Love Songs Read Free

see?” he asked, surviving her scrutiny unscathed.
    Alanna put down her cup, shifted in her seat, and cocked her head in contemplation. “I see a man, perhaps thirty-seven or thirty-eight—”
    “Thirty-nine.”
    “Thank you. Thirty-nine.” She stifled a grin. “Tall—oh, say six-three or so?”
    “Close enough.” He nodded, smiling faintly.
    “Weight … I won’t even make a guess, since I’m no expert at that and since it’s quite unimportant.” She narrowed her gaze, fully involved in the game. “Athletic build, however. I’d guess you either work out regularly or play tennis—”
    “Handball.”
    “That’ll do.” She smiled sweetly, feeling immune to his charm as long as she could describe him dispassionately. “Classic features—no, more rugged than classic. Brown hair with sandy highlights,” she continued, glancing at the overhead light responsible for the last, “a nose that has been broken at least once, firm lips that express a distinct stubbornness,” she grinned as the items in question twitched, “and eyes of charcoal gray that can be even more eloquent than that very glib tongue.”
    “No offense intended, of course?”
    “Of course,” she agreed drily, taking another sip of her coffee.
    “Go on.” Truly enjoying himself, he sat back in his chair, the fabric of his shirt stretching enticingly across his chest.
    Alanna ignored the latter with a shrug. “What more is there to say?” She wasn’t about to sum him up as perhaps the most handsome man she had seen in years, though it was the truth.
    “Use your imagination,” came his soft command. “I’m curious to see how the female mind sizes up its adversary.”
    “Adversary,” she echoed. “Very good.” So, he knew how she saw him, did he? Well then, she decided, she would let her imagination roam free. “All right.” She cleared her throat. “I see a man used to giving orders without having them questioned.”
    “Would you question them?”
    “You bet your life I would!” she flashed back with more vehemence than she had intended. Quickly she caught herself, steadying her voice. “I like giving an order or two myself on occasion. But that’s beside the point,” she added, reluctant to offer much about herself. “And speaking of that shirt, it and your suit are of very high quality—private tailor, perhaps?”
    “Europe.”
    Alanna nodded, as though it were the most normal thing in the world. “Europe. I’m sorry I questioned that.” A slender finger pushed her oversized glasses higher on the bridge of her nose. “Then, of course, you must be quite successful at what you do … to be able to shop in Europe.…”
    He nodded, more modest than she would have expected. “I’ve been fortunate.”
    On the subconscious level, his vague familiarity got to her. Tilting her blond head, she frowned. “Do I know you from somewhere?”
    “You’re great!” he laughed softly, sparring still. “Isn’t that supposed to be my line?”
    “Tradition, my dear sir,” she replied unfazed, “is irrelevant in this day and age. Well…?”
    “Well what?”
    “Look.” She sat forward with a sigh of impatience. “I really don’t make a habit of talking to strange men.”
    Any discomfort she felt was totally her own. This strange man was quite pleased. “I’m glad to hear that. One less thing for us to argue about.”
    Alanna leaned down to retrieve her purse. She had begun to feel her control of the situation slipping and she was disquieted. “Please, either identify yourself or I’ll be on my way.” She paused. “Actually, I do have an appointment in another few minutes. Every game has to come to an end and this one is beginning to wear thin.” She paused, her cocoa gaze narrowing. “You walk around as though you own this place and everyone in it. It’s a very subtle air—but very much present. Well, you don’t own me. And I think you owe me the courtesy of an introduction.”
    His deep, charcoal eyes