Her Alpha CEO

She strolled up the cobbled driveway, smiling vaguely at the odd guests who had stepped outside to take a call or have a smoke. With every step towards the large double doors, she felt her insecurity growing. She wasn’t an expert in designer clothing, but there was no doubt in her mind that everyone she’d met so far was dressed to the nines in the most expensive couture they could afford. Taking a deep breath, she stepped through the doorway and immediately choked on the air in her lungs.

The doors opened onto an immaculate, marble-tiled foyer, facing a grand, sweeping staircase leading to the second floor. The foyer’s pressed ceiling seemed miles away, but the space was filled by an impressive crystal chandelier that glittered with hundreds of sparkling lights. The milling crowd, whose sparkling jewels, and crystal champagne glasses caught the light, didn’t seem to notice her entrance and Nina was strongly tempted to drop Jennifer’s gift on the end table and make a run for it.

Brian hadn’t mentioned that the party was formal, and although she’d dressed in a brightly printed floor-length dress, most of the women were in chic evening dresses that sparkled and shone with diamante that Nina suspected were not glass or plastic.

“Nina! You came!” Brian strode through the crowd towards her, his open-necked suit from earlier replaced by a black-tie tuxedo which fit his broad shoulders and reminded Nina of a blonde-haired Bruce Wayne. She wondered fleetingly if he was as wealthy as the billionaire playboy of Batman legends.

Brian reached her side and Nina held out the gift-wrapped books to him. “I had to come. You left this behind.” For a moment, he looked surprised at her tone, then his smile was back as he took it from her.

“You could have used my credit card details to get my address, and have it sent to me.” He held out his arm for her to take. In a daze, cursing her lack of forethought, Nina took it and followed as he led the way through the foyer, and into a ballroom where the music swelled and made talking without shouting nearly impossible.

Brian led her skillfully through the dancers and guests who were lingering at the fringes of the room, people smiling and nodding at him, throwing curious glances at Nina, who pasted a smile on her face and tried to pretend she belonged in this glittering crowd.

As the crowd parted to let them through, Nina came to a halt, staring in fascination at the live quartet of string musicians set up on a platform at the end of the room.

“There’s a live orchestra?” She spoke loudly enough for Brian to hear her over the music, but at that moment the song ended as the orchestra stopped for a break and her words, filled with awe, echoed through the room. Nina winced as people turned to look at her, but Brian just chuckled and tugged on her elbow.

“Come on, let me introduce you to the birthday girl.” He led her over to a group of three people standing together near the open French doors that led to the terrace outside. “Jenny, your gift has finally arrived! Nina was kind enough to bring it with her.” Brian winked down at her as a beautiful blonde woman in a shimmering teal dress turned to them with a smile.

The couple she’d been talking to excused themselves, leaving Nina alone with Brian and his sister. Jenny was tall and slim, and for a moment Nina felt self-conscious next to the blonde siblings. She wasn’t given time to feel that way for long as Jenny threw her arms around her and hugged her as though she was a long-lost sister.

“Nina! How wonderful to meet you! Brian’s spoken of no one else all afternoon. I couldn’t wait to meet the woman who managed to get my brother away from his computer games!” Jenny pulled back and grinned as Nina looked up at Brian, who appeared uncomfortably flushed. He shoved the gift at his sister.

“Here, open your gift. Nina helped me choose it. Saved my life in fact.” He smiled at her, and Nina rolled her eyes.

“I was just doing my job.” She caught Jenny’s puzzled expression. “I work at the store. Brian already knew what you wanted. He just needed some help choosing the right one. I hope I guessed right.”

Nina smiled at Jenny’s eager expression as she ripped into the wrapping paper, revealing the books within. Jenny’s squeal turned heads as she saw the books in their case. “It’s perfect! Thank you so much!” She put the box down on the table nearby, and then hugged Brian and Nina again. “I’m so glad you were there to help my brother with his choice, Nina! Last year, I got a box-set of Star Wars movies. I hate Star Wars.” She faked a shudder even as Brian frowned.

“You told me you loved the movies.”

“That was only because I was dating Jamie at the time and he was a fan.” Jenny rolled her eyes at Nina. “Honestly, Nina. Are you sure you know what you’re getting involved with here? Brian is the biggest geek ever.”

“Oh, no.” Nina’s eyes widened in horror. “There’s nothing between me and your brother.”

“I see.” Jenny looked awkward for a moment, then shrugged it off with a smile. “Well, I’m thrilled with the gift, so thank you for helping him choose it.”

“It’s no problem, really. And happy birthday.” Nina suddenly remembered her own gift for Jenny, reaching into her purse and pulling out an envelope. “It’s just a little something.” She handed it to Jenny, whose excitement at the gift card for the bookstore made her smile, even as the woman hugged her again. Nina thought she’d been hugged more in the last ten minutes than she ever had in her life. Somehow, it didn’t bother her as much as it usually did. Jenny was sweet and bubbly, and best of all, she seemed to genuinely like Nina, chatting to her while Brian watched the two women with a smug expression on his face.

Nina was supremely conscious of his presence at her side but tried to ignore it as she spoke to Jenny about her favorite psychology authors, realizing they shared a common interest in feminist women who worked in the field.

By the time the orchestra returned from their break and the music made talking impossible, Nina felt as though she’d known Brian and Jenny for most of her life. Jenny excused herself to go mingle with her guests, and Brian turned to Nina with a mischievous grin.

He leaned down to speak close to her ear, and Nina’s stomach flip-flopped as the clean, woodsy smell of his aftershave filled her senses.

“Want to dance?”

She nodded eagerly. She loved dancing and had never had the opportunity to dance to a live orchestra at a private party before. Brian’s strong hand wrapped around hers and he led her onto the dance floor, pulling her into his arms as the orchestra began a fast rumba.

Nina grinned up at him, her eyes shining as he led her round the floor in the sensual moves. They fit together as though they’d been dance partners for years, but Nina’s skin tingled at every point of contact, and Brian’s intense expression suggested that he was not as immune to the chemistry between them as she’d thought.

When the music stopped, they stood close to each other, chests rising and falling with each quick breath as they stared at each other. The applause of the crowd around them broke their focus, and Nina giggled self-consciously. The other guests stood around the ballroom, having cleared the floor to watch them dance together, and now they began to make their way back for the waltz. Instead of joining them, Brian gestured to the doors, and when Nina nodded, he wrapped an arm round her shoulders. Together they walked outside into the cool night air.

The terrace was tiled, with steps down into the gardens, which twinkled with fairy lights threaded through the trees and shrubs.