Free Her Irresistible Troublemaker (A Town Named Eden Book 3) by Sonia Parin Page A

moving slightly as she rehearsed what she’d say to Jack. She could start with a polite hello and then explain, in the simplest way possible, why she felt it was a bad idea to spend the evening together. After all, they’d met only a couple of days before. And as for how they’d met…
    “Think awkward circumstances. Happenstance.” She tilted her head and wondered if she’d ever used or even heard anyone use that word.
    Then there was Maggie. She’d insisted she’d be fine. In fact, she’d reasoned that after surprising Lexie with her sudden appearance, they needed to have some breathing space. Lexie had made a joke.
    You’ve only been here for a couple of hours and you’re already asking for time out? How are you going to manage to spend the night here?
    And then it happened.
    They’d smiled. Something between them had clicked. A silent understanding. Well, she had news for Maggie. There’d be plenty of talking when she got back home. But first she needed to get out of tonight’s date with Jack. Even if Maggie wanted some time alone, Lexie still had doubts about tonight…
    “Focus, Lexie.”              
    Tilting her head back, she tried to remember why she’d accepted Jack’s invitation. Possibly because he’d made it sound like an effortless evening.
    “Hello.”
    She took a step back, putting herself out of range of the security camera. “Hi… Hello… Hi… It’s me.”
    “I can’t see you.”
    “Why do you want to see me?”
    “Because that’s how it works. You press the door buzzer, I answer and check to see who it is.”
    “But you know it’s me.” She heard Jack chuckle. “Look… I’ve got a thing about cameras. I’m not at all photogenic. What if you take one look at me and see me in an entirely new light, an unflattering one. The image could scorch your brain and you’ll run like a Banshee…screaming… a male one, if such a thing exists.”
    “Lexie.”
    “Yes?”
    “Come on up. When you get in the elevator, just press the top floor.”
    “Roger that.” So much for trying to get out of tonight…
    Inside the elevator, Lexie looked down at her lace-up ankle boots. She’d matched them with black leggings, a mulberry colored skirt that sat above her knees, a black T-shirt and a green cardigan.
    Jack had told her she didn’t need to make an effort and dress up for the evening. Whatever she wore at home would be fine. Had he said that to make it easier for her to accept his invitation or because he really didn’t care what she wore because… he wouldn’t notice?
    She supposed she could live with him not being attracted to her but she couldn’t accept being made redundant, or heaven forbid, invisible.
    Well, she had made an effort, and choices. Would he appreciate the work that went into matching mulberry with eucalyptus green? And would he realize she’d come to his place under false pretences? She pushed herself to exit the elevator. Her body’s response to Jack couldn’t be ignored…
    The front door to his top floor apartment swung open startling Lexie and sending her stomach into a swift dip and rise.
    Jack looked different. More relaxed and casual, in an up-market sort of way, dressed in jeans that had the wear and tear of a hefty price tag, and a sweater that showed off his broad shoulders and flat stomach, not that he needed clothes to show off his well-toned physique.
    “Hi. Come in,” he invited and stepped aside.
    Even though she’d agreed to give Maggie some space, Lexie tried to remember the excuses she’d been rehearsing to get out of tonight, but she came up with a lamb to the slaughter zilch. And just as well, she thought, because all the reasons she’d been tossing around in her head had sounded ridiculous.
    This was Jack, the man who’d papered over her windows. He’d been practical, and quite decent by showing concern about her privacy. Why couldn’t she watch a movie with him? Because she couldn’t stop thinking about his broad