The Arrangement .(16)

Leonardo stopped the flow of water and reached for a towel on the warming rack.

He wasn’t a man who dwelt on what-ifs and what could have been. He tried to learn from the past, because it couldn’t be changed. With that in mind, he figured since he couldn’t change what transpired between him and Alexa before, he would work on improving the future.





Chapter Five


Instead of having the driver take them to their destination, Leonardo decided to drive. The silver exterior of the vintage two-seater 1958 Porsche Speedster glowed in the dark night. The car was a prized possession. The moment he saw it, he knew he had to have it no matter the cost. He didn’t often drive it, but it brought him pleasure when he did.

The engine roared to life once Alexa was buckled in and settled comfortably into the seat. She crossed her legs and proceeded to stare straight ahead.

Leonardo cast a sidelong glance in her direction.

He watched as she smoothed her fingers over the jeweled clutch on her lap. The silk material of the emerald green dress covered her body like a second layer of skin, emphasizing her narrow waist and full breasts. A split rose to midthigh and afforded a tempting view of her shapely leg.

His grip on the steering wheel tightened. He was acutely aware of every sound she made and every movement of her graceful body.

He wanted her. Badly. His loins ached with the need to possess her. He had been two seconds away from pressing her back against the bedroom wall when she’d emerged from the dressing room earlier. It would have been so easy for him to undo the gold clasp of the dress draped over her right shoulder and allow the soft material to fall away so he could feast his mouth on those tantalizing breasts that had haunted his dreams for the past four months.

Somehow he’d managed to rein in his actions much better than yesterday. The same rigid control he exercised in business had enabled him to maintain control over his actions and postpone what he had planned until later.

It had been difficult, though. It was always difficult with Alexa. He found it nearly impossible to keep his body in check when it came to her, and there didn’t seem to be a thing he could do about it.

Leonardo turned to her. She wore makeup, but not much, because she didn’t need it. There was no need to spoil her defined cheekbones with blush. Her smooth, honey-colored skin had a healthy glow, and her full lips were moist from the flattering pale color that graced them. Her jet-black hair was straight and brushed back from her face, styled a little higher on the top.

She looked sexy and stylish, but sat rigidly in the seat.

“You look stiff.” He shifted gears and returned his eyes to the road ahead.

“I’m sorry if my appearance doesn’t please you. I’m sure I made it clear I didn’t want to go out tonight.” Her voice was cool, but that didn’t stop him from having a very heated response to it.



Leonardo turned the wheel slightly to shift lanes and speed past the car in front of them. “I didn’t say your appearance doesn’t please me. I said you look stiff. I hope you relax before we get there.”

“I’ll be fine. I’m just a little nervous,” Alexa admitted.

A few seconds elapsed before he responded. “About what?”

Alexa twisted her head toward him. “About tonight. Everything. How much do these people know about our relationship, Leo? Most of them are your friends. What kind of reception can I expect?”

“I don’t know who all the guests will be, but you know Russell and Joan. They adore you.”

She turned away again and began to chew on the inside of her lower lip.

Before she’d said the words, she didn’t even realize just how nervous she was, and she certainly hadn’t intended to admit as much to Leonardo.

“Stop doing that.”

“What?”

His eyes found hers in the dimly lit vehicle. “Biting the inside of your lip.” His words weren’t harsh. In fact, they were gently spoken. He wasn’t chastising her. “You have nothing to worry about. Russell and Joan like you.

All anyone knows is that we went through a separation, and that’s it. No details. Rest assured I never once said a bad word about you. Once we get there, you’ll realize just how ridiculous your concerns are.”

In an unexpected move, he reached across and covered her fingers with the warmth of his hand.

The touch made her skin tingle, but there was something else, too. It was a comforting gesture, and Alexa felt tears spring to her eyes. The tenderness of his touch threatened to undo her, and she didn’t want to fall apart, start crying, and ruin her makeup. She appreciated his attempt to boost her confidence, because she