Elizabeth
Excerpt from “Forbidden Flames”
Release Date: December 25, 2024
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“What's wrong?" he demanded, his crystalline blue eyes narrowing. Emily couldn't help but feel a twinge of irritation, though it was quickly overshadowed by the distracting allure of his ridiculously long, dark lashes. It wasn't fair that he possessed such features; he didn't seem to appreciate them adequately. Those lashes almost made Hendrix appear harmless, a thought that elicited an audible snort from Emily. Harmless? Other than those eyelashes, there was absolutely nothing harmless about Hendrix.
He was the kind of man who could stop a fight with a glance, a fact accentuated by his deliciously broad shoulders, intimidating height, and the very obvious muscles that he attempted to conceal with a sports coat. The attire, meant to be professional, only served to accentuate the warning Hendrix presented to the world: "Don't mess with me."
Hendrix was like the letter waiting for her on her desk.
Sort of.
Not really.
The envelope, much like Hendrix's appearance, offered a deceptive exterior. However, not even his long lashes could camouflage the underlying aura of danger that surrounded him.
"Emily? What's wrong?" he repeated, his concern genuine but overshadowed by the latent intensity that lurked beneath his seemingly calm demeanor. Emily hesitated, caught between the unsettling contents of the letter and the enigma that was Hendrix, a man whose appearance, other than those lashes, was far from innocent, and whose presence exuded a subtle yet undeniable threat.
His sharpening tone snapped her back to the present.
“Nothing,” she replied quickly. Too quickly.
He didn’t reply for a long moment, those blue eyes staring down at her as if he could somehow read her mind.
He couldn’t, Emily reminded herself. He might suspect! He might pretend to read her mind. She’d seen him do this to some of the naughtier club members downstairs in the security office. Hendrix could stare at a recalcitrant member until they couldn’t help but confess. Hendrix had a way of looking at even the most hardened business leader so that, within fifteen minutes, the man would confess to every sin he’d ever committed, all the way back to torturing barbie dolls as a child.
It was fascinating to watch, but not much fun when he did it to her.
“Stop it, Hendrix,” she hissed and turned resolutely around, stepping around her desk. Hiding behind her makeshift shield, Emily glared at him. He was standing in front of her desk, still watching her. Normally, her office was large and sunny, facing the front of the club so she could watch the cars come and go. But when Hendrix stood in her office, she saw nothing but him. He truly was a big, scary, intimidating guy.
But Emily knew the sweet, generous, kind man underneath all of those muscles. She knew how Hendrix went out of his way to protect each and every staff member in the club. She also knew he volunteered as a big brother for three teenaged boys in downtown Philadelphia. Those boys were now on a path towards college because of him.
Emily reminded herself of those qualities as she glared back at him.
“Something is bothering you, Em. Tell me and I’ll fix it for you.”
Damn him! Those kinds of promises just made her love him even more! And yes, she knew she loved him! She’d fallen head over heels in the very first moment she’d met him.
Forcing her lips to smile, she shook her head. “Hendrix, if there was a problem with the club that I needed help with, I would come to you immediately. You know that. I don’t hide club problems from you. Ever!”
His blue eyes narrowed ever so slightly and he leaned forward, bracing his fists on her desk. “Which tells me that this is a personal issue.”
Wait…what? What had she said? Or…what had she not said? Mentally, she reviewed her comment and cursed at herself for the way she’d phrased her assurance.
Leaning forward slightly, she forced her shoulders to relax. She even managed to offer a genuine smile as she shifted her office chair as if preparing to sit down. “Hendrix, I’m fine. I promise.”
For another long moment, he eyed her suspiciously. Emily waited, crossing her arms over her chest, every muscle in her body tense and nervous. Hendrix was a bulldog, especially when he scented a problem.
But in the end, he nodded sharply and pushed away from her desk, his hard, square jaw clenching as he turned. “When you’re ready for my help, let me know.”
Emily breathed a sigh of relief when he walked out of her office. Her eyes, however, lingered on his backside, only visible when his sports jacket shifted slightly with his shoulders’ movement. Nice, she thought. Very nice!