Convincing Alex Read Online Free PDF Page A

flecks ofgold. There was a small dimple near her mouth. Only one. Nothing about that odd, sexy face was balanced. “What you’re looking for?”
    â€œI know you’re busy, but I’d try not to take up too much of your time. An hour now and then.”
    â€œAn hour?” He caught himself echoing her, and shook himself loose. “Listen, I appreciate—”
    â€œYou’re not married, are you?”
    â€œMarried? No, but—”
    â€œThat makes it simpler. It just came to me last night when I was getting into bed.”
    God. He’d learned to appreciate women early. And he’d learned to juggle them skillfully—if he said so himself. He knew how to dodge, when to evade and when to sit back and enjoy. But with this one, all bets were off.
    â€œIs this heavy?” she asked, fiddling with his harness.
    â€œYou get used to it. It’s just there.”
    Her smile warmed, making him think of sunlight again. “Perfect,” she murmured. “I’d be willing to compensate you for your time, and your expertise.”
    â€œYou’d be—” He wasn’t certain if he was insulted or embarrassed. “Hold on, babe.”
    â€œJust think about it,” Bess said quickly. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but I have this problem with Matthew.”
    A brand-new emotion snuck in under his guard, and it was as green as her eyes. “Matthew? Who the hell is Matthew?”
    â€œWe call him Storm, actually. Lieutenant Storm Warfield, Millbrook PD.”
    Now he definitely had a headache. Alex rubbed his fingers against his temple. “Millbrook?”
    â€œThe fictional town of Millbrook, where the show’s set. It’s supposed to be somewhere in the Midwest. Storm’s a cop. Personally, his life’s a mess, but professionally, he’s focused and intense and occasionally ruthless. In this new story line I’m working on, I want to concentrate on his police work, the routine, the frustrations.”
    â€œWait.” He’d always been quick, but it was taking him a minute to change gears. “You want me to help you with a story line?”
    â€œExactly. If you could just tell me how you think, how you go about solving a case, working with the system or around it. TV cops have to work around the system quite a bit, you know. It plays better than by-the-book.”
    He swore under his breath and rubbed his hands over his face. Damn it, his palms were sweaty. “You’re a real case, McNee.”
    â€œYou don’t have to decide right now.” She was also persistent. And she wondered if he had a spare gun strapped to his calf. One of those sexy-looking little chrome jobs. She’d seen that ploy in several movies. Still, she thought if she asked him that, she’d lose her edge. “I’m having a thing tonight.” As she spoke, she dug into her huge bag for her notebook. “Eight o’clock until whenever. Bring a friend, if you like. Your partner, too. He seemed very sweet.”
    â€œHe’s adorable.”
    â€œYeah.” She ripped off the page and handed it to him. “I’d really like you to stop by.”
    He took the sheet, not bothering to remind her he already had her address. “Why?”
    â€œWhy not?” She beamed at him again.
    Before he could list the reasons, he heard his name called.
    â€œAlexi.”
    Alexi. Bess was already enchanted with the sound as she rolled thename over in her head. Different, exotic. Sexy. She was certain it suited him much more than the casual Alex.
    Bess studied the woman bearing down on them. This wasn’t one who’d be lost in a crowd, she mused. She was stunning, totally self-assured and very pregnant. Beside Bess, Alex pushed off the desk and sighed.
    â€œRachel.”
    â€œA moment of your time, Detective,” Rachel said, flipping a glance over Bess before pinning Alex with a tawny stare. “To