.
“No. You’re not going anywhere until you tell me what has you in a panic.” Alexander pulled her towards the edge of the ice in the direction of the photographer. Elizabeth tried to drag her feet, but on skates, in his strong arms, she had no choice but to follow his lead. When the man saw them approaching, he turned andran.
“The…photographer,” she wheezed, panic tightening herthroat.
Alexander swept his gaze over the crowd. “He’s gone. I can have my admin make some calls. We can keep your name out of the papers for a time. At least until the Fire and Ice Ball on Friday. Money buys many things. Even privacy on occasion.” He reached into his coat pocket, but Elizabeth stopped him before he could pull out hisphone.
“No. Don’t.” All the money in the world wouldn’t fix this, and his admin wouldn’t find the photo of them in anynewspaper.
Alexander’s eyes darkened, and Elizabeth struggled to calm her breathing. If she couldn’t convince him she was all right, he’d press her for details she couldn’t share. “I’m not used to this. Being on display. I shouldn’t have freaked out. Can we get out of here? My legs arejelly.”
“Don’t lie to me, Elizabeth. I read people every day. You did notfreak out. You were afraid of that man. Tell me why.” He caged her against the rail with a hand on either side of herwaist.
“Ican’t.”
A single black brow arched as he leaned closer. “This has something to do with why you’re going to Seattle, doesn’tit?”
