Never Happened (16 page)

Just as Henson's death had, Blake's presence had screwed with her perfect balance. Knowing that he'd slept on this very sofa for two nights had her itching to move.

Maybe that wasn't true. She'd been doing some real thinking recently. She could try a mini relationship. See where it went. Maybe she was missing something.

But first she had to find the right man.

Not a problem, she knew plenty. The streets of Miami were full of good-looking, stable men. She'd have her 4Runner back on Monday and maybe she'd just go cruising. Thankfully the mechanical failure had nothing to do with sabotage this time, just a bad fuel injector.

One man in particular strong-armed his way into her thoughts but she kicked him out. He was long gone.

The doorbell chimed and she jumped up. “I'll get it.” Any excuse to take her mind off trouble.

Marg and Shannon didn't even appear to notice
she'd moved. They were too engrossed in watching Orlando Bloom.

Alex just shook her head and wandered over to the front door. She knew it wouldn't be Brown; he was parading all over Miami showing off his new tiara. Could be the Professor coming back down for something he claimed he couldn't find at her mother's, like the pepper grinder. Alex had noticed the Professor sneaking a look at Marg at the Ms. Miami contest today. She had the sneaking suspicion the man had a thing for her mother, which could be very good. The Professor would know how to handle Marg's exotic tastes and fragile ego.

Alex opened the front door and all other thoughts, including the one that would have told her to say hello, fled from her brain.

Blake stood on her porch.

“Hey, Alex.” When she just stood there, mute, he added, “Can I come in?”

Cheering from the girls at something on the movie nudged Alex out of the trance she'd drifted into. “No!” She stepped out onto the porch and pulled the door closed behind her. “I have company.”

A flicker of something in those blue eyes made her chest constrict. Damn this man and his control
issues. Damn his power over her. Ten seconds in his presence and already she couldn't catch her breath.

“I stopped by to thank you,” he said. “You performed a great service for your country.”

She heard what he said, but for the most part she was busy admiring the charcoal suit and silver shirt with the contrasting black tie. The guy knew how to dress. His only concession to imperfection was the way his hair had that just-rolled-out-of-bed look, and even that turned out to be perfect.

She'd pushed the limits of his control that one night when he'd kissed her. She wasn't even sure how it happened. But it had been nice. Too bad it wasn't meant to be.

“Well, I suppose I should be on my way.” He took a step back.

Somehow the move jolted her. Wait just one minute, she mused as her attention shifted from how gorgeous he looked to what he was actually saying. There was no way he came to her house on a Saturday night to thank her when he'd already done so yesterday when the lens had been recovered.

“What did you really come here for, Blake?” Her self-confidence roared like a lion. Oh yeah. This guy had a thing for her. Thank God she'd chosen this outfit for tonight. Slim-fitting, low-slung lounge
pants and a silk camisole edged in frilly lace. Her bare feet sported sexy pink toenails. She looked good. She knew it and so did he.

He looked puzzled at her question, but he knew exactly what she meant. “I suppose I wanted to ensure that you were all right.”

Liar. “You knew I was all right when we said goodbye yesterday.”

He nodded.

“So what gives? Did you come back because there was something else you wanted?”

Tension tightened that handsome jaw.

“You want me, Mr. Uptight CIA guy?”

His gaze raked down the length of her body and back. Blatant desire burned there when his eyes met hers once more.

“Yes.”

She heaved a wistful sigh. Well, damn. “The problem is,” she admitted woefully, “I don't get involved with dangerous men. I've stuck by this rule a really long time, Blake.”

Temptation glittered in those blue eyes. “Don't worry, it'll be our secret.”

A smile lit her face; she could feel the glow. Now there was an offer she couldn't possibly refuse. Anticipation sent her body temperature soaring.

Oh hell. “But I do have company.” Getting rid of them wouldn't be easy.

He inclined his head toward his sexy Mercedes. “The seats recline.”

Her smile stretched into a grin. “Perfect.”

He took her hand and together they made a mad dash for his car. He sped off into the night, the wind whipping her hair around her shoulders.

She absolutely did not get involved with dangerous men, she reminded herself once more as she turned to admire the driver. But no one had to know. As he said, it would be their secret.

His hand found hers again and he flashed her a smile. Alex knew at that moment that something about this man had forever changed a part of her. She couldn't label what it was…but it felt vaguely like a bond of some sort.

Maybe even commitment…but she would die before she'd tell a soul. At least until she was ready for the world to know what was next for Alex Jackson. After all, this was uncharted territory for her. She wanted to take her time and explore every possibility.

Some things were just too good to rush.