Bending down, she picked up her jacket, which had fallen to the floor when Alexander had pulled her into his arms. At the memory, she closed her eyes briefly, reliving the wonderful feel of his lips and body on hers. Until tonight, she hadn’t known a kiss or caress could make her want so much—a realization she was certain Alexander shared.
Alexander. What was she going to do about him, about them? She ran her tongue over her lower lip. It tasted of him and their passion. Closing her eyes, she took several steadying breaths to try and calm the unfulfilled desire within her, but to no avail.
After the steamy kisses they had shared tonight, she knew without a doubt that something personal was brewing between them. Neither of them was going to be able to deny that any longer.
It would be complicated and perhaps a bit risky, but they could have something spectacular if Alexander would give them a chance—something she wanted very much.
* * *
Nicole made it home from the office a little after 9:00 p.m. For the entirety of the train ride, she had relived her and Alexander’s kiss and his hasty retreat afterward.
“Nicole, is that you?” Monique’s voice drifted from the kitchen.
“Yes.” Nicole placed her purse and keys on the table. “It’s me.”
“Are you hungry? I made some pasta.”
“That sounds great.” She collapsed on the sofa. “I’ll get some in a minute.”
“Stay there. I’ll bring you a plate,” Monique offered.
“You’re too good to me.”
“I don’t want you to move out.” Monique winked as she exited the kitchen holding a plate of fettuccini Alfredo and a glass of white wine.
“There’s absolutely no chance of that.” Nicole took the glass and plate, placing them on the table in front of her. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” Monique sat beside her on the sofa. Her eyes widened as she intensely studied her.
“What?” Nicole shifted uncomfortably. “Do I have something on my face?”
“Um, no, but your lipstick is smudged.”
“Is it?” Nicole cursed herself for not checking after Alexander’s kiss. No wonder she had received several curious stares on the train.
“Mmm-hmm, very smudged.”
“I was eating...”
“Alex?”
“Monique!” Nicole gasped, embarrassed by how accurate she was.
“Sorry.” Monique didn’t look at all sorry. “Who kissed you, Nicole?”
“No one.” She took a bite of pasta. “This is delicious.”
“Thanks, but no changing the subject. Come on—out with it.”
“All right.” Nicole sighed, sipped her wine and admitted, “Alexander kissed me.”
“So you were eating...”
“Monique.” At Nicole’s stern interruption, her friend laughed.
“I knew you two liked each other.”
“I do like him,” Nicole admitted, taking another drink of her wine. “But he is still my boss, and I don’t want people inferring he hired me for anything other than my artistic talents.”
“Honey, people will always find a reason to talk about you,” Monique wisely informed. “My advice is to not worry about what other people think.”
“Maybe you’re right.” Nicole was silent while she ate several forkfuls of fettuccini. “I am in Paris now. Maybe I should go with the flow and see what develops with Alexander.”
“Well, finally!” Monique laughingly approved. “That must have been some kiss to make you do a complete turnaround.”
“It was.” Nicole’s eyes grew dreamy at the memory. “Or rather, they were.”
“Vive la romance!” Monique proclaimed, and Nicole raised her glass in silent salute.
Chapter 10
The next day, as Nicole had expected and anticipated, Alexander called her into his office as soon as she sat down at her desk. She took a few minutes to lock up her purse before going to Alexander’s office. She paused at his closed door, smoothed her palms over the front of her turquoise and black dress, took a deep breath and knocked.
“Come in,” Alexander’s voice beckoned, and she opened the door, then closed it softly behind her.
“Good morning, Alexander.” She walked toward his desk.
“Good morning.” He looked stern and didn’t return her smile. “We need to talk about last night.”
“I know.” She sat down in the chair in front of his desk.
He resumed his seat behind the desk, thinking it wise to have some space between them. They stared at each other silently, each waiting for the other to begin.
“You’re a very beautiful woman, Nicole.” He leaned forward, placing his palms on his desk. “It goes without saying that any man would be attracted to you, and I’m no exception.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“It’s the truth.” He didn’t sound happy about that fact. They eyed each other silently before he sighed heavily and came to his main point. “I’m your boss and you’re my employee, and as such, I can’t and won’t allow anything untoward to develop between us—regardless of the fact that we’re obviously attracted to each other.”
“I completely agree, Alexander.”
“You do?” Surprise flickered in his eyes.
“Of course.” She crossed her legs. “We simply got carried away last night. I know I’m here to work and learn and not engage in an office romance—” She paused before saying, “Especially not with you.”
“Why not with me?”
“Because, as you correctly stated, you’re my boss,” she softly reminded him.
“Right.” He curtly nodded.
* * *
She was right, and he was right. So why was her immediate and complete agreement so distasteful? She smiled as if she didn’t have a care in the world, and it angered him. Why was she happy about him basically brushing her off?
“I don’t want there to be any awkwardness between us,” she continued.
