Read Online Strangers in Paradise by Heather Graham - Free Book Online Page B

Oh, wow.”
    Dusty kept repeating those words as he climbed into the cab of his truck. Alexi cheerfully waved until the truck disappeared into the night. She felt Rex staring at her again, and she turned to him, a cool question in her eyes.
    â€œWell,” he said smoothly, “you’ve certainly wired up that poor boy’s libido.”
    â€œHave I? Shall I take the pizza?”
    â€œNo, my dear little heartbreaker. I can handle it.”
    He started back toward the house. Alexi followed him. To her surprise, she discovered herself suddenly enjoying the night. She felt revived and ready for battle.
    But there was to be no battle—not that night.
    Rex went through the hall to the kitchen and put the pizza box on the table. “There’s a bolt on the wood door to the parlor. If you just slide it, you can be sure that no one will come in by way of the window you broke. It was probably just some vagrant who thought the house was unoccupied, but I’d bolt that door anyway. You can get the window fixed in the morning. You should have done it today.”
    â€œYou’re leaving?”
    He nodded and walked to where she stood by the door, pausing just short of touching her. He placed a hand against the doorframe and leaned toward her, a wry grin set in the full, sensual contours of his mouth.
    â€œYou’re playing a bit of havoc with my libido, too.” He pushed away from the wall. “If you should need me, the number is in the book by the phone. Good night.”
    For some reason, she couldn’t respond. She felt as if he had touched her...as if some intimacy had passed between them.
    Nothing had happened at all.
    By the time she could move, he was gone. She heard the front door quietly closing.
    She hurried to it, biting her lower lip as she prepared to lock the door for the night. She was still so uneasy. Rex’s being there had given her a certain courage. She knew that someone had been in the house. Had he really left? Was there, perhaps, some nook or cranny where the intruder could be hiding?
    She gasped. There was another tapping at the door. Her fingers froze; she couldn’t bring herself to answer it.
    â€œAlexi?”
    It was Rex. She threw the door open and prayed that he wouldn’t hear the pounding of her heart.
    â€œRex,” she murmured. She lowered her face quickly, trying to hide her relief, trying not to show the sheer joy she felt at seeing him again. “Um, did you forget something?”
    â€œYes.”
    He leaned against the doorframe, his hands in the pockets of his jeans. He studied her for the longest time, and then he sighed.
    â€œYou’re making me absolutely insane, you know.”
    â€œI beg your pardon,” she murmured.
    He shook his head ruefully, then straightened. He placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed her into the hallway to allow himself room to enter. Wide-eyed, Alexi stared up at him.
    â€œI’m staying!” he seemed to growl.
    â€œYou’re what?” she whispered.
    â€œI’ll stay.”
    â€œYou—you don’t need to.”
    He shook his head impatiently. “I’ll curl up in the parlor. Since you haven’t gotten the guest rooms prepared yet,” he added dryly.
    â€œRex...you don’t have to.”
    â€œYes, I have to.” He started for the parlor.
    â€œYou should at least have some pizza!”
    â€œNo. No, thanks. I should lie down and go to sleep as quickly as possible.”
    â€œRex—”
    â€œAlexi—dammit! I—” He cut himself off, his jaw twisting into a rigid line. He shook his head again and walked into the parlor. She heard the door slam. Hard.
    Alexi retreated to the kitchen. She leaned against the door and breathed deeply. He was going to sleep in her house. She shouldn’t make him do it. She shouldn’t allow him to do it.
    She trembled. She couldn’t help it. She was very, very glad that he was just a few