Page 8 of The Aries Alliance (BLP Signs of Love #14)

Her short candy red dress was cinched at the waist, accentuating her pear-shaped body to perfection.

The soft, flowing fabric split so seductively that if she’d let me, I could open the bottom of her dress like curtains and peek into the treasure behind the veil.

Although her long sleeves covered her arms, the low-cut bodice hinted of firm breasts, adding to Scarlett’s overall appeal.

“Good evening, War. Thank you.”

Her use of my nickname had me grinning like a simpleton.

As I checked Scarlett out, she did the same to me.

Like earlier today, I widened my stance, standing tall as her eyes methodically moved from my shoulders to my chest and then my crotch and legs.

When her eyes returned to mine, I smiled.

Another blush stained her cheeks as she placed her bags in my outstretched hand.

“For a minute, I thought you might have changed your mind.”

“Why would I say one thing and then do something else? I’m a woman of my word.”

“Good to know.”

“May I come in?” Without waiting for me to answer, Scarlett gently pushed me aside and crossed the threshold.

She half turned to me with a mischievous smile.

From her softened voice to the glow of her skin that peeked beneath her dress like a tempting chocolate bar, Scarlett touched everything that made me a man. I whistled at her under my breath.

“You’re beautiful.” I memorized the features of her oval face, particularly her plump, kissable lips that turned upward when I complimented her again.

“Who are you with all this praise, and what did you do with Warrick Redmond?”

I closed the distance between us and lifted the back of her hand to my mouth for a barely-there kiss.

“War, sweetheart.”

I expected her to come back with something punchy, but instead, she released my hand and scanned the room, nodding her head before returning her gaze toward me.

“This is a nice place.”

“I agree. Very intimate and demure.”

“A woman with good sense wouldn’t have been so eager to follow your instructions, especially after you treated her so poorly in your office.” Scarlett’s smoky eyes crinkled at the corners as she pursed her lips.

“Who said I like women with good sense?”

Scarlett sucked in her breath as if she wanted to laugh but held it in.

“You can laugh.” I teased her, wanting her to show me her playful side.

“Hardy har har, Mr. Redmond.” Sarcasm oozed from her pores, making me wonder if, underneath her composed demeanor, she could be as goofy as I was.

“Mr. Redmond is at EFU. War doesn’t do business as usual.”

“What does that mean?”

“Think shades of gray, business of a different nature, one I think you will enjoy, given your passion for equity.”

“I’m intrigued.” Scarlett faced me and boldly brushed her hand down my shirt, causing my breath to catch from the gentleness of her touch.

Her pheromones popped off her body like fireworks, capturing me in a trance I didn’t expect.

I brushed a couple of her long locs behind her ear, enchanted by how they framed her face to perfection.

Scarlett had me imagining possibilities far beyond what I pictured when I summoned her to the cottage. How far might she go to please me?

When her eyes darted to the dining room with its low R&B music playing in the background, I snapped out of my trance and gestured to the table I had set for dinner. Scarlett walked in front of me, swaying her hips ever so seductively, giving me a satisfying view of her apple bottom.

“Appetizers are ready. Please have a seat.”

“It smells good in here. Let me wash up first.” Scarlett continued her seductive walk to the kitchen, where she washed her hands, keeping her eyes on me as I stood by the island.

She wiped her hands, then slipped into the side of the bench closest to the door. I sat on the opposite end of the bench near the wall. Once settled, I gestured to the food on the table.

“I’ve prepared garlic hummus, warm pita, vegetables, roasted whole peppers, and calamari to get us started.”

Scarlett’s eyes widened.

“This looks delicious. Is eating well how you stay in such great shape? You enjoy flaunting that body of yours on social media.” She eyed my chest, then met my eyes with humor behind them.

“It’s one of many ways I take care of myself.”

When I winked at her, she turned her head to her water glass and picked it up to take a drink. I patted the space beside me.

“Come closer. I need to see you better.”

She sucked her teeth then smiled, scooting closer.

“Maybe you need to put on your glasses.” She smirked.

“I only wear those at work. They’re not prescription, by the way.”

Her eyes widened before her face returned to a neutral expression.

“You’re odd,” she said.

“And you’re beautiful.”

“You said that already.”

“And I’ll keep saying it until you believe me.”

Scarlett scooted her body closer, forcing me to inhale the intensity of her fresh scent.

“Is this better, Big Bad Wolf?” She raked her tongue over her teeth.

