Exposing Alix Read Free

on the
coffee table. Black eyes swept from her weather-beaten running shoes to
windblown hair. “They say dogs resemble their owners, but I’m afraid you don’t
look a bit like a Doberman. Did you inherit the creature, by any chance?”
    “Rescued,” she said, handing him the tea. “And what do you
mean by that, anyway? How should a Doberman owner look?”
    “German, for one.” He grinned, exposing bright,
Hollywood-perfect teeth. “Tall. Blonde. Aggressive. Like Gunther. You strike me
as more of the Labrador retriever type.”
    Alix fought the urge to bare her teeth and snarl, just to
prove how aggressive she could be. Normally, she didn’t mind the fact that men
didn’t give her a second look. She’d made sure of that, actually. But for some
reason, coming from this man, it stung. “I see. How flattering. Now, perhaps
you could tell me what you’re here for? Of course, you had me at ‘Labrador,’
but why don’t we go through the motions anyway.”
    He threw back his head and laughed. “I wasn’t trying to
insult you. I may not like dogs, but even I can appreciate a Lab. My sister had
one, and he was gentle as a kitten, loyal—”
    She held up a hand. “I know. Gentle, kind, shed like mad,
and don’t know the meaning of the word ‘guard.’ I am a woman living alone at
the end of a secluded road in a fishing village that has a population of five
hundred, on a good day. I’m happy with Rex here, thank you very much.”
    He sobered. “Of course. You really need an alarm system of
some kind. You’re at least half mile from the nearest house. I could barely
find the place, and I had detailed directions.”
    Tiny fingers of awareness danced along her spine at the
deep, sensual voice. If anyone resembled a Doberman, this man did. Lean,
muscled, ready to attack at a moment’s notice. Though he now looked entirely at
ease, relaxed against her ancient furniture, she couldn’t forget the flash of
temper she’d seen when he handed her the phone. Ryker Valentine did not want to
be here, and all his joking couldn’t erase the sparks that glittered behind
those velvety eyes.
    “I assume you got those directions from Gunther. Can I
also assume he told you how much I value my privacy?”
    Ryker held a hand over his heart. “He made me swear an
oath on my mother’s grave not to share the location of this house, or the name
of its inhabitant, with anyone I know.”
    “Yes, well, I hope you take that oath seriously. So let’s
get this over with. Why did Gunther send you, and what do you want?”
    He shifted in his seat and took another sip of tea. The
water beaded up on the outside of the glass and ran down his hand. Helpless,
Alix watched the liquid trail across his skin.
    Ryker set down the glass and rubbed his hands together.
“Right, let’s get to it.” The humor melted from his dark eyes. “Gunther’s
producing my next film, and there’s a bit more romance in this one than the
last. Gunther wasn’t thrilled with the way a few of the love scenes came out.
He suggested I hire a consultant.”
    Ryker spit out the words as if they were distasteful. Alix
suppressed a smirk. So Gunther thought Mr. Oscar-Nominated Director needed help
with his love scenes, did he? She had to admit, Garden of Eden had
exposed some serious weakness in that area. It included a single sex scene that
most critics agreed appeared to have been appended onto the story for the sole
purpose of exposing Ryker’s very attractive behind.
    Alix tried to look vague. “A consultant? What for,
exactly?”
    He waved his hands with irritation. “Gunther thinks the
sex scenes are too cold, not enough emotion. I think he’s confusing a movie
about real life with some romantic fairy tale, but I suppose some people like
fairy tales. At any rate, he says you’re the best, and I have to admit, I liked
your work. I mean, the script was less than compelling, and your lighting could
use some improvement, but overall—”
    Alix lowered herself