Read Online A Playboy's Love Affair by Emily Quinn - Free Book Online Page B

event and went on about dinner like nothing ever happened. Alex was attentive to the various speeches and recognitions that took place nodding when appropriate, saying the right things as needed. When the dancing started Alex mingled with the sponsors and other business acquaintances, everything was excellent until Carly took to the dance floor with Jay. He made his excuses and straightened his tuxedo, making his way to the dance floor.
    “May I cut in?” Alex seized Carly’s hand without bothering to wait for a reply.
    Jay reluctantly let go of her, offering her an apologetic nod before turning on his heel.
    Not wanting to make a scene, Carly smiled, avoiding Alex’s dark eyes. “Why bother asking if you already did?”
    His arms slid around her waist expertly leading her around the dance floor to Quando Quando Quando by Michael Buble. Breathing in her lily-vanilla sweet-scent, he sang into her ear, “Please don’t stand me up again.” Alex swirled her around before Carly could say a word, and brought her back up against him again.
    “I believe the lyrics are ‘please don’t make me wait again’,” Carly corrected.
    He shrugged. “The lyrics can be whatever I want them to be darling.” Several curious eyes were on them, and he didn’t care. “You know, I don’t understand why you’re so inclined in making my life hell,” Alex murmured in her ear.
    Carly opened and closed her mouth a couple of times before she spoke again. “I am making your life hell? If anyone is making anyone’s life hell it’s you, Alex St. Jones.”
    “What’s your deal, Carly?” His red-hot gaze fixed on her.
    “You. You’re my deal,” Carly said, her warm breath caressed his cheek. “The last thing I knew is you were having a grand time with one of your old girlfriends, then you disappeared from the face of the earth. What did you expect? That I’d sit and wait on you until you decided to show up again? Drop everything when you did show up just because you demand I do? I don’t think so. I have a life too, and I live it anyway I want to. I take demands from no one, especially not you, Alex.”
    “Jealous, are you?” His fingers stroked her lower bared back before he whirled her around again.
    Her delicate fingers tightened on his strong arm. “Jealous, me? I’m sure you really don’t think that.”
    “What’s going on with Jay?” he asked.
    “Jealous?”
    He chuckled. “No.” Yes, he was jealous of another man touching what Alex considered his. Whether Carly accepted it or not, she was his.
    “Then, why ask?” she asked.
    “I’m just curious.”
    “It’s none of your business. How about that?”
    Alex leaned into her and whispered in her ear, “Our agreement terms say you can’t see or date anyone.”
    “I don’t care what it says. Like I said, I don’t take orders from anyone,” she replied, being careful the curious gazes and ears around them couldn’t hear their conversation.
    Alex twirled her around a third time without effort. “This was a requirement of our agreement. In view of the fact you didn’t fulfill your obligation our agreement is extended by another month. In fact, every time you miss one condition, an additional month is added to the contract.” His upper lip curled in that St. Jones way of his letting her know he’d won this round.
    Carly’s step faltered. “You can’t do that.”
    “You look surprised. Tsk, tsk, tsk, I thought you’d read the very fine print.”
    Carly gasped in shock. “You’re an insufferable pompous ass, a control freak, incorrigible man.”
    Alex threw his head back in laughter, calling center stage attention to them. “Anymore adjectives sweetheart?”
    Carly pushed him back trying to disengage from his arms. “Honestly I don’t know what makes you think that I would do as you say. Haven’t you learned that by now? What’s your deal, Alex?”
    He secured his hand on the small of her back, drawing her closer to him, their clothes the only