“I’m glad we’re friends after all these years,” Lexi said softly.
Vincent reached out and cupped her cheek, his eyes full of tenderness as he spoke. “My life is better with you in it.”
Lexi let his overwhelmingly kind words sink in. She adored him, there was no point in pretending she didn’t, and at this moment she didn’t even care that her heart would eventually get trampled. She was so happy, she decided to seize the moment and celebrate their victory. “Can I ask you a huge favor?” She turned the full power of her brown eyes on him, her long lashes fluttering like a butterfly’s wings.
“Anything,” he said, sounding as if there was no way he would be able to refuse her today.
She poked at the roof of the car. “Take the top down for me?”
A wide grin spread across his face. “Seriously? I assumed it was a standard girl thing that you all hate convertibles—it messes with the hair and everything. At least that’s what Jade always says.” He reached over and pressed the button that sent the gears churning to retract the top of the car.
As it disappeared, Lexi felt the pleasant heat of the sunshine beating down on her skin. “In case you haven’t noticed, Jade and I are pretty much polar opposites. We’re nothing alike.” Lexi rolled her window down, put on her sunglasses and shook her head, letting the wind rush through her long hair as Vincent sped down the road.
“I’ve noticed.”
· 17 ·
t he drive to Anna’s house was exactly what Lexi and Vincent needed to wind down from the excitement of the Stone presentation. The beautiful scenery and the ability to simply be without need for conversation were refreshing. On more than one occasion, Vincent peeked over at Lexi and simply watched her hair swirl in the breeze. The soft and silky strands brushed against him as the wind caught hold of them, and once Vincent even reached out and twirled a stray lock between his fingers before setting it free again.
Lexi’s smile was wide as Vincent pointed things out to her along the coast, like a pod of dolphins swimming just offshore or a spectacular sailboat skipping over the waves. The scenery was picturesque and the company sublime.
Instead of stopping, they enjoyed each other’s company for as long as they could, taking a leisurely drive up the coast before doubling back
toward Anna’s house in time for Madison’s tea party. Lexi asked Vincent to stop at a little shop along the way so she could get a gift for Madison, because she refused to arrive empty handed.
For Lexi, the entire afternoon was like a dream. She felt like pinching herself every few minutes just to make sure it was real—from the presentation to getting the account to the wonderful drive with Vincent. She couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day. The speed of the car, the whipping wind, and the smell of the ocean all accentuated the wild day they had just experienced together. Vincent’s company somehow had a strangely calming effect on her. By the time the car rolled down Anna’s long driveway, Lexi was more content and happy than she had been in a long time.
Vincent slowly backed up to park, his arm wrapping around the back of Lexi’s seat until he maneuvered the car into its spot. After he turned off the engine, he crowded close to Lexi and pulled a few of her more wild hairs back over her shoulder. Even with his efforts, her hair was still sexy and windblown.
“That was amazing, Vincent. I had so much fun today. Thank you.” Without thinking, Lexi leaned over and gave him a quick peck on the cheek
and a brilliant smile, then escaped from the car, running off to meet Anna, who was waving from the front porch with Maddie.
Caught completely off guard, Vincent sat in the car, still able to feel the heat from her lips on his cheek. He hadn’t felt stunned by a kiss since grade school, and yet, here he was, grinning like a fool. Seared into his memory was not only the kiss, but also the feel of her body, or more specifically, her breasts, pressed against his arm when she leaned in for the kiss. But he couldn’t allow himself to dwell on that or he would have another, much bigger problem all together. His body was already becoming too responsive when Lexi was near. The last thing he wanted was to look like a horny teenage boy in front of her. He took a few deep breaths, then put the top up and locked the doors to the Lotus, twice, just to kill a little more time before he had to face Anna’s questioning stare.
As he walked toward the house, Vincent knew he wasn’t the right man for Lexi and that things could and would never progress to anything more that friendship between them. He needed to stay away from her. He was too cynical, too jaded to ever have someone as special as Lexi in his life.
She deserved better … but whenever she was near, Vincent couldn’t help but think about how exciting his life would be with the fiery Lexi White in it.
“Hello, brother dear.” Anna wrapped her much smaller arm in his as he passed. “A little birdie told me that you and Lexi scored the Stone account. Mom will be so proud of you two. She’s on her way, you know.”
“I can’t wait to tell her. The presentation went really well. He hired us on the spot.” Vincent tried to take a step toward the house and was stopped again by Anna, who wore a smug grin. “What now?”
“Oh nothing, I just thought you’d like to know you have a little lipstick on your cheek.” she said in a teasing voice and smudged the stain with her thumb while Vincent stood there, not saying a word. “Interesting. It looks a lot like the color Lexi’s wearing.” Vincent returned her knowing grin by messing up her hair.
“You big ogre, not the hair! Madison, your uncle’s here to play.” Madison crashed into him, wrapping her arms around his thigh. “Uncle Vince!
Did you see Lexi’s here for the tea party too?” Maddie tugged his arm and dragged him over to the kitchen table where Lexi was sitting, talking to Erik.
He crooked his finger at Maddie and whispered in her ear. “I gave her a ride. And guess what? She likes to ride around with the top down on my car, just like someone else I know.”
Maddie cupped her tiny hand around Vincent’s ear as the pair continued exchanging secrets. “I like her, Uncle Vince. Did you see this bracelet she brought me?”
Vincent smiled as Madison showed off the tiny silver hearts that hung between the emerald colored crystals of the bracelet. “It’s beautiful, Maddie, just like you.” He placed a tiny kiss on her nose and followed her over to the kitchen table.
Lexi smiled as she watched Vincent sit down and pull Madison onto his lap. With a chuckle, Anna brought over a bag and held it out to her daughter. Madison rummaged through it before pulling out the biggest, pinkest, most disgustingly feather-laden hat. Lexi cringed.