A Playboy's Love Affair (10 page)

Alex laughed to see how the audience responded with a loud “YES”. He didn’t think Carly was shy, but never had it crossed his mind she could be this wild.

“Turn it up,” Carly yelled, motioning with her thumb. She moved in a sensual dance, raising her arms above her head, swaying her hips in the rhythm of the beat. Carly even sang along in tune to the top of her lungs. The audience loved her, and even cheered at her. Sliding her hands below her hips, she swayed some more lifting her skirt up a bit as she move down slowly.

Alex didn’t find that amusing anymore. If Carly was going to strip dance it’d be for him only, and no one else. He tossed cash on the table to cover their expenses plus a generous tip, and threw her over his shoulder carrying her out of the restaurant.

“Put me down, you caveman! I don’t want my ass to make the front cover of the news again.” Her hysterical laugh didn’t allow her to fight him.

Alex slapped her ass. “Be quiet, you troublemaker. I can’t believe you were going to do a strip tease there.”

“I wasn’t,” she said, more laughter escaped her lips.

Alex slapped her backside again, harder this time. “Remind me never to take you here again.” He opened the passenger door to his car and put her down on the seat, kissing her before closing the door. “I can’t believe you had the guts to do that,” he said, buckling himself up.

“You have no idea of what I dare to do.” A hiccup escaped her throat. “Um, okay… that’s embarrassing. You want to know a little secret?” Carly batted her lashes at him. “I think I may have a little buzz. I’m not known for being a great drinker.”

“Jeez, and you’re just now telling me that.” Alex steered the car out of the pier and onto the night traffic. Silence settled in as soft music played in the background for the next forty five minutes. Alex parked his car outside her home, and carried her in against her will all the way up to her condo. He made her stand up while he opened the door, and lifted her up again in his arms carrying her to the bedroom.

Carly caressed his cheek as Alex placed her on the bed. “I like you more than I want to like you,” she whispered. Her sleepy eyes gave her away. She’d definitely had one too many drinks.

Alex brushed his lips over hers. “Sweet dreams, darling.”

It took every ounce of his strength to tuck her in bed, and walk out of her condo. Carly had gotten under his skin before he could even stop it, and now it was too late. If this was what falling in love felt like, he was doomed. Under other circumstances Alex would have already found an excuse to go away, except now, he was running out of excuses to stay closer to her. Digging into his feelings wasn’t something Alex wished to do. Not now. There was no fear of what getting closer to Carly would mean eventually, but he didn’t want to dig deeper and find what shouldn’t be found yet. Alex let out a heavy sigh and drove away.

Chapter Thirteen

“You did what?” Kiera asked over the phone.

Carly paced around her living room. “I know, I know. I can’t believe I did that either. Oh my gosh Kiera, I almost did a striptease!” The heat of a soft baby pink blush rose to her cheeks. “I would’ve gone through with it if he hadn’t carried me out. Even in my girl’s gone wild days back in college I never dared to do something like that. I’m so mortified. I don’t think I can ever look at him again.” That was a lie, she just didn’t have an excuse to call and tell him she wanted to see him. All her thoughts took her back to the previous night and the wonderful time they’d had together. Going out with him hadn’t been the best of ideas, yet she couldn’t regret it.

“Hear, hear. Sunshine, of course you can look at him again. I mean…” Kiera paused for a moment. “I’d think there’s something seriously wrong with you if you don’t see him again, and honey you will. You have to, no ifs or buts. What are you doing today?” she asked.

“Um, staying in? I’m sulking in the memory of my most embarrassing night ever.” Carly didn’t really have anything to do, and staying home wasn’t exactly the best way to spend Sunday afternoon. Regardless of how horrified she was at her actions from the night before, Carly wanted to see him. She needed to see him—at least one more time.

Gosh, if she kept telling herself ‘just one more time’ big trouble was in the horizon because she’d always wish to see him. Carly only hoped the sentiment went both ways, but that was too much to expect. She’d be a fool to think the day he no longer wanted to see her would never come, yet after last night Carly didn’t care if she was indeed a fool—there was nothing wrong with wishing for something, even if it was the wrong type of something, right? Carly was confused, the man muddled her thoughts and thanks to him she was right on the edge of falling down and in love with the one man she shouldn’t love.

