More Than He Expected

But several times over the last few hours, she had felt the prickle of awareness on the nape of her neck and caught Alex watching her from across the room. There was an unabashed appreciation in his eyes as he had looked her over, making a warm flush rise to her cheeks. But instead of approaching her, he would flash his trademark smile and disappear into the crowd like a circling shark.

The reception was virtually over now. She had pretty much given up on anything but a quiet cab ride back to her apartment, since by her estimation, “later” had come and gone a long time ago.

And yet here he was asking her to dance. His heated glance sent a shiver down her spine, a tingle of excitement overriding the pain in her toes and sending her heart racing.

Most men did not jump-start a reaction in her like this, but Alex was not most men. To say the millionaire real estate developer was out of her league was an understatement. But he didn’t seem to notice.

As he held his hand out to her, there was no denying what he was offering. He wanted to fulfill his earlier promise and then some. Alex was interested in more than a dance, and by taking his hand, she was agreeing to it all. The building ache of need low in her belly and the suddenly tight press of her breasts against the confines of her fitted gown told her she was anxious to accept his offer.

Gwen looked up at her suitor. He was handsome, charming, rich…. When would she ever have another opportunity like this? She’d had her share of lovers over the years, but few could hold a candle to Alex. His reputation set tongues wagging, and she’d be lying if she’d said she didn’t want some firsthand experience. She deserved a night of fun with a man who knew how to have a good time. She’d been working so hard at the hospital and helping Adrienne. Next year would be just as hectic and, if all went as planned, quite lonely. A no-strings liaison with the playboy might be just what she needed.

One last drink before rehab, so to speak.

Her eyes locked on his, her answer clear as she reached out to offer him her hand. With a triumphant smile, he eased her from her seat and swung her gently around to face him on the seamless, white dance floor.

Without hesitation, Alex wrapped his arm around Gwen’s waist and pressed her tight against him. His bare palm splayed across her lower back, the heat of his touch only intensifying the pulsating desire stirring just under the surface.

She was surprised by her sudden, physical reaction to his touch. It was like a floodgate had opened. She had to suck in a ragged breath to cover the shudder that accompanied the rush of adrenaline through her veins. The spicy scent of Alex’s cologne swirled in her head, mixing with the soft fragrance of roses and candle wax and making her almost light-headed. Gwen could only cling to his shoulders as they rocked back and forth to the slow, seductive music.

They stilled on the floor as the music continued but didn’t pull away from one another. Instead, Alex leaned down and kissed her. It started off soft but quickly intensified once he got a taste—his tongue invading her, his mouth and hands demanding more. And she gave it to him. Gwen arched her back to press her soft body against his hard contours. He growled low in his throat, the vibration rumbling through his chest and teasing the firm peaks of her aching nipples.

Finally, the last few notes of music silenced, breaking the seductive spell that cocooned them from the surrounding world. But Alex didn’t let go, as she had expected. He looked down at her, the gold flecks in his eyes almost glittering with arousal. His jaw was tense, his shoulders rising and falling with his own rapid breathing.

It was time to leave. The hows and wheres and whats were still up in the air, but they couldn’t stay on the dance floor forever. “I need to get my things out of the bridal room,” she said, her voice breathy.

Alex nodded, releasing her from his embrace, and Gwen headed toward the dark hallway at the back of the boathouse.

“Keep it together, girl,” she whispered to herself as she turned the knob and entered the small space. Set up for brides, the room had a vanity and mirror, a chaise lounge, a wardrobe for hanging clothes and its own bathroom. They had cleared out all of Adrienne’s things earlier, but Gwen still had a few items scattered around.

She quickly checked her hair and makeup in the mirror. Her hands trembled as she grabbed her compact and mascara, stuffing them into her purse. She wasn’t sure if it was nerves or arousal rattling her composure.

Gwen was reaching for her hairbrush when she heard the soft click of the door closing, then locking, behind her. She didn’t turn. She only needed to look up to see Alex’s reflection in the vanity’s mirror, his back pressed against the door as he watched her with passion blazing in his eyes.

The where had apparently been decided. And she was glad.

One

Eight Months Later

“I’m almost there,” Alex said. “Fashionably late, as always.”

The voice of his best friend, Will Taylor, sounded through the Bluetooth-enabled sound system of his Corvette. “I’m not really worried. Just wanted to make sure you remembered how to get here.”

“I’m making the last turn now,” Alex lied. He was at least another fifteen minutes from the house in Sag Harbor, but it would soothe his friend’s concerns. This was supposed to be a vacation. The Fourth of July was one of those laid-back holidays with no obligations. There were no schedules, so he couldn’t possibly be late. “Is everyone else already there?” he asked.

“Yes.”

Alex hesitated before asking one last question. “Did Gwen end up bringing someone with her?” It was a dangerous question to ask, but he had to know. He’d rearranged his entire schedule to come out here because she would be there.

“No, she came alone. She rode up with us this morning.”

Excellent, Alex thought, although he didn’t speak the word aloud. As far as he could tell, no one, including Will and Adrienne, knew about what had happened between him and Gwen last fall. So of course they wouldn’t understand his interest in seeing her again. Or his burning desire to have her in his bed every night for the next five days of this trip.

