“I wouldn’t be anything else with you.”
“Then you understand where I’m coming from.”
“I think I do. You’re a lot like your aunt Lilian.”
Reese jerked her head toward him. “Did she tell you about her husband?”
He nodded. “She also confided that after she’d been widowed, there were several men who’d been friends with her a long time before they proposed to her. Two of them were costars on the show like you and me. But she didn’t say yes to any of them because the fire wasn’t there from the start.”
“One of these days I’m going to meet a man who’s so on fire for me, nothing else matters and he can’t live without me.”
“You mean like my grandfather.”
“Yes. He loved your grandmother so much, he lost the will to live after she died. My parents felt the same way about each other. So did Lilian and her husband. That’s the kind of love I intend to have. When the right man comes along, I’ll know it.”
“So you have no interest in even keeping up a friendship with me?”
“For what purpose? We’re no longer costars. I don’t believe men and women can be friends. Either we’re lovers, or we’re nothing. If I want friendship I can call Leah or Cammy.”
He rubbed his thumb across his lips thoughtfully. “I’m glad you made that clear. Once again it appears you and I are in agreement and hold to the same philosophy about men and women. I would never spend time with a woman I didn’t desire.
“Furthermore, I couldn’t costar with a woman I didn’t find appealing. If Leah or Sally had been playing the part of Carly, I would have turned down the role of Fabio.”
“As long as we’re being honest, that works both ways, Alex. If you’d been unattractive to me, I would have told Phyllis I wanted out of my contract a year ago.”
His gaze played over her face. “That’s because neither of us is an actor at heart. We can’t pretend something we don’t feel.”
“No.”
“Tell you what, I’m going to fix our dessert.”
“Can I watch?” she asked brightly. Until he left the condo, she had to act as if she weren’t dying from pain. “I promise not to give away any of your secret recipes.”
“I wasn’t worried. You can help me if you want.”
“I’d love to.”
“Bring me two dessert plates, and get the cream out of the fridge.”
He was like a magician. One minute there was a bunch of isolated ingredients on the counter. In the next, he’d made a beautiful arrangement of figs, bananas, walnuts and peanuts.
After sprinkling them with cinnamon powder, he put a little brandy in the cream and poured it over the top.
“This dessert is a nice change from Filo pastries. Not as heavy.” He pulled a fork from the drawer. “Here. See what you think.”
Before she could stop him, he’d put a mouthful of the concoction to her lips. She had no choice but to open up and eat.
Incredible.
That was what it was. Incredible.
“You like it?”
She made a moaning sound.
“I take it that’s a yes.”
Reese nodded.
“Just a minute. Don’t move. You’ve got cream on your mouth.” He removed it with his index finger and tasted it. “It could use a little more brandy. What do you think?”
“I-I think it’s perfec- Oh-there’s my phone. Excuse me for a minute.”
She turned to reach for the phone on the wall, but she was trembling so hard, she had to brace herself against the counter.
“Hello?”
“Hi. I thought I’d call and see if everything is okay? If it’s not, maybe go to a movie or something.”
“Leah-”
Alex moved around to her side so he could watch her while he ate the dessert he’d made.
“You sound funny. Are you all right?”
“Yes. Of course I am.”
“Have you got company?”
“Yes.”
“A man?”
“Yes.”
“Let me guess. It wouldn’t be Alex Kieris, would it?”
Heat filled her cheeks. “Why do you say that?”
“Because when you left the set, he raced after you like a bat out of you know where. I’m just putting two and two together. It’s okay. Obviously you can’t talk right now. How about lunch tomorrow?”
“I’d like that. Arturo’s at twelve-thirty?”
“Perfect. See you then you, lucky, lucky girl.”
“Bye.”
Alex took the receiver from her and put it on the hook. “Did Leah want to do something with you tonight?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you let my presence stop you?”
She averted her eyes. “Because I’m not in the mood for a movie.”
“What
He’d finished his dessert. She put hers in the fridge, and washed his plate. Anything to give her hands something to do.
“After the most fabulous meal of my life, I’m too full to do much of anything except lounge in the other room and watch a little TV before I go to bed.”
“That sounds good to me too. Shall we see what’s showing on the cooking channel?”
She was amused by the suggestion, a smile broke the corners of her mouth. She headed for the living room and picked up the remote from the coffee table. “Do you watch it often?”
“Sometimes when I can’t sleep.”
Reese purposely sat down in a chair next to the couch so they’d be separated. “If you want to stretch out, make yourself comfortable.”
He eyed her intently. “You don’t mind?”
“Of course not. After working so hard in my kitchen, you deserve a rest before you have to go home.”
“Then I’ll take you up on your offer.”
CHAPTER NINE
TONIGHT the Japanese chefs were having some kind of contest. Though it was entertaining, Reese couldn’t possibly concentrate. Her eyes kept straying to the sight of Alex’s hard-muscled physique lying on his side. He’d propped his dark head on one of the cushions, the picture of virile male contentment.
They made desultory conversation and chuckled over some of the chefs’ antics. At one point she made another comment, but Alex didn’t answer.
He’d fallen asleep. The problem was, Reese had never been more wide awake.
Too restless, she went to the kitchen for the fabulous dessert he’d made. While she ate it, she switched
