But if she worked at it, she could manage an American accent—since her mother had been born in California. Thinking about her mom brought a quick zip of guilt shooting through her, but Alex tamped it down. She’d deal with it later. She was absolutely sure her mother would understand why Alex had had to leave—she was just in no hurry to hear how much worry she’d caused by taking off.
After all, Alex was a bright, capable adult and if she wanted a vacation, why should she have to jump through hoops to take one? There, she was feeling better already. Until she picked up on the fact that her would-be admirer was still talking. Honestly, she was trying to stay under the radar and this man was drawing way too much attention to her.
Trying to ignore him, Alex quickened her steps, moving in and out of the ever-shifting crowd with the grace earned from years of dance lessons. She wore a long, tunic-style white blouse, blue jeans and blue platform heels, and, at the moment, she was wishing she’d worn sneakers. Then she could have sprinted for some distance.
The minute that thought entered her mind, she dismissed it, though. Running through a crowd like a lunatic would only draw the notice she was trying to avoid.
“C’mon, babe, it’s lunch. What could it hurt?”
“I don’t eat,” she told him, “I’m an oxygenarian.”
He blinked at her. “What?”
“Nothing,” she muttered, hurrying again. Stop talking to him, she told herself. Ignore him and he’ll go away.
She headed for the landmark right ahead of her. The snow-topped mountain in the middle of Anaheim, California. This particular mountain was probably one of the best known peaks in the world. Alex smiled just looking at it. She lifted her gaze and watched as toboggans filled with screaming, laughing people jolted around curves and splashed through lagoons, sending waves of water into the air. The line for the mountain was a long one and as her gaze moved over the people there, she saw him. He was watching her. A big man with black hair, a stern jaw and a plump baby on his hip.
In one quick instant, she felt a jolt of something like “recognition.” As if something inside her, knew him. Had been searching for him. Unfortunately, judging by the black-haired little girl he was holding, some other woman had found him first.
“Quit walking so fast, will ya?” the annoying guy behind her whined.
Alex fixed her gaze on the sharp-eyed man and felt his stare hit her as powerfully as a touch. Then his eyes shifted from her to the man behind her and back again. He seemed to understand the situation instantly.
“There you are, honey!” he called out, smiling directly at Alex. “What took you so long?”
Smiling broadly, she accepted the help he was offering and ran to him. He greeted her with a grin then dropped one arm around her shoulders, pulling her in close to his side. Only then did he shift his gaze to the disappointed man.
“There a problem here?” Her Knight in Shining Denim demanded.
“No,” the guy muttered, shaking his head. “No problem. Later.”
And he was gone.
Alex watched him go with a sigh of relief. Not that he had ever scared her or anything, but she hadn’t wanted to waste her first day in Disneyland being irritated. The big man beside her still had his arm around her and Alex liked it. He was big and strong and it was hard not to appreciate a guy who had seen you needed help and offered it without a qualm.
“Boon!”
The little girl’s voice shattered the moment and with that reminder that her hero was probably someone else’s husband, Alex slipped out from under his arm. Glancing up at the little girl, she smiled. “You’re a beauty, aren’t you? Your daddy must be very proud.”
“Oh, he is,” the man beside her said, his voice so deep it seemed to sink right inside her. “And he’s got two more just like her.”
“Really.” She wasn’t sure why the news that he was the father of three was so disappointing, but there it was.
“Yeah. My cousin and his wife have the other two on the ride right now. I’m just watching this one for them.”
“Oh.” She smiled, pleasure rushing through her. “Then you’re not her father?”
He smiled, too, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. “Not a chance. I wouldn’t do that to some poor, unsuspecting kid.”
Alex looked into his eyes and enjoyed the sparkle she found there. He was relishing this little flirtation as much as she was. “Oh, I don’t know. A hero might make a very good father.”
“Hero? I’m hardly that.”
“You were for me a minute ago,” she said. “I couldn’t seem to convince that man to leave me alone, so I really appreciate your help.”
“You’re welcome. But you could have gone to a security guard and had the guy thrown out. Probably should have.”
No, going to a security guard would have involved making statements, filling out paperwork and then her identity would be revealed and the lovely day she’d planned would have been ruined.
She shook her head, pushed her long blond hair back from her face and turned to sweep her gaze across the manicured flower gardens, the happy kids and the brilliant blue sky overhead. “No, he wasn’t dangerous. Just irritating.”
He laughed and she liked the sound of it.
“Boon, Gar,” the little girl said in a voice filled with the kind of determination only a single-minded toddler could manage.
“Right. Balloon.” He lifted one hand to the balloon seller, and the guy stepped right up, gently tying the string of a bright pink balloon to the baby’s wrist. While Garrett paid the man, the baby waved her arm, squealing with delight as the balloon danced and jumped to her whim.
“So, I think introductions are in order,” he said. “This demanding female is Mara and I’m Garrett.”
“Alexis, but call me Alex,” she said, holding her right hand out to him.
He took her hand in his and the instant her skin brushed along his, Alex felt ripples of something really intriguing washing throughout her body. Then he let her go and the delightful heat dissipated.
“So, Alex, how’s your day going?”
She laughed a little. “Until that one little moment, it was going great. I love it here. It’s my first time, and I’ve heard so much about this place…”
“Ah,” he said nodding, “that explains it.”
She tensed. “Explains what?”
“If it’s your first time here, you’re having so much fun that all of these crowds don’t bother you.”
“Oh, no. I think it’s wonderful. Everyone seems so nice, well, except for—”
“That one little moment?” he asked, repeating her words to her.
“Yes, exactly.” Alex smiled again and reluctantly took a step back. As lovely as this was, talking to a handsome man who had no idea who she was, it would be better for her if she ended it now and went on her way. “Thank you again for the rescue, but I should really be going…”
He tipped his head to one side and looked at her. “Meeting someone?”
“No, but—”
“Then what’s your hurry?”
Her heartbeat sped up at the invitation in his eyes. He didn’t want her to leave. And how nice that was. He actually liked her.
The darling little girl was still playing with her balloon, paying no attention at all to the two adults with her.
Alex