“So what does that make? Ten of us?” Alex tried not to sound like he was fishing. “That’s a nice, round number. I’m glad she was able to take the time off. I haven’t seen her since the wedding, but I figured Adrienne would have her up for the holiday.”

Will made a thoughtful sound but didn’t elaborate. “We’ll see you shortly then.”

“Bye,” Alex said, pressing the button on his steering wheel to terminate the call. Easing back into the soft leather seat, he gripped the wheel tightly and pressed his foot down on the pedal to accelerate.

Gwen would be with them in the Hamptons this week. Alone.

He’d been hopeful, but he hadn’t let himself ask until now. The two weeks they’d spent together after Adrienne and Will’s wedding had been incredible. She was the smartest, funniest, sexiest woman he’d ever been with. It had been quite the pleasant surprise to find such an intriguing woman in such a small package. But to underestimate the spark inside that petite frame was a serious mistake. She was a firecracker in bed and out.

Their two weeks together had flown by, and before he knew it, he’d had to leave for New Orleans. Like all his relationships, it was short and without strings. Just a fun, sexy fling. But unlike most of the women he dated, Gwen hadn’t wanted any more than that. She didn’t eye his bank account or bare ring finger with burning ambition. She was just in it for a good time. He got the feeling she was busy, just as he was, and didn’t want the complication of something serious. It was perfect.

So perfect he was hoping she’d be up for another round.

Apparently their short time together had not been enough for Alex to get his fill of Gwen. He typically grew bored with a woman after a few dates. If they pushed for more, he pushed the end button on his cell phone. He was always open about it, but most women seemed to think they might be the one to tame him. None had come close.

At best, Gwen had managed to stay on his mind amid the distractions. For the last seven months, Alex had been working on a new real estate development project in New Orleans that had sucked up a lot of his free time. Despite everything, thoughts of her would occasionally sneak into his brain while he was sitting in a boring meeting or lying in his bed at night. She’d even slipped into his thoughts as he’d trolled Bourbon Street. After their time together, it seemed that none of the women he met, especially in a setting like that, were up to par. Night after night he’d slink back to his hotel, alone.

Alex just couldn’t shake the memory of Gwen. The soft caress of her hands across his stomach, the scent of her lavender shampoo, the sharp sass of her wit wrapped in the soft contrast of the Tennessee accent that came out when she was flustered …

Another week together ought to get her out of his system. Then he could get back on the prowl and reaffirm his reputation as a notorious bachelor.

Now that his project had gotten rolling, he could take a step back and let Tabitha and his management team run the show. When he and his friend Wade had started their first real estate development business, they’d been hands-on, start to finish. Now that he’d spun off and had the money to hire talented staff, he could do what he wanted and keep from getting bogged down in the details. He was looking forward to more time to play than he’d had in a long time. A few days in the Hamptons for the Fourth of July holiday was a great way to kick it off.

Alex turned onto the road that would lead to Will and Adrienne’s waterfront vacation estate. Adrienne had concluded the family’s ten-thousand-square-foot summerhouse was far too large for just the two of them and decided to make an event out of it. About eight other people would be joining them this week for some relaxation and fun.

At first, he hadn’t planned to come, but when he realized Gwen would be there, too, he’d changed his mind. Although they’d agreed not to contact each other, there was a part of him that wished she had texted him every now and then. He missed the sound of her laughter and her bright smile. A few days with her could scratch that itch.

What he hadn’t known until now was whether Gwen was bringing someone with her. He was hoping she would be up for Fling 2.0, but he couldn’t be sure. If she’d shown up with another man, this would have been a long, boring week of clambakes, pool parties and cold beds.

A small, worn wooden sign marked the circular driveway to the house. Alex slowed his Corvette and turned in, pulling behind a Range Rover and a silver Mercedes convertible.

He popped his fist against the horn to announce his arrival and climbed out of the car. His khakis and polo shirt had been a touch too warm in the city, but near the water there was a nice breeze making it cooler and much less humid. Perfect for being outside.

“Alex!” Adrienne called out from the front porch. “Will, Alex is here.”

She started down the steps to greet him, and Alex noticed that his best friend’s bride was looking as lovely as ever. She wore a pair of denim shorts with a light green sleeveless blouse tucked in, and her dark hair was pulled into a ponytail, her complexion a bit pink from the sun. To see her now, you’d never know she’d once survived a plane crash and undergone multiple reconstructive surgeries.

As Adrienne held out her arms to hug him, only the thin, white line of a scar up her left forearm remained. Alex pulled her into his embrace and gave her a tight squeeze. He’d been so busy lately he really hadn’t seen much of them, either. In his business, it was feast or famine. Either he was working almost nonstop for months at a time, or he was home, freewheeling while his manager, Tabitha, handled the rest. The project in New Orleans was a big one and sucked up more of his time than he had expected.

“Do you need help with your bags?” she asked. “Will is out back fighting with the new grill.”

The thought of Will grilling brought a smile to Alex’s face. They’d likely starve or call in a caterer before the trip was over. “Nope,” he said, pulling a duffel bag from the passenger’s seat. “This is all I have.”

“I’ll show you to your room, then.”