Lessons in Rule-Breaking by Christy McKellen Read Free Book Online Page B

energy trashing other people’s work instead. They’re a waste of space and not something I’m willing to talk about again, so you can cross that one off your list of probing questions for Xander .’ The cold resentment in his voice made her shiver.
    Okay, lesson learned, she wasn’t going to be able to rush this. Probably best to keep the conversation bland for now and build up to the more probing questions. After all, if he wanted more time to sketch her she could afford to take things slowly and build his trust in her before slipping him the leading questions.
    * * *
    Xander relaxed back into his chair and attempted to shake off the unsettling avalanche of anxiety that Jess’s questions had buried him in. He really needed to keep his temper under control or she’d think she was onto a juicy story about how he felt about the press’s less-than-favourable reaction to his last show.
    He’d relived the hurt and anger of last year’s glitch in his career over and over until it had nearly driven him crazy, and he was determined to get over this debilitating fear of failing again. He really didn’t need her poking at that old wound when he was finally feeling the creative buzz again.
    Jess leant back in her chair and studied him for a moment and he tensed, waiting to see whether he’d been successful at closing that line of questioning down.
    ‘What does it feel like to be voted the fourth sexiest man in England?’ she said finally, a mischievous eyebrow raised.
    He smiled, relieved that she’d taken the hint and changed the subject.
    ‘Actually I hear I’m third in the UK right now and it’s a real honour.’
    ‘I bet.’ She shot him a judicious look. ‘Any plans to up your rating? How much sexier do you think you’d need to be to reach number one, for example?’
    He laughed. ‘Quite a bit.’
    She snorted and picked up her water, taking a quick sip. ‘If you did get any sexier I think most women—and probably some men—would melt under the force of your charisma.’
    He gave her a lazy grin, something warm and happy growing larger deep in his belly. ‘You think I’m sexy?’
    Her gaze shot away from him and she put her glass down hurriedly, managing to catch it awkwardly on her side plate and spilling water onto the tablecloth. ‘I can see why other people think you are.’ She didn’t look back at him, but busied herself mopping up the spill with her napkin.
    ‘But you don’t personally ?’
    She still wouldn’t look at him. ‘I have odd tastes.’
    ‘Odd?’
    ‘Yeah, boy-next-door types, I guess. Men I feel comfortable to be with. Men who aren’t going to outshine me wherever we go.’
    ‘I can’t image anyone outshining you.’
    She raised a discerning eyebrow. ‘You’re sweet to say that, but I’m warning you now, I can smell B.S. a mile away.’
    God, she was saucy when she got all strict.
    ‘You’re really something, you know that?’ Xander said, leaning forward and putting his elbows onto the table.
    There was something about the wariness on her face that made him long to get behind that tight-lipped front she put up to protect herself. He was pretty sure there was a lot going on beneath the surface with Jess and he longed to find out what was driving it. He’d not met anyone as guarded—and seemingly immune to his charms—as her in a very long time.
    He liked that about her. He liked it a lot.
    And he was determined to shake the real her out from under those layers of protection.
    * * *
    ‘Okay, if you don’t want to talk about your last exhibition let’s try some quick-fire questions,’ Jess said, ignoring his attempt at flirting her into submission and hoping her slowly, slowly approach would yield better results. If she could keep things light and seemingly unobtrusive he might just give her something without feeling as though he was.
    Although, judging by the bemused look on his face, she suspected she was going to have a tough time getting him to take any of this