Free Hold Me Tight: Heartbreakers by Cait London Page A

woman just like this—one who knew how to get what she wanted….
    Had Jessica used Howard, the man who had called her, and then moved on?
    And had that affair been worth it to the man involved, the pleasure of having this woman?
    Alexi lifted his face to the cold mist, inhaling it. She wanted something from him—to protect Willow, her friend. But what would Jessica want to sacrifice, to pay, other than money?
    Jessica sat down beside Alexi, her anger simmering. She’d told him to stay away from Willow, who was sweet and innocent and not up to Alexi’s overpowering male appeal. Jessica didn’t seem to know that “potent” was a compliment to a man and her blushes had surprised him. For a sophisticated woman, Jessica had surprisingly innocent edges to her.
    Had his relationship to Heather been romantic? Or was it the satisfaction of needs—sexual and his biological needs for a home and children? And just maybe, the answer came back, Alexi did not want to know why he had planned a life with Heather. He’d known the reality of her coldness and yet—Was he so arrogant that he had thought he could make a loveless relationship become more?
    Alexi looked down at Jessica’s running shoes, now covered with wet sand. “If you stay here very long, you might think about getting a suitable pair of shoes,” he said, reminding her of the expensive pair that had been ruined while hunting him last night.
    Willow leaned in front of him to study Jessica on the other side. “Honey, you look absolutely drained. More business problems?”
    “Not a problem in the world. I’ve just been sleeping and relaxing too much. I need something to do.” Jessica hadn’t been able to rest and she’d finally set out to run off her tension, caused by Alexi’s body holding her close on the ride to the Stepanovs’ and that burning, unforgettable kiss in her hand.
    Jessica noted how close Willow leaned against Alexi, trusting him. That wouldn’t do. Willow formed deep attachments instantly and she was vulnerable and sweet. Alexi wasn’t. Jessica had seen his true, dark, brooding, tormenting, irritatingpersonality. And he was obviously sexually hungry—his arousal was hard to miss.
    His blue eyes were searching her face now and deeper, to the things Jessica wanted to hide. He slid her jacket hood back from her head and studied her hair, brushed into its neat chignon. “I like you better without all that paint.”
    “Do you?” Suddenly, Alexi and Jessica seemed alone, tension sparking between them. “I…”
    His hand had framed her face while the other hand was carefully removing pins. He dismissed her hands on his wrists, those soft fingers trying to waylay him. Alexi eased her waves around her face and he smiled softly, intimately, and Jessica’s heart flip-flopped slowly, heavily, in her chest. “Hi,” he said quietly.
    “Hi,” she returned breathlessly.
    She glanced at Willow, who was obviously interested in the quiet exchange and leaning close. Jessica recognized Willow’s expression from the last time Willow was infatuated; it said she was falling in love. It said that Willow pictured herself as the heroine of the Western movies she watched, riding off into the sunset with the cowboy.
    Wounded in love, Alexi might need Willow’s sweet, tender care for a rebound, but eventually he’d hurt her and Jessica couldn’t have that. Jessica did the only thing she could to temporarily save her friend from Alexi Stepanov. “Willow, I’ve just got to get some gifts in the mail. Your soaps would be perfect. Do you think you could open the shop now, please? Sorry, Alexi, but I really need Willow now. You don’t mind, do you?”
    She stood abruptly and nudged her shoe to Alexi’s boot, a warning to him to play along. His expression didn’t waver, his steady brilliant-blue eyes startling amid his tanned face.
    Jessica didn’t want anyone to see inside her past the protective barriers to the private guilt and hurting edges. Alexi was