“Let’s just say the guys helped the girls work it out in exchange for favors.” Lifting her hand, he kissed her knuckles, turned her hand over to kiss her palm. “High school guys are notoriously horny, and there’s not much they wouldn’t do for sex.”

Curling her fingers, Alice tried to ignore how the sensation of his mouth there was felt all over her body. She wanted to hear the rest. “I take it you weren’t angry?”

“At the girls? No. They were just curious because of the rumors.”

Suspicious, she narrowed her eyes. “What rumors?”

His gaze met hers. “Size rumors.”

Drawing a blank, she shook her head in incomprehension.

“You know,” Reese said. “Am I big all over? That sort of thing.”

She recalled Nikki and Pam commenting on the same. Studiously keeping her gaze on his face, Alice said with confidence, “You are.”

The green of his eyes deepened. “Yes, I am.” This time he kissed her wrist, lingering, provoking. “Back then, I enjoyed the bragging rights.”

“And now?”

His smile came reluctantly. “As a grown, mature man, I’d like to say it doesn’t matter.” The damp heat of his tongue almost stole her breath. He closed his mouth over her wrist, lightly bit and murmured, “But I still enjoy showing off.”

Even sitting in a chair, she felt herself swaying. She swallowed hard and rasped, “Showing off?”

Slowly, maintaining his hold on her wrist, Reese stood and came around the table. He tugged her up and against his big frame. Serious, heated, he searched her face, her eyes, finally her mouth. “I’ll fill you up, Alice. And I swear you’ll enjoy it.”

He bent to kiss her—and she knew without a single doubt what type of kiss it’d be.

Before they made contact, she stumbled back, taking Reese by surprise. “Sorry, no.”

His chest rose and fell, but he didn’t insist. “All right.”

So honorable of him.

So dumb of her. Desperate to explain, she said, “I only got up a few minutes ago.”

He let his attention roam over her body. “Great nightgown.”

“Thank you.” Was Pepper correct? Could simple clothes affect him so much? Apparently. She smoothed the rumpled cotton of her gown. “The thing is, I’ve only had half a cup of coffee. And I haven’t brushed my teeth yet.”  And I’m an awful coward. “Pepper will be here soon, and I won’t be ready.”

“I’m not rushing you.”

Good Lord. Then what would rushing be like? She could barely wait to find out. “Okay.”

His smile quirked, spread until he laughed. “Alice.” He stepped up to her before she could dart away. “I can’t stop thinking about getting inside you—”

She groaned.

“—but I’m not saying it has to be right away. I want you to want me, too.”

Seriously, he had to know. “That’s not the problem.” But verbalizing the problem wouldn’t be easy, because the problem itself was complex, a mangled mix of her past, her present intent, demons and determination.

“Hey.” He tipped up her chin. “I can wait until we work it out.”

Because he felt confident that they would? She hoped so. She wanted that more than she’d wanted anything since...since she’d lain awake at night, praying for escape, silently begging for a way out of a living nightmare.

She rubbed her forehead, refusing to go down memory lane yet again. Looking at Reese always helped to lighten the darkness, so she smiled up at him. “Okay.”

“You are the most agreeable woman.” He bent and kissed her before she could dodge him. Mindful of her feelings, he kept it light, almost teasing. “I have to go. Have fun with Pepper, but be careful. You have my number if anything comes up.”

CHAPTER TEN

ALICE STEPPED OUT of the changing room in the cuffed jean capris, peasant top and wedge sandals. Pepper looked her over with a big smile, then proclaimed the outfit, “Perfect.”

It would be her fifth, which was only a third of what Pepper had purchased.

Alice toyed with the loose ties at the neck of the shirt. “It’s comfortable.” So far, everything Pepper had helped her choose was easy to wear, affordable and complimentary.

“That outfit, with your new hairstyle...” Pepper whistled. “Reese will go nuts.”

She touched her hair, now parted more to the side, trimmed just enough to make it fuller and deliberately tousled. She liked it, too. “It’ll be easy to replicate.”

“The makeup, too. Honestly, you have such great bones, you can’t go wrong.”

No one had ever noticed her bones before, so she had to wonder about that. When Pepper’s phone rang, Alice darted again into the changing room to dress in her regular clothes.

They’d been shopping for hours now, before and after lunch. Alice admired the pale, iridescent pink on her nails and toes, thanks to a professional mani and pedi.

Pepper had encouraged her to be worked over, head to toes, and she’d had so much fun.

Except for the sensation of being watched.

Off and on throughout the day, Alice had felt the scrutiny but no alarm. Sometimes being so observant was a curse.

Most likely the attention had been men admiring Pepper. Her new friend had the kind of “stop traffic” looks that never failed to draw male appreciation.

When she stepped back out of the room, Pepper accompanied her to the cashier, saying, “That was Logan. They’re done at the station finally, so I guess we should call it a day.”