“Mmmm,” she moaned softly. “Alex.”

His smile grew even wider. “Mmmm, Angel,” he agreed in a soft murmur against her cheek and then found her mouth with his in a gentle kiss. “Good morning.”

Angel stretched in his arms, which made her body come in closer contact with his, pressing all the good stuff together. She smiled and opened her eyes, her hand coming to rest on his now-scruffy jaw. So strong, she thought. “Did you sleep well?”

“Like the dead.”

“Did I wear you out?”

He smirked and pressed his hardening erection into her softness. “Never. I never want to leave this bed.”

She looked into his eyes, and suddenly they were both serious. “Um…” She felt uneasy. This was too comfortable; it felt too good. If she wasn’t careful, she’d start feeling shit she didn’t want to feel; if it wasn’t already too late. Plus, he shouldn’t even be here, not if she wanted to keep the threats to him at bay. Her chest constricted.

“What?” he asked, nuzzling with his nose. His breath was warm on her face, his voice like honey, and her body responded. She wanted him. Her fingers skittered over the hard muscles of his arms and shoulders.

“Um… what time is it?”

“Does it matter? It’s Saturday.” He rolled her over, covering her body with his, and continued to kiss and nuzzle, pressing her down on the mattress, hardness against softness.

Angel closed her eyes. She had to move, to get some distance, and protect her heart. Knowing what he could bring her body to, stole her breath, but she had to think. Think, Angel!

“Becca is coming. I mean, we always work out on Saturday.”

Alex pulled back to look into her face, a small smile playing on his beautiful mouth. Angel’s eyes were transfixed on his, her heart thrumming in her ears. “I’ll work you out, better than Becca can, baby.” His hips moved against hers, teasing as his eyes danced mischievously.

“No, Alex. I’d love to, but she’ll be mad at me. She’s coming all the way into town from Schaumburg.”

Alex could see the panic in her face, and for the first time in his life, he gave a shit. He wanted to know what was behind it.

He rolled to her side and propped his head on his elbow. “What’s bugging you? Becca isn’t the issue.”

“Yes, she is. We promised each other that we wouldn’t change our routine because of a guy. And I’m sure you have things to do, too.” She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, still lying on her back. “Don’t you?”

Alex searched her expression. “I was supposed to meet my brother, but he’s never on time. It annoys the shit out of me.” He reached for the Rolex he’d placed on the side table. 11:45 AM! He sat up and ran a hand through his beautiful mess of hair, made messier by Angel during their sex play. “I do need to get going.” The woman still in repose, where he’d left her, was hard to leave. The sheet was draped over her and he could see every nuance of her body through it. “Damn if I want to, though. Angel… this is…”

“We don’t have to define this, Alex.”

“Maybe I want to.”

“Well, I don’t. I thought you just wanted to have fun, no strings.”

His brow furrowed. “I told you that I don’t have sex with multiple women. I’d prefer that you weren’t fucking around either.”

“But… that’s a string.” She bit her lower lip and Alex had the urge to pull it free with his thumb.

“Are you sleeping with anyone else?”

“Not since we’ve been—”

He interrupted shortly. “Good. Keep it that way. I’ll make sure you’re satisfied.” He winked.

Angel flushed, rolling her eyes. No doubt. “It isn’t that; it’s getting involved.”

“Well, it feels involved. I stayed over, which doesn’t happen. It felt good so let’s just go with it. We’ll each have our lives, but no other lovers. We tell each other in advance if that becomes an issue. Okay?”

Angel knew there was no way in hell she’d want to be with anyone else. Not when he wanted her. He was as close to God-like perfection as she’d ever seen, and Whitney’s description of him fell incredibly short.

“Yeah.”

Could she take that conversation? “Angel, I want to have sex with someone else…” She didn’t want to think about it.

“Don’t worry so much.”

Angel watched him as he rose and walked to the other side of the bed to find his clothes, admiring every incredible inch of his amazing physique. She rolled over and gathered the sheet closer. “So you’d have me believe that no other woman has seen that ass in the light of day?”

He chuckled as he pulled on his jeans. “Not since college.”

“Pity. It’s a fine ass.” She smirked and licked her lips suggestively.

Alex laughed. “Not as fine as this one.” He slapped her on the rear and she squealed, giggling as he pulled the sheet from her, leaving her naked and sprawled on the bed, eyes wide and staring.

Alex undid his jeans he’d just donned and then pulled her, laughing, by her ankles toward him. “I don’t think I’m leaving just yet.”

* * *

Becca sat at Angel’s kitchen bar scowling as she watched her friend pour orange juice into two glasses.

“Sure you don’t want some?” Angel asked.

“Yeah. I want to be at the gym,” she retorted.

Angel’s expression was indulgent. “We’re going. Just a few more minutes. He’ll be out of the shower.”

“I can’t believe this, Angel. You said you weren’t going to see him again.”

Angel shrugged. Her black hoodie was zipped up part way over a white tank and black yoga pants, her hair in a messy bun that had tendrils falling all around, her body still feeling the effects of Alex’s possession only minutes earlier. Becca was dressed for the gym, also, but less fashionably than her friend. “I can’t help it.”

Becca’s eyes widened as she bit down on a banana. “What?” she spoke with her mouth full. “You never fall prey to gorgeous.”

Angel shrugged again. “Alex is… sort if inescapable, Becca. He met me after the show. He was exhausted, just back from overseas, yet he waited for me. I’m beginning to think my opinion of him was all wrong.”

