“What can I get for you?”
“I was worried about you.”
She hummed doubtfully. “You’re the one who was hiking strange land in the dark last night.” Her body responded to the reminder, flushing with heat. So much for not mentioning it.
His eyes sharpened, and Lexi swallowed. Not good.
“You’re usually gone by now.”
“Why do you know that?”
“I’m staying at the inn,” he answered, like that explained everything.
It was close, but not exactly across the street. Lexi raised a single eyebrow and waited for the rest.
“I notice things.”
“Are you watching me?”
His fingers drummed rhythmically against the glass. It annoyed her, not because of the relentless tinkle, but because it drew her attention to his fingers. And made her think about them running over her body.
“No.”
They both knew it was a lie. Lexi should be sending him packing, but instead of finding his scrutiny annoying it thrilled her a little. What was wrong with her?
At least it was nice to know she wasn’t the only one losing her head in this situation.
Lexi glanced down at him, for the first time realizing he wore workout clothes. It shouldn’t have mattered. So he ran and took care of himself. It meant his body would be hard with well-honed muscles, though. And she wanted to touch all of them.
A pair of shorts hung loosely from his hips and a soft T-shirt clung to a wide chest, molding to his damp skin. Hot and sweaty shouldn’t have been appealing. But it was. On him it totally was. She wanted to taste his salty skin.
“Stop looking at me that way.”
The low rumble of his words startled her and she jerked her eyes up to his. “What?”
“Don’t look at me like that. I did a Google search on your brother last night. The prospect of getting my face bashed in isn’t very appealing, and if you keep looking at me that way I’m going to kiss you again.”
Lexi sucked in a surprised breath. “What makes you think I want you to?”
His jaw flexed and his eyes sharpened. His gaze snagged on her mouth, and without her consent her lips dropped open, issuing an invitation she had no intention of making.
Triumph flitted across his face. Lexi frowned.
Before she could come up with a proper response he glanced down at the case and asked, “Are these for real?” He pointed to the multi-tiered, gold-rimmed platters of aphrodisiac chocolates.
She’d draped a couple of yards of deep gold satin and lace she’d gotten from Willow’s material scraps around the display. Dried red rose petals scattered the surface. Atmosphere. She was excellent at making the product. Thank God she had friends like Willow and Tatum, a talented florist, to help her with the rest. All she had to do every day was replace the chocolates on the platters.
“Yes, they’re real chocolate truffles.”
“No, I mean are they real aphrodisiacs? Do they work?”
“Yes.”
He eyed her askance. “I find that hard to believe.”
She shrugged. “Okay.”
Lexi had run across plenty of people who thought aphrodisiacs were a bunch of bunk. And then there were the people who swore by them. She fell somewhere in the middle. There was no denying that the herbs she infused her chocolates with had been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. They affected the body. Fact. Whether they affected it strongly enough to prompt people to do and feel things they might not normally, she wasn’t sure.
Not that it mattered, really. She’d developed the chocolates as a novelty item a couple of years ago for Valentine’s Day. They’d sold so well she’d kept them on the menu. Sure, while she was developing them she’d tested, but not in large quantities. Not for effect, but for taste.
She had no idea if they really worked. Plenty of her customers told her they did and that was good enough for her.
“Okay?”
“Believe what you want.”
“You don’t stand behind your product?”
“Of course I do. They’re delicious.”
“I’m sure they are.” His sharp, cool eyes cut to hers. “Everything I’ve tasted has been amazing.”
Why did she get the feeling he wasn’t talking about the cake he’d bought?
“But do they perform as advertised? I suddenly feel the need for verification.”
“Then buy some.”
“Oh, I plan on it.”
Lexi reached down for a box, ready to start placing an assortment inside.
“But I’m not sure that’s enough.”
Her hand stilled beneath the glass, halfway to grabbing some chocolates from the top platter. Lexi stared at Brett. His gaze trained on her hand hovering just beneath him as he leaned across the case.
“How will I know if they work?”
Lexi quirked a single eyebrow. “Didn’t your mommy tell you about the birds and the bees? You see, when a man and a woman are attracted to each other...”
He laughed, the sound deep and rich as it echoed through her chest. How could his laugh make her skin tingle?
He reached out and tugged at a strand of hair that had fallen from her ponytail. The touch was hardly a caress, but her scalp tightened with anticipation anyway. “Oh, I’m plenty attracted. Would you like me to prove it? Again?”
“No,” Lexi croaked out.
“Liar,” he whispered, his voice a soft stroke she felt deep in her belly. “You’re a hypocrite.”
“Excuse me?” She recoiled, only just now realizing how close she’d leaned into him across the case.
“You’re a hypocrite, right along with everyone else in this town. What’s the loudest criticism for the resort plans?”
“That they’re tacky?”
He shook his head. “That they take the theme you’ve used to build a thriving tourism industry one step too far. Like aphrodisiac chocolates don’t do the same thing.”
