‘Why don’t you go and take a shower and we’ll get going soon?’ he said.
‘Okay.’
Emma stepped under the spray in Alex’s ultra-large bathroom, a little disappointed that he hadn’t chosen to join her. She could think of so many things he might do with the shower head that was hooked on the wall...
She shook her head. When had she become this person? Emma didn’t date much. Her parents’ marriage was more than enough of a warning against the entire institution, and when she had once found someone she genuinely liked he had chosen Lauren over her. Of course he was old news to both of them now. But the pain of that still stung. No one had ever chosen her over Lauren. Not until last night, that was.
Alex made her feel renewed. And if that made her a little greedy for his particular brand of sex, then she was all for it. She wasn’t looking for love, and it was obvious that neither was he.
Emma turned the water off and pulled two fluffy towels off the rack, wrapping her hair in one and the other around her body. She padded out to the lounge, where she found him relaxing on the couch with his phone in his hand, looking far better than anyone had the right to in a pair of dark wash jeans and a Henley shirt. His aviator sunglasses were hanging off the neck of his top. His hair was still damp.
She would never understand how men were able to be ready in a few short minutes.
He looked up from his phone and his expression went from one of concentration to one of pure hunger. It made her squirm where she stood.
Then Alex picked up the bag beside him and walked over to her, dropping the handles into her hand. He smelled like shampoo and something woodsy. Spicy...
‘Thank you,’ she said. Her voice barely came out at all. She cleared her throat and tried again. ‘I’ll just get changed.’
She dashed back into his room, finding jeans, a shirt and sneakers in the bag. She dressed quickly and brushed out her damp hair in the bathroom, then rushed out so she wouldn’t keep him waiting any longer.
‘I don’t know how you managed to get my size right.’ She laughed.
His smile was wicked. ‘I undressed you, remember?’
Her face burned. How could she forget?
‘Shall we?’
She nodded and walked with him out of his apartment. When they entered the lift she stood away from him. His proximity was a danger to her libido. She saw his smile and knew that she was being glaringly obvious.
‘This way,’ he said, walking towards a pearlescent white Porsche SUV.
It looked faster than it had any right to, being so large. From the lip over the rear windscreen to the low tyres, with bright red peeking through black-spoked wheels, the whole thing screamed speed.
‘So you’re an SUV person?’ Emma observed.
‘I’m nothing if not practical.’
‘Practical?’ She laughed. ‘Is that another rule? It can be big as long as it’s fast?’
His grin was infectious. ‘Almost right. It can be mine as long as it’s fast.’
Emma barked out a laugh and it felt great. Being around Alex made her feel lighter. It also made it harder for her to breathe. Especially when he smiled like that and it lit up his face. Like the sun coming out on a cloudy day.
Alex, charming her with his chivalrous manners, opened the door for her—something no one had ever done for her before, not even her father. Although he would always show that courtesy to Lauren and Maddison.
She didn’t know why it surprised her coming from Alex. Maybe it was because he had the air of a caged animal just waiting to be set free.
He eased the car out of the parking structure and onto the road. Emma kept shooting covert looks at him. His long fingers were gripping the steering wheel loosely. Those shades were hiding the eyes that had made her come apart this morning. Being in a car with him felt like being trapped in a stifling heat that she both wanted to escape and never leave.
He seemed so in control. Healwaysseemed in control. Even when he let her take the lead in the bedroom. But Emma didn’t mind, because his competence felt really damned good.
He looked over at her and a slow smile spread across his face. The air in the car became suddenly thicker. As if he could tell exactly how affected she was, his smile grew into a grin.
But before she knew it they were parked, and he had come round to her door holding it open for her.
‘I thought Fed Square would be a good start,’ he said.