Link – http://sablehunter.com/scarletfever.html

Blurb –

Alex Stewart has been roped into playing wedding coordinator for his
older brother Ethan’s, wedding; and nothing is going right today. And to
make matters worse, he gets off on the wrong foot with the bride’s smokin’ hot
sister! Before he knows it, Alex is suffering from a raging case of Scarlet
Fever, and is determined to claim this woman for his very own, even if it
means giving up his life. Scarlet is making one last trip to see her sister get married, and to experience a little bit of normal life. After setting eyes on her too-gorgeous soon-to-be brother-in-law, Scarlet decides that Alex is way out of her league, and strikes off Number 1 from her bucket list. When Alex finds her list, and discovers the secret she is hiding from everyone, he is
determined to help her anyway he can.

Can he break through her stubborn pride and make her see that she deserves a life; with him!

Excerpt – “I have seed pearls to sew.” Looking at Alex, she enquired. “Is there a corner that I can work in? I only need a chair and a bright light.””My bedroom,” he answered with a straight face.

His loaded suggestion didn’t faze her a bit. “I wouldn’t want to be the cause of you missing your beauty sleep. Is there another place?”

“Sure sweetheart, follow me.” He led her to the media room. There were several comfortable chairs and some high-powered lights near the game tables.

“Perfect.” She seemed to be more at ease with him, thank God. “Could you show me where you put my things? I think I’ll get ready for bed and then I’ll work until I can’t keep my eyes open.” Every word painted a picture in his mind. A hot steamy shower. A soft, silky nightgown. A warm, cuddly woman. “I put you in the room next to mine.” No explanation necessary.

She didn’t ask for one.

Following him, she felt the tingles begin anew. Watching him walk, the movement of his amazing butt in those tight, tight jeans made her tongue grow thick in her mouth. The hall wasn’t narrow, but ““ swear-to-God ““ his shoulders seemed to brush both walls. He opened the door to her room and let her go ahead of him. He didn’t leave her much room, so her body briefly brushed his. She heard his harsh intake of breath. She felt his heat. A dampness began to make itself known between her legs. A totally new
experience. Still, Scarlet knew what it was.

After all, she was a librarian.

“This is wonderful, Alex. It’s too much.” There was a sleigh bed, a roll top desk, a recliner and a roomy armoire. The colors were earth tones, highlighted by shades of burgundy. “If you need this room for guests, I’m used to something much smaller.”

“The size of the room wasn’t the determining factor, love. I wanted you close to me.” They stood still, looking at each other. Electrical currents seemed to arc between them. Visions of her in the shower reminded him that he hadn’t shown her the rest of the room. “Let me show you the bath.” Leading her to the oversize bathroom, he showed her the walk-in shower and the claw-foot tub – stacks of towels, bottles of lotions and salts, everything that anyone could possibly want.

“Alex, I’m not used to luxuries. I don’t even know what half this stuff is for.”

“Do you want me to stay and help?” He was as serious as a heart attack.

At that, she laughed. “No, I think I can muddle through.”

“Can I sit with you while you work on the dress?” He asked so sweetly it gave her a
warm shiver.

“Sure. I’d appreciate the company.” This friendship business wasn’t so hard.

“Good.” Then he proceeded to knock all thoughts of friendship out of her head. Stepping close, he placed a soft, sweet kiss just to the right of her trembling lips. Every cell in her body commanded her head to turn, just so, so she could move her lips into
range for the heady contact. She controlled herself, barely. “I’ll be waiting.”

She was so cute, he could hardly stand it. He hadn’t known what to expect when she told him she was getting ready for bed. Any of the females he knew would have emerged in a teddy or baby doll pajamas. When she had come out covered in white eyelet from
head to toe, Alex had to reevaluate his whole definition of sexy. The robe was even long-sleeved. The only skin that showed was her face, fingers and little bare feet. Alex’s response to her chaste, angelic outfit was not so pure. He was as hard as the Rock of Gibraltar. It was good he had changed into lounge pants and a loose shirt. It hid a multitude of sins.

He watched her spread the gown out in her lap. Opening a tin, she took out a needle and thread and began to sew on teeny-tiny seed pearls. “What do you do for fun?” she asked him out of the blue.