“Neither do I.” He stood and extended his hand. “Still friends?”
“Of course.” She stood and shook his hand. He held her hand a little longer than necessary, reluctant to release her. “Is there anything else?”
“No.” He finally dropped her hand. “You can get back to work.”
“I’ll have that design for you by lunchtime,” she promised.
“Good.”
He turned his chair to glance out the window, and when he glanced back she was gone.
His frown intensified as he contemplated their remarkably civil meeting. She seemed okay with what he had said, and she herself had said all the right things; however, he hoped she wasn’t happy about them maintaining only a business relationship because Lord knew he wasn’t. No matter how ill-advised it was, he wanted her badly, and ego wouldn’t allow him to believe she didn’t want him just as much.
But they couldn’t act upon that attraction. His frown deepened.
Or could they?
* * *
When Nicole made it back to her desk, the phone was ringing. She snatched up the receiver and perched on the edge of her desk.
“Nicole Carter.”
“Hey, gorgeous. It’s Victor.”
“Hi, Victor. What’s up?”
“I’m hoping you’re free for lunch today.”
“With you? Anytime.”
“Now, that’s what I like to hear.” She heard the smile in his voice. “Pick you up around one?”
“Perfect. See you then.”
“Great. Bye.”
“Bye, Victor.” She rang off, sat down and began to work.
* * *
The morning flew by, and promptly at one o’clock, Nicole glance
d up from her sketch just as Victor exited the elevator. Alexander, who happened to be out in the design area, smiled when his brother approached, patted him on the back and said a few words in greeting before Victor continued toward Nicole’s desk. Alexander’s smile turned into a frown as he watched Victor take Nicole’s hand, help her out of her chair and kiss her cheeks before placing a friendly arm around her shoulders as they walked toward the elevator.
“Going somewhere?” Alex pointedly glanced at Nicole.
“Yep.” Victor smiled and answered for her. “I’m stealing Nicole away for lunch.”
“Oh.” That single word carried a multitude of emotion. “I didn’t realize you came to see Nicole.”
“When I come to see you, I’m always accused of interrupting your work,” Victor reminded him.
“You usually are.” Though he spoke to his brother, his eyes were glued on Nicole, who remained silent but treated him to an innocent smile.
“Well, not this time.” Victor pulled Nicole closer, and Alex’s eyes narrowed. “Wanna join us?”
“No, thanks.” His tightly worded refusal made her think he didn’t want her to leave the office, but that was ridiculous.
“Okay, your loss.” Victor waved, pulled Nicole into the elevator and deliberately bent down to whisper in her ear, “Can I convince you to be a bum with me for the rest of the day?”
“You can try.” She laughed.
The smile on Nicole’s face slowly fell when she glanced up and found Alexander staring intensely at them until the doors closed.
* * *
Once outside, Victor and Nicole walked a short distance to the corner café. They sat outside under a green-and-white-striped umbrella.
“Alex is a goner,” Victor predicted. “He didn’t appreciate me taking you to lunch.” He rubbed his hands together gleefully. “He was so jealous, he couldn’t see straight.”
“No, he wasn’t.” Her eyes widened as she stared at Victor’s grinning countenance. “Was he?”
“You bet he was.” He chuckled before laughing heartily.
Nicole was appalled. She knew he had seemed upset, but she had thought it was because of their talk earlier. Was he really jealous of Victor? Oh, God, she hoped not.
“Victor, this is not funny.”
“You’re right—it’s fabulous,” he corrected. “He’s finally coming to terms with his feelings for you. Are you?”
“Am I what?”
“You know what,” he admonished. “Are you coming to terms with your feelings for him?” At her pregnant silence he challenged, “Tell me you’re not attracted to him.”
“Maybe he’s not attracted to me,” she countered, and Victor laughed heartily again.
“That’s one thing you don’t have to worry about.” He sipped his drink. “He’s plenty attracted to you.”
“I’m here to work, Victor.” Though his assertion thrilled her, she thought it best not to discuss Alexander with him.
“I swear.” He sighed loudly. “I have enough trouble trying to get Alex to loosen up. Don’t tell me I’m going to have to work on you, too.”
“Why are you so intent on us getting together?”
“Because I want him to be happy, and when he met you, a flame that had been long dormant in him sparked to life. You’re the first woman he’s been interested in since—” He stopped himself from revealing too much.
“Since Nina Laurent?” she softly asked.
His eyes widened. “What do you know about Nina the barracuda?”
“Nothing really.” Nicole chuckled at his unflattering description. “Crystal mentioned her when I asked her why she dislikes me.”
“That—” he paused, searching for a word “—witch! I’ll—”
“No, you won’t.” Nicole touched his clenched fist. “I don’t need you, Monique or anyone else to fight my battles.”
“No, you don’t. You’re tough,” he said. “I really can’t talk about Nina. That’s Alex’s albatross.”
