The Lawson Boys: Alex Read Free Page B

out a pair of
flat-heeled ballet flats. “Nothing special.”
    A quick brush
of her hair and she tied it back into a high ponytail, a slick of
rose lipstick, a spritz of perfume and she was ready to go. Thank
God for thick, black eyelashes inherited from her Grandma, it meant
she didn’t have to worry about mascara.
    The clock on
the mantle showed nearly seven o’clock. Paul would arrive soon, but
she was ready.
    No sooner had
the thought crossed her mind than the bell at the front door
clanged loudly once. Looked like he was early and being polite.
    “Since when do
you ring once only?” She swung the door open. “Normally you ring
the damned thing like there’s a fire…” Words trailing away, she
stared up at the man gazing down at her.
    She’d know him
anywhere, regardless of the fact that he was sixteen years older,
had filled out impressively in the shoulders and chest, grown
taller, and had an air of quiet purpose about him.
    Alex Lawson was
on her doorstep.
    She swallowed.
“Hi.”
    “Hi.” He
studied her, his gaze sweeping slowly across her face, lingering on
her eyes and mouth before slipping lower, and she could swear she
felt every hot lick of his calm gaze as it swept down her body,
lingering on her breasts and hips, sweeping down to her neatly-shod
feet before slowly climbing back up until he finally met her eyes
again. “Harly.”
    Her inhaled
breath stuttered slightly, heat climbing through her body even
though his vivid blue eyes were so calm and hid his thoughts.
“Alex.” What were you thinking when you looked at me so - so
thoroughly? Were you…remembering?
    It didn’t
matter. Mentally she shook her head, her gaze flickering behind him
to the gloom. “Where’s Paul?”
    “I’m collecting
you.”
    “You are?”
    He nodded.
    “Alone?”
    “Is that a
problem?”
    “What? No. No,
of course not.” Trying to rein in her jumbled thoughts before she
made herself look any more of a dill, she stepped back, pushing the
door further open behind her. “Come in. I’ll only be a minute.”
    He walked past
her, pausing for a fraction of a minute to turn his head and look
down at her, making her so conscious of the fact that he’d grown
larger, taller, stronger, since she’d last seen him. The top of her
head barely reached his shoulder.
    He smelled
delicious, male, a faint hint of aftershave that was light and
fresh, and he was standing so close to her that she could feel the
heat from his body.
    Moving past
her, his gaze swept the hallway, and she closed the door while
studying him in turn and willing her heart to steady its rather
erratic pace. After all this time, he could still affect her.
    Dressed in
jeans and a t-shirt, he also wore an open chequered flannel shirt
with the sleeves rolled up to just below his elbows. Black sneakers
enabled him to walk silently over the runner covering the hall
floor. Blonde hair cut short, military style, and the light from
the hall shone full on his face when he turned to face her.
    There was no
denying that Alex was handsome, his features undeniably male with a
hint of hardness to his face, while a few lines bracketed the
corners of his eyes. His mouth was firm, his jaw square.
    Hooking his
thumbs into his pockets, she watched the long fingers spread out
over strong thighs. Big hands for a big man, sure hands for a sure
man.
    Her gaze jerked
back up to find him studying her just as thoroughly. Again. Only
this time, his eyes were narrowed a little, his head canted
slightly to one side as though trying to read her mind. His gaze
was unnervingly direct.
    Danger.
    Taking a
deeper, more steadying breath, she managed a smile. “Long time,
Alex.”
    “True.” That
gaze just kept boring into her. “A lot can happen.”
    “Yes.” Oh
hell, he couldn’t know, could he? When he didn’t say anything
further to fill the growing silence between them, she decided to
forge ahead. Now was not the time to make a mistake.
    Especially now
she’d met him again and