“They do not,” she protested, affronted for herself and the entire town. “They aren’t tacky. They’re sensual and they work.”
“Prove it.”
They were back to this. “How?” she asked, exasperated.
“Help me test them.”
Again she asked, “How?”
“Have dinner with me. Your chocolates can be dessert.”
“I don’t think so.” That was just asking for trouble, something Lexi wasn’t in the habit of doing. “Take someone else to dinner.”
There was no reason it had to be her. Sweetheart was filled with beautiful single women. Lexi tried to ignore the pinch of spite that hit when she thought of him out with anyone else.
She couldn’t have her cake and eat it, too. Either she wanted him for herself or she didn’t.
And she didn’t.
End of discussion.
“Ah, but there’s a flaw in that plan.”
If there was she couldn’t see it.
“I don’t know many people in Sweetheart. If I take out someone I don’t know, I won’t know for sure if my reaction is from the chocolates or just from natural attraction.”
He leaned closer. Lexi wanted to pull back, but couldn’t find the strength to actually do it.
“We already know how I react when you’re close.” His finger slipped softly down the curve of her cheek. She couldn’t help it; she tipped her head into the caress, wanting more.
She was in so much trouble.
“You’re like a control. If I’m more attracted to you after eating the chocolates—if I can’t keep my hands off you—then we know they work.”
“You can’t seem to keep your hands off me now,” she breathed out, the accusation far from as forceful as she’d intended. �
��Besides, there’s a flaw in your logic.”
He cocked his head to the side and waited.
“I don’t need to prove anything.”
A grin played around the edges of his mouth.
“True. But you’ve piqued my interest.”
“Your problem, not mine.”
“Perhaps, but what if I made it worth your while?”
“How?” She didn’t want anything from this man. Really, she didn’t.
“What do you want?”
“For you to leave town.”
Humor pulsed across his sensual mouth, drawing her attention and scattering her thoughts. What were they arguing about?
“Not going to happen.”
Oh, yeah, her chocolates. “Then stop harassing my friends. Leave the business owners alone and find another way to get what you want.”
He considered her for several moments. How could his cool blue scrutiny make her insides melt to mush? “Fair enough. If your chocolates work as described then I’ll stop harassing your friends.”
Lexi’s eyes narrowed. She was suspicious. He’d given in a little too quickly, which made her question whether he had any intention of following through on the promise.
“Why would you agree to that?” she wondered aloud.
A wicked gleam crystallized deep in his eyes. “Because I think it’s a bunch of bullshit. I don’t see how a ball of chocolate can increase sexual desire. It’s all up here.” He tapped the side of his head.
“What do you get if you’re right?”
“A night with you,” he said baldly. “I want to kiss you again. It’s all I’ve thought about since you walked away last night.”
“Why don’t you just ask me to dinner?”
“Would you say yes?”
Slowly, she shook her head. “No,” she whispered, not sure if her answer was to his question or his challenge. Or both.
Leaning across the counter, Brett invaded her personal space. He didn’t touch her. He didn’t have to.
“Coward,” he breathed through parted lips. She couldn’t pull her gaze away. She wanted to close the space between them and taste him again.
“Are you afraid of me, Lexi? Or of yourself?”
“I’m not afraid of anything.”
“Prove it.” His words were punctuated with the sensual taunt that dared her to test him—and herself. Did she have the fortitude to tell him no?
Apparently not. “Yes.”
Finally, he touched her, running the pad of a single finger across her aching lips.
“You may have the rest of this town snowed with your quiet, efficient businesswoman facade, but you don’t fool me.”
Lexi pulled back and swallowed, pushing down the lump of nerves that had lodged in her throat the moment she agreed to this madness.
“I’ve seen the other side of you. Passionate. Fiery. You’re strong and determined. Beneath the gingham aprons and cookie dough lurks the heart of a siren. I know. I’ve seen her.”
“You don’t know me at all.”
“Maybe not, but I want to.”
* * *
HE’D MANIPULATED HER with that to-die-for smile and his intensely cool eyes. That was all there was to it. If she’d been in her right mind she never would’ve agreed to have dinner with him.
And to make it worse, she had an entire day to get through before she could get it over with.
After dipping about fifty apples and creating raspberry, lemon chiffon and coconut truffles, she’d jumped on the treadmill and pounded out about six miles. The exertion should have taken the edge off—it usually did. Instead, she was still cranky and now sweaty and in desperate need of a shower.
Luckily, she had a three-piece bath built into the back. The shower wasn’t huge, but it did the job. Although, as she was pulling on her jeans and a pale blue sweater set, Lexi frowned at her reflection in the mirror.
Her face was free of makeup. She hardly ever bothered with it at work. Between the heat of the ovens and her daily exercise routine, it never stayed on long, anyway. Her clean face had never bothered her before. She’d never been one of those women who got excited about experimenting with color on her face.
But today, it bothered her.
