Read Anyone but Alex (The English Brothers Book 3) for Free Online Page A

looked up, wide-eyed and startled.
    “I wasn’t staring at your breasts,” he insisted. “I was staring at your heart.”
    “Oh. My. God,” she chortled, setting down her drink with shaky hands as she wheezed softly from laughing.
    “Want another?” he asked eagerly, wanting to hear her laugh again.
    “Tell me the cheesiest of the cheese.”
    Alex nodded. “Okay.” He clear ed his face of all expression, softened his lips, and looked deeply into her eyes. “Of all the beautiful curves on your body… Your smile is my favorite.”
    He watched closely, waiting for her to burst into laughter again, but she blushed and took a deep breath instead, an uncertain smile playing at the edges of her mouth. “You’re good.”
    “Actually,” he said, taking a step closer to her, “I’m very bad.”
    “Oh, Lord!” she exclaimed, pushing his chest away and giggling all over again. “That one was the worst!”
    He took a step back, snapping his fingers dramatically. “Overplayed my hand. Almost thought I had you there on the smile line.”
    “Maybe you almost did.” She gave him a bashful grin before reaching for her glass and taking a sip.
    “They don’t work for you?” he asked. “Pick-up lines?”
    “They’re kind of silly, aren’t they?”
    “Some women think they’re sexy.”
    She shrugged, her wide eyes merry as she continued to grin.
    “Okay. You win. They’re silly. So, what does work for you?” he asked, unable to resist learning a little more about her, surprised to discover for the first time in years, he actually wanted to hear a woman talk about herself.
    Her smile faded a bit , and if the light was stronger he was sure he’d notice a self-conscious blush deepen the pink on her cheeks. “Really?”
    “Yeah. I want to know.”
    “I don’t know if it’s very sexy ,” she said, referring to his previous comment.
    “Tell me anyway.”
    “Huh. Okay. Here goes. What works for me? Kindness. Respect. Someone who makes me laugh.” She grinned more confidently at him, and her shoulders relaxed as she eased into the subject. “Someone smart and interesting. A little daring, maybe. Someone who surprises me in good ways.”
    “What else?”
    “Someone who makes my toes curl when he kisses me.”
    “What else?” he whispered.
    “Someone who lets me put my cold feet against his warm legs.”
    “More,” he said softly, mesmerized by her simple honesty.
    She shook her head, searching his face, before taking another sip of her drink. “Someone who can’t take his eyes off me.”
    Her eyes were pools of black staring back at his, and he could feel the heat, the longing, the charged field of want between them.
    “What else?” His voice was barely audible as he breathed heavily, in and out, in and out, through his nose, the warmth of his breath making puffs of smoke every time he exhaled.
    She swallowed, still holding his eyes.
    “Someone who chooses me,” she whispered, her smile all but faded. “ Only me.”
    Alex raised his chin just a touch, searching her eyes. He understood what she was saying. She wasn’t the sort of woman who’d fall for his lines or end up on her back in his bed tonight. She was a nice girl looking for a nice boy, and Alex was the furthest possible thing from the solid, committed, upstanding man Jessie deserved.
    What surprised him was how much it ached to hear it—to realize that he couldn’t have her, that—as he was—he wasn’t good enough for her. At that moment, he knew how much he wanted to indulge the fantasy of having a chance with her. His disappointment was far more bitter and painful than he would have guessed.
    He nodded curtly, giving her a tight smile, and turned to leave. Her voice at his back made him pause.
    “Dance with me?” she murmured suddenly, looking as surprised as he felt to hear the words tumble from her mouth. She dropped his eyes, flicking her glance to the French doors behind him as the orchestra started playing the old