Chapter 16
His eyes narrowed. “You think you know me based on what? One rescue and a dinner?”
“I know that someone who truly believed love was meaningless wouldn’t care so much about protecting himself from
it.”
Alexander’s jaw tightened. For a moment, I thought I’d pushed too far.
“You’re an interesting woman, Olivia Morgan,” he said finally.
“Is that a compliment?”
“An observation.” His lips curved in an infuriating half-smile.
I gripped the railing tighter, feeling the cool metal ground me. The city lights twinkled below us like a mirror image of the night sky, but all I could focus on was the heat radiating from Alexander’s body.
“I want to ask you two things,” I said, turning to face him fully.
His eyebrows rose slightly. “I’m all ears.”
“First, back at the presentation, you said ‘it’s been a long time.’ Why? We’d literally met less than a week before.” Alexander leaned against the railing, his shoulder brushing mine. “Preparation. I couldn’t exactly acknowledge that we’d met while you were crying over your cheating boyfriend. I was creating our cover story early.”
“You were that confident I’d say yes to your insane proposal?”
“I’m always prepared for multiple scenarios.”
“Right,” I rolled my eyes. “And my second question. In your message, you said, ‘Be my girlfriend for the night.’ But this…” I gestured between us, “has been just dinner. Nothing else.”
dropped lower, sending shivers across my skin. “Do you want more
the thin fabric of my dress. I stepped back, needing distance from his
getting late,” I said, glancing at my watch. “I
he replied, straightening from the
need. I can grab
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16:43
can I possibly
yet,” I snapped. “And I
as if that was the only word he’d heard. “Come on. My car’s
my heels clicking against
wine
my question,” Alexander said
“Which one?”
you want more than dinner?” His eyes locked with mine in the mirrored
“What exactly
His voice was like velvet. “I’m a generous
in the confined space
I muttered, pressing myself against the wall, putting as much distance between us as possible. “But I’m
you were.” He stepped closer, invading
cologne wrapped around me like an invisible hand, pulling me toward him. My back pressed against the elevator wall, and I
trying to sound casual while my heart hammered against my ribs, “I’ve got pepper spray in
You mentioned it in the
sure we’re
the heat radiating from his body. “Though I
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