by Iverson, Ivy
She licked her lips but then caught herself. She had to keep her focus and this was for Lily. The fact that Alexander was too good looking for words was secondary to her goals. Hissing again, she clutched more frantically at her ankle.
Here kitty-kitty.
“Miss, can I help you?” he asked, leaning down and touching her ankle.
She winced and hoped that helped sell the injury she didn’t have. “You’re so sweet. I’ve never wiped out publicly before.”
“Well, I doubt that you planned that.”
She nodded, although this couldn’t be working better even if she had planned it. “It’s just a little sore, I think.”
“Can you put weight on it?”
Kate bit her lip and decided to double down on the ruse. Stepping forward just a tad on her right foot, she stumbled again and collapsed in his arms. “I don’t think I can. Oh man, and I need to get home.”
“You need to get off your feet,” he corrected. “Look, is there a place I can take you? Somewhere nearby you can rest until you call a friend to come get you?”
She nodded. Joan worked at a coffee shop about a block from the park. She’d just seen her to get a pep talk and encouragement on her plan before setting out on her jog. “The Java Jones isn’t very far from here. I hate to be a bother, but maybe if you could let me brace on your shoulder until we got there, that would really help.”
“That’s not a bother at all,” he said, and his voice really was a low, rumbling baritone.
She could melt into that.
No, wait, come on Morrison, stay focused, she snapped to herself.
“I guess if I’m going to lean on you like a moron for a mile then you should know my name,” she said, taking his hand to shake.
It was warm and actually surprisingly soft. It made the flare of heat in her belly become a riotous flame, and for the first time, Kate realized that tricking him and executing her plan was going to be far harder than she’d expected. She had to remember not to fall. He was a mark. He was a greedy, self-absorbed bastard and gambler who had wasted his potential and deserved everything coming to him.
So what if he had the most soulful brown eyes she’d ever seen?
So what if he was sexy incarnate?
That didn’t matter. Nothing but Lily did.
“I’m Kate Morrison,” she said, her voice coming out more breathy than she’d intended.
Way to keep it smooth and together, jeez.
He smiled and it was that megawatt look that made her melt even harder despite her resolve. “I’m Alexander Godonov, and this is more than a pleasure.”
“Great,” she said, taking a step with her left foot and shrieking a little in shock when he lifted her up into his strong arms; it was a bridal carry and it made her blush to even think such a thought. “You don’t have to do this.”
“But it would be wrong to make an injured woman walk, and it’s really no bother,” he said, starting in the direction she’d pointed out.
“Thanks, I really appreciate it,” she mumbled before curling up into his chest. She could enjoy the pleasant surprise while it lasted, couldn’t she?
Chapter Four
Wow, she’s light, was the main thought in his head as he walked with Kate to the coffee shop.
That should have been obvious. The blonde—no, Kate—was lithe and small. She was maybe 5’3”, if even that tall, and all curves and a flat stomach. He wasn’t even sure now what had made him carry her. Again, chivalry wasn’t his style, and it never had been, no matter what elocution and other lessons his mother had insisted he take. But there was something about Kate, and it wasn’t just her beauty that attracted him. She was so vulnerable and hurt right now, and it tugged at something deeper inside.
Kate didn’t say much as he took her down the promenade and to the café. She was probably still embarrassed and afraid the talk might turn to the bright pink thong that Alex deftly covered from public view as he held her in his arms. She curled closer into him and whimpered a bit, which made him feel protective toward her. He wanted to make sure that she felt as little pain and suffering as possible and decided that teasing was out of the question, so he remained silent as well.
Alexander couldn’t explain it; perhaps given all his troubles, he just needed to nurture someone now, and she’d brought that out in him somehow.
Once they got to Java Jones, he set her down and made short work of ordering some iced coffees and water. She’d sweated more than enough on her jog and she might need sugar to take the edge off the pain, but she also needed to stay hydrated. The last thing he needed was for her to pass out on his watch.
When he returned, she was grinning back at him. While some of that was gratitude, he definitely felt she was teasing him as well. He had the coffees with lids in his hands and then he’d shoved the bottle of water in the crook of his arms and he was overbalanced with so much awkward cup shuffling.
“What?”
“You need help there?” she asked, giggling a little. “You look like some kind of overburdened crane.”
“Well, I don’t sprout additional arms when needed, princess,” he said, setting everything on the table, and was relieved when nothing leaked out from under the cup lids. “Anyway, get some water in you.”
She nodded and he noticed how blue her eyes were, like sapphires, and God, since when did he just fall for any girl? Maybe he had more of a weakness for damsels in distress than even he realized.
“What?” she asked, in between sips. “Do I have something on my face?”
“You had something hanging out from under your yoga pants, I’ll give you credit for that,” he said, getting back to even footing. Teasing. He could do that. He could do anything as long as he didn’t let himself fall too deeply.
Kate’s expression soured and her brows furrowed deeply; she set down her drink. There was a splash of water from the bottle’s top as she slammed it down. Oh, maybe he’d overstepped a little. “This is the most embarrassing day of my life!”
“Then you’ve never lived until your mother walks in on you and… never mind.”
