enjoying the scene. She swept her rag across the front of the cabinet with a flourish, swaying to the music. She was nowhere near on beat and singing at the top of her voice somewhere in the key of awful.
From the curls that were captured in a lime-green paisley scarf to the blouse that looked like it came from her mother’s high-school senior portrait, Lucy was the antithesis of traditional glamour. She was unrefined. A fully loaded weapon, ready to shoot through decorum and convention.
And she was his Hail Mary.
Tilting his head at her attempt at a high note, he observed that Lucy didn’t have the willowy figure of many of his recent dates. She didn’t have a face that would sell the latest Parisian perfume. Nor did she possess that confident air that ladies in his world wore like a necessary undergarment. But if he peeled back her hostility and the years of her bratty youth, Lucy Wiltshire was still a traffic stopper.
The certainty finally clicked into place as Alex locked his sights on his target.
And let the ball fly.
“What a beautiful rendition.”
Lucy spun on her black patent flats. And screamed like a banshee.
He found the sound system and turned the music off. “You clearly missed your calling.”
She clutched her heart, her eyes wide, then mutinous. “What in the world do you think you’re doing?”
“You look good with dust on your nose.” Like an angry pixie.
A fury stared back at him. “I repeat, what are you doing here?”
“You invited me, remember?”
“Yes, as in a scheduled visit. Not when everyone is gone. Who let you in?”
“A young woman. Nice girl, though not much of a conversationalist.” Alex smiled. “Maybe she was just trying to soak up as much of your concert as she could before she left.”
“I have a phone, you know. You could’ve called—instead of sneaking up on me like some sort of creep.” She twisted the dust rag in her hands. “A musically critical creep.”
“Actually I went to your apartment, but Mr. Jenkins said you’d be here. Pleasant guy.” Alex dropped his voice a notch. “Though the wife’s a little bit of a nag.”
She had a giant dust bunny occupying a prominent place on her blouse, but he decided to be a gentleman and not tell her.
“If you were as good at politics as you are at stalking, I think you could make it all the way to the White House.”
The words sliced, but he’d belt out some blues himself before he’d reveal that to her. “Funny you should mention politics—and thank you for the vote of support, by the way. I like a girl with vision.”
“And I like a guy who knows when to leave when he’s not wanted.”
“You really should lock your doors.” He shook his head as he counted the chairs at the table. It could seat half of Congress. “Anyone could walk in here.”
“True.” She didn’t let her gaze waver. “There are pervs all over this town.”
“Speaking of that, according to the papers and gossip rags, you and I are dating.” His lips stretched into an easy smile. “I’m a little hurt you don’t make me dinner more often, but other than that, you’ve been an exemplary girlfriend.”
If she were a tiger, she’d be snarling and baring her claws. “Look, unless you have news about Sinclair’s donation, we really don’t have anything to say to one another.”
“Oh, but I think we do.” He advanced another step. “I have a proposition for you.” He continued as she opened her mouth. “Hear me out before you decide to get offended.”
“Talk quick. I have a lunch date.”
“Cancel it.”
“Go away.”
“I said cancel it.”
Lucy blinked. “Why?”
That look in her eyes. That uncertainty. Alex found he liked her unbalanced. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
“I realize after that People story half the female population is mad at you right now, but I’m not interested.” She pursed her lips as if in thought. “I do have a fourth cousin in Savannah who’d probably be up for
From the curls that were captured in a lime-green paisley scarf to the blouse that looked like it came from her mother’s high-school senior portrait, Lucy was the antithesis of traditional glamour. She was unrefined. A fully loaded weapon, ready to shoot through decorum and convention.
And she was his Hail Mary.
Tilting his head at her attempt at a high note, he observed that Lucy didn’t have the willowy figure of many of his recent dates. She didn’t have a face that would sell the latest Parisian perfume. Nor did she possess that confident air that ladies in his world wore like a necessary undergarment. But if he peeled back her hostility and the years of her bratty youth, Lucy Wiltshire was still a traffic stopper.
The certainty finally clicked into place as Alex locked his sights on his target.
And let the ball fly.
“What a beautiful rendition.”
Lucy spun on her black patent flats. And screamed like a banshee.
He found the sound system and turned the music off. “You clearly missed your calling.”
She clutched her heart, her eyes wide, then mutinous. “What in the world do you think you’re doing?”
“You look good with dust on your nose.” Like an angry pixie.
A fury stared back at him. “I repeat, what are you doing here?”
“You invited me, remember?”
“Yes, as in a scheduled visit. Not when everyone is gone. Who let you in?”
“A young woman. Nice girl, though not much of a conversationalist.” Alex smiled. “Maybe she was just trying to soak up as much of your concert as she could before she left.”
“I have a phone, you know. You could’ve called—instead of sneaking up on me like some sort of creep.” She twisted the dust rag in her hands. “A musically critical creep.”
“Actually I went to your apartment, but Mr. Jenkins said you’d be here. Pleasant guy.” Alex dropped his voice a notch. “Though the wife’s a little bit of a nag.”
She had a giant dust bunny occupying a prominent place on her blouse, but he decided to be a gentleman and not tell her.
“If you were as good at politics as you are at stalking, I think you could make it all the way to the White House.”
The words sliced, but he’d belt out some blues himself before he’d reveal that to her. “Funny you should mention politics—and thank you for the vote of support, by the way. I like a girl with vision.”
“And I like a guy who knows when to leave when he’s not wanted.”
“You really should lock your doors.” He shook his head as he counted the chairs at the table. It could seat half of Congress. “Anyone could walk in here.”
“True.” She didn’t let her gaze waver. “There are pervs all over this town.”
“Speaking of that, according to the papers and gossip rags, you and I are dating.” His lips stretched into an easy smile. “I’m a little hurt you don’t make me dinner more often, but other than that, you’ve been an exemplary girlfriend.”
If she were a tiger, she’d be snarling and baring her claws. “Look, unless you have news about Sinclair’s donation, we really don’t have anything to say to one another.”
“Oh, but I think we do.” He advanced another step. “I have a proposition for you.” He continued as she opened her mouth. “Hear me out before you decide to get offended.”
“Talk quick. I have a lunch date.”
“Cancel it.”
“Go away.”
“I said cancel it.”
Lucy blinked. “Why?”
That look in her eyes. That uncertainty. Alex found he liked her unbalanced. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
“I realize after that People story half the female population is mad at you right now, but I’m not interested.” She pursed her lips as if in thought. “I do have a fourth cousin in Savannah who’d probably be up for
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