Scarlet Fever - Hill Country 2 (3 page)

 
“Easy, darlin.”
 
Alex attempted to extricate himself from the amorous grasp of the overly enthusiastic blonde who was attached to him like a grass burr on a cat’s tail.
 

“When will you go out with me again, Alex?”
 
Sandy Moffett whispered the question as she maneuvered herself up two levels on the front steps of
The Lost Maples B&B
.
 
Now, she was eye level to the sexy hunk who standing on the ground with his back to the parking lot.
 
Her arms were around his neck and it appeared from the rear that they were locked in a heated embrace.
 
Sandy was a girl that he had dated a few times.
 
She worked at the county clerk’s office and he had met her through a mutual friend, the county judge.

“I don’t know, Sandy.
 
We have a wedding here in just a few days, and there is a butt-load of company coming in.”
 
He had his hands on her arms, steadily trying to loosen her grip on him.
 
This little woman was strong!

“Can I come to the wedding?”
 
Sandy looked up at him expectantly with bright green eyes; their not quite true-to-life shade came courtesy of colored contact lenses.
 

“No, Sandy.
 
This wedding is mostly family.
 
Invitation only.
 
Look, why don’t you come over in a couple of days, we’ll throw a few steaks on the grill, just you and me.”
 

“Promise?”
 
Sandy pouted, her plump lips parting slightly, waiting for his kiss.

“Promise.”
 
Alex wasn’t tempted in the least.
 
He loved women and he certainly loved sex, but right now he had too much to do and not enough time to do it in.
 
After a little more persuasion, he finally got Sandy Moffett off the property.
 

Alex walked around the outside of the B&B, checking the flower beds, picking up a stray pecan limb.
 
If he only knew the time of Scarlet’s arrival, he could have planned his day more effectively.
 
He had been surprised to learn from Annalise that Scarlet didn’t have a cell phone.
 
Who doesn’t have a cell phone these days?
 
So, he was reduced to waiting.
 
And waiting.
 
Frankly, Alex was ready to meet her, greet her, get her safely ensconced in a guest room and go about his business, forgetting that she was here.
 

Out of the blue, his cell rang.
 
Alex looked down; it was Ethan.
 
Thank God.

************************

The drive had been incredible.
 
Scarlet very rarely got to leave East Texas and she thoroughly enjoyed the road trip.
 
She had sung with Elvis, drank an icy cola, and bought a loaf of Jalapeno cheese bread at a smokehouse in Centerville.
 
It had been great! Inexpensive to boot.
   

She turned down Lonely Street and broke into her rendition of Heartbreak Hotel, imagining the comparison.
 
Annalise had said that Ethan and Alex had not booked any guests for several weeks, not until she and Ethan could get back from their honeymoon in Hawaii.
 

Rounding a curve, the Bed and Breakfast came into view and Scarlet was instantly entranced.
 
It was absolutely beautiful.
 
The grounds were covered in large oaks and pecans that were now in their full fall colors.
 
Flowerbeds were overloaded with plants of every description and a garden full of antique roses was putting on its last show of the season.
 
Whoa!
 
All of the natural beauty put together wasn’t as eye-catching as what stood on the front walk.
 
“Be still my heart,” she whispered.
 
Scarlet knew what Ethan looked like; Annalise had e-mailed her a picture of him.
 
The only photo that she had seen of Bobby was in his football uniform, but she knew that he had dark hair.
 
So, the man standing before her had to be Alex.
 
Scarlet realized that her sister was the worst kind of liar.
 
Alex was not just good-looking; he was breathtaking.
 
He had to be at least six-foot three, with a body sexy enough to make any woman drool.
 
His shoulders were as wide as a city-bus.
 
And his hair, swear to God, it was golden and hung in wavy curls that almost touched his shoulders.
 
No, this man wasn’t good-looking, he was Greek God Gorgeous.

Scarlet instantly abandoned her plan to ask Alex to make love to her.
 
Completely and without reservation.

There was no way in hell that she could ever seduce this man.
 
Lord, she wouldn’t even know how to start.
 

Scarlet didn’t do well around good looking men.
 
She had learned a trick, however.
 
Scarlet Evans could almost make herself invisible.
 
If she were a superhero, invisibility would be her power of choice.
 
Since that wasn’t possible, she used the mask approach.
 
When she wore the mask, no one could see the real Scarlet; she could go about her business, bothering no one and getting in no one’s way.
 
She would be nice, she would be helpful, and she would be gracious.
 
And no one would ever have to know that she had ever had a sexual thought about Alex or anyone else.
 
Scarlet Evans could pull off asexuality with finesse.
 

After she had parked, she eased the car door open, not wanting to disturb his phone call.
 
He was standing with his right profile to her, and thankfully as she got out, he shifted to where his back was completely to her.
 
Carefully, she removed the big box out of the back seat that contained Annalise’s wedding dress.
 
She tiptoed behind Alex and sat it down on the grass.
 
She was about to return to the car for the rest of her things when she heard him.

Honestly, she wasn’t trying to eavesdrop – but he was right there.
 
 
She immediately wished that she was anywhere else.

“I know, Ethan.
 
