Sexy in Stilettos by Nana Malone Page B

his, his whole body jerking with need. “How about this—I show you how it’s done, and then you join me.” He eased away from her before he could do anything stupid. Shit . Everything from her hair to her eyes to her light jasmine scent made him ache. “I have an idea. Why don’t you add skinny-dipping to your list of ‘to do’s’ for the day.” As he walked away, he wondered how in the hell he was going to get his pants off without her noticing how massively hard he was.
     She shrugged. “I know my lists probably seem stupid to you, but I never get anything done if I don’t write it down. Make it a goal. I don't know—it's like I'm paralyzed until I write it down.”
    “You can do things without writing them down, you know.”
    She shook her head. “Nope. I can’t even get to the grocery store unless I put it on a to-do list for the day. And of course I shop by grocery list.”
    Alec barked out a laugh. “You mean to tell me you've never been to the grocery store without a list? I’d hate to see that list. No rocky road. No booze.”
    Her brows drew in. “Not rocky road. Cookies and cream. That always makes my list,” she sniffed.
    He grinned. “Well you can’t be too uptight if cookies and cream make the list.”
    “I'm not uptight. I'm just organized and have a plan for life.”
    Alec grinned. He'd feel like his head was in a noose if he had to live like that. Kind of like now. He had too much of his father in him. Needed to be free. I just want to be free . Max's words came to him in a rush. Well, didn't the need for freedom run in the family? But he wasn’t like his brother. He kept his commitments. He just knew better than to make too many. Alec knew Westhorpe blood ran in his veins.
    He wasn’t capable of long-term commitment. Then why do you expect it from your brother ? He also thought about Adele's words, “You are your actions and not your legacy. You can make the choices.”
    Jaya was more than her to-do lists. Maybe—No. He shook his head. He was about the fun. He wasn’t the stick-around guy. He’d proved that time and again. It didn’t matter if Jaya made him want to stick around for it. He knew the pattern. He’d eventually get bored and leave.
    “Earth to Alec.” Jaya waved a hand in front of her face. “You there?”
    “Um, yeah,” He smiled. “I’m here. So how about I help you with your list. Even if you won’t tell me everything that’s on it. How about you tell me one thing, and I’ll get you to cross it off. You don’t even have to tell me how long the list is.”
    She inched closer to the pool. “Why would you think you’re the person to help me?”
    “Because, if something made it on there, it’s probably a little rash, dangerous, or exciting.  I'm the master of excitement.”
    She laughed, and Alec’s heart jumped. He loved the way she laughed.  It made her sound young and un-jaded.  Her almond-shaped eyes vanished into creases. He couldn’t help but smile back at her.
    “The master of excitement huh? Not all of my goals are exciting. Some have to do with me standing up for myself.”
    “Like telling Derrick he was terrible in bed?
    Her eyes widened.  “How the hell did you—”
    He shook his head and tapped his temple. “Photographic memory.  I saw part of your list when you dropped it downstairs.”
    She covered her eyes. “You're shitting me.”
    “I shit you not.”
    Narrowing her eyes, she said, “Prove it.”
    “Skinny-dipping of course, but to be fair, I didn’t see that one clearly. Riding the New York City subway all night, do a round-the world-trip by yourself. Of course those aren’t the most fascinating ones. A threesome, Jaya? You honestly don’t seem like the girl-on-girl-for-a-thrill kind of person, but if you are, I’m in.”
    She barked out a strangled laugh. With her mouth agape and eyes bugging, it made him want to laugh. Then, she said the unexpected.
    “Who said anything about girl on girl?”
    That shut him up.