“Whether you like it or not. He is the whole reason you came. You like Phillip and want to see where it goes. Right? Otherwise, why did I spend all that time coaxing you into that dress?”
Alex could hear herself being ridiculous. “I do like Phillip, but—”
“Is this about your mom again? Because, honey, she’s not you. Just because your dad was a weasel doesn’t mean all men are.”
Alex closed her mouth. Yeah, her parents’ divorce had a lot to do with her caution, but Cass never seemed to understand how deeply it had hurt Alex. How it had driven so many of her decisions, then and now. After all, Alex had a juvenile arrest record thanks to a pathetic attempt to get back at her parents for splitting up. Later, after her mom had patiently straightened Alex out, she’d realized things weren’t as black-and-white as she’d assumed. That was why it never paid to get emotional over a relationship. Love was too messy and complicated.
It was much better to fade into the woodwork and focus on the numbers parading across Fyra’s balance sheet.
A wave of sensation sloshed through her stomach. Definitely panic.
“Do you want to stay?” Cass asked point-blank. There was no mistaking what she was really asking.
Staying meant she was giving Phillip the green light. He’d been eyeing her all night like a gentleman, never pushing her, but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the senator wanted more than a dance. Alex was being silly even questioning that.
If it had been anyone other than Cass, she’d lie. “I do. But I’m not—”
“Yes, you are.” Firmly, Cass took Alex by the shoulders. In heels, she and Cass were almost the same height. “You’re making this too hard. No one is asking you to marry him. This is about right now, that man and what you want. Go after him.”
Alex’s insides settled a bit.
It sounded so simple. Don’t worry about things she couldn’t control and just enjoy the attention of a man she’d been salivating over for weeks. Don’t assume he cared about anything other than sex—better yet, make it hot enough that he lost all interest in anything other than how good they could make each other feel. What would be the harm in a brief fling with a man she had a not-so-secret crush on? The magic didn’t have to end at midnight.
A shiver rocked her shoulders. It had been a long time since she’d had sex that didn’t require batteries, and Phillip would do just fine as reintroduction to the pleasures of a flesh-and-blood man. After all, he was a prime member of the species.
“Tell Gage I said good-night,” Alex said decisively. “I have a senator to seduce.”
* * *
Alex had been gone for five minutes and already a line of people had formed with Important, Pressing Matters to discuss with Phillip. One of those people was his father, whom he hadn’t seen outside of Washington in over a week. Rarely did their paths cross anyway since his dad was a member of the House. They’d been discussing a secret energy project, but frankly, he couldn’t concentrate on anything Congressman Robert Edgewood was saying as Phillip strained for a glimpse of the woman whose company he wasn’t nearly finished enjoying.
That shimmering dress appeared in his peripheral vision. About time. A humming sense of anticipation kicked up, the same sense he’d had all evening as he immersed himself in Alexandra Meer. What had started out as a way to get to know her better had grown into something more. Something with teeth, which had clamped onto him.
He extracted himself from his dad with a very polite “Excuse me.”
He drew up beside Alex, far too close. All of the other guests vanished. He tilted his head toward her ear and the scent of sweet pears made him hungry. Would it be awful if he tasted her?
He resisted. Barely. This woman had been in his arms all night, exactly what he’d needed to quit dwelling on Gina, and now he wanted Alex back against him, even if all they did was more socially approved dancing. He liked being around her, liked the way she made him feel. Of course, he’d be okay with whatever she dictated for the night’s conclusion, but the sharp ache in his midsection reminded him that this woman could ease it, quite well.
“You’re right,” he murmured and eyed a spot he’d like to nuzzle, right along her jaw. “The mayor is a bore.”
“I tried to tell you.” She laughed softly, leaning into his space.
“Come with me,” he said. “I have something I want to show you.”
Suddenly eager to have some privacy, he led her upstairs to a balcony that overlooked the living room. His grandfather had given him the Edgewood ancestral home in Old Preston Hollow as an engagement present with many of the original furnishings intact. An antique love seat hugged the back wall, far enough away from the wrought iron banister to hide them from prying eyes below.
Phillip had never appreciated the decor as much as he did at that moment. Hand to her back, he settled in next to her on the cushion. “You can see the whole bottom floor from here. But they can’t see us.”
“Handy.” Then she cleared her throat. “Gage and Cass are leaving. They’re my ride.”
Disappointment walloped him. That sounded decidedly final. Had he misinterpreted the long heated glances? He’d just got her where he wanted her. Well, closer to where he wanted her, anyway.
“You’re ditching me already?” he asked and tried to keep his voice light.
Probably for the best. What could possibly happen between them? A brief but satisfying interlude where he’d eventually have to say goodbye? A woman like Alex deserved promises he could never make. He would treat her well, of course, but if a woman got intimate with a man, she eventually wanted to fall in love and get married and have the whole heart of her mate. Phillip couldn’t do that, didn’t want to do that.
Gina had been enough for him. Sometimes the sadness of losing her overwhelmed him. Like it had today. Alex had distracted him and he was grateful.
But once the party ended, the cavernous house would seem even emptier. He was not looking forward to it.
Alex glanced up at him through her lashes, and her lips parted slightly. “Actually, I was wondering if you’d mind giving me a ride home. Later.”
Later was a word he liked a whole lot. It held all sorts of interesting possibilities. A smile tugged at his mouth. “My car is available to you at any hour.”
“Looks like the party is breaking up,” she commented, and it took him a second to tear his gaze from her beautiful face to register what she meant.
He glanced down through the spindles. His living room had grown surprisingly empty. What time was it? He’d lost track of everything—the hour, his guests, the people he should have been entertaining. And now he was going to kick out the stragglers in under a minute like a bad host. Even worse, he was going to have his butler do it.
Phillip signaled to George, who’d been ushering guests out the door and coordinating with the valet. His butler had worked for the Edgewoods for over forty years, largely owing to his singular talent of being able to read minds. George nodded and began moving to the remaining groups of people, herding them toward the double front doors.
Phillip should probably care about that more. “Perfect timing, I’d say.”
“I agree. I was looking forward to having you all to myself.”
A current of awareness passed between them, zigzagging through his groin, waking up his body.
“Unless,” she continued, “you’d rather I go?”
“Why would you think that?” It might have come out a little too forcefully.
She bit her lip, drawing it between her teeth. A habit he’d noticed she fell into when she was trying to decide what to say, not that he spent an inordinate amount of time staring at her mouth.