Carpathian 03 - Dark Gold

managing to drag his arm across the cream puffs. The sleeve of his immaculate suit came away covered in goo.
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    "Oh, Thomas." Alexandria tried to jump to her feet to help him, but Aidan's hands kept her in place. I know you did that, you Neanderthal! Don't for one minute try your innocent act, because it won't work. You're deliberately embarrassing the man . She accused Aidan of it hotly, working hard to avoid any humor welling to the surface.
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    He can keep his damned hands to himself . Aidan was calmly unrepentant in the face of her wrath.
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    You keep touching me whenever the mood strikes you. That's rather like the pot calling the kettle black. Stop provoking him. I want this job.
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    The idiot is so besotted with you, he would stand on his head if you demanded it. The job is not going anywhere.
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    No one says besotted anymore . She couldn't think of a scathing enough retort. Aidan acted so completely without remorse. To add to her seething anger, she could hear that unmistakable note of amusement in his black velvet voice.

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    "I'm sorry, Alexandria." Thomas was mortified. It was those damn amber eyes watching his every move, waiting, just waiting. It was eerie and disturbing, that predator's stare. He felt like a rabbit, prey for a wolf. Then he again cursed his own imagination. He gave Alexandria his most winning smile, trying to ignore the man standing behind her chair. Savage gave an impression of indolence, but Thomas wasn't deceived. Whoever this man was, he was a force to be reckoned with. He had staked a claim on Alexandria and was clearly warning Thomas off.
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    "Don't worry about it, Thomas. The tray was too close. In any case, the damage is to your suit, not me."
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    Alexandria's voice was so soothing and peaceful, seeming to surround him, relaxing him.
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    "Alexandria is tired, Mr. Ivan. I must insist she rest now." Aidan's golden stare was unwavering.
    "I trust you are now satisfied I am not holding her prisoner in my dungeon." He paused. "And in the future, Mr. Ivan, if you wish to know something about me or my staff, I assure you, a private investigator is a waste of your money. I will be happy to answer any questions you have." His smile was amicable, but his powerful white teeth gave Thomas the illusion of being stalked by a wolf. There was absolutely no warmth in those golden, unnerving eyes.
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    Thomas rose to his feet, hating the fear swirling deep within his gut and the humiliation of being summarily dismissed by the man under the guise of concern for Alexandria's health. But he could be patient. She would be working with him. They would be alone, and there wasn't a thing Aidan Savage could do about it.
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    "I regret any inconvenience my concern for Alexandria caused you. I was very worried about her well-being."
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    Ignoring Aidan's hands on her shoulders, Alexandria rose with him. "We understand. Although, I assure you, Aidan is a good man and would never harm Joshua or me. You had absolutely nothing to worry about."
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    Thomas looked over her head to directly challenge Aidan. "Oh, I'm sure you're right about that."
    He understood the bastard, but Alexandria was far too innocent to realize just what kind of a man Savage really was. There had to be skeletons in his closet, a body or two in his past.
    Thomas intended to find every one of them. Deliberately he smiled at the man, a cool, intentional threat. "Mr. Savage and I understand one another quite well, Alex. I will call you later."
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    She was following him to the door. As he paused on the front porch, he turned and raised a hand to touch her cheek, certain her skin would be as soft as it looked. For a moment his heart seemed to stop, and his breath caught in his throat. No woman had ever affected him as she did.
    But even as he reached out to cup her face, he heard an angry buzzing, and a huge black bee dive-bombed him from out of nowhere.
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    With an oath, Thomas jumped back, swatting ineffectually at the persistent insect. As his left foot came down he turned his ankle and nearly fell.
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    Alexandria's hand covered her mouth in horror. Aidan, stop it right now !
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    I cannot imagine what you are accusing me of , Aidan returned innocently from the living room. His voice was unconcerned, virtuous, and placid.

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    Thomas fled down the