Becca finished the banana and threw the peel in the trash under the sink. “Wow. You’ve known him, what, 2 or 3 weeks? Maybe there’s hope for you yet.”

“I’m still cautious, but,” she shrugged, “I enjoy being with him. I realize the risks, and my head fights with me over it, but damn if I can resist.”

“Must be talented between the sheets. Doesn’t help your resolve; he’s gorgeous.”

“Yes. That. I seriously cannot help myself,” Angel agreed pointedly. The girls were giggling just as Alex walked causally down the hall.

Freshly showered, and wearing the same clothes from the night before, Alex’s hair was damp, the strands darker and falling boyishly over his forehead. He impatiently pushed it back with his right hand. A smirk lifted his lips as he entered the kitchen. Angel nodded toward the juice waiting for him on the counter and he picked it up. “Hello, Becca.”

“Alex.”

He walked around Becca toward Angel, leaning down to place a short kiss on her mouth as her hand came to rest on the solid wall of his chest. Angel blushed at his easy display of affection in front of her best friend.

Becca’s eyebrows raised and she pursed her lips, nodding to Angel behind Alex’s back. “Hot!” she mouthed.

“Do you want something to eat?” Angel asked Alex.

He rubbed her upper arms with his hands. “I just spoke to my brother. We’re meeting for lunch, so I’m good. I have to run, but I’ll call you later?”

She smiled. “Dead phone. No charger, remember?”

Alex laughed. “Oh, right. I’ll remedy that soon. Call me, so I’ll have your personal number.”

“I like the other phone.” Angel stopped herself before she revealed too much. That private line between them was super sexy.

Alex’s eyes narrowed but he smiled, understanding. Satisfaction filled his expression. “I do, too. But, just this once.” He touched her chin with his fingers and his thumb brushed Angel’s jaw. Becca bit her lip and looked away. The gesture seemed very intimate. “Walk me to the door?”

He took her hand and she followed slightly behind him. “I’d like to see you tonight. Are you free?”

Angel’s brow dropped, disappointment filling her. She’d made plans to meet Kenneth to discuss the next steps in the Swanson case. “Um, I have a work meeting. Actually, it’s just a casual thing, but I have to go.”

“Will it take all evening?”

“No, I’m meeting him at six for drinks. So I should be free by eight or so.” Inwardly cringing, she wondered how she’d get away from Kenneth that fast. He’d want to pick up where they left off, and she’d be left with no choice but to tell him she was seeing someone else. Ugh.

“Him?” Alex’s brow raised and a soft smile lifted the corners of his mouth.

“Uh huh. The district attorney, Kenneth Gant.”

The name registered in Alex’s mind, Bancroft mentioned that he was the man Angel was seeing, and the hair on the back of his neck stood on end, jealousy burning in the pit of his gut. He looked down at her hands in his, his emerald eyes on fire. “I see. Let’s talk later, okay, baby?”

“If it matters, I wish I didn’t have to go, but I do.” Something inside her wanted to make sure he knew this was business and nothing more.

She waited for his response, and finally, his eyes met hers. He pulled her into his arms for a hug. Leaving Angel felt strange. He turned into her hair inhaling deeply, memorizing her scent. Even though Becca looked on, Alex’s mouth took hers in a passionate kiss, his tongue invading her mouth, teasing hers into play. He took his time, enjoying the feel of her mouth on his, her body in his arms, her fingers in the hair at his nape.

When he drew away, he sucked in his breath and kissed her temple. “See ya.”

On his way to the garage and his car, Alex shoved his hands into his pockets; his mind racing with questions about the man that Angel would be spending the evening with. For the first time in two weeks, he had the desire to read the red file. While he was confident that the passion between them was unparalleled, he wasn’t willing to leave it to fate. That’s how he won, by dissecting the competition and knowing their weaknesses.

“Fuck me,” he muttered, running a hand through the beautiful, damp mess of hair. He knew he wouldn’t read the goddamn thing.

When the elevator doors opened, the garage was filled with a car alarm honking repeatedly and he realized it was his Audi. He hurried forward, slowing as he approached. The windshield was shattered—like someone had taken a baseball bat to it—a huge round break, spreading out from the center, some of the glass littering the expensive leather interior and sleek black paint.

“What the hell?”

He shut the alarm off with his remote and moved closer, pulling a piece of paper from under the wiper and glancing over the rest of the vehicle. There didn’t appear to be any other damage, thankfully.

Unfolding the paper, the words sank in.

Keep away. If you know what’s good for you. If you know what’s good for HER.

Alex burned; his heart tightening as anger flooded through him. He began to shake, his fist closing around the note.

“Son of a bitch!” he exclaimed loudly, his voice echoing through the empty space.

11

Without a Net

Alex sat across from Cole as he cracked open the first of his second dozen crab legs, shaking his head and watching in stunned amazement as his brother packed in huge quantities of food. The morning had been a blur; getting his car out of the garage before Angel saw the damage and to the body shop, then the rush to meet Cole as planned. He shouldn’t have bothered; Cole was late as usual.

Alex used the time to think about the implications of the vandalism and strengthened his resolve to find out what the hell was going on. Thoughts raced; the group of young men the night before at the radio station, and Angel’s comments about her cases getting scary sometimes, had his neurons working overtime. The possibility of it being a coincidence seemed highly unlikely.

“Cole, can you stop eating long enough to tell me what you found out?” Alex leaned on his elbow against the back of the booth, his food untouched, his thumb and index finger plucking at his eyebrow impatiently. His lips set into a thin line when Cole continued to concentrate on his plate. “Please?”