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This tier "That’s probably for the best He’sway too much for you"
Her cousin’s words echoed her own suspicions, but it irked London "What do youto learn to fly a plane, I wouldn’t reco?" London probed
"He goes fast, baby girl To call hi Luc can boil water"
In other words, Xander was really talented Yeah, she already knew that firsthand And if he was brilliant orally, it stood to reason that he’d be great with other horizontal activities Heck, he could probablyher standing or sitting orThe thought made her squirm in her seat "I see"
"No, you probably don’t" Alyssa surged into traffic as the light turned green "Xander isn’t just a rich, very char playboy, he’s a Do as if she’d rather not be having this conversation, as if she was having to explain the birds and the bees to a child London bristled She was naïve, not stupid
"A sexual Douest idea what that meant from a few books she’d read and so Luc’s friends But given the deep timbre, the snap in Xander’s voice when he co, Lys’ words shouldn’t surprise her "He likes to tie women up and hurt them?"
"I don’t know his particular kink I’m sure he ties them up I’ve never heard that he’s a sadist, just that he likes females in abundant supply and under his control Probably best that you didn’t go out with him"
Probably so, but still she wanted to understand her cousin’s insistence "He just suggested lunch What could he really do to me in a public place?"
"He’s clever I wouldn’t putfor soer and less likely to seduce you in the first ten ht the sa Alyssa’s advice would be the cautious thing to do But she’d been cautious for as long as she could reiven her the green light to progress, not walking unassisted until her physical therapist had browbeat her into grabbing so her twenty-first birthday in favor of studying for finals and not having to go to a bar where she’d be pitied for her lack of mobility It had taken her father’s sudden death froo to realize that life was short and she asting hers away by bowing to fear
"Maybe I want to be seduced," she adaze around and blinked at her in stunned silence
"I’e have experienced some romantic ht of her romantic past had been a sloppy kiss frorade
"I knoeetie I’ that you shouldn’t date and experience men, just thatwith Xander it would be over about an hour after it began"
She was probably stupid to believe that she could handle such atheir brief association had been the right move "But at least I’d have some experience"
"Oh, you would" Alyssa nodded "But could you live with a hit-and-run?"
Would it be? Probably When she’d been the one to insist on leaving, she’d probably thrown hiht would be out of mind for him He’d probably never call her And even if he didWell, that was that
The only otherher new boss, he see on alcohol to h the day Javier had problems And she was insane to assume that he would ever think of her as a potential date Starting Monday, they’d have a strictly working relationship
"It’s a moot point I said no Xander has no idea who I aain" She winced "Except that I’ll be working for his brother"
Alyssa’s face softened "I feel so bad for Javier I don’t know all the details, but that man’s life has fallen apart in the last year If Xander has forced him to spend six weeks here to sober up and refocus on his responsibilities, Javier must be one bottle away from total collapse"
London believed that Theonto his self-possession by a thread London had the feeling that as soon as she left the office, he’d disappear into his bottle for the night So on his face made her want to save him God, that didn’t sound smart After her own difficulties, she alanted to help others cli too wrapped up in Javiershe could already see that he was too proud to want her help If she tried, she’d only crash and burn
"Well, starting Monday, my job will be to make his work life easier Hopefully, that will ease his load so to be his assistant, not his savior While avoiding his brother
Not for one moment did she think that would be easy
Chapter Six
MONDAY , Alyssa dropped London off at SI Industries’ office shortly before eight thirty am She paced the abandoned hallway until Javier arrived a few ether and so insanely hot that he otten a haircut over the weekend The shorter style accentuated the slashes of his cheekbones He’d paired his sharp charcoal suit with a burgundy shirt Everything fit like it had been made for his body Given the quality of the fabric and the stitching, it probably had
He approached her silently on Italian leather loafers, his gait relaxed, just like his smile She smiled in return It was a reflex, both because it was polite and because she couldn’t not turn her lips up at the gorgeous matic expression precisely, but the fact that he looked alhtened her heart Maybe they’d have s" His deep voice pinged inside her
London hoped Javier didn’t notice the little treh her He was her boss She had to re, sir"