This time, her cousin hesitated even longer. “That’s probably for the best. He’s . . . way too much for you.”
Her cousin’s words echoed her own suspicions, but it irked London. “What do you mean?”
“Well, if you were going to learn to fly a plane, I wouldn’t recommend that you start with an F-22.”
“Meaning?” London probed.
“He goes fast, baby girl. To call him a playboy would be a huge understatement, like saying Luc can boil water.”
In other words, Xander was really talented. Yeah, she already knew that firsthand. And if he was brilliant orally, it stood to reason that he’d be great with other horizontal activities. Heck, he could probably wow her standing or sitting or . . . The thought made her squirm in her seat. “I see.”
“No, you probably don’t.” Alyssa surged into traffic as the light turned green. “Xander isn’t just a rich, very charming playboy, he’s a Dom.”
“A what?”
Alyssa blinked, looking as if she’d rather not be having this conversation, as if she was having to explain the birds and the bees to a child. London bristled. She was naïve, not stupid.
“A sexual Dominant.”
She had only the vaguest idea what that meant from a few books she’d read and some of the conversations she’d listened in on among Luc’s friends. But given the deep timbre, the snap in Xander’s voice when he commanded her to do something, Lys’ words shouldn’t surprise her. “He likes to tie women up and hurt them?”
“I don’t know his particular kink. I’m sure he ties them up. I’ve never heard that he’s a sadist, just that he likes females in abundant supply and under his control. Probably best that you didn’t go out with him.”
Probably so, but still she wanted to understand her cousin’s insistence. “He just suggested lunch. What could he really do to me in a public place?”
“He’s clever. I wouldn’t put much past him. If you’re looking for someone to date, I’d pick someone a bit younger and less likely to seduce you in the first ten minutes.”
London frowned. Hadn’t she thought the same thing herself? Besides, following Alyssa’s advice would be the cautious thing to do. But she’d been cautious for as long as she could remember, staying in her wheelchair until every specialist had given her the green light to progress, not walking unassisted until her physical therapist had browbeat her into grabbing some independence. She had skipped celebrating her twenty-first birthday in favor of studying for finals and not having to go to a bar where she’d be pitied for her lack of mobility. It had taken her father’s sudden death from a heart attack two years ago to realize that life was short and she was wasting hers away by bowing to fear.
“Maybe I want to be seduced,” she admitted softly.
Alyssa whipped her gaze around and blinked at her in stunned silence.
“I’m twenty-five. Most people my age have experienced some romantic milestones in their lives by now.” Before today, the highlight of her romantic past had been a sloppy kiss from Justin Chambers at the homecoming dance in the tenth grade.
“I know, sweetie. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t date and experience men, just that . . . with Xander it would be over about an hour after it began.”
She was probably stupid to believe that she could handle such a man for even that long. No doubt, ending their brief association had been the right move. “But at least I’d have some experience.”
“Oh, you would.” Alyssa nodded. “But could you live with a hit-and-run?”
Would it be? Probably. When she’d been the one to insist on leaving, she’d probably thrown him for a loop. But really, out of sight would be out of mind for him. He’d probably never call her. And even if he did . . . Well, that was that.
The only other man she’d like to date was his brother. But besides being her new boss, he seemed like a grieving widower leaning on alcohol to make it through the day. Javier had problems. And she was insane to assume that he would ever think of her as a potential date. Starting Monday, they’d have a strictly working relationship.
“It’s a moot point. I said no. Xander has no idea who I am. I don’t see why our paths would cross again.” She winced. “Except that I’ll be working for his brother.”
Alyssa’s face softened. “I feel so bad for Javier. I don’t know all the details, but that man’s life has fallen apart in the last year. If Xander has forced him to spend six weeks here to sober up and refocus on his responsibilities, Javier must be one bottle away from total collapse.”
London believed that. The man who had interviewed her today had been hanging onto his self-possession by a thread. London had the feeling that as soon as she left the office, he’d disappear into his bottle for the night. Something about the desperate yearning on his face made her want to save him. God, that didn’t sound smart. After her own difficulties, she always wanted to help others climb their personal mountains. But getting too wrapped up in Javier . . . she could already see that he was too proud to want her help. If she tried, she’d only crash and burn.
“Well, starting Monday, my job will be to make his work life easier. Hopefully, that will ease his load some.” She was going to be his assistant, not his savior. While avoiding his brother.
Not for one moment did she think that would be easy.
Chapter Six
MONDAY morning, Alyssa dropped London off at S.I. Industries’ office shortly before eight thirty a.m. She paced the abandoned hallway until Javier arrived a few minutes later, looking completely put together and so insanely hot that he made her weak-kneed. He’d gotten a haircut over the weekend. The shorter style accentuated the slashes of his cheekbones. He’d paired his sharp charcoal suit with a burgundy shirt. Everything fit like it had been made for his body. Given the quality of the fabric and the stitching, it probably had.
He approached her silently on Italian leather loafers, his gait relaxed, just like his smile. She smiled in return. It was a reflex, both because it was polite and because she couldn’t not turn her lips up at the gorgeous man. She couldn’t read his enigmatic expression precisely, but the fact that he looked almost happy lightened her heart. Maybe they’d have smooth sailing today.
“Good morning.” His deep voice pinged inside her.