Читать книгу Rich, Rugged...Royal - Cynthia Rutledge, Cynthia Rutledge - Страница 12

Lauren saw the flash of recognition in Alex’s eyes and the watchful look that replaced the smile he’d bestowed on Sara.

“What a surprise.” Sara’s smile widened as he drew close and she gestured to the empty chair at their table. “Won’t you join us?”

“I’d love to.” Casting Lauren a questioning glance, Alex pulled out a chair and took a seat.

He was absolutely gorgeous. The cream-colored button-up shirt accentuated his tan and made his eyes look even darker. His brown dress pants were definitely hand-tailored and, if she wasn’t mistaken, the belt encircling his waist cost more than all the clothes in her sack combined.

As she’d relived their night together in her memory, Lauren had convinced herself that he couldn’t have been as handsome as she’d remembered. She’d decided that the late hour, the wine and the stress had clouded her recollection. But she’d been wrong. His features were chiseled, his nose long and aristocratic. His chin was strong and his lips perfectly sculpted.

His sun-streaked brown hair gleamed in the coffee shop’s subdued lighting. He wore it conservatively short but it was thick and wavy and almost begged for her fingers to run through the strands again.

“Alex, this is my good friend, Lauren Carlyle,” Sara said. “Lauren, Alexander Gabrielle. Alex is coordinating my European tour.”

Lauren met Alex’s gaze. From the watchful look in his eyes, she knew that he was willing to take his lead from her. It didn’t take even a second for her to decide how to handle the situation.

“You look familiar.” Lauren extended her hand. “Didn’t we dance together a couple of times at Melanie’s wedding?”

“I think you’re right.” He grasped her hand and brought it to his lips. “Enchanté.”

She shivered as he placed a kiss on the back of her hand, feeling her cheeks redden.

“I should have warned you, Lauren.” Sara laughed, a silvery tinkle that reminded Lauren of tiny bells. “Alex is very European.”

Lauren widened her gaze, truly surprised. “You’re not American?”

He smiled and gestured for the waiter, ordering an espresso before turning his attention back to her. “Actually I have dual citizenship. My father is American while my mother is a citizen of Carpegnia.”

“Carpegnia?” Though Lauren knew the location of practically every Nordstrom store in the United States, geography had never been her strong point. “Is that in the Mediterranean?”

Alex nodded. “Off the southern coast of France.”

“But you don’t have an accent,” Lauren said.

He smiled. “Sometimes I do.”

Ma chérie.

When they’d made love, he’d whispered the words over and over. Lauren took a deep breath. “So you speak English and French?”

“Along with several other languages,” he said as if it were no big deal.

“When I interviewed Alex, I knew he was just what I was looking for,” Sara said. “Not only is he fluent in all those languages, he’s very familiar with Europe.”

“I know it intimately,” Alex said. Was it only her imagination or had his deep, sensual voice lingered on the last word?

Lauren’s heart skipped a beat but she cast him a warning glance. Sara was smart and if he wasn’t careful, she’d catch on that her new employee and her old friend knew each other better than they were letting on.

“Your espresso, sir.” The waiter placed the cup before Alex, smiled and turned on his heel.

“Lauren is in the market for a roommate,” Sara said as soon as the waiter left. “She asked if I knew anyone who might be interested and I mentioned you were looking.”

“Roommate?” That cute little dimple she remembered so well flashed in Alex’s cheek, and Lauren decided she’d be safer with Jack the Ripper under her roof.

“It’s very small,” Lauren said.

“Your town house is spacious,” Sara protested. “And quite lovely.”

“We’d be tripping all over each other,” Lauren added.

“I don’t mind being close.” Alex took another sip of his espresso but mischief gleamed in his eye. “Not at all.”

Sara’s brows pulled together in puzzlement and Lauren kicked Alex under the table.

“The extra bedroom and bathroom are in the basement,” Lauren said.

Actually, the downstairs area was light and airy with huge daylight windows. But there was no need for Alex to know that.

“Sounds cozy.” Alex didn’t appear the least bit dissuaded. “I like cozy.”

He winced as the pointed toe of her shoe connected with his shin once again.

“I’m sorry, but I just noticed the time.” Sara pushed back her chair and rose to her feet. “I have to pick up the baby.”

Alex rose to his feet. “Are we still on for seven?”

Sara hesitated a fraction of a second. “Absolutely.”

Lauren hid a smile. It was obvious that her friend had completely forgotten the plans. Since her baby had been born, Sara’s already hectic schedule had kicked into overdrive and she’d confided in Lauren that half the time she didn’t know whether she was coming or going.

Sara shifted her gaze. “Lauren, I’d love to have you join us. Sal’s mother sent over some lasagna this morning and I’ll probably just throw together a salad. You haven’t been over in forever. Please say you’ll come.”

Lauren squirmed in her chair. She couldn’t imagine being in the same room with Alex all evening. Even now the electricity between them was almost palpable. “I’m not sure tonight will work.”