I opened my mouth before leaning in so closely to her neck that I almost kissed it.

“Much better, Little Red,” I whispered.

As her chest heaved beneath my gaze, I scanned her body and firmly rested my hand on her exposed thigh.

“You okay?”

“Yes,” she answered in a breathy whisper that pleased me.

I moved my arm behind her waist and squeezed, feeling rigidity that wasn’t skin. I jerked my head back, confused.

“Why is your body so hard? What are all those ridges?” I raked my fingers up and down her back with what felt like countless wired tracks.

Scarlett squinted and frowned, cocking her head like I offended her with my questions.

“You’re not supposed to ask a woman what she’s wearing underneath her clothes.”

I lifted my hands in surrender.

“My bad. Does it really take all that to look good?”

“Yes. It’s shapewear that keeps everything sucked and tucked as it should be.” She stretched her arms out and created a semicircle in front of her body to illustrate her point.

I ran my hand down her back again, realizing whatever she had on extended from her neck to below her waist.

“It feels like a robotic skeleton. Women sure go through a lot to look sexy.” I pressed my hands to my temples. “Don’t buy into the patriarchy’s definition of beauty. A woman’s body is meant to be admired in its natural state. At least, my woman’s is.”

Scarlett stared at me hard.

“I didn’t peg you for a feminist. But since I’m not your woman, I’ll have the final say about what I wear.”

I removed my hands and grinned, not surprised that Scarlett argued with me, even when I complimented her. Was that a manifestation of her trauma, or was it just her personality?

I picked up my water glass and took a sip before setting it down.

“Yet.”

“Yet what?” She raised her eyebrow.

“You’re not my woman . . . yet. Never say never.”

Scarlett tilted her head and laughed from her belly.

“Boy, please. What game are you trying to play?” She closed her eyes and paused, as if she were in deep thought, then opened them suddenly, her lashes fluttering rapidly. “Be honest. Are you off?” she asked in such a respectful way that I almost wasn’t offended.

Before I could answer, a timer dinged in the kitchen, signaling that tonight’s entrée was ready. I rose and pointed to the pitcher before us.

“Can I get you anything other than water?”

Scarlett nodded.

“Yes, I’d like wine if you have any.”

I soon returned with a slightly chilled bottle of Pinot Noir and set it next to the platter of appetizers on the table. I sat back down before blessing the food.

“Do you need anything else?” I faced Scarlett, whose stunned face amused me.

She shook her head.

“No, this is good. I nibbled on some crackers before I came.”

“That’s not real food. Help yourself to this hummus. I like my women to have big appetites too.” I picked up the platter and handed Scarlett small tongs to select her vegetables.

She picked up the tongs and eyed the platter before placing hummus, pita, and a couple of carrot and zucchini slices on her plate.

“As I said before, since I’m not your woman, I won’t have to worry about that.” She smirked, amusing me again.

We ate our meal in comfortable silence until the grandfather clock struck eight o’clock.

Scarlett checked her dainty gold watch.

“It’s getting late, so please tell me why I’m here.” She gestured to the open area around us.

I cleared my throat and took another sip of water before placing my linen napkin on the table.

“About that. It’s complicated.”

“Well, talk to me like I’m five and make it simple.” She pointed to her watch again.

I cleared my throat.

“I have a radical proposition for you that will address some of your work problems.”

Scarlett placed her hands in her lap.

“I’m listening.”

“I thought of making you sign an NDA, but I hope that given your advocacy for social justice, that won’t be necessary.”

“Okay. You’re stalling. Spit it out, War.” She rolled her hands in a circle, gesturing for me to hurry up.

“I want to take EFU down and need your help.” I spoke the words quickly and exhaled a sharp breath.

Scarlett’s neck whipped back and forth so fast I was surprised she didn’t get whiplash.

“So, you are off.” She scooted away from me to stand, but I held her arm.

“Wait.” I lowered my hand to hers. “I need you to make this work. I know you want justice as much as I do.”

She straightened her back and lifted her eyes to the vintage chandelier above us before facing me again.

“So you’re telling me that you want an insider to join you in some foolishness to take down the organization where you’re the HR director?” She scowled at me.

“Pretty much.” I picked up and munched the last carrot on the platter.

“Oh hell no.”

“Why?”

“I don’t trust you like that. You’re one of them, unless you can convince me otherwise.” She rested her hands on the table and pursed her lips.