For some reason though, he had a quick flash of Alice as she stood, wiping her dirt-covered fingers on her jeans. She’d looked so damn innocent.
Was she a world-class liar?
Or one of the Secret Admirer’s victims?
He was going to find out the truth about Alice. Even if he had to be a lying bastard in order to uncover her secrets.
Chapter Two
“I brought dessert.” Zander flashed a wide smile as he stood at the threshold of Alice’s cabin. The smile revealed the two slashes in his cheeks. Not dimples. They were too strong, too hard, too masculine to be dimples.
Her gaze fell to his hands, and she saw that he clasped a bottle of wine in his right hand and an open box of cupcakes in his left. Two cupcakes. Both with chocolate icing.
“I know chocolate is your favorite.”
It was. Chocolate had always been her guilty pleasure.
“Thank you.” She took the cupcakes and gave a quick nod. Her fingers shook a bit, and Alice hoped he didn’t notice. She’d been counting down the minutes to his arrival—both in anticipation and in dread.
She wasn’t exactly a pro when it came to dating. In fact, she hadn’t dated anyone in almost a year. Tomorrow will be a year. The dark and twisted anniversary.
Alice eased out a slow breath. “Come inside.” She would not let him see how hard this was for her. She liked Zander, dammit. He’d been nothing but helpful. He was sexy as all hell with his dark, slightly curly hair, and his warm, brown eyes. The man had saved her time and time again when her cabin decided to fall apart. The guy was a Good Samaritan.
But then, she’d thought Hugh was good, too.
“I’ll put these in the kitchen.” She turned away from him. “Give me just a moment.” She hurried into the kitchen, trying to get her nerves under control. It was just dinner, for goodness sake. Nothing more.
His footsteps followed her. As quickly as she could, Alice put the cupcakes on the counter. She turned and found Zander standing far too close to her. He leaned toward her, reached out—and put the wine on the counter next to the cupcakes.
Why was it so hard to breathe?
“You’re scared.” A furrow appeared between his brows. “Did I do something wrong?”
No, he’d done everything right. Including not freaking out when she told him about her ex. “I’m, um, a little rusty at dating.”
Those slashes appeared again in his cheeks, and his eyes twinkled. “Oh, really?”
“There’s…a lot of pressure with dating.” She probably sounded like a lunatic. “You know, wondering if you’ll connect. Wondering when you’ll have the first kiss. Wondering if it will feel right or if it will just be some huge mistake.”
His head cocked. “You should stop worrying.”
Easier said than done.
“If you’re stressing over it, then how about we just get the first kiss out of the way?”
Wait—had he just said—
His hand lifted and curled under her chin. “This way, the pressure will be off.”
She hadn’t kissed anyone, not since—
“Your mouth is gorgeous, Alice.” But he didn’t lower his head. He stared into her eyes, and the tension stretched between them. “May I kiss you?”
Her tongue swiped over her lower lip. He was right. They should get this done. Eliminate the pressure. Sounded like a fabulous idea to her. “Y-yes.”
His head lowered. He wasn’t rushing. Zander took his time, and her whole body stiffened. Not in dread. In anticipation. And when his lips finally met hers, the kiss was tender. Careful. A gentle exploration. There was no awkward bumping. No too-rough press of his mouth. He kissed her with sensual skill, and her lips parted for him even as her hands rose to curl around his broad shoulders. Then his tongue slid into her mouth. And the kiss became a little harder. A little more intense. No, a lot more intense because desire burned through her, heating her blood with a sudden, sharp intensity.
Alice found herself leaning toward him. Opening her mouth more. Wanting more. A low moan built in her throat and—
Zander pulled back. His gaze seemed to blaze. “Sure didn’t feel awkward to me.” A pause. “And, sweetheart, rusty is not a word I’d associate with you.”
She was breathing too hard. And her fingers were trembling, but not because of fear or nerves, not any longer. Desire beat in her blood. Need had her aching. She wanted to close the distance between them. To kiss him again.
To do one hell of a lot more than just kiss.
“Glad we got that out of the way,” Zander murmured, and a twinkle came into his eyes. “And I’ve got to say, you taste sweeter than cupcakes.”
Heat stung her cheeks. She opened her mouth to reply, but her phone rang. Frowning, she glanced toward the counter. Only a few people had her number. Very, very few. The phone vibrated and rang again.
“Go ahead,” Zander urged her. “Answer it. I’ll get some wine glasses down for us.”
Because he’d been the one to fix her cabinet door when it broke last week. He knew exactly where she kept her glasses.
The phone rang again. “Excuse me, just for a moment.” She hurried to the phone. Unknown caller. That was odd. Alice’s finger swiped across the screen. “Hello?”
Silence.
Not unusual. Sometimes, her connection was terrible. She kept meaning to get a landline at the cabin. She walked a few feet and said again, “Hello?”
There was nothing. No response at all. Alice hung up the phone. “Probably a wrong number.” She tucked a lock of hair behind her left ear.
He’d gotten down the glasses. “That happen a lot? You getting wrong numbers?”
“No.” She headed back toward him. “That’s actually my first one since I got the phone.” A new phone for her new life. New city. New home.
New Alice.
At least, that had been the plan. Only she didn’t feel new. She felt like the same old, hiding coward she’d been since Hugh’s death.
Zander opened the wine. Poured her a glass. Poured some in his—
The phone rang again. She glanced down at the screen. Unknown Caller. She shoved the phone onto the counter and reached for the wine glass. “Not going to get it this time. It’s just a wrong number.”
The phone vibrated again. Zander lifted a brow. “How about I answer and tell him to screw off?”
She gave a quick laugh, surprised, but Zander was already reaching for the phone. His fingers slid ac
ross the screen, and he put the phone to his ear. “Hello, asshole.”
He waited.
So did she.
“Anyone there?” Zander demanded. “Look, since you’re not talking, I’ll just tell you—I think you have the wrong number. And we’re busy, so don’t call again.” He ended the call. Put the phone back on the counter. Smiled at her. “See, problem solved.” A pause. “Now how about that dinner? Then we can enjoy dessert.”
***
Alice wasn’t alone. The man’s voice had been cocky. Too arrogant. He was in her cabin. Night had fallen, and the stranger was in Alice’s home.
He shouldn’t be there. Alice didn’t date. Alice didn’t have a lover or even a casual boyfriend.
The man shouldn’t have been there.
Anger stirred, moving deep inside.
He shouldn’t be there, Alice. You know he shouldn’t be there. Alice knew the rules. She also knew what would happen if she broke the rules…
***
Thunder rumbled, and a crack of lightning flashed just outside of the window. Alice jumped, startled, and some of her wine spilled over the edge of her glass.
“Sounds like the storm is coming closer.” Zander sat near her on the couch. “Guess that’s my cue to leave.” He gave her a slow smile. “Dinner was amazing, Alice. Thank you.”
It had been a good night. They’d eaten. Laughed. Had the cupcakes and a little more wine. He’d told her stories about growing up in the Blue Ridge Mountains, about going to join the Army, becoming a Ranger…
He’d made her feel comfortable. She didn’t remember feeling this way, not in a very long time.
Now, he was leaving. Her gaze darted to the window. “Are you okay to drive?”
“Weather forecast said the rough stuff wouldn’t be arriving until around midnight. And I’m just down the road.” A little laugh. “I actually walked here tonight. My cabin is fifteen minutes north of here.”
She knew that. Maybe she’d made a point of learning as much about him as she could. With her past, it paid not to be too trusting.
Her gaze slid back to him, and she found his stared on her. Or rather, on her mouth. Immediately, Alice’s heartbeat kicked up.