He laughed. “Tempting.” Staring at her a moment while he chewed, he realized how uncomfortable she’d be as well. She didn’t seem fond of crowds. “I should’ve asked you before now. Will you be okay tonight?” He didn’t know how much attention he’d be able to pay her once the throng arrived. The last thing he wanted was to drag her all the way to New York only to ignore her after dumping her in among strangers.

The look she gave him was long and impossible to read. After a few moments, she blinked rapidly and took a sip of water. “I’ll be fine. Thank you for asking.”

What in the hell was that about? The tears. Or how close she was to tears anyway. “What’s wrong, Faith?” He tried for a gentle tone but his voice just came out gruff.

“It was nice of you to ask, that’s all.” She cleared her throat and glanced out the window before looking back at him. “I’ll be fine tonight. You do what you need to do and be the charming author. Don’t worry about me.”

The words were out before he could stop them. “Does anyone ever? Worry about you, I mean.”

Christ. She had no connections, no family back in Charlotte. Her parents showed her little affection. She barely knew what to do with herself when anyone paid her any kind of attention. And fuck . . . he was caring too much.

As if he could stop.

Her gaze lifted to his, her expression as shocked and hesitant as he imagined his was. Those amber eyes were filled with tears, but she seemed determined to fight them back. To her credit, and his peace of mind, she did. Her teeth worked her lower lip until the urge to drag her across the table and kiss her became almost too much.

Blowing out a breath, she broke the connection and stared at her plate. “What’s babka?” she asked quietly, fiddling with her napkin.

Alec had to swallow several times before speaking, and even then it hurt to force words out. “It’s a coffee cake type of bread. Dessert, sort of.”

She nodded slowly, still not meeting his eyes. Still looking hollow. She was too damn good for hollow.

“I worry about you.” All the time. All the damn time.

Her eyes pinched closed. “Don’t do that.”

“Faith.” He tried to take her hand across the table, but she pulled away.

“Stop it. Don’t act like I matter.”

Of all the damn things she’d said to him, this one took the cake. Hell, it took the whole bakery. Under the table, his fists clenched. “What does that mean? Of course you matter.”

Shaking her head, her jaw clenched. Her eyes flared with hurt and anger.

And it dawned on him maybe she didn’t matter to anyone. Before now. But he understood. Too well, he understood. Their relationship was temporary, and her mattering to him meant it would make things that much harder come summer’s end.

He sat back and scrubbed his hands over his face. He never should’ve gone down this road. All he’d ever done in life was screw up. People. Relationships. After Laura, he should’ve known better. Did know better.

“Do we have time for the Statue of Liberty before we have to get ready for the party?”

Face still buried in his hands, Alec laughed. It bordered on hysterical before he managed to rein it in. “Sure, Faith.”

*   *   *

Faith stared at her reflection in Alec’s bathroom mirror, trying to take control over the sudden onslaught of emotions. She gripped the sink and drew in a haggard breath. It wasn’t supposed to go like this. They were supposed to come to New York, have a great time, and leave. They were supposed to finally have sex, with no serious emotions involved, and enjoy themselves.

But Alec kept screwing with her head every time the conversation turned slightly personal. Kept saying sweet, endearing things as if he cared about her. He didn’t, though. He’d said it himself. He’d been engaged once before and it was not an experience he’d repeat. She suspected there was far more to the end of the relationship than he let on, especially if he wasn’t capable of opening himself up again, but that wasn’t any of her business.

Straightening, she looked at herself. She’d pinned her hair up in a twist both for elegance and to keep it off her face. Her makeup was minimal, just enough to accentuate her assets. The small pearl drops in her ears matched the necklace. It had bothered her to take off Hope’s charm, but she reminded herself she could put the chain back on right after the party.

Smoothing her hand down the dress, she nodded. Lacey had been right. The yellow strapless bra-and-panty set was perfect. It didn’t show beneath the black dress, nor were the seams obvious. The dress tied round her neck, fitting snug against her chest and hips before flowing loosely to her knees. Plus, for a cocktail number, it was pretty comfortable.

She hoped Alec liked it. Enough to want to take it off later.

Shaking her head, she stepped into the low black heels Mia had lent her and forced herself to leave the bathroom.

Alec was waiting in the living room, thumbs flying over the keys of his phone as he texted someone. He looked different in a suit. More businesslike and less like himself. It fit him perfectly, accentuating his broad shoulders and narrow hips. The charcoal gray went nicely with his eyes. Under the jacket, he wore a crisp white button-down shirt, no tie.

She imagined running her hands down his chest, popping the buttons one by one until she could push the fabric from his shoulders and kiss her way lower . . .

Alec glanced up from his phone and did a double take. “Damn, Faith. You look . . . lovely.”

She glanced down at herself and back to him. “So do you. Handsome, I mean. You look handsome.”

Desire shone in his eyes, burning a path from her toes to her face as he looked his fill. Pocketing his phone, he stepped closer, a wicked half smile crooking his mouth. He slid his hands around her back and tugged her close. “You smell good enough to eat.”

Her pulse went crazy. “Um . . . thank you?”

He amped up the wattage of his grin. “You’re welcome.”

Dipping his head, he kissed her. Just a brush of his lips, but her legs nearly buckled. His heat and scent enveloped her. Her breathing hitched. She needed him, more of him, tonight. It had never been like this before. She’d been attracted to other men, but nothing like this. Thinking was moot when Alec was around.

And that just served to prove she needed to follow through on their affair. At twenty-seven, she’d barely lived her life. It was time. Where she found the courage, heaven knew, but she did and she was going to enjoy it. However long it lasted. She was going to go all-out crazy and dive into a fleeting, dangerous affair with the likes of Alec Winston, and they were going to have some between-the-sheets time.

Gasping, she pulled back to look at him. She had never known this kind of yearning, this fanatical desire, and it had her rattled and reaching for logic. “You . . .”

“Yes?” he murmured, closing his mouth on the skin of her neck. “What about me?”

Her belly quivered. Heat pooled between her legs. “Um . . . I forgot.”

He laughed and stepped away. “Just as well. We need to get going.” His slow, steady gaze drifted down the length of her and back up, a routine habit of his, it seemed. “But later, Faith, I’ll make sure you’re unable to think at all.”

Yes. Okay. Perfect. She could stand mindless. “Promise?”

Closing his eyes, he groaned and turned for the door. “Cross my heart.”

The ride to the hotel where the event was to take place took only about twenty minutes. They didn’t say much on the way. Alec appeared calm on the surface, but his hands were clenched and every few seconds he drew in a deep breath that expanded his wide chest, as if remembering to inhale. Apparently this wouldn’t be much of a party for him. In his world, he had to do book signings and show the face behind the cover on occasion, but he obviously didn’t like it. Faith figured he’d rather be at home with his imaginary characters than with three-dimensional ones in a crowded room. How interesting that he lived in New York, where one couldn’t breathe without sharing air.