Kiera mumbled something Carly couldn’t make out on her side of the receiver. “Carly…sunshine, you need a life. I don’t know what you’d do without me, really. Do me a favor, would you? Throw on the cutest outfit you’ve got. You know, something casual yet sexy. Pull your hair up in a lose ponytail, go light on the makeup because you want to look fresh. Then, get in your car and go to the address I’m texting you and I’ll meet you there in forty-five minutes.”

She stared at the phone screen display confirming Kiera had indeed hung up on her. Kiera hadn’t even given her a chance to ask what the place was. Carly put her phone down on the couch when the beeping sound of an incoming text went off. She read the address and couldn’t figure out what the place was or why Kiera hadn’t let her back out, but Carly knew better, once her friend was set on an idea there was no moving her and getting out of it.

Forty-five minutes later Carly stood in front of a martial arts academy. She ran her hands down her length checking out the boat-neck scarf print mini dress she’d donned and her Dolce Vita platform sandals. “Darn Kiera,” Carly muttered.

“Is that how much you love me?” Kiera walked up behind her.

“Yes.” Carly glanced at her friend, studying her outfit which was just as cute as hers. “Can you tell me what are we doing here?” She pointed her forefinger to the entrance of the martial arts academy. “Dressed like we’re going…” Carly waved her hands in the air gesturing their outfits. “I don’t know for coffee, a tea party, some other place that’s not a martial arts academy?”

“Oh loosen up, would you?” Kiera placed her hand on Carly’s forearm and led through the door.

The receptionist greeted Kiera with familiarity, and nodded a hello to Carly. Kiera smiled back at the receptionist as she continued to guide Carly through another set of double doors and into a hallway. She followed Kiera down the hall passing by several training rooms, until her friend abruptly pulled her into the last one.

“Whoa!” Carly gasped as she stepped into the training room.

Kiera extended her arms. “Welcome to our men’s haven.” She pulled Carly forward to the bench across the octagon shape ring.

“Last time I checked he wasn’t my man.” Carly sat down next to her friend on the bench. Her curious gaze locked on the two black belt men wrestling in the middle of the ring.

“Your nose will only grow like Pinocchio’s if you keep telling yourself that.” Kiera patted her hand.

“That doesn’t even make sense,” Carly replied without taking her eyes off the man with a Japanese letter tattoo down his right shoulder blade.

“It wasn’t meant to make sense, it was meant to put you out of sorts and it did.” Kiera bobbed her head in Carly’s direction, giving her a knowing look. “You like the tattoo?”

Rolling her eyes, Carly turned her attention back to the octagon shape ring across from them. “I don’t… Oh, all right, I lied. I didn’t know he had a tattoo.” She flinched when Alex wrapped his arms around Paul’s chest and neck, simultaneously locking his legs around his friend’s waist from the back hooking Paul’s thighs with his heels.

Kiera shook her head at Carly and focused her attention back on the match. “Come on honey, beat it out of Alex! You can do it babe,” Kiera cheered for Paul.

Carly gave her a side glance, as both Paul and Alex rose up their heads, locking their gazes on their two new visitors. Paul took advantage of the distraction. He threw Alex on the ground and sat astride his chest.

Carly sprang to her feet. “Come on babe, show him you’re bad-ass. Kick his ass!”

“Yes, just like that baby, kick him in the balls. It’s jiu jitsu. All goes. Yes! Right there, lock him to submission,” Kiera cheered Paul on.

Carly gasped in horror at how the two men fought for control. Alex was now on the ground. She glanced back and forth between the ring and Kiera. “Tell them to stop.” She squeezed Kiera’s arm.

Kiera blinked at her. “There’s no stopping them. They won’t stop until they beat the heck out of each other. You might as well sit back, enjoy the show and cheer for your man.”

Carly winced and bit her lower lip at seeing Alex struggle. “Come on, honey, show him how it’s done,” she called, springing in triumph as Alex freed himself from Paul’s grasp throwing him down and locking him into submission. Paul signaled and Alex let him go.

“And that’s how it’s done. Take that, Kiera Pearson.” Carly’s previous worried expression turned into a proud grin, then, her mouth went suddenly dry and nerves overtook her when a very imposing Alex strode in her direction. He was sweaty but looked as delicious as her favorite dessert, gosh, she’d offer to help him shower even if he didn’t ask for help. His looks were incentive enough. Oh, she was hopeless.

