Seduced At Sea. Andrea Laurence

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СКАЧАТЬ sofa and cocked his head. ‘Will I like any of the other things on your list?’

      Lexi shot him a fulminating glare, feeling a little spent after her tirade. ‘What do you think?’

      He laughed and Lexi felt a tug of awareness low in her pelvis as he studied her, his casual stance and insolent regard making her aware of her femininity—her womanliness—in a way she hated. Making her think of sex—of all things!

      She swallowed heavily and his eyes dropped to her throat and Lexi nearly raised her hand to cover it. What was he thinking about? Heat crept up her neck and she was afraid she might know.

      ‘I think you’re a woman with exacting standards that not many men manage to live up to.’

      Lexi blinked. ‘I think you’d fail to live up to most people’s standards,’ she retorted, stung a little by his assessment of her.

      ‘You’d be surprised.’

      ‘I’m not talking about the hundreds of women you go through like disposable razors.’

      He smiled at that. ‘Neither was I. And for your information, I use an electric.’

      ‘Well, you didn’t use it today,’ she said hotly and then wished she hadn’t when a sexy smile crossed his face. Damn. Now he probably thought she liked his stubble. Wanted to touch it, even. Huh! As if.

      She tightened her hold on her bag, aware that the conversation was taking a dangerous turn. ‘This is irrelevant.’

      ‘I agree.’ He pushed off from the sofa and sat down on it, his arms spread wide along the back like a sultan surveying his kingdom. ‘So tell me, what is it going to take to get you to agree to take care of Ty this weekend?’

      ‘Surely you have someone else who can help you out. A girlfriend, perhaps?’

      ‘Is that your way of asking if I’m available, Miss Somers?’

      Lexi glared at him. ‘That’s my way of asking if you have someone else to help you out. I would ask if you had a mother but I’m not sure you weren’t hatched from an egg.’

      Leo laughed, a deep, husky sound that sent tingles tracking down her spine. ‘I’m single. But, even if I wasn’t, bringing a girlfriend in at this late stage isn’t really the answer, is it?’

      It wasn’t really a question and, worst of all, she knew he was right. Lexi glanced outside at the endless view of the night sky and felt oddly cornered. ‘I can’t just drop everything in my life to help you.’

      ‘Think of it as helping Ty. You might find that more palatable,’ he drawled.

      Lexi made a derisive sound in the back of her throat and thought that if she wasn’t such a nice person—and the thought of touching him didn’t scare her so much—she’d smack him. ‘Oh, you’re good.’

      ‘Thank you.’

      ‘It wasn’t a compliment.’

      ‘I know.’

      Just as he knew she was about to capitulate.

      Lexi ground her teeth together and turned back and focused on the elegant dome of St Paul’s Cathedral in the distance. Anything was better than looking at Leo sprawled on the sofa with arrogant nonchalance. No doubt he would be attending parties in Greece and having a lovely time. A lovely time without his son. Lexi drummed her fingers against her arm. Just like her father.

      ‘What are you waiting for, Miss Somers?’ Leo drawled, his accent giving the words a sexy edge. ‘The stars to align?’

      Lexi fumed. Arrogant so-and-so … And then an idea sprouted. What if he took Ty to Greece and had a chance to get to know his son? Would that change his attitude towards Ty? She didn’t know, but it was worth a try and it was better than staying in London where there was no chance at all of that happening. Lexi didn’t trust that Amanda could look after Ty without her mother around and, although Leo Aleksandrov didn’t appear to be much better, she had to find out.

      She turned back to consider him and tried to ignore sensations she would rather not feel shimmy down her spine as he looked back at her with lazy insolence. ‘I’ll do it if you take Ty with you.’

      His eyelids lowered and when he raised them his eyes were no longer lazy or insolent, but hard and flat. ‘Never been to Greece, angel?’

      ‘Your list just got longer.’

      Knowing the type of man he was she hadn’t expected to win this point without a fight but, instead of arguing with her, he slowly rose to his feet, his eyes on her the whole time. Then he smiled, a killer’s smile, and Lexi felt the cold plate-glass window through her clothing and realised she’d backed up a step. ‘Careful, angel, you might fall.’

      Lexi stiffened her spine and gave him a look that had been known to stay the rowdiest of children. ‘I’m not afraid of you Mr Aleksandrov.’ Or the way he called her angel, with the tiniest hint of sexual promise behind it.

      Much, anyway.

      She lifted her chin just a fraction as he continued to stare at her and then finally—thankfully—he nodded his head and gestured towards the door.

      ‘Let me show you to your room.’

      Lexi nearly threw her hands up in the air as she realised that she’d just inadvertently agreed to go to Greece with him. The last thing she wanted to do. But how could she say no, now? ‘I must be mad,’ she muttered under her breath, trailing him up the long corridor towards the bedrooms.

      He stopped in front of the room next to the one Ty occupied.

      Lexi folded her arms across her chest. ‘Why do I have to stay here tonight if you’re not leaving until the morning?’

      ‘Insurance.’

      ‘If I give my word then I keep it.’

      ‘But you haven’t given me your word.’

      She very nearly stamped her foot at that. ‘Are you always this argumentative?’

      He leant against the door frame regarding her lazily. ‘Funny, I was going to ask the same thing about you.’ His voice held a husky quality she knew he’d probably used on a hundred other women and she hardened her resolve not to be affected by him.

      Lexi took a deep breath. ‘I give you my word I will return first thing in the morning.’

      He shrugged. ‘It doesn’t matter. I need you here tonight in case Ty wakes up.’

      Lexi wanted to argue with him but again he had a point. ‘I don’t have anything to wear to bed,’ she mumbled, feeling utterly defeated and uncharacteristically irritable.

      He held out his hand. ‘Give me your address and keys and I’ll send my driver to pick up whatever you need.’

      ‘Why can’t I go myself?’

      ‘Because Ty might wake up.’

      ‘I’ll СКАЧАТЬ