“I like to go out to dinner and a movie,” he answered off handedly, without thinking.

“Is that what you’d do on a typical date?”

He couldn’t believe she was asking these leading questions. “A typical date. It could be dinner and a movie or dancing or a picnic at the lake. I’ve been on many typical dates. Tell me what you do on a date.” He watched her work, mesmerized by her nimble fingers and the way she held her tongue at the corner of her mouth as she worked.

“I’ve never been on a date.” She didn.t pause or blink or hesitate.

“You’re kidding.” The thought that she had never been asked out, escorted to a restaurant, taken care of, coddled or spoiled, just broke his heart. He had a lot of things to make up for.

“Think about it. I had a club foot until I was almost seventeen. All of the guys grew up knowing me as the cripple girl. It’s like when a fat kid suddenly slims down, it really doesn’t matter, no one will ever see them any other way but fat.”

Alex took a deep breath and dove in. “Will you go on a date with me, Scarlet?”

“No.” It wasn’t said harshly, just conversationally.

“Why?” Not that he was taking ‘no’ for an answer.

“Because you feel sorry for me. That’s why. A pity date would be worse than no date at all.”

Alex didn’t know what to say. So he just told the truth. “I don’t like the way you’ve been treated. In fact, it infuriates me. I’d like a few minutes alone with every guy that has ever hurt you. The pitiful thing is, I’m one of them. I hurt you too. And if I could turn back time, I’d do it in a heartbeat. Looking back at our first few minutes together, shame just eats me up. A date with you would make me the happiest man in the world. And pity wouldn’t have anything to do with it.”

Scarlet’s hands stilled. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Say, yes,” he coaxed, tenderly.

“I can’t. There are things that you don’t know.”

“Tell me. There.s nothing that we can’t work out, if we try.” He wanted to go to her, but he held himself back.

“Some things can’t be fixed, Alex. And I’m not talking about anything you’ve done or said.” She met his eyes. “We’re OK. As far as I’m concerned, out first meeting today is irrelevant. You are important to my sister. I’m thankful that she has a family like the three of you. She’s very blessed.”

“Tell me what’s wrong. I promise, before God, that I’ll make everything right for you. Let me try, Scarlet. Please, let me try.”

With tears in her eyes, she looked at Alex’s beautiful face. “I wish you could. You don’t know how much I wish you could.”

Alex found everything about Scarlet fascinating. He hung on her every word. She worked tirelessly sewing on the minute pieces of finery. At eleven thirty, Ethan slipped into the room. “Hey, the dogs are going crazy out back. Walk with me and let’s see if
those pesky coons are back.”

Alex didn’t want to leave, but duty called. “I’ll be right back.”

Scarlet just smiled at him. She looked like she was about to give out. Ten or so, minutes later, Alex returned. He wasn’t surprised to find her asleep, cuddled into a corner of the chair. Carefully, he lifted the gown and spread it over a nearby chair. He didn’t even consider waking her; he did exactly what he wanted to do. With one hand at her back, and one under her thighs, he lifted her into his arms. Pulling her close to his chest, he stared down at her face. She didn’t awaken; instead, she turned into him like a moth to a flame. One hand flattened on his chest, moving up to his neck. Alex pulled her closer into his arms. She reacted instinctively, her mouth seeking the warm skin of his throat. Alex stopped, reveling in her reaction to his nearness. Breathing became secondary, as he focused on the touch of her lips to his skin. A moan of desire rumbled in his chest, and he felt her jerk.

She was awake.

Scarlet opened her eyes. Good Grief! Had she lost her mind? Her lips were on Alex’s throat and she was this close to giving him a hickey! Mortified, she sought a place of refuge. Burying her face in his chest, she hid from him in embarrassment.
“Good Lord, Alex! I’m drooling on you. I am so sorry! I thought I was dreaming.”

“Dream some more, baby. I love how your lips feel on my skin.” Alex marveled at her reaction. Even in her withdrawing, she had turned to him. He purposely strode to the wing that housed their bedrooms. Passing up her room, he carried her to his own bed and laid her down. “Sleep with me, Scarlet.”