Hammered by Desiree Holt Read Free Book Online Page B

no troubles, no licking. Period.”
    But that wasn’t exactly true. There was tension
between him and the very sexy Olivia D’Angelo. And he was working on easing
that a little at a time. She tried so hard to give the appearance of a
predator, a shark, although she never lost her femininity. She kept a tight
rein on her emotions, as if she’d let them out once and been scared to death.
He was doing his damnedest to show her that he’d meant what he said when he
told her she was special. That one night out with her he’d seen something else.
Beneath that tough layer hid a strong yet vulnerable woman. That was the person
he really wanted to get to know. He kept trying but she kept hiding behind that
wall.
    He desperately wanted to take her to bed. If she didn’t hear
his words maybe his actions would express how he felt. Teach her that it was
all right to give up control sometimes, as long as it was with the right
person. In return he’d hand it back to her, just for variety. He just knew sex
with her would be electrifying once he peeled back the outer layer. Behind whatever
it was she was hiding, he detected the heat of a very sensuous woman if she’d
just let go. All the way. He wanted her to let go emotionally, too. Show her it
was nothing to be afraid of. That she was safe with him. And maybe just not
interested in a brief affair.
    Whoa! Where is that coming from?
    “Alex?” Tyler snapped his finger in front of his brother’s
nose. “Can you come back from wherever you just mentally wandered again? You’re
beginning to worry me.”
    “I’m good. No sweat.” He reached for another piece of pizza,
ignoring the strange look Tyler was giving him.
    But even as he chewed his mind was still on Livy and the
strangely complex woman she was. He wanted her, no doubt about it. One way or
another he was going to make that happen. And without damaging the project.
    * * * * *
    “I’m worried about Alex,” Josh told his wife.
    They had finished dinner and were sitting on the couch
enjoying coffee with a shot of brandy.
    “Really?” Ness gave him a quizzical look. “I can’t imagine
Alex would give anyone anything to worry about. He seems so solid and settled.”
    “Yeah, and maybe that’s the problem.”
    Vanessa laughed. “I’d never think of that as a problem. Now you ,
my former player husband, were what I’d call a problem.”
    Josh’s face heated and not from the brandy. He remembered
all too well his days as a major player on the social scene, changing women
like he changed his clothes. Until Vanessa Bowen had come along and shown him
what he could have if he’d just look inside himself. He’d given thanks for that
every day since then.
    “Okay, okay.” He grinned. “But it was fun working our way
through it, wasn’t it?”
    Heat sparkled in her eyes and she took sip of her coffee.
“More fun since then.” She lowered her mug. “All that aside, what’s the deal
with Alex?”
    Josh sighed. “I’m sure he can take care of himself. He is,
after all, the oldest. But he’s working with this woman on the Concordia
project—”
    “Did you get it?” Ness interrupted, excitement in her voice.
“I thought the meeting wasn’t until tomorrow. That’s why you guys were at the
office all day today.”
    “Right. It is tomorrow. But Alex has been working with their
CFO, Olivia D’Angelo, who also seems to be Frank Vincent’s point person. I’ve
asked around and the word is he trusts her judgment more than anyone else’s.
Believes she has an inherent ability to get a good read on people.”
    Ness frowned. “Surely you don’t think she’s getting a bad
vibe from Alex.”
    “My point is I think the vibes between them have to do with
more than business.”
    “Hmm. Are you worried that he’s being unprofessional?”
    Josh shook his head. “Of course not. And if something were
to develop between them he’d handle it appropriately. It’s just that…” He
shrugged and took another swallow of