She snickered and stretched her right leg out on a spare chair at their table. “So I’m getting the impression you might have been a bit of a wild child?”
“Hell, I’m a wild adult,” he chuffed. “Let’s just say that’s far from the first thong I’ve ever seen, but it’s cute. You really do know how to drive a guy wild, Kate,” he punctuated his point by reaching down to rub her ankle. “Is this okay?”
She blushed, an adorable pink flush spreading over her cheeks. “It’s more than that, but you really don’t have to. You brought me here then you bought me drinks. I couldn’t just ask you for a free massage.”
“I’m a complete lady-in-distress rescuing service,” he said, running his fingers over her ankle. She winced a little and he hesitated. “Wait, is that not good?”
“No,” she said, wincing a little. “Maybe not the ankle directly but my calf is clenching a lot from my effort to keep the weight off of it. I…that sounds dumb, doesn’t it?”
He grinned and moved his hands up her calf. Alexander worked smoothly to roll the Lycra up enough to have open access to the creamy, smooth expanse of the muscle there. Reaching down, he worked to unknot the cramps in her leg, making sure his thumbs maneuvered through the tight muscle with expert precision. Kate smiled tightly at him, and Alexander was pretty sure it wasn’t his imagination when he heard a little moan of approval.
“So, do you make it a habit then? Rescuing people?” she asked.
Alexander shook his head but kept kneading her muscles. “Actually, you’re my first rescue. How do I rate, on a scale of one to ten?”
She chuckled and he loved the way he caught a glimpse of her pink tongue as she did it. Tempting. “You’re great at lifting and providing refreshments, but I have to give you a five overall for reminding me of my great, embarrassing pants problem.” He pretended to drop her calf, loosening his grip just a little, a
nd she squealed. “Wait, don’t do that part! I take it back, you were a seven.”
“Oh great,” he huffed. “Then I’m just a ‘passing’ rescuer,” he replied. “I think you might be hypercritical. I did say your thong was great. It’s easily one of the top five I’ve ever seen.”
“That’s exactly what every girl wants to hear,” she said, giggling again. “Fine, it’s a nine. I upgraded you,” she said, sipping her iced mocha. “Because you sprung for the extra espresso shot and I could use the boost.”
“See, I knew I was good.”
“And modest,” she replied.
“I’m a lot of things,” he said, lowering his voice to a delicious purr. Alex knew from experience that it drove the girls wild. “We should go out. What about dinner tonight at Nobu? They do the most amazing things with puffer fish.”
Kate drew her leg back from him, and he frowned. “I can’t.”
“It’s no problem. The food there’s great, and I go there about once a week. I’d be having dinner there anyway.”
She sighed and started pulling on her sock and her right shoe. “Maybe that would be a mistake,” she said. “I appreciate that you helped me, even though I fell because of my own stupid clumsiness, you know? I don’t want to go out.”
“It’s not just a diner or a night in with Netflix. I really want to make up for your crappy day.”
She snorted. “I don’t need a pity date because I’m that spaz girl who showed half of Vegas her thong either.”
“That’s not what this is,” he said, reaching out again and at least managing to grab her left hand. “Kate, please, I actually do like you. I want you to just try going out with me. It’s not like I usually ask twice.”
She snorted. “Again with that ego, I can’t imagine how you have women swooning all over you.” Kate started to rise but swore when her right leg gave out on her. In a corner of the café, a mother of two rambunctious five-year-old boys just glared at them. He shook his head and gestured to her foot.
“Someone’s been injured here. Have some compassion,” he snapped.
Alex was gratified when the young mother turned back to her own menu.
“Kate, just stay,” he said, pressing gently on her shoulder and coaxing her back to the seat. “Maybe I did it wrong, alright? Maybe you want more control in this.”
“I just don’t think you want to get tangled up with me.”
“And,” he said, kissing the back of her hand. “I want to make that decision on my own.”
“Fine, but tomorrow night instead. We’ll have dinner at The Zora Bar; it’s not too far off the main strip. Here’s my number,” she said, pulling out her phone and texting him. “That way if you need anything or want to cancel—”
“Which I won’t,” he said, his jaw tensing.
“If you do, then just text me,” she insisted, her blonde hair falling from its ponytail and into her gorgeous blue eyes.
“I’ll be there, promise,” he said, standing and leaving a bit of extra money on the table for the tip. He wasn’t going to let her cover that either. “But I’m going to scurry, princess, before you change your mind. I can’t wait for tomorrow.”
As he passed the next table, where two middle-aged women were sipping tea, Alex was pretty sure it was just his imagination that one of them asked, “Hey honey, do you give private massages?”
Chapter Five
Kate held her breath as he left. She hadn’t intended to follow up so fast. He’d been the one pressing for the date but, as with the fall, she was taking advantage of the opportunities that the world was affording her. She had planned to spend more time in recon, but to be honest, that was more her own fear and anxiety talking. She needed to commit and commit now.
The operation date was approaching and it was do or die time now. Besides, she’d been surveilling him for over a month. She knew the ins and outs of his schedule and had observed him from afar. To truly pull off everything she needed, she needed to get to know him very closely. As a result, dating him—while not something she’d thought of initially—was the right move. It would get her in to his life and let her figure out what he was doing and how to prove it.