“C’mon, Lauren.” Sara put a hand on her hip and her lips came together in a pout. “You told me earlier you didn’t have anything going on this evening.”

Lauren glanced at Alex and found him grinning.

“We’ll eat at seven,” Sara said as if the matter were already decided. “Sal will probably want to go over some of the tour’s security requirements with Alex after dinner. That’ll give us the opportunity to continue our talk.”

Lauren offered a noncommittal smile. Alex’s appearance had effectively ensured that her night of passion in Chicago would remain her secret.

Unless Alex decided to talk….

Lauren waited until her friend was out the door before she turned back to Alex. “What is going on here?”

Alex stared unblinkingly, the anger in her voice taking him by surprise. He’d gotten the impression she’d been glad to see him. Now he wasn’t sure. “What do you mean?”

“You told me you were unemployed.”

“I also told you I was interviewing for jobs,” he said.

“You could have told me you knew Sara.”

“I had no idea you two were friends,” he said. “I was as shocked as you when I walked in and saw the two of you together.”

Actually, shocked didn’t begin to describe how he’d felt when he’d glanced across the crowded coffee shop and saw Lauren sitting at the table with his new boss. For one crazy second, he’d wondered if his job was over before it had begun. Sara was a devout Christian and even though Alex believed he had in no way taken advantage of Lauren, he knew Sara might not see it that way.

“I take it you didn’t tell her about us?” Though Sara’s comments had led him to believe that was the case, Alex had to know for sure.

For a second she hesitated. His heart dropped until she rolled her eyes.

“Get real. What was I going to say? Hey, Sara, I know how you feel about sex before marriage. Want to hear about the one-night stand I had last weekend?”

He chuckled but quickly sobered at the warning look in her eyes.

“No one knows about that night,” Lauren said. “I want it to stay that way.”

“I understand,” Alex said.

“I don’t think you do.” Lauren leaned forward and lowered her voice, resting her elbows on the table. “My friends have high moral standards. The school where I teach is very conservative. This can’t get out.”

“You’re right. Teachers don’t have sex.” Alex tried not to smile, but he couldn’t quite pull it off.

Her lips pressed together. “Be serious.”

She looked so cute with her emerald eyes blazing and a rush of pink staining her cheeks that he was tempted to tease her some more. But the lines of worry edging her eyes stopped him.

He met her gaze. “No one will hear about it from me.”

“Thank you.” Her sigh was clearly audible.

“But if your friends are as conservative as you say,” Alex said. “What are they going to think about us living together?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Lauren said. “I’ve decided it’s not a good idea for us to be under the same roof.”

The same thought had crossed his mind. Alex needed this job and he couldn’t afford to get on Sara’s bad side. Living in the same house with her friend would be just asking for trouble.

A sensible man would drop the subject and go back to reading the want ads. But Alex had never been particularly sensible and he’d never liked the idea of living with a stranger.

Lauren wouldn’t be a stranger….

She’d remained in his thoughts since that night in the hotel. Alex had cursed himself for failing to get a phone number or address. He’d thought it would be so easy. When he arrived in St. Louis he’d look up her name in the phone book and give her a call. The only problem was there had been no listing for a Lauren Carlyle. Just when he’d reconciled himself to the fact that he’d never see her again, their paths had crossed. It seemed like fate.

“I don’t see the problem,” Alex said in his most conciliatory tone. “It will be strictly a business arrangement. You need the money. I need a place to live.”

“I know this may be hard for you to believe—especially after how I behaved the other night but I usually don’t have trouble keeping men at arm’s length,” she said. “It’s different with you.”

He could sense her cryptic comment was significant, so he pondered the words for a moment before speaking. “So you’re saying you think you could be under the same roof with another man and it’d be okay? But not with me?”

Her blush deepened. “We’ve been intimate.”

“I realize that.” Alex met her gaze. “But we’re also adults with free will.”

Lauren leaned back in the chair. “It happened once. I don’t want it to happen again.”

Actually, he wanted to remind her, it had happened twice, not once. And the problem seemed to be that she did want it to happen again.

He smiled reassuringly. “I’ve already promised that when I move in, I’ll keep my distance.”

Though Alex truly meant the words, he wondered how long he’d be able to keep that promise. Even now, keeping his distance wasn’t that easy. She was so pretty with her dark hair brushing her shoulders and her large almond-shaped green eyes. Her ivory skin was smooth and clear and if she had any flaw at all, it was her charming tendency to blush at the slightest provocation.

Spending the next six months with her would be a pleasure. Even though he’d have to pay for the privilege, Alex thought with a wry smile.

“Why don’t you give me the grand tour?” Alex asked. “If it’s acceptable, we’ll talk money.”

Up until this year he’d never had to give a thought to what things cost. Now he did nothing but think about it. It seemed so gauche; such bad form to talk dollars and cents. But he had no choice.

“That’s not going to work,” Lauren said.

Alex frowned. “What’s not going to work? Giving the tour today? Or waiting to discuss money?”

“Both,” Lauren said. “I’m telling you for the last time. There’s no way you’re moving in.”