Run Rosie Run by C. C. MacKenzie Page B

her belly wind too tight.
    Well, well, this was interesting.
    They’d had their disagreements in the past of course. She usually ended up throwing something at him. Unfortunately, the place didn’t boast nick knacks or anything heavy enough to knock some sense into him.
    His voice went low and hard.
    ‘I don’t need a damned army. You’ve had this coming for months and I’m just the man to do it.’
    She was pushing it.
    Rosie knew Alexander had a temper but she sniggered anyway, folded her arms and cocked her hip.
    ‘If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were jealous.’
    He was in her face now.
    ‘I’ll tell you what I am, I’m wondering what the hell has got into you. The Rosie I know wouldn’t get all hot and heavy with a guy after one date! The Rosie I know would never bitch about a friend or have a secret affair with a guy called Simon.’
    Oh, for God’s sake.
    How the hell did he know about...?
    ‘Bronte,’ she said now.
    There was an intensity in those green eyes she’d never seen before.
    She didn’t like it and she certainly didn’t like the possessive look in his eyes too, which had no business being there in the first place.
    ‘I care about you, damn it,’ he told her.
    ‘We’re not in a relationship. We have no romantic feelings for each other. So why don’t you butt the hell out?’
    Those dark eyes flashed in a way that made her take a careful step back.
    ‘We most certainly are in a relationship. We’ve been in one for years, sister.’
    The ‘sister’ remark lit the too dry touch paper of her temper.
    ‘I am not your sister,’ she yelled.
    ‘Trust me, I thank God for it every single day. And who says I don’t have romantic feelings for you?’ he yelled back.
    Heat flashed into her cheeks then drained away.
    No. No way.
    Rosie took another step back.
    Her speeding heart took a leap into her throat.
    ‘You most certainly do not.’
    Alexander’s eyes, a darker jade now, scanned down and up her body in a way that caused a horrible lurch in her belly. No man had ever looked at her like that, as if she was a possession. And unbelievably she found she didn’t like it.
    Her dreams of Alexander had been hazily romantic scenes of him promising her his undying love and devotion.
    The Alexander who stood before her now was a man who took what he wanted and promised nothing.
    The way he looked at her was too predatory, too domineering and too controlled.
    His voice went deep and low.
    ‘Oh yeah, I most certainly do. In fact I have more than romantic feelings for you.’
    He did? Since when?
    Rosie’s overheated system flared into life.
    Her breath came in little pants.
    Her breasts tingled even as she took another step back.
    He smiled.
    The smile of a big stalking predator who knew exactly what he was doing and how it affected her. The notion dinged into her brain that by the way he was looking at her he was quite aware she was aroused.
    Her gaze dropped to below his waist.
    Omigod.
    His hard shaft tented in his suit trousers and he appeared totally unconcerned.
    She’d wanted this for so long and now the moment had come she was absolutely terrified of him and of herself.
    How the hell could this be happening?
    Those eyes went almost black with lust and arousal as Alexander took a step forward and she took two back.
    Panic skittered up her spine.
    She’d never seen him like this.
    Never imagined he could be like this.
    She didn’t even know how she felt as a bewildering rush of emotions – surprised alarm, dread, excitement, want, desire – sped through her and left her unable to speak, unable to breathe.
    Who was this man?
    Alexander watched many different emotions run across Rosie’s stunning features.
    He knew he’d shocked her.
    And he’d been more up-front than he’d planned.
    She didn’t know what to do with her feelings or what to say.
    Her defences were down and she was vulnerable.
    To be honest, he wasn’t quite sure what he felt himself. Wishing for something