So far, with just observation and watching from afar, she’d hit dead ends.
Still, she hadn’t wanted to look too obvious or like she was pushing a ploy. Kate was, after all, doing just that, but it wouldn’t work worth a damn if Alex suspected he was being duped. If she’d jumped at the Nobu offer, then he’d have expected her to be easy and might have found her boring. She couldn’t risk that he might think she was some gold digger.
God, the truth couldn’t be further from that assumption, but she couldn’t afford to have him grow cold on her now that this avenue was open. So playing hard to get was the best way. Besides, she needed to set up things on her turf, her territory. It would help her keep her perspective. This was a mission after all, and it wasn’t about romance or the flutter in her chest or the heat in her belly when he’d been massaging her calf. It certainly hadn’t been about the way she’d imagined, despite her best efforts, exactly what other things fingers that strong and skilled could be doing to her.
No, she needed the territory she controlled. A friend of hers from high school was a floor manager at the Zora Bar and so she could have one of the key pieces she needed in place by tomorrow. It would be easier not to fall for him when he wasn’t the one controlling the horizontal and vertical, when Alex wasn’t trying to impress her on his home territory. He was a selfish, arrogant gambler. That was all. This whole Prince Charming act today was unexpected, but it changed nothing. He was probably just trying to seal some deal with her. He’d been so eager to get her out and to dinner this very night, even!
Once she was sure he was gone and his broad back had disappeared down a corner, she stood up and walked over to the counter. The woman on duty was tall and willowy, all spindly arms and legs and pale skin. She had striking brown eyes that belied her Japanese heritage. Joan Akimoto and Kate had been friends since middle school. Of course if she were going to be dropped off anywhere, especially freaking pantsless—or almost—she was going to opt for being in the company of her BFF.
Speaking of, her friend grinned and handed her a hot Chai tea, her actual favorite drink, even in the heat of the summer. “So, kiddo,” Joan said. “I didn’t expect him to be that attractive. I mean there’s hot and then there’s three-alarm fire. He’s just damn.”
Kate rolled her eyes and sipped her drink. “This is a job. It’s not supposed to be pleasure, not at all. He’s still a scummy guy. We just need to make sure everything goes to plan.”
“Does that plan involve the thong I got you but you’ve never worn till now?” Joan chided as Kate slipped behind the counter and away from far-too-prying eyes.
“That was an accident, but I ran with it. To be fair, you’re not wrong and it’s something that most men definitely cannot resist. That’s a huge plus in my book.”
“Then you should have listened to me years ago, kiddo.”
“Yeah, that two year age difference practically makes you ancient,” she chirped back. “Where’s your walker already, Joan?”
Her friend chuckled and it was a light, tinkling sound, almost like bells. That laugh had gotten her through the dark night of her soul, through the worst thing that had ever happened to her and her family, at least until now. “That’s cold. I think I have a few spare pairs of sweats up in the apartment above if you need to find a way to spare your dignity; if you can even do that at this point.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she snapped, her eyes narrowing at her friend.
“It means that you were pretty coy there. I’m pretty sure faking a sprained ankle was smart and helped you lure him here, but there’s no reason you needed to score a free massage. That was just getting bonus perks.”
Kate rolled her eyes. “There’s nothing going on between us, and there’s not going to be. You know that old expression where ‘you catch more flies
with honey?’ That’s exactly what this is.”
“That’s a hell of a lot of honey,” Joan said, reaching over and pulling lightly on a lock of her newly blonde hair. “I’m not sure I like the look, Kate.”
“Oh, I don’t look too bleached do I? I sprung for an actual salon and honey gold. I really needed to make sure he didn’t think I was cheap.”
“Yes because nothing screams ‘class and sophistication’ like a thong.”
“One you picked out,” she countered, chuckling a little. “Look, I’m doing whatever it takes for Lily.”
“Still, I don’t know how you had the willpower to resist one of Europe’s most eligible bachelors. I mean, that’s a freaking prince and you must have shot him down about three times in a row.”
She smirked and stood taller. “Guys also love what’s hard to get. The point is, I needed him to take the breadcrumbs, be desperate, and I accomplished that.”
“But resisting a prince like that? With that much determination? You’re like the complete opposite of a Disney princess.”
“I’ve never needed a hat, let alone wanted a crown in my life. I think it’d mess up my new ‘do.”
“True, but if I didn’t know about how much Lily needed everything, I’d have you pegged completely as the wicked witch in this scenario.”
“I’m doing everything for her, and the plan has to work. He just needs to be officially disinherited by July 10th. I’m not waiting for the chance he’ll be caught randomly doing something so terrible that his parents won’t take him back; I’m seeing to it.”
Joan sighed and squeezed her hand. “I know, but it seems cold now that I’ve seen what a gentleman he is—and hot, Jesus, did I mention hot?”
“You did, but that’s the way it has to be. He loses his crown and then Ops for Kids helps save Lily. So, you know what I say?” Kate finished, heading to the stairs in back.