The hair on her small head had been plaited, six rows ending in colorless glass beads. The plaits crowned a pretty, heart-shaped face and descended to an elegant neck. She was fair, very fair. Her eyes were big and so were her plump, Angelina Jolie lips. She stood at a height of five feet nine inches. The cropped top she had on exposed her smooth belly and the tiny belly-button knob sitting in the center. Alex's gaze focused on that small bump floating in a sea of mocha-latte silkiness.
"Adam!" she greeted, sauntering over to him and hurling her arms around his neck. "Welcome."
Adam kissed her cheeks one after the other. "Renate, it's good to see you."
Renate stepped away from him, smiling. "Why has it taken you so long to come back, hmm?"
"I've been working in the Neter Group's London office for the past year."
Alex dragged his eyes away from her and stared at the ground. So this was Renate Giwa, the author of the Burn with Lust series. He'd finished the fourth book, the last in the series, only last week. Memories of the steamy sex scenes she'd explicitly described in her books swirled in his head. Unease assaulted his nerves. Why did she make him feel this uncomfortable? No, this wasn't right. She was a mere human being, after all.
"What's all this, eh? Why can't we come in?" Adam asked, eyebrows high.
"Yes, Dede told me you came with a friend..." Renate glanced away from Adam to the six-foot-eight, slim, nearly thin man lingering at his side. His head was down, giving her a view of his hair, chocolate-brown springy curls. His dark-blue jacket, round-necked white tee-shirt and black trousers were not too loose, not too tight. Just the right size for his spare frame.
"Adam says you're an angel." She addressed him, suddenly eager to see his face.
The head rose and the eyes, almond-shaped and champagne-colored, crashed into hers.
Her breathing slowed, and then, quickened. There was something in them. Discomfort, irritation and a hint of superiority...
"If he says so, then, that's what I am..."
His voice was low, stiff. Someone unused to long and deep conversations.
Renate eyed him, willing her pulse to settle down. He looked like an angel. He was tall. He was gorgeous. With the requisite arrogant expression in his eyes... Unlike, Adam who wore a short black stubble on his jaw, this one was clean-shaven. His cheekbones were high mountains in the stark landscape of his face. He looked to be in his early thirties, but if he was really an angel, that would definitely not be his real age.
Adam said, "His name is Alexander Nasser and he's an angel."
She'd known Adam for a while. He was a good customer and his father was a well-known angel. She could take him at his word.
Alex tossed his head at Adam. "Adam, I'm just going to go. You can stay."
"No, Alex."
"This is bullshit."
Renate's eyes thinned. She cocked her head. "Is that what you think, Alex?"
