London Bound: New Adult Romance (Chase Brothers) by Nana Malone Page B

pictures. Abbie headed back out of the market, feeling lighter than she had been in days.
    She headed for a part of town called Music Row. She’d heard that in the seventies it had been home to several music studios for young rhythm and blues singers trying to make it. Sort of Brixton’s answer to Motown Records. Her feet splashed in leftover puddles from the overnight rain.
    Between two buildings in a not-quite-alleyway, she caught sight of a section of puddles that looked like they formed a perfect circle. In the center of them lay a piece of chain and pipe. Getting down on her haunches she snapped away, lost in her camera and images for several minutes. The light from one of the buildings glinted in the broken glass window of another, and she lost several more minutes going for shots that were integral to her assignment.
    Looking at her map, she rounded a corner, searching for the most famous studio of all. Brixton Gold. If she could get one good shot of it against the graying clouds, with maybe some people standing in front, she would have a good start for the assignment and could head back before the clouds opened up as they threatened to do.
    “You know, I’m starting to think you’re following me.”
    Abbie whirled around, heart pounding. Leaning against one of the doors next to a youth center and record store stood Lex. With his dark jeans, tan sweater, and light gray pea coat, he looked distinctly out of place. If she’d shot a photo of him that moment, she would certainly have a juxtaposition shot. Or maybe she could use it to show how Brixton was becoming the new Harlem. With white urbanites moving in by the droves, taking advantage of the cheap rent and revitalization.
    Or, she could just say hi. “Are you sure you’re not the one following me ?”
    He shrugged. “I was here first. I thought that was you as you crossed the street. What are you doing in this neck of the woods?”
    Abbie held up her camera. “A girl’s gotta eat.”
    “I would hate to see you starve.”
    Unable to help the sudden jubilant feeling, she giggled. “Well, it could still happen if I don’t get the shots I need for this assignment.”
    “School. Right. You did mention that last night. I was a bit preoccupied to ask you more about it.”
    Abbie flushed and immediately looked down at her camera. You will not think about the way his lips feel. You will not think about the way his hands feel. You will not think about how long it’s been since you had a proper, honest to God, sheet clawing orgasm. “You probably know more about my school than I do, since your brother’s my professor. We had a nice chat at your party.”
    Lex’s smile faltered, and his lips thinned for a moment before he muttered, “London is entirely too small a world. He didn’t mention you two had spoken.”
    She shrugged. Maybe because he had been an ass . “Nothing to mention, really. Sort of inconsequential.” Was she supposed to tell him that his brother told her to stay away from him? “Are you two close?”
    Lex’s gaze slid away from hers. “Sometimes a little too close for comfort.” When his gray eyes met hers again, they were stormy.
    Abbie’s heartbeat slowed, each beat echoing between her ears. In the blink of an eye, she made her decision. “He said I should stay away from you.”
    His eyes went from a dark gray to cold, flinty silver. “What did you say in return?”
    She shrugged. “That I barely knew you.”
    His loose shoulders and hands in his pockets would have had most people believing he was completely at ease, but Abbie studied enough faces to know better. He was livid. Surreptitiously, she inched backward looking to put some physical distance between them.
    Alexi’s voice was low and rough. “He say anything else?”
    Oh no, she’d already stepped in it, there was no way she was going to roll around in it too. “No.” She took another step back.
    He studied her closely, his eyes roving over every inch of her face.