Hold Me Tight: Heartbreakers by Cait London Page B

leave.”
    “Who is this jerk?” Howard demanded. “The handyman? You can wait for your orders in the kitchen.”
    Alexi’s nod was almost polite. “My name is Alexi Stepanov, and now you will remove yourself…or I will do it for you.”
    “No one talks to me that way. This is my father’s house. ” But Howard was sizing up Alexi’s stance and moving past him to the door. He paused and sneered at Jessica. “So this is your lover. Some cowboy who wants my father’s money. You finally had an itch for a man, did you? So you bought this guy?”
    Alexi tensed, but didn’t move. His voice was deadly quiet, the accent clipping at his words. “Perhaps your father should have taught you manners. It is not too late for a lesson.”
    Jessica moved quickly to place her hand on Alexi’s arm, to stay him from hurting Howard. His arm bunched beneath her touch and she could feel the anger vibrating off him. “I’ll talk with you later, Howard.”
    But Howard had to have his last shot at her, words wrapped in a sneer that never failed to wound. “You know, Stepanov, she was just a clerk in one of my father’s stores when they met. A poor little backwoods floozy with big hair and big ideas.She got what she wanted—money, social position, this house. Maybe you two suit each other.”
    The door slammed behind Howard, filling the room with ominous silence until Audrey opened it and quietly slid out of the room. Jessica walked to her desk and punched an intercom button. “See that Howard is out of the house, will you, Audrey? And lock the door behind him.”
    “He’s gone upstairs to his father’s old office. I think he’s waiting for Mr. Stepanov to leave.”
    Jessica smiled briefly, coldly. In one way, Howard was totally predictable; he always met her low expectations. “I’ll take care of him later.”
    “No, now,” Alexi said darkly. “Which way is upstairs?”

Five
    “I t’s not good to antagonize Howard. He can get nasty.”
    Jessica prepared to tell Alexi that she did not want him protecting her. The scene in her deceased husband’s small upstairs office hadn’t been pleasant. Howard had taken one look at Alexi looming behind her and had pushed out of the room with another parting shot. “I won’t forget this.”
    Now Jessica turned from the dismal day outside her downstairs office window to Alexi, who was now seated on the leather sofa. His legs were extended, work boots propped over the daily newspaper on the coffee table. He looked tired, dark circles running beneath his eyes. He leaned back and closed his eyes.
    Concerned for him, Jessica came to his side. “Are you all right?”
    “I’ve been working hard and this last week the nights have been long. I keep expecting a woman with a flashlight to come walking from the Amoteh.” His hand eased to smooth her thigh, pressing just enough on the loose slacks to find her body.“How long have you been dealing with the way he treats you?”
    Jessica moved back just that fraction, uneasy with Alexi’s sensual, stirring touch. “Howard has never acted like that. It was worse today. What about Willow? Have you found out who is bothering her?”
    Alexi’s eyes slowly opened to look at her. He took in her smooth chignon, the careful makeup, her loose silk blouse neatly tucked into her flowing slacks and the black low-heeled pumps. “He wants you badly. He wants to own you, to possess you.”
    She shrugged lightly. “I know. He’s not getting me. I’m just a challenge to him.”
    “You are definitely a challenge—mine.” As if testing her, Alexi moved slightly, just enough to bring him closer; he continued to slowly stroke her thigh and up to her hip, following the curve with his open hand. She eased back once more, unsettled by how much that easy touch could make her ache for more.
    Alexi smiled slowly, warmth smoothing away that hard, taut look. “It will be worse now. Now that he knows you have a…‘lover.”’
    She crossed her arms. “You