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"Joshua, this is a very i," Alexandria Houton cautioned her younger brother as she parked her beat-up Volkswagen in the large lot behind the restaurant For adown into his bright eyes A rush of love instantly war aside her fears and frustrations and her rown up, Josh, I don't knohy I' myself But this is my only chance at a dream position like this You knoe need this job, don't you?"

"Sure, Alex Don't worry I'll stay around back and play with rinned at her, his beloved sister who had been his only parent since their mother and father died in a car accident before his second birthday

"I'm sorry the baby-sitter flaked on us She was - um, sick"

"Drunk, Alex," he corrected soleathered up his backpack and toy

"Where in the world did you hear such a thing?" she demanded, horrified that a six-year-old would knohat drunk was She slid froood suit The outfit had cost a arded it as a necessary invester than her twenty-three years and desperately needed the edge a sophisticated, expensive suit could give her

Josh hugged his favorite toy, a worn Tonka duo home, that she wasn't fit to watch over me because she was drunk"

Alexandria had specifically told hio to his room Instead, he had lurked nearby to eavesdrop He kneas an invaluable way to pick up information Alexandria considered proper only for adults Still, Alexandria found herself grinning at his mischievous upturned face

"Big Ears, huh?"

He looked sheepish

"It's okay, little buddy We do better on our own, don't we?" She said it with far more confidence than she felt They lived in a rat-trap, a boardinghouse patronizedusers Alexandria was terrified for Joshua's future Everything depended on this

Thoinative video and co for a new graphic designer Ivan had graced the cover of nearly every h with her sa Alexandria knew she was talented; now if only he wouldn't judge her on her youthful looks She was coners

Alexandria dragged her sliht take a while You have your snacks in your backpack, don't you?"

He nodded, silky curls bobbing across his forehead Alexandria tightened her grip on his hand Joshua was everything to her, her only fahborhood, a better standard of living Joshua was a bright, sensitive, co good that life had to offer, and she was deteret it for him

She led hirove of trees A path led to the cliffs overlooking the ocean "Don't go out to the cliffs, Joshua The edges are dangerous They can cruht under your feet, or you could slip and fall"

"I know, you already told me" There was a hint of exasperation in his voice "I know the rules, Alex"

"Henry is here tonight He'll be looking out for you" Henry was an elderly horove behind this restaurant Alexandria had frequently given hie and, more important, respect, and in return, Henry kept an eye out to do her favors

Alexandria waved to the thin, stoopedtoward them "Hi, Henry It's so nice of you to do this for me"

"You were lucky you ran into e tonight" Henry looked around carefully with his faded blue eyes "There's been so hereabouts"

"Gang activity?" Alexandria asked anxiously She didn't want Joshua exposed to the dangers or pressures of that kind of life

Henry shook his head "Nothing like that Cops wouldn't allow that in these parts That's why I sleep here Fact is, they wouldn't let me stay if they knew about it"

"So what strange things have been happening around here?"

Joshua tugged at her skirt "You're going to be late for yourher distress He settled hied on a rock beside the faint path leading to the cliffs

With creaking kneecaps, Henry sat down beside hinarled hand "We'll just play with this fine truck, won't we, boy?"

Alexandria bit her lip, suddenly indecisive Was it wrong to leave Joshua with just this worn-out, arthritic old man to look after him?

"Alex!" As if reading her concerns, Joshua glared at her, his manhood clearly affronted

Alexandria sighed Josh was far too old for his age, exposed to such a sordid life Unfortunately, he was also right: thiswas important After all, it was for his future "Thanks, Henry I owe you for this I need this job" Alexandria bent to kiss Joshua "I love you, little buddy Be safe"

"I love you, Alex," he echoed "Be safe"

The fah the cypress trees and around the kitchen to the steps leading to the balcony overhanging the cliffs This restaurant was faed at her hair pulled into a chignon, spraying salt and droplets of sea foam Alexandria paused at the intricately carved door, took a deep breath, raised her chin, andstomach belied

Soft ave the illusion of stepping into another world The roo fireplace giving each recess a warm, intimate feel

Alexandria flashed theMr Ivan Has he arrived yet?"

"Right this way," thelook

Thomas Ivan choked on his Scotch as the beautiful Alexandria Houton approached his table He often brought his dates to this cozy restaurant, but this young woman was a decided improvement She was on the short side, slender, but with full curves and fantastic legs Her large sapphire eyes were fringed with dark lashes, her olden hair isted into a severe chignon that eh cheekbones Heads turned to follow her progress She didn't appear aware of the havoc she was creating, but theroyalty There was definitely so special about this woman

Thohed to clear his throat and find his voice He rose to his feet, shook her extended hand, and privately gloated at his good fortune This gorgeous young creature needed hiood fifteen years her senior, with money, influence, and fame, he could make or break her career And he meant to exploit every pleasurable possibility of that very favorable position

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr Ivan," she said softly Her melodious voice played over his skin like the touch of silken fingertips

"Indeed" Thoer than necessary The sweet innocence in her eyes made her natural sexiness all the more provocative He wanted her fiercely and set hisher

Alexandria kept her hands clasped together in her lap so their tre would not betray her nervousness She couldn't believe she was actually sitting with such a brilliantconsidered as the artist for his next project It was the chance of a lifeti her intently, she searched for soent to say "This is a beautiful restaurant Do you come here often?"

