The image was frozen and nothing he did could delete it from his brain.
Naked, naked, naked.
Alec could imagine her, blue eyes laughing, straddling some very lucky man.
Judging from the look she sent him, he wasn’t going to be that man and it seemed he’d just sent himself right back into the “asshat” category.
Which was probably the best thing for both of them.
Ignoring him, she flashed a smile at his sister. “Thank you.”
Alec ran a hand over the back of his neck and hunted for the right thing to say. He knew he should pay her a compliment, but he didn’t want to go there. “Look, I—” Usually words came easily to him, but today they’d all crashed in his brain. “You’re— I’m—”
In trouble, he thought. In a whole lot of trouble.
“Ignore him,” Liv advised. “It’s the best way. You look truly amazing.”
She did look amazing, Alec thought. And she looked even more amazing naked.
Why the hell had he gone to help her in the shower?
If he hadn’t gone to help, he wouldn’t be in this position.
The last thing he needed in his life was a woman like Sky, but in a race between intellect and libido, libido was heading to the finish line in first position.
Fortunately all her attention was on his sister. “You look amazing, too! I love what you’ve done with your hair and that dress is super cute.”
Alec watched his sister turn pink with pleasure.
“Do you like it? It’s new.” It was obvious that Sky’s opinion really mattered to her and Sky seemed to know that.
“Great choice. Do you know what would make it perfect? This.” She pulled a stylish twisted silver bracelet from her wrist and handed it to Olivia. “Merry Christmas.”
“No!” Liv’s eyes almost popped out of her head. “You can’t lend me that—it’s yours.”
“I’m not lending, I’m giving. If you’d like it.”
Having seen the prices people were willing to pay for Skylar’s work, Alec knew it wasn’t a small gift. “You can’t do that.”
“I made it. I can do what I like with it.”
“It’s stunning.” Liv stroked her fingers over it in awe. “I’ve never owned anything this beautiful before.”
“I’m glad you like it! I always want my jewelry to go to a happy home and live a fun life.” She paused. “A fun, exciting, fearless, frivolous life, worthy of a princess.” She was looking at Liv but he knew her words were directed toward him.
“Thank you! I need to show Mum.” Liv shot out of the room, tripped over Nelson, who had taken advantage of the open door to investigate the fuss. She vanished in the direction of the kitchen, leaving Alec alone with Skylar.
He braced himself for a comment on his rudeness. He knew he deserved it. Instead she smiled at him.
“Your sister is adorable. You’re so lucky.”
“It was generous of you to give her that.” He breathed deeply. “Look—”
“It’s fine, Alec. You don’t have to say a thing.”
“I owe you an apology. I was rude and—”
“I’m really grateful for that, because you reminded me why I can’t stand you ninety percent of the time.”