Strangers in Paradise by Heather Graham

said.
    Alexi rose carefully on one foot, using the couch for balance.
    â€œTell her the truth! She thinks that...”
    â€œThat what?”
    â€œThat I—that we—that we were sleeping together!”
    â€œI suppose she does.”
    â€œWell, set her straight! Do you want her to think that?”
    Rex chuckled softly. He cupped her cheek for an instant; the warmth of his breath feathered over her flesh. “Why not?”
    â€œWhy not?” Alexi echoed furiously.
    â€œDoesn’t every man fantasize about sleeping with the face that launched a thousand ships?” His brow was arched; he was mocking her, she was certain.
    â€œRex, damn you—”
    â€œOf course, Alexi, there’s much, much more to you than a beautiful face—isn’t there?”
    Samson barked; Rex walked out. Alexi, trembling, wanted to scream at him.
    But she didn’t want to scream with Emily there, so she sank weakly back to the sofa.

Chapter 5
    E mily was busy cracking eggs when Rex came into the kitchen. He walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out the milk for her, smiling as he set it on the counter. He had seen her watching him covertly as she pretended great interest in the eggs.
    â€œShe’s cute, huh,” he commented, stealing a strip of green pepper and leaning against the counter.
    Emily arched a brow. “Alexi Jordan? All you have to say about her is ‘cute’?”
    â€œReal cute?”
    Emily sniffed. “She’s probably the most glamorous woman in the world—”
    Rex broke in on her with soft laughter. “Emily! Glamorous? You just saw her with wet hair in a worn terry robe!”
    â€œShe’s still glamorous.”
    â€œShe’s flesh and blood,” Rex said irritably, wondering at the bitterness in his own tone. He wanted her to be real, an ordinary woman, he thought dismally.
    â€œNice flesh,” Emily commented dryly, pouring the eggs into the frying pan.
    â€œVery nice.” He grinned.
    â€œWhen did you meet?”
    â€œA few nights ago.”
    â€œOh.”
    Her lips were pursed in silent disapproval, and Rex couldn’t help but laugh again and give her a quick hug. “There’s nothing going on, Emily. Alas, and woe is me—but that’s the truth. She called over here this morning because her house was suddenly infested with snakes.”
    â€œSnakes?”
    â€œJust some harmless ringnecks.”
    â€œHow many?”
    â€œFive.”
    Emily shuddered. “That poor creature! Well, you were right to bring her over here. I wonder if she should stay the night.”
    â€œI’d just love it,” Rex told her wickedly.
    â€œI’ll stay, too, Casanova,” Emily warned him. When she saw that he was about to take another pepper, she rapped him on the hand with her wooden spoon.
    â€œEmily...you’re showing no respect to me at all.”
    She sniffed again. Emily had a great talent for sniffing, he thought with a smile.
    â€œWell, Mr. Popularity, maybe this is just what you need. The lady is far more renowned than you.”
    â€œOh, really?”
    â€œShe’s glamorous. You’re merely...notorious.”
    Rex laughed good-naturedly.
    â€œAnd you’re usually rude to women,” she went on.
    â€œI am not.”
    â€œYou are. You had a bad break with your wife, and you think they’re all after something. So you figure you’ll just use people first—and not get hurt in the end.”
    He was grateful that Emily didn’t see that his features had gone taut; she was busy adding ingredients to her omelet. She wouldn’t have cared anyway; she loved him like a son and had no qualms about treating him like one.
    â€œEmily, Emily, you should be opening an office instead of cooking and cleaning for me,” he said coolly.
    â€œWell, it’s true,” Emily murmured. “I’ve seen you do it a million times. Some sexy thing moves in and