“That’s okay. It’s none of my business.” She might not know the specifics, but she could put two and two together and come up with four. “Don’t tell Alexander I mentioned her.”
“I won’t, but I am going to keep pushing you two together,” he promised, laughing when she shook her head at him.
* * *
From the cash register across the room, Alexander watched his brother and Nicole engaged in cozy conversation. It was just his luck that they had all chosen the same café for lunch. He switched his order to carryout as he glared at the couple sitting under the umbrella outside.
He nearly blew a gasket when Nicole covered Victor’s hand with hers, and he brought her hand to his lips, eliciting a laugh from her. When had they become so chummy? What was she doing kissing him one night and cozying up to his brother the next day? What type of game was she playing?
Women! They weren’t to be trusted. If he had begun to forget that, Nicole’s behavior brought that truism back into crystal clear focus for him.
He paid for his lunch, snatched his bag off the counter and stalked out without being seen by the cozy couple who seemed to only have eyes for each other.
* * *
After a wonderful lunch, Nicole returned to the office promptly at two o’clock. She had resisted Victor’s urging to stay a little longer, not wanting to take advantage by extending her lunch break beyond the usual hour. She had no sooner disembarked from the elevator than Alexander stormed out of his office.
“I need to see you. Now,” he frostily ordered and then turned and walked back to his office.
Frowning, Nicole followed his rapidly retreating back. He stood woodenly in front of his desk as she entered.
“Shut the door,” he stiffly ordered.
She complied, then walked over until she was standing a few feet away from him. “What is it?”
“What took you so long at lunch?”
“Long?” An arched eyebrow rose at his accusatory tone. “I was only gone an hour.”
He glanced at his watch. “It seemed longer.”
“What’s wrong, Alexander?”
* * *
I saw you cozying up to my brother at lunch—that’s what’s wrong, he wanted to answer. Of course, he said no such thing.
“Nothing.” He turned his back on her. “I wanted to discuss something with you, that’s all.”
She walked to his side and touched his taut arm. “What?”
“It doesn’t matter now.” Turning, he covered her hand to remove it from his arm, but she entwined her fingers with his instead.
“Alexander.” She moved closer to him. “Victor and I are just friends.”
“You don’t owe me an explanation.”
“Obviously I do, since you’re so jealous you can’t see straight.”
“Jealous?” He balked at her correct observation. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
“You flatter me,” she softly returned.
“I am not jealous, Nicole.” At her disbelieving look, he reminded her, “Just this morning, we both agreed there can be nothing between us. You’re free to date whomever you please.” But the thought of her with anyone else was eating him alive, no matter how he tried to deny it.
“Do you want me to date Victor?”
“No,” he answered honestly without thinking. At her knowing smile, he added, “It doesn’t matter to me one way or the other.”
“The thought of me kissing another man doesn’t bother you?”
“Why should it?” Who did he think he was kidding?
* * *
“Alexander.” She placed her hands on his rigid shoulders. “After last night, do you really think I want anyone else?” She felt emboldened by Victor’s lunchtime observations that Alexander
wanted her, by their fiery kisses last night and by Alexander’s obvious angst at the possibility of her dating someone else.
“Nicole, we both agreed—”
“I know what we agreed.” She moved closer to him still. “Tell me you want to see me with someone else, and this conversation is over,” she promised.
They stared at each other for an intense second before his arms went around her waist and hauled her against him. He held her close for a few seconds before his hands released her waist to frame her face, fingers tracing every beautiful curve while his eyes watched, fascinated. His thumb undertook an exquisitely thorough exploration of her lower lip before his hands exerted slight pressure, tilting her head back while he stared deeply into her inviting eyes.
Oh, Alexander, she thought. I know this is complicated. I understand you’ve been hurt, but give me a chance—give us a chance. She wondered if he could read the silent invitation written in her eyes.
She smiled in triumph when, after an eternity, his mouth lowered toward hers, proof that her message had been received. She met him halfway and he treated her mouth to butterfly kisses, torturing them both. His teeth nipped at her lower lip before his tongue had its way. She sighed raggedly as his mouth played a seductive game of cat and mouse with hers. Finally, unable to bear it another second, her arms encircled his neck, hands resting on the back of his head, fusing his mouth to hers.
His mouth rested against hers, their warm breath intermingling as he coaxed her lips apart. He sent his tongue in strategic search of hers. Once finding its target, they engaged in a frenzied competition of hide and seek. They tilted their heads one way then another, using different angles to taste more of each other, and still it wasn’t enough to satisfy either of them.
His hands moved to the back zip of her dress, sliding it downward, allowing his hands to work the garment off her shoulders. He investigated the satiny flesh exposed by his wayward hands, and after feasting on her delectable mouth for long seconds, his lips blazed a trail of fire down her jaw to her throat before traversing her shoulders and collarbone. Nicole gasped as pure pleasure splintered throughout her at Alexander’s expert caresses.
Our First Embrace Page 10