Page 2 (2/2)
She expected him to touch her in a businesslike fashion? Luc steeled hih hi diluted the jolt that shocked him when he took her hand
"Ms Devereaux We need to talk Is there solanced over at the bouncer’s curious, intrusive stare "Private?"
"Tyler" She snapped her fingers "Back to work It’s four, right? Open the doors" Then she turned her stare back to Luc "Follow me"
As if he could have resisted when she turned that gorgeous ass in his direction and pranced awayIe, then down a hall that had been painted black Red lights shined overhead, giving the back a Goth feel that contrasted with the public area’s war with black-and-white photos on the wall Splashes of red color in silk flowers and a desk chair
Alyssa held the door wide, then closed it behind him once he’d entered He realized that none of the club’s other sounds could be heard He cocked his head, listening to the crisp silence
"Soundproof," she confire of the desk in a relaxed pose that so at two in theout your ears"
That"Listen, I--"
"Before we get down to business, can I ask your opinion of my number? I haven’t danced around a pole in two years I’m out of practice"
She hadn’t danced around a pole in two years? WowHe didn’t frequent gentleentle to coht her performance was out of practice, Luc decided he’d likely have a heart attack if ever he saw Alyssa in what she considered to be prime form "Why ask me?"
She frowned "Other than Tyler, who likes anything I say or do, you were the onlyI need a male opinion on this Did it work for you?"
And then sohed "I need it to be great Daht is Sexy Sirens’ fifth anniversary, and I promised to perform I don’t really do it anye later Thanks for the opinion"
If she tried any harder, she’d incite instant orgasm in half the audience in the first thirty seconds
"So how have you been?" Her smile lit up her whole face, the whole room Hell, his whole body
"Fine Very busy You?"
"Oh" She rolled her eyes "Crazy busy! I had no idea the restaurant business was so tough You’d know all about it, of course But I’lad you’re here I’ve been looking forward to watching you in action" Her smile was a tease in itself "In the kitchen, of course"
His body teain If he didn’t leave soon, she would see action in the kitchen and anywhere else she would consent to let hi her? He definitely owed her
"I hear your cousin got married," she commented
Luc tried not to wince "Yes Deke and Kio"
Alyssa paused, cocked her head, assessed him with those cool blue eyes "You okay with that? I know you had a relationship with her, too"
Yes, one that had ended with the near death of his greatest dreae with Ki that she loved Deke Still, Luc had hoped to nant, and they would all live as a happy family All too soon, they’d paired off and left him alone Possibly his last chance to raise a child with even a drop of his blood walked out the door with theed "She’s still special to me"
It wasn’t a lie, but not the complete truth, either Kimber and Deke didn’t need anyone but each other, and Luc had only been in their way He’d accepted that because, while he’d adored Kimber, he hadn’t loved her He had, however, wanted the one thing they could have given hi clawed a deep crater of longing out of his chest
He wanted a child And he couldn’t father one
"You all right?" Alyssa asked "Can I get you a drink?"
No What he had to do was get out of here before he let his dick lead hi the fact that he needed to find an acceptable woman anted a child as badly as he did AlyssaShe was sexy, deter in the dark But she wasn’t anyone’s idealthe adoption route, case agents would take one look at her and run screa Even if she wanted children now--and ould she?--he didn’t think she’d agree to dash to the nearest sperh rounds of in vitro fertilization She’d want a man who could father his own children the normal way
At thirty-five, Luc should be way beyond this blinding sort of adolescent urge for sex, the kind that obliterated all logical thought Alyssa wasn’t going to help hiet the news flash to his dick
Hell, he’d never before wished he were impotent, rather than sterile Here was a fun first
"No, thanks Alyssa, I can’t stay"
"Right now? I’ive you a tour of the restaurant and kitchen to It’s just a few blocks from here I ordered all the food your assistant indicated and--"
"I meant this week I can’t do it"
"Another commitment?" Her sharp tone would have told him she was pissed off, even if her starchy expression didn’t
Luc wanted to lie, but he was already bailing on her Lying would add insult to injury, and she deserved the truth "It’s what’s between us"
"We had sex, and now you can’t cook for me? What, exactly, does one have to do with the other?"