Alexander laughed and pressed his lips to her temple. “Elizabeth, have you been drinking thisafternoon?”
“I’ve had enough coffee to kill a horse,” she replied with a nervous laugh. “I’m a little jittery. I didn’t want any alcohol. The last thing I needed was to get drunk before we talked to the press. But, shit. Once we get there, I could really use a glass ofwine.”
He chuffed softly and pulled her closer. “I think I like you jittery. You stop thinking so much and let yourself feel. And speak your mind, apparently. We will absolutely have wine. But no getting drunk tonight, for either of us. Anything we do this evening will be done with your full awareness and consent. Not with impairedjudgment.”
She looked up at him, suddenly serious. “I want you. Whatever else is going on here, the chemistry between us is driving me mad. But I admit, I’m scared to death of what you want from me. And what will happen if Ican’t…”
Respect welled inside him. He knew he could be intimidating. Hell, he’d built an empire on his reputation for ruthless business practices and brutal negotiation tactics. “You stagger me,Elizabeth.”
“For telling you I’m scared?” She frowned, confusion knitting herbrows.
“Yes.” He glared at the ancient elevator as the door slid open, hoping to scare the contraption into delivering them safely to the ground floor. As the car shuddered, he met her gaze. “What we have…goes far beyond simple chemistry, I think. Know this. Nothing will happen without your consent, and if you need to stop, use your safeword, and we will stop. Fear is natural. But I do not honestly think you could ever disappoint me as long as you are honest with me and withyourself.”
The air in the elevator hung thick with tension until Elizabeth grinned. “Well, I’m hungry. And again, you do look rathertasty.”
Elizabeth stared out the window as the glittering city streamed by, holiday lights in full splendor. Snow fell gently, dotting the sidewalks, coming to rest on the shoulders of men, women, and children bundled up in warm winter coats. A lightness infused her every movement today, unlike so many days before. Perhaps, they’d turned a corner now that they’d cleared the air about the lawsuit and Alexander’s spectacularly poor manners onFaceTime.
At the Omni Parker House Hotel, thick, red carpet covered the stairs leading to the lobby with Christmas trees standing sentry on each side of the door. Sparkling white lights, red velvet ribbons, and golden stars added to the magic of theseason.
Thomas opened the door, and Alexander alighted first, scanning the crowd. A smattering of reporters and photographers, plenty of security.Excellent.
As he helped Elizabeth to her feet, he marveled at her grace. A camera flash went off two feet away. Her fingers tightened on his, but she didn’t otherwise react. Alexander gave her hand a gentle squeeze, leaned over, and whispered in her ear. “Do not expect me to ever stop touching you tonight,chérie. I simply cannot get enough of you.” Elizabeth blushed as he pressed a kiss to her neck. “The press will jump on us when we get inside. Are youready?”
“Iguess.”
Tucking Elizabeth’s hand in the crook of his arm, he led her up the steps of the hotel and into the opulent lobby. With his best playboy smile firmly in place, he eased the cloak from her shoulders, then folded the wrap over his arm as he leaned in closer. “It looks like someone detonated a Christmas bomb in here. There may not be any spare lights left in thecity.”
Elizabeth laughed, tried to stifle it, and nearly ended up snorting. She glared at him. “You’re awful. You know that,right?”
Perhaps, but he’d coaxed a laugh out of her, and that was worth it. A few feet into the room, a shrill voice called his name. “Alexander Fairhaven! A moment forWGBH?”
Alexander turned smoothly with Elizabeth tucked close to his body. “Of course.Miss…?”
“Paige Denick, StyleReporter.”
The thin, waifish woman offered him a limp handshake. Her burly videographer hefted a large camera on his shoulder. As a red light winked on, the reporter smoothed her bright red hair and cleared herthroat.
“You’ve been almost a recluse these past few weeks, Mr. Fairhaven,” Paige teased. “Other than the short time you put in at the Jimmy Fund benefit, you’ve been out of the public eye for nearly twomonths.”
“Can you blame me?” he asked, pausing to tip Elizabeth’s face up and plant a gentle kiss on her lips. “And please, call me Alexander. This is Elizabeth Bennett, my reason for staying in as oflate.”
“Of late? How long has this been going on,Alexander? Forgive me, but you’re not known for your long-term relationships. In fact, I don’t honestly recall you ever being seen with the same woman twice?” The reporter’s tone was sweet, but her eyes hardened, and she pinned Elizabeth with an icystare.
Elizabeth straightened her shoulders. The motion caused the citrine diamonds to wink in the bright lights of the hotel lobby. “Alexander and I have been seeing each other for several weeks now. And as for his past exploits, they are none of my concern, or yours, MissDenick.”
Alexander chuckled as pride bloomed in his chest. “Elizabeth is right,Paige. The past is most definitely the past. This lovely woman is my present, and I hope, myfuture.”
Elizabeth pressed closer to him and gave a seductive laugh, but he could feel her discomfort. They were dancing towards dangerous territory—commitment. All before they’d even slepttogether.
“How did the two of you meet?” Paige askedthem.
Elizabeth blushed and gave Paige a brief, rehearsed summary of their first meeting. “I’m afraid he had to work quite hard to get me to agree to a date, though. Given his reputation. However, I’m pleased I stopped listening to all of the gossip-mongering and gave him a chance. He’s nothing like what the press makes him out tobe.”
“Elizabeth brings out a side of me I didn’t know existed,” Alexanderreplied.
“And what do you do, MissBennett?”
Elizabeth’s fingers dug into his arm. Ben had prepared them for the question, but though she offered the practiced answer with apparent ease, Alexander felt heranxiety.
