Convincing Alex by Nora Roberts Page A

even a matter of sex—for you—but a matter of control.” She scooted her coffee back and took a sip. “Am I close?”
    For a moment, Rosalie said nothing. “You’re not as stupid as you look.”
    â€œThanks. I’m always surprising people that way. Especially men.”
    â€œYeah.” For the first time, Rosalie smiled. Beneath the hard-edged cosmetics and the lines life had etched in her face, she was a striking woman, not yet thirty. “I’ll tell you this, girlfriend, the men who pay me see a body. They don’t see a mind. But I got a mind, and I got a plan. I’ve been on the streets five years. I ain’t going to be on them five more.”
    â€œWhat are you going to do? What do you want to do?”
    â€œWhen I get enough saved up, I’m going South. Going to get me a trailer in Florida, and a straight job. Maybe selling clothes. I look real fine in good clothes.” She crushed out her cigarette and lit another. “Lots of us have plans, but don’t make it. I will. I’m clean,” she said, and lifted her arms, turning them over. It took Bess a minute to realize Rosalie was saying she wasn’t a user. “One more year, I’m gone. Less than that, if I hook onto a regular john with money. Angie did.”
    â€œAngie?” Bess flipped through her mental file. “Angie Horowitz? Isn’t that the woman who was murdered?”
    â€œYeah.” Rosalie moistened her lips before sucking in smoke. “She wasn’t careful. I’m always careful.”
    â€œHow can you be careful?”
    â€œYou keep yourself ready,” Rosalie told her. “Angie, she liked to drink. She’d talk a john into buying a bottle. That’s not being careful. And this guy, the rich one? He—”
    â€œWhat the hell do you think you’re doing?”
    Both Rosalie and Bess looked up. Standing beside the scarred table was a tall man with thin shoulders. There was a cheroot clamped between his teeth, and a diamond winked on his finger. His face was moon-pale, with furious blue eyes. His hair was nearly as white, and slicked back, ending in a short ponytail.
    â€œI’m having me a cup of coffee and a smoke, Bobby,” Rosalie told him. But beneath the defiance, Bess recognized the trickle of fear.
    â€œYou get back on the street where you belong.”
    â€œExcuse me.” Bess offered her best smile. “Bobby, is it?”
    He cast his icy blue eyes on her. “You looking for work, sweetheart? I’ll tell you right now, I don’t tolerate any loafing.”
    â€œThank you, but no, I’m not looking. Rosalie was just helping me with a small problem.”
    â€œShe doesn’t solve anyone’s problems but mine.” He jerked his head toward the street. “Move it.”
    Bess slid out of the booth but held her ground. “This is a public place, and we’re having a conversation.”
    â€œYou don’t talk to anybody I don’t tell you to talk to.” Bobby gave Rosalie a hard shove toward the door.
    Bess didn’t think, simply reacted. If she detested anything, it was a bully. “Now just a damn minute.” She grabbed his sleeve. He rounded on her. Other patrons put on their blinders when he pushed her into the table. Bess came up, fists clenched, just as Alex slammed through the door.
    â€œOne move, Bobby,” he said tightly. “Just one move toward her.”
    Bobby brushed at his sleeve and shrugged. “I just came in for a cup of coffee. Isn’t that right, Rosalie?”
    â€œYeah.” Rosalie closed her hand over the business card Bess had slipped her. “We were just having some coffee.”
    But Alex’s eyes were all for Bess. She didn’t look pale and frightened. Her eyes were snapping, and her cheeks were flushed with fury. “Tell me you want to press charges.”
    â€œI’m sorry.” With an effort, Bess