Joy Avery - In The Market For Love

Again, Alonso scrutinized her as if committing her features to memory. He’d eyed her in a similar manner at the restaurant, too, she recalled. What exactly did he see when he stared at her that way?

“Why are you here?” she said, breaking the silence.

“Have dinner with me.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because you think I’m a nice guy.”

“Actually, I don’t think about you at all.”

“Liar.”

Vivian’s brows bunched. “Excuse me?”

“The way your eyes smiled when you looked at me suggested you have thought about me.” He shrugged. “At least once or twice.”

“The way my eyes...” She laughed, attempting to strip away the nervousness that lingered just below the surface. “You are hilarious.” He flashed one of those soul-stirring smiles. If that hadn’t been enough, he performed that two-fingered beard massage thing that was quickly becoming her kryptonite. Why in the hell did she find the move so damn arousing?

Alonso folded his arms across his chest and rocked back and forth on his heels. “Well, I guess I was wrong.”

“I’m sure that was hard for you to admit, being wrong, but it happens to the best of us.” Oh, she would sacrifice a limb to know what raced through his head at the moment. The roguish expression on his face made the possibilities endless.

“About that dinner?”

He was a persistent one. She scrutinized him. What kind of game are you playing, Alonso Wright? Clearly, this was some elaborate scheme he’d cooked up in an attempt to persuade her to change her mind about selling the house. She’d played the fool once for a man, but wouldn’t again. This time she would wield the upper hand and beat him at whatever diversion he’d crafted. “Okay.”

Alonso’s brow arched in what she took to be surprise. Had he expected to have to put up more of a fight? He wasn’t the only astonished one. Typically, she wasn’t one to play games, but he made the challenge so damn appealing. Maybe she should have made him work a little harder.

“Okay?” Alonso said, his words dripping with uncertainty.

“Yes, okay. Unless you’ve already changed your mind.” She mimicked his folded-arm stance. “You haven’t changed your mind, have you?”

“Hell, no.”

She bit back a smile. “Good.”

“My best friend plays at a jazz club in downtown. The food is amazing. But we can do whatever you’d like.”

What she’d like to do was definitely not an option. “I love jazz, actually.”

“I know.”

“How—”

He touched the charm bracelet she wore, grasping the sterling silver saxophone between his fingers. “Details.”

She couldn’t recall a man ever paying this much attention to detail. Her arms fell to her sides, not wanting to risk another wave of sensation like what had crashed through her earlier.

They spent the next few minutes making plans. The upcoming weekend was no good for either of them, so they scheduled for the following Friday.

Vivian checked her watch. “I really should get back to work.”

“Okay. I have to get going, too. I’m getting Hamilton settled into his new place.”

“That’s great.” Vivian thought back to the conversation she’d overheard between him and Hamilton. Hamilton hadn’t sounded too interested, but apparently Alonso had changed his mind. If Alonso was that good at persuasion, maybe she should rethink this dinner thing. “How is Hamilton? No sodas, right?”

Alonso chuckled. “He’s good. And no sodas.”

She wasn’t sure she believed him about the soda part. “That’s good. That’s really good.” Things fell silent. What the hell was she doing? Why had she convinced herself any of this would be okay?

“Hey. You okay?”

Vivian snapped from her thoughts. Smiling, she said, “Yes. I was just thinking about how happy I am that Hamilton—” Her words trailed off seeing the wide grin on Alonso’s face. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“It’s something. What?”

“I just like the way someone else’s fortune brings you happiness. It’s refreshing.”

Something tender flashed in his eyes and for a brief moment, it blinded her to the fact she didn’t fully trust his motives. “I just like seeing people make changes for the better. Tell Hamilton I said hello.”

“Will do.”

Alonso sauntered away, leaving his manly scent behind for Vivian to appreciate. If she had any sense at all, she’d run far, far away from the man, instead of sprinting toward him.

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