Free Convincing Alex by Nora Roberts

inside. Instead, he glanced around, annoyed with himself for feeling so awkward. “Some place,” he said at length.
    Bess’s lips curved. The room was hardly bigger than a closet and windowless. The table where she and Lori worked was covered with books, folders and papers, and dominated by a word processor thatwas still humming. Besides the table, there was one overstuffed chair, a small couch and two televisions.
    â€œWe call it home,” Bess said, and tilted her head. “So, what brings you down to the dungeons, Alexi?”
    The description was fairly apt. They were in the basement of the building that held the studios and production offices for ‘Secret Sins’ and its network. He shrugged off her question with one of his own. “How long are you in for?”
    â€œThe duration, I hope.” Casually she rubbed the ball of one foot over the instep of the other. “After the last Emmy, they did offer us an upstairs office with a view, but Lori and I are creatures of habit. Besides, who’s going to come down here and peek over our shoulders while we write?” She recrossed her ankles. “Are you off-duty?”
    â€œI took a couple hours’ personal time.”
    â€œOh.” She drew the word out, thinking he looked very appealing when he was embarrassed. “Should I consider this a personal visit?”
    â€œYeah.” He stepped inside, then regretted it. There wasn’t enough room to wander around. “Listen, I just wanted to apologize.”
    It was probably very small of her, Bess thought, but, oh, she was enjoying this. “Generally or specifically?”
    â€œSpecifically.” He shook his head when she held out the bowl of almonds. “After the robbery attempt, when I took you home. I was out of line.”
    â€œOkay.” She set the bowl down and smiled at him. “We’re dealing with your behavior during the last half hour of the evening.”
    His brows drew together. “Everything I said before that sticks. You had no business doing what you were doing, where you were doing it.”
    â€œGet back to the apology. I like that better.”
    â€œI took what I was feeling out on you, and I’m sorry.” Figuring theworst was over, he sat on the edge of the table. “You didn’t react the way I expected.”
    â€œWhich was?”
    â€œScared, outraged, disgusted.” He shrugged again. “I don’t usually take women to armed robberies.”
    Now things were getting interesting. “Where do you take them?”
    His gaze locked on hers. He knew when he was being teased, and he knew when it was good-natured. “To dinner, to the flicks, dancing. To bed.”
    â€œWell, armed robbery is probably more exciting. At least than the first three.” She rose, placed her hands on his shoulders and kissed him lightly on the mouth. “No hard feelings.” When his hands came to her hips and held her in place, she lifted a brow. “Was there something else?”
    â€œI’ve been thinking about you.”
    â€œThat could be good.”
    His lips twitched. “I haven’t decided that yet. Maybe we could start with dinner.”
    â€œStart what?”
    â€œWorking our way to bed. That’s where I want you.”
    â€œOh.” Her breath came out a little too quickly and not quite steady. It didn’t help that his eyes were calm, amused and very confident. How, she wondered, had their positions been so neatly reversed? “That’s certainly cutting to the chase.”
    â€œYou said once that people in our professions observe people. What I’ve observed about you, McNee, is that you’d probably see through any flowers and moonbeams I might toss at you.”
    Slowly she ran her tongue over her teeth. “Depends on your pitching arm. The idea isn’t without its appeal, Alexi, but I prefertaking certain aspects of my life—sex being one of