Maiden and the Lion (Lions of Manhattan 2)

But she liked the wine. Alex got up and fetched her a glass of water. He took away her wine. “Let’s go to the living room. I’d like to talk.”

Bea gathered the dirty dishes.

“Don’t worry about that, my housekeeper will clean it in the morning.”

So he had a housekeeper. Bea followed him and sat on a loveseat. Alex sank himself on the couch and fiddled with the remote. After a few minutes of channel surfing, he settled on a news programme.

“Sit by me.” He tapped the empty seat next to him.

Her heart fluttered. Bea awkwardly got up and sat next to Alex. He seemed to have noticed she was nervous.

He smiled. “Don’t worry, I won’t bite you.”

Bea laughed quietly.

“Tell me about your father,” he said.

“My dad?” She frowned. “Well, not much to tell. He’s a jerk when he’s intoxicated.”

“Was he always like that?”

“He fell apart after my mom died.”

“I’m sorry. When was that?”

“I was ten when she passed away. Cancer.”

“You have siblings?”

“No, it’s only me and my dad.”

“Did he beat you?”

Nothing she couldn’t handle. He was cranky all the time, but it’d got scarier after he’d got the pill habit. Sometimes, she didn’t recognise him anymore. He wasn’t her sweet dad who’d taught her to ride a bike when she had been little. The booze and hardship had turned him into a nasty, mean old man. Bea swallowed hard. “My dad was actually nice when he was sober.”

Alex’s face darkened. “Where did he beat you?”

She’d had her fair share of slaps, smacks in the head and later, fists in her stomach if she’d refused to give him booze money. But she wasn’t going to tell Alex that. It was too embarrassing. She shook her head. “It…it doesn’t matter.”

“It matters to me.” Alex took her hand and squeezed it. Warmth spread from him. “I would never hurt you, Bea. You’re precious to me.”

I am? She was surprised at his declaration. This coming from her grumpy boss.

Alex’s eyes softened. “Listen, I apologise for the way I was behaving to you. I was a dick. You didn’t deserve the crap I put you through. I’ve been attracted to you since I first saw you in the elevator. But you’re so damn young. I thought if I distanced myself from you and made you think I’m a jerk, I could forget you. But I couldn’t.”

Bea couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Y-you like me?”

He smiled again. “I’m crazy for you. I don’t want to fight this feeling any longer. I want you.”

She thought she’d died and gone to heaven. “I have a big crush on you.”

His smile turned into a grin. “I know.”

He knows. She blushed again.

Alex studied her face. “You’re so pretty.” He caressed her face with the tip of his fingers. “I’m dying to kiss these lips again.” He carefully removed her glasses and placed them on the coffee table. He lowered his head and kissed

her. A mere brush at first. Then his tongue traced the outline of her lips. He slid a hand on her nape and kissed her passionately.