All About Charming Alice by J. Arlene Culiner Page B

thoughts that had kept him awake half the night. And that was how he’d conceived of Plan B. It was simple, easy to put into motion. It consisted in keeping things as cool as he possibly could with Alice. Until she came to the conclusion that he was irresistible. She
was
attracted to him. He knew it, could feel it, could see it in the way she looked at him, even if she refused to acknowledge or accept that. Look how she kept on shoving up barriers between the two of them.
    No, Plan B was the only way to charm Alice that he could figure out. If that didn’t work, well, he’d have to negotiate Plan C or D or Z. He wanted her. She fascinated him. He loved being with her, talking to her. He …
    The coffee was ready. Jace filled a large cup and headed back upstairs. Pausing in the hallway outside of Alice’s bedroom, he listened. Not a sound. Did she lock her door at night? He held his breath and turned the knob. No, she didn’t. His heart gave a satisfied little thump. She trusted him to a certain extent, at least.
    For a minute or two, Jace simply stood still in the open doorway, waiting until his eyes got used to the dim light and things could take shape. Those furry lumps on the floor around the bed were dogs he knew, because their tails were flapping softly in their usual brief welcome. As for the large beautiful room, it was touched by soft pastel and shadow. And filled with ancient pieces of furniture, most of them covered with books.
    Jace smiled. He could just imagine Alice spending long dark winter evenings, reading by the light of that bedside lamp. Yes that would be a nice way to pass evenings, all right: on that bed with Alice beside him.
    No. His thoughts were going in a dangerous direction, at the moment.
Think of Plan B!
    She was there, in that big four-poster bed right now. Without him. Sound asleep, lying under a pale silken counterpane, head turned slightly to one side, her arms flung out beside her in the innocent way of a child. Her tangle of shining hair spread out over the pillows, down over her naked shoulders. He approached, fascinated.
    How peaceful she looked, how lovely, like a princess in a fairy tale. The princess condemned to sleep until the prince found her and woke her with a kiss.
    Carefully, he put the coffee cup down on the wooden night table, between two piles of books. A kiss? Plan B didn’t include kissing. However, like all good plans, Plan B didn’t have to be followed strictly to the letter. There had to be
some
leeway allowed.
    He bent down and kissed her gently. Beautiful lips, he thought. Irresistible.
    And like a fairy tale princess, her lids fluttered and she abandoned sleep. Her eyes opened and she found him standing there. He watched as the softest, most tender expression crossed her face.
    Was he the one still dreaming? He wasn’t. But a swell of joy filled his heart, astonishing him. Those first sleepy seconds had told him the truth about her feelings. She hadn’t had time to hide, be defensive.
    “Jace! I was dreaming about you.”
    He felt his knees weaken. “If the dreams you’re having about me are anything like the ones I have about you, Princess, it’s a miracle you manage to sleep at all.” Then felt like kicking himself! Plan B didn’t allow him to say things like that, even if they were true.
    “Princess? You called me Princess?” She stared at him, her eyes still full of tenderness, astonishment. And then, as if a horribly unpleasant thought suddenly seared across her mind, the softness vanished. “What are you doing here in my bedroom?” She shot to a sitting position. Or almost did. Instantly, she clutched at the sheet and crossed her arms in front of her.
    Which is when Jace realized the significance of the naked shoulders. He grinned wickedly. “Alice Treemont, you astound me.”
    She met his gaze with embarrassed defiance. “Now what have I done?”
    “You sleep naked,” he said simply. “That’s a very exciting idea.” Impossible to keep