He blinked at her.
“When Randy got engaged to Jill, you no longer had someone to go chasing babes with. No strip-club buddy. No one with whom to take potshots at married life. Plus, as his business partner you’re fretting that his marriage will affect his career choices.”
Alec stared, open mouthed. He was taken aback by her insight. How could she know that ever since Randy met Jill he’d felt not only left out but also worried about the future of their business?
It was one thing for two carefree bachelors to publish a magazine called Single Guy. It was quite another for one of those bachelors to be shackled in matrimony. Alec feared Randy would forget how to connect with their happily single readership and the magazine would lose its competitive edge.
And secretly, in the dark recesses of his mind, in a place he refused to acknowledge existed, Alec was jealous. Not of married life. Oh, no. He realized that particular institution wasn’t for him, but of the special closeness Jill and Randy shared. Seeing them together sometimes made him wonder if indulging in daredevil sports, hopping from trendy nightclub to trendy nightclub, attending lavish parties, and wining and dining local celebrities was all there was to life.
He hated being forced to examine his lifestyle choices.
What he needed in order to shake off this woefully inappropriate “third wheel” feeling was a good old-fashioned fling with a woman who knew lots of naughty bedroom tricks. Indulging in the thrill of the chase never failed to lift his spirits.
And from the looks of this erotic shop and the seethe of sexual chemistry oozing between them, he suspected Eden was exactly the kind of woman he was looking for. And he was already having wickedly wonderful thoughts about how to please her in bed.
She was asking him more questions about Jill and Randy. What kind of fabrics they liked, their favorite movies, their mood music.
But Alec wasn’t listening. All he could think about was kissing those luscious lips of hers.
“I had no idea this process was so involved,” he said, but he was thinking, How can I get you into my arms?
“Oh, yes.” She nodded. “When you buy an Eden Montgomery original you’re getting much more than sex toys in a basket. You’re purchasing a gift of art from the heart as well as a treat for the senses.”
Man, did he want to experience her treats firsthand. She was exactly what the doctor ordered. A shot of pure sexual adventure to chase away his “my-best-friend-is-getting-married” blues.
“Sarah did say she’d never seen anything quite like your baskets.”
“I must warn you, gift consultation can take as long as an hour.”
“No kidding.”
“I’m a stickler for details, but you can rest assured your friends will appreciate your gift. I guarantee my work.”
A brilliant idea occurred to him. Alec checked his watch. “If the consultation takes an hour then I can’t do this today. I’ve got an appointment in Midtown in forty-five minutes. Plus I don’t have all the data you need. How about this—I talk to Randy, find out more about Jill’s likes and dislikes.” He reached into a pocket for his business card and passed it over to her. “You drop by my office around one tomorrow afternoon, I’ll buy you lunch for your trouble and we can do the consultation then. How does that sound?”
Eden accepted his card and stared down at it. She hesitated a moment and his heart did that idiotic beat-skipping thing again.
She’s going to say no, he thought, and his spirits plummeted.
What in the hell was the matter with him? He hadn’t been this nervous since his high school prom. Blame his uncharacteristic anxiety on a long dry spell.
Speaking of second virginity, he’d been celibate for the past eight months. Not because he hadn’t had plenty of opportunities, but simply because no one had excited him to the point of making an effort.
Until now.
She wet her lips with the tip of her tongue then raised her eyes to meet his again.
Thump-thump-thump went his ticker.
“Okay,” she said. “Why not?”
SHE HAD A DATE.
For the first time in almost a year she had a date. A date with—Eden stared at the card still clutched in her hand—Alec Ramsey.
The little rectangle of stiff paper burned a hole in her palm, but already the powerful rush of creative sexual energy she had experienced in his presence was starting to dissipate. Had she imagined it all?
Come on, it’s not a date, niggled her nay-saying voice. It’s a business luncheon.
Before she had time to argue with herself about the “date” versus “not date” status of her appointment with Alec, Ashley and Mrs. Lockerbee pounced.
“Omigod,” Ashley clutched her hand to her heart. “Was that guy gorgeous or what?”
“Not only gorgeous,” Mrs. Lockerbee said. “But rich and famous, too.”
“Famous?” Eden furrowed her brow.
“Don’t tell me you didn’t recognize him?” Mrs. Lockerbee clicked her tongue.
“That’s because you were too busy drooling,” Ashley commented. “Not that I blame you one tiny bit. And the cool thing was, he seemed just as taken with you.”
“He didn’t.”
“Oh, but he did.” Ashley nodded knowingly.
“His card just gives his name, business address and phone number. Don’t leave me hanging in suspense, Jayne. Who is Alec Ramsey?”
Jayne telegraphed her a wicked smile. “Why, darling, that perfect specimen of manhood is none other than the publisher of Single Guy magazine and the most eligible bachelor in Manhattan.”
“You know him personally?”
“Last year we served on the board of the Kids Count charity together. He’s very big into helping underprivileged youths and he really means what he says. He’s not just some rich guy throwing money around to boost his public image.”
“I would never have guessed it.” He looked so sophisticated and polished Eden had a hard time imagining him hanging with street kids.
“Alec lost his own father when he was in his teens, a heart attack I think, and it had a lasting impact on him. He doesn’t take anything for granted. That’s why he works so hard. I think his earnestness just adds to his sex appeal.”
“I’m meeting him for lunch tomorrow.”
“Get outta here!” Ashley gave her a playful shove. “You go, woman.”
“Only to discuss a gift consultation. It’s just business.”
“The way you’re smiling indicates it’s much more than just business.” Jayne wagged a knowing finger.
“Okay,” Eden confessed, her grin spreading and giddiness flitting through her. “It could be more than business. We’ll see.”
“This totally rocks,” Ashley enthused. “Now maybe you’ll have hot sex and get your groove back.”
“Hey, hey, don’t go jumping to conclusions. I’m simply meeting him for lunch.”
Now that Ashley had expressed out loud the thoughts revolving in her head, Eden’s prudent side kicked in and a panicky fear gripped her. She wasn’t like her freewheeling, irresponsible mother. She could not have a wild affair with a stranger even if he had jumped-started her libido and her imagination with a single rakish grin. The fact that she was even considering such a thing tempted her to break the date.
Play it safe. Call