Thomas felt his heart leap She was interested in hiht look cool and untouched, even faintly haughty, but she was fishing for information about his personal relationships He lifted one eyebrow and gave her his carefully cultivated smile, the one that always took their breath away "It's my favorite restaurant"

Alexandria didn't like the suddenly sht sos of the story line you suggested for your next ga I know you've been using Don Michaels for Nighthawks He's very good, but I don't think he captures exactly what you envision I see so much more detail, so much more power" Under cover of the table, Alexandria twisted her fingers together but tried to remain outwardly composed

Tho nao to match, but he'd never fully understood Thomas's vision However, Alexandria's obvious professionalism irritated him She looked so cool and untouchable She wanted to talk business Women usually threw themselves at him

Alexandria could see the annoyance gathering on Tho her nails into her pal A man with his rakish, debonair reputation probably preferred a more feminine approach She needed this job; she certainly couldn't start right out ht flirtation? Ivan was a wealthy, handsome bachelor, exactly the kind of hed inwardly She never seemed honestly attracted to anyone For a while she'd put it down to the unsavory hborhood, to her ht she id But she could fake it if she had to

Thoht "I don't think we should spoil our dinner with business talk, do you?" he said, flashing a char smile

Alexandria blinked away the ie of a barracuda and allowed a soft, flirty s She shook her head when he would have poured her a glass of wine and applied herself to her shrimp salad and the small talk that seemed to make her occasional dates happy Ivan leaned toward her, frequently touching her hand to make a point

Shesun she found Joshua and Henry playing blackjack with a battered deck of cards

Henry grinned up at her, thankfully took the food she had le out, and waved her off

"We're doing fine, Alex Go get that job you want so much," he instructed

"Are you teaching Josh to gamble?" she dehedJoshua close "Henry says I could probably support you with this game, cuz I alin," Joshua told her proudly "He says then you wouldn't ever have to pretty up to a no-good hound dog again"

Alexandria bit her lip to hide both her a affection "Well, until you're a full-fledged card sharp, I'll see to our support So I'd better get back inside If you guys get cold, there's a blanket in the trunk" She handed the car keys to Joshua "Take good care of these If you lose the out here with Henry"

"Cool!" Joshua replied, his blue eyes dancing

"Very cool Cold, in fact," Alexandria warned "Be careful I'll be as quick as I can, but this ht score big tonight" She made a face

Henry shook a gnarled fist "He gives you any trouble, you send him my way"

"Thanks, Henry You two boys behave while I'an to make her way back toward the restaurant

The as picking up, blowing the sea toward land, spitting foa the trees inher hands up and down her ar and mystery distressed her

She shook her head to clear away notions of evil lurking behind every tree For soht She put it down to the enoret this job

She h the jungle of potted plants and hanging green vines

Ivan jumped to his feet to seat her, well aware that he was the envy of the other ic that hts and untamed passion

He ran his fingers over the back of her hand "You're cold," he said, his voice a little hoarse Sheschoolboy, while she re him squirm

"I stepped outside for a ht was so beautiful, I couldn't resist looking at the ocean It see up a bit" Her eyes see up every emotion behind the himself under control He reached deep into his reserve of fa whie her Alexandria tried hard to listen to his conversation, but it was difficult to concentrate on his anecdotes about the ations, and the wearying string of wo increasingly uneasy, soto treers had wrapped around her throat The illusion was so real, she actually raised a hand to her neck to check

"Surely you'll have one se," Tho her attention back to him

"No, thank you, I seldom drink" It was the third ti hi She was not about to cloud her mind with alcohol when this interview , and never around Joshua He sawin the halls and on the sidewalks outside their roo house

Alexandria flashed a s out of her refusal As the waiter cleared away the plates, she very decisively reached for her portfolio

Ivan sighed audibly Usually woe But Alexandria seeued him, and he had to have her He knew this job was important to her, and he would use that if he had to He could tell there was fire in her, locked behind her easy s forward to enjoying some hot, steamy sex with her

But thehis ego and his lust Alexandria had captured the ies in his ht at his She was exactly what he needed for his newest ga and difficult, and it would bloay the competition Her fresh, inventive approach was precisely what he needed

"They're just quick sketches," Alexandria said softly, "without the aniot she didn't like Thomas Ivan very much as she watched the appreciative way he looked at her work