Strangers in Paradise by Heather Graham Page B

can take it off,” Rex said innocently, which immediately drew a scathing glance from her.
    He shook his head ruefully. “No...you can’t take it off. Look, sit down with Emily and have some breakfast. I’ll go back over for your things. Maybe the exterminators will be there by now and I can get them started.”
    â€œYou don’t need to—”
    â€œI want to. Relax. Enjoy Emily’s company.” He stepped away from her and whistled. “Samson!” The German shepherd came bounding in. He was huge, and when he swept by Alexi, she teetered dangerously, trying to catch her balance again. “Samson!” Rex chastised him, stepping forward quickly to catch Alexi. He smelled the soft, alluring scent of her hair as he caught her; he felt its velvet texture graze his cheek. He wanted to swear all over again.
    â€œYou’d better stay seated,” he muttered, lifting her swiftly and depositing her upon the couch. Another mistake. He felt too much of her body. Too much smoothness beneath the terry. Smoothness that reminded him that there was nothing beneath it.
    â€œI’ll be back with your things,” he said brusquely, then strode out, the shepherd obediently at his heels.
    He was barely gone before Emily came to the doorway, smoothing her hands over her apron. She smiled shyly at Alexi. “I have everything ready.” She frowned. “Where’s Rex?”
    â€œHe—he went back over to my house. To Gene’s house,” Alexi said apologetically. She flushed again, wondering what the woman must think of her. Rex Morrow—he was like a cyclone in her life. She never knew what to think. One moment she was fascinated; the next second she wanted to carve notches in his flesh...slowly. He was dangerous to her. To any woman, she thought, flushing all over again at the pieces of conversation she had heard. Oh, she couldn’t be so foolish as to imagine having an affair with him. He was striking, sensual and sexual—and she was still reeling from the impact of her marriage. If there was anything she didn’t need, it was an affair with someone like him.
    Emily smiled at her suddenly; the smile was warm, shy, only slightly awkward.
    â€œYou really are beet red. I apologize if I gave you the idea that I was thinking...something...that I shouldn’t have been thinking,” she added hastily. “Rex told me about the snakes.” She shuddered. “Ugh. I know they’re harmless snakes—and I would have been in a tizzy, too, I assure you.”
    â€œThanks,” Alexi said, a little huskily. And before she really thought she murmured, “Rex told you—the truth?”
    â€œOh, he can be a pill, can’t he?” She shook her head, but then it was clear to Alexi that Emily’s affection for him rose to the fore. “But he’s really very ethical.” Emily laughed. “Honestly. He can be hard—but he does play up-front, and he’s a strangely principled man. For this day and age, anyway,” she added with a soft sigh. “Oh, here I am, going on and on, when your food is nice and hot. I’ll bring it out—”
    â€œOh, no, please don’t bother! I can get to the kitchen with no problem, really. I have to start walking. I have a lot of things to do.”
    â€œLet me help you.”
    Alexi protested; Emily insisted. They walked back to the kitchen, Alexi learning to put a little more weight on her foot with each movement.
    Emily sat down with her, sharing the omelet that Rex had left behind. Alexi found out that Emily was a widow with four grown children. She also learned that Emily counted Rex as an adopted fifth child—and adored him with a fierce loyalty.
    There was something about Emily, she reflected. The woman was warm and open and giving, and Alexi found herself trying to explain what she wanted to do. It began when Emily asked her why on earth she would want to leave