Hold Me Tight: Heartbreakers by Cait London Page B

red hair.
    Today, seated beside him, with her face cleaned of cosmetics and her hair in a gleaming ponytail that swayed as she walked—her hips also swayed, and in the light lounging pants, they had been soft and warm and—Alexi forced his mind away from what his body wanted.
    Jessica Sterling was a chameleon, a spoiled rich widow, used to getting what she wanted. The clean, wholesome look would appeal to the Stepanovs, and so for the moment she had shed her business skin.
    Now Jessica was showing him that she could move into his life and ruin his peace—if she wanted.
    Jessica smiled blandly at him and punched his shoulder lightly, playfully, like a girl tormenting a boy. “Alexi is a good old boy, aren’t you, bud?”
    “I am not a flower. Do not call me bud,” he answered sullenly before he could shield his dark mood.
    He frowned at Jarek, who had just whooped, and at Mikhail, who was smothering a grin.
    Even worse was the look of the women around the table—softly pleased, hopeful for another wedding, another Stepanov wife that he would not provide. If he ever feared anything, it was women plotting a wedding. He remembered in every detail the arguments, the emotions, the costs—that hunted feeling….
    When he turned to Jessica again, she was devouring her food, but that sly glance at him was victorious.
    Alexi put out his hand and turned her face fully toward him.
    She smiled innocently, but her dark green eyes sparkled with pleasure.
    Alexi noted the light gold circle around her iris. He noted the smoothness of her skin beneath his touch. He noted the quiver that caused the tendrils beside her cheek to sway.
    He noted the buttery gloss of her lips, the tiny crumb at one corner, dark with maple syrup.
    He leaned down and kissed that portion of her lip, allowing his tongue to flick the crumb into his mouth. He sat back to watch, fascinated as she quivered and lit, almost like a colorful jewel with sparkling, shifting facets, her cheeks flushing again, her eyes bright and startled.
    Recovering from the surprise he’d just given himself, Alexi began to smile—the game was his, unbalancing Jessica. Then he glanced at the other women who seemed breathless and waiting. Their dreamy expressions, those wedding looks, sent fear shivering up his nape and his smile died. “A crumb. She had a crumb on her mouth,” he explained unevenly.
    For once Jessica didn’t reply. She simply sat with her head lowered, the sunlight gleaming on her dark red hair.
    When lively conversation turned to his father coming in the spring, the remodeling of the house, the small pasture that was needed and tiny barn for the animals, Jessica still hadn’t spoken.
    She looked vulnerable and Alexi had the uncomfortable feeling that the blame was his. He wanted to run his hand over her head to soothe her—but that wouldn’t do.
    Instead he sipped his coffee and sat, very aware of thewoman at his side. To his disgust, Alexi wanted badly to place his arm around Jessica, drawing her close and safe.
    “It is a lonely time for a man without a woman at his side,” Fadey was saying. “I am sorry your dear mother is not at Viktor’s side when he retires here. My brother still grieves for her deeply. But Louise will always be in his heart, I know this.”
    “Lovely woman,” Mary Jo said in her soft Texan drawl as she passed and placed her hand on Alexi’s shoulder, leaning down to kiss his cheek. “I’ll pack lunch for you, darlin’. Are you enjoying your stay at the Amoteh, Jessica?”
    Jessica nodded and smiled. “It’s lovely. I’m afraid I badly needed the rest.”
    “A woman should not be working so hard that she forgets she is a woman,” Fadey stated softly. “You come to have zavarka with us. It is good for a family to have this warmth. When my brother comes, he will be pleased that you know our customs.”
    “She’s not staying,” Alexi stated abruptly. This woman and he were at war and it sounded like his family was making