She had some time before the store opened. Without second-guessing herself, Lexi headed into the alley that ran behind the row of stores.
Willow and Macey’s boutique was four down. She didn’t bother knocking, but walked right into the storage room with rolls of fabric, perfectly organized beads and embellishments, and various boxes stacked to the ceiling. On the other side was a tiny office and break room. The largest space was the display area up front and Willow’s design studio down the hall.
Neither of her friends or their employees were in the back, which was unusual. Especially since they wouldn’t technically open for another forty-five minutes, although, they did sometimes take early appointments.
Walking closer to the front, Lexi heard the soft murmur of voices: Willow’s elegant cadence, Macey’s no-nonsense, clipped words, and someone male.
Even before she’d walked through the decorative swinging doors that separated the spaces the quickening in her body told her who that voice belonged to. But pushing through and seeing Brett standing at the glass counter, surrounded by tiny beads that caught the light, colored sequins and lace should have made her laugh.
Someone as inherently masculine as Brett Newcomb should have stuck out like a sore thumb. But he didn’t. He blended in so easily. The man was a chameleon. She imagined that no matter where he went, he found a way to fit in. Whereas she...she’d always been the one who faded into the background. On the surface those two things sounded similar, but in reality they were totally different.
Blending was good. A skill. Fading just happened. Something she hadn’t known how to prevent when she was younger and a comfort zone she was familiar with as an adult.
Lexi’s chest tightened. What was he up to now? Whatever he wanted must be attached to the resort. So why weren’t her friends slamming the door in his face?
“You could knock down this wall instead, since that one’s load bearing. That would actually open up the space, but still give you the clearly defined demarcation that you’re looking for.”
Willow frowned. Macey nodded slowly. Brett’s finger slid across the large square of paper spread across the counter in front of them. It was only one in a thick sheaf.
Stepping closer, Lexi realized they were looking at the blueprints for the store.
Startled by her movement, Willow glanced up. “Oh, Lexi. I didn’t realize you’d come in.” Her friend smiled. “Everything okay?”
Macey threw her a smile and a quick welcome, but went back to studying the drawing in front of her. “But this assumes we can purchase the space next door. What if we can’t?”
Brett shifted. He studied her for several seconds, his face passive and his eyes cool. Then he smiled. And Lexi’s stomach flip-flopped.
“What are you doing here?” Her voice was accusing, although she hadn’t meant it to be.
Willow’s frown deepened and she sent Lexi a cool-it look.
Brett’s grin deepened. “You like to ask me that, don’t you?”
“Not really, but you’re always where you shouldn’t be.”
“Who knew a public store could be off-limits?”
“Lexi,” Willow’s soft voice admonished.
Rolling the documents into a tight cylinder, Brett tucked them beneath his arm. “If you don’t mind I’ll take these with me and have a look at them tonight. I’ll see what I can come up with for your existing space.”
Macey reached across the counter and laid her hand on his arm. “That would be wonderful. We really appreciate the help. I’ve been meaning to take
the drawings into Charleston, but we’ve just been too busy. And I have no idea who might be good to talk to.”
Brett nodded. “A bad architect can ruin the expansion before it even begins. Let me put out some feelers and see if any of my contacts know someone in Charleston.”
The flash of Macey’s appreciative smile as she gazed up into Brett’s eyes made Lexi see green. Macey was her friend and she was only being polite. But apparently that didn’t matter to the green-eyed monster sitting on Lexi’s chest.
“You’re so sweet.”
Grinding her teeth together at the unwanted reaction, Lexi turned away from the group before she said something she’d regret. Brett was in town for a little while. Macey had been her friend—and a good one—for years.
She didn’t realize he was behind her until it was too late. The heat of him spread down her spine and across the back of her thighs. All of her internal muscles began to flutter in anticipation. She clamped down on the reaction, but she still wanted him to touch her.
He didn’t. Instead, he curled his tall body over hers so that he could see her face. Part of her felt trapped, caught between him and the display rack she’d been pretending interest in. She could have moved if she wanted to, but she didn’t. Her muscles were frozen in place.
“I’ll see you tonight.” His gaze roved over her face, finally settling on her mouth. Her lips pulsed with increased blood and the need for the press of him.
He walked away. Lexi blew out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. All the tension leaked from her body and she sagged against the arm of the rack in front of her.
Until Willow’s voice reminded her she wasn’t alone. “What was that about?”
She turned slowly to find both of her friends staring at her with blatant curiosity.
“Uh...”
Macey shook her head, “Oh, no, you don’t. Don’t even think about pretending that wasn’t something huge. I felt like a voyeur and the man didn’t even touch you. I’ve seen plenty of brides and grooms in my day. I recognize sexual chemistry when it scorches up the place. Spill it.”
Willow dragged a pretty upholstered chair over. Pushing gently on her shoulders, she forced Lexi to sink. “Jesus, Lexi, you’re shaking.”
She's No Angel Page 6