It’s just that having to be stuck with Scarlet is going to make all of this freaking difficult.
 
What are we going to do about the cakes?
 
No, don’t tell Annalise.
 
I’ll figure something out.
 
I know.
 
I’m sure Scarlet is a very nice girl, but come on – we can’t possibly have anything in common.
 
What will we talk about?
 
She’ll probably be drooling all over me and Bobby.
 
My chief engineer went to high school with her and he said that everyone calls her ‘the church mouse’.
 
She’s always making things for people, my engineer says, in hopes that it will make people like her better.
 
I wonder what she made for us.
 
Anyway, he said that she’s sort of pitiful; an old maid in the making, the town spinster.
 
And you know how dangerous women like that can be.
 
Sex starved and lonely.
 
I know, I know.
 
I’m just talking to you.
 
I would never say any of this around Annalise.
 
I love her.
 
But good grief, Scarlet is coming for two weeks!
 
Couldn’t she have just come for the wedding and then left?
 
And the two of you will be gone after Saturday and I’ll be forced to spend all of that time with her!
 
By myself!
 
Can you imagine what torture that will be?
 
All right.
 
I’ll get a grip.
 
She should be here sometimes today.
 
When is Annalise coming?
 
Well, good.
 
Maybe, she will be here to meet Scarlet and I can avoid her as long as possible.”
 
Alex turned slightly sideways.
 
A movement caught his eye.
 
Then he saw her.
 
“Shit!
 
Someone’s here.
 
I‘ve got to go.”

Standing behind him, with the biggest, saddest eyes he had ever seen, was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on.
 
“Excuse me?
 
Sorry, you had to hear that.
 
The Bed and Breakfast isn’t open for the next couple of weeks.
 
You can make a reservation for a later date if you’d like.”
 
Lord, she was gorgeous.
 
He kept talking, he couldn’t hush.
 
“We have a wedding planned.
 
My brother is getting married.”
 
Alex realized he was rambling.
 
But damn, this woman was hot!
 
He hated that she had heard him spouting off; he liked to make a good first impression.
 
Maybe, he could get her number before she left.

Scarlet stood still for a moment, not really sure what to do.
 
His words had cut her like a knife.
 
The hurtful moniker surprised her.
 
Who did they know that would call her by that name, the church mouse?
 
She had hoped that she could escape her life, just for a little while.
 
It seemed that it had caught up with her.
 
It was obvious that Alex did not realize who she was.
 
For a moment, she considered just leaving, but she couldn’t do Annalise like that.
 
As he talked, she closed her eyes and willed herself not to cry.
 
Her chest was aching and tears were burning the back of her throat.
 
On top of all that, she realized that she was trembling.
 
Shutting her eyes tight, she sought calm.
 
Calm.

Apparently, she must have delayed a bit too long.
 
She heard him clear his throat.
 
Raising her eyes to meet his, there was no way to hide the tears that shone in them, or the way her thick lashes were spiked with moisture.
 
What could she do?
 
She had to think of some way to save face for both of them.

Why was the lovely girl crying?
 
She must be really disappointed.
 
For a moment, he considered making an exception and renting her a cabin anyway.
 
She looked so familiar.
 
Did he know her?
 
Then, the truth hit Alex like a ton of bricks.
 
She heard his harsh intake of breath. She looked like Annalise!
 
“Scarlet?”
 
This beautiful creature was Scarlet?!?
 
“God, I’m so sorry.”
 
Alex couldn’t breathe.
 
What had he done?
 

Pulling the mask swiftly into place, she sought to salvage the awful situation and try to put him at ease.
 
Hoping her voice didn’t crack, she held out her hand, greeting him.
 
“Hello, Alex.
 
It’s a pleasure to meet you.
 
Annalise speaks so highly of you.”
 

Alex was so shocked, he couldn’t move.
 
Scarlet’s hand wavered, then Alex realized how much worse it would be if he let it drop, untaken.
  
Accepting her little hand into his large one, he was amazed to feel a sensual current as real as any electrical charge pass between them.
 
She jerked her hand from his and put it behind her, confusion darkening her eyes.
 

Feeling like a fool and not knowing what to say, Alex began to speak, anyway.
 
“Scarlet, please let me apologize.
 
It’s no excuse, but I’ve been cranky as hell.
 
Everything that could go wrong has gone wrong, and I was taking it out on you.
 
Please. . . . . .I’m so sorry.”
  
He had never felt like this before, as if something beautiful had slipped through his fingers and now lay shattered in a million pieces on the floor.
 
His eyes took her in.
 
She was not just beautiful, she was delectable.
 
Wearing simple, soft, faded blue jeans and a pink lace camisole, she was completely and utterly feminine.
 
Her long brown hair was captured in a braid that hung halfway down her back.
 
There was a definite similarity to Annalise; in their coloring and in their expression.
 
But she was very different; wonderful, in ways that he couldn’t put his finger on.
 
Standing no more than five three or four; she was perfectly, exquisitely curved.
 
And God in heaven, she wasn’t wearing a bra – his eyes followed the gentle swell, the hint of a dusky pink nipple peeking through the lace.