“Quell’uomo ha amore nei suoi occhi,” Francesca muttered to no one in particular. Lexi’s head snapped to attention, her face flushing red.
“He has love in his eyes?” Lexi gasped. “No, no he doesn’t. We’re friends.”
Hearing Lexi’s words, Vincent froze, now giving their conversation his complete attention.
Francesca eyed Lexi suspiciously. “Capite l’italiano?”
“Si,” Lexi whispered, cringing that her secret was out. Vincent hoped Francesca wouldn’t be upset when she realized Lexi had been privy to everything they’d said.
A wicked smile curled Francesca’s perfectly painted lips. “Clever girl. Oh, I like you even more now.” She glanced back at Vincent and smiled. “And I stand by what I said. That man has love in his eyes. You might not believe it, and he might not know it, but it’s true. I can see these things.”
Lexi looked quickly at Vincent to find him watching her again. Her face flooded with color when their eyes met. Vincent hoped his face didn’t look as shocked as he felt. Francesca’s observation echoed in his head.
He has love in his eyes.
Vincent was broken from his stupor when Francesca announced, “Dante, Paolo, andiamo. I have an appointment at the spa.”
Unconsciously, Vincent wrapped an arm around Lexi’s waist, his hand settling on her hip as they began to say their goodbyes. It wasn’t until he saw Francesca playfully elbow Lexi and nod her head at his hand that he realized what he had done.
“Alexandra, I look forward to talking with you soon. Please call me if there is anything I can do or if you have any questions.” Paolo handed her a small card with his personal phone number on it as well as Francesca’s. “Vincent, great to see you.”
Dante shook Vincent’s hand then took Lexi’s and kissed her knuckles. “Brava, Alexandra.”
“It was wonderful meeting all of you. We will definitely be in touch soon,” Lexi offered in return.
On the way out of the restaurant, Vincent and Lexi stopped in the kitchen and thanked Angelo for the special lunch he had prepared. He thanked them for coming and told them any time they came to Bravo there would be a table for them. Lexi gave him a kiss on the cheek, which made him blush, and then Vincent led her outside.
She leaned against the rough, brick wall as they waited for her car to be pulled around. Vincent stood in front of this amazing woman, his huge smile still firmly in place. He was so impressed with the way she had handled herself. Neither of them had expected that question from Dante, and yet Lexi, who was completely new to the process, took it in stride and gave the perfect answer. She didn’t corner them into a design; she left it vague, but gave them a specific direction to work with, and one the client liked.
As she rested against the wall, her toes tapped from the adrenaline that was certainly coursing through her body. He could see the gears going in her head as she replayed the meeting, still unsure of herself.
Vincent was overcome with the need to wrap his arms around her and hold her. He wanted to cradle her soft body against his and whisper into her hair how proud he was of her and tell her what a great job she had done in there. He wanted a lot of things with Lexi, but most he couldn’t have at the moment. Not until he tied up a few loose ends.
“I think they kind of liked me,” she said hesitantly, as if not sure she believed it herself.
“Kind of liked you?” Vincent asked incredulously. “Lexi, they loved you. When I was talking to Paolo, all he did was ask questions about you.”
“Did they really love me, or are you just being nice?” Her eyes were hopeful like those of a child making a wish that might actually come true. It was her innocence, her good heart, and her untainted view of things that made her such a beacon for Vincent.
Vincent sighed. Tired of fighting his feelings, he took her hand and pulled her toward him, relishing the feel of her softness against him. He slipped his arms around her waist and pressed his forehead to hers. “Everyone loves you, Lexi. You just don’t always see it.”
· 24 ·
l exi and Vincent settled into a comfortable rhythm. She spent hours scouring files and taking notes on what information she needed from Vincent. As he passed by her desk, he snatched the sticky notes and brought her the items without her even having to ask. Working together was easy, predictable, and effortless.
Things made sense to Lexi for once in her life. She had a fantastic job and was doing things she had always dreamed of, all the while working with a gorgeous man who she was lucky enough to call a good friend. He laughed with her all the time and seemed to be genuinely happier when she was around. If he was in a rotten mood at work, everyone nominated Lexi to give him bad news because she was the only person he didn’t lash out at. The way he looked out for her in the office and helped her learn the ropes was way beyond what Elizabeth had outlined, but he never complained. If anything, he found more reasons for them to be together, staying late at the office or sharing late night phone calls that always ended in a discussion of what the other was watching on television.
Everything was great between them until Jade showed up. Whenever Lexi saw Jade wrapped around Vincent, a piece of her heart died. Lexi’s favorite days were those when Jade was safely out of town on a shoot or at the spa with her friends, because it meant peace and quiet, and truthfully, a happier Vincent. When Jade walked in the office, his whole demeanor changed. His smile became forced, his posture tightened, and even the tone of his voice became cooler. Jade couldn’t see the difference in him because this was the side of himself that he always presented to her, but Lexi knew the real Vincent Drake. The man who wiped her tears and teased her about her sweet tooth. Secretly, Lexi was thrilled he never let Jade see that side of him.
No matter how hard she tried, it was impossible to ignore the way he made her heart thunder every time he was near. There was no denying that the crush she had developed so many years ago was back full force and wasn’t going away. And all the casual pats on her arm, his hand brushing innocently against hers, his devilish grin when he teased her, and the sparkle in his eye when he talked to her only made those feelings grow stronger.
All of the attention from Vincent made her wonder if the feeling was mutual. Did he actually feel anything for her, or was she just a welcome distraction from his failing relationship with Jade? Francesca Marradesi’s words flitted into her head. That man has love in his eyes. Lexi wondered what she saw between them. She and Vincent were friends, and they enjoyed one another’s company, but Lexi couldn’t let herself believe Vincent might have feelings for her, not the same kind she had for him. That was only a dream.