“Hey babe.” Alex stood a couple of feet away from her. “I didn’t expect to see you here.” His lip curled in that charming way of his, his surprised smile reached his eyes.

“I-I didn’t know you’d be here.” She pointed her thumb in Kiera’s direction. “She asked me to meet her here I had no idea why.” Aw-kward. How was she supposed to say, it was great watching you but now I gotta go or not? Ugh. Were her knees going weak? That was the last thing she needed, be out of breath and pass out in front of her hunk.

Alex attempted to close the distance between them but stopped short as he studied himself. “Hey, I—”

Things couldn’t get any more uncomfortable, and Carly only had her friend to blame. Crap, Kiera! To begin with, this wasn’t how Carly planned to spend her Sunday afternoon. Yes, she’d wished to see Alex, but didn’t actually expect to see him, especially not in the drop-dead-gorgeous-as-sin conditions she’d found him. Then, Carly didn’t want to impose. Goodness. She was being clingy and that was so not her. Thank you very much, Kiera. Carly made a mental note to skip or skimp on her friend’s next birthday present as a little retribution for the moment she was going through right now.

“Um, I don’t want to impose.” She waved in the ring’s direction. “It was great seeing you in the ring with Paul. I have to go. Maybe we can catch up sometime this week.” She sounded hopeful. What was wrong with her? Sounding hopeful wasn’t what she’d aimed for. No, no, no, this was wrong, wrong, wrong. Well, maybe Alex wouldn’t call her after this, which Carly would totally get even if it hurt. Come on. What was she doing here? He was probably ready to move on.

Alex locked his gaze with hers. “Yes, I’d like that.”

Carly nodded and turned halfway to take her leave, but stopped in her tracks as her curiosity got the best of her. “What’s the meaning of your tattoo?”

“It can’t be helped.”

Carly angled her head, surveying the fighting ring. “How appropriate.” She smiled back at him, and turned on her heel. Not only could she already not get him out of her thoughts, after this she was positive Alex would forever live in her dreams.

Why did she have to cross paths with him that night at the gala and kiss him? Carly had let him lure her into his web, and into his bed.

Then, she’d been such a fool playing his corny game only to find out they had more things in common than she’d imagined.

Why, why, why? Too late for regrets now, Carly couldn’t take any of it back, and dreaded to think what life would be like without him.

If there were any doubts before, there were no more.

Carly had fallen, and she was irrevocably in love.

Chapter Fourteen

Carly had been in San Diego all week, finishing the last minute details on her beachfront project. But all the work thrown at her couldn’t make the thought of Alex go away. He remained constant. Good thing work had kept her busy, otherwise she wouldn’t have been able to resist contacting him. If Alex was still interested in his pursuit of her, he’d call, and obviously he wasn’t, because Carly hadn’t heard from him.

She hated the not-knowing feeling, hated even more her recently discovered feelings for him, and the fact that it’d be an impossibility getting over him. Carly groaned. How did the other women do it? Thinking about how long it’d take her before she could get back in the dating scene was unimaginable. Geez, Carly couldn’t even say they’d dated. Not officially anyway. It was Friday night, and she had another client’s engagement yet again and couldn’t get out of it as she was pretty much the guest of honor, then again it’d be fun. Carly pushed away her chair from her desk when an instant message came through. She pulled the chair back and narrowed her eyes at her laptop screen.

A St. Jones:
R u there?

Carly’s heart skipped a beat as she gasped for air, Alex? What could he want? It was totally unexpected but she was beyond thrilled he’d pinged her. The thing was the more Alex came back looking for her, the less Carly could deny him anything, and the farther she fell into the black hole of Alex St. Jones’ delicious wickedness.

Carly M:
I am.

A St. Jones:
How are you?

Carly M:
Good, u?

A St. Jones:
Where were you all week?

Carly M:
Why, are you stalking me?

She could hardly contain her excitement at him contacting her. Where had she been? Did Alex even cared? Not that she minded if that were true, but how did he know she’d been in and out of her office?

Carly M:
Not that you need to know my whereabouts, but what if I told you I’ve spent all week having out of this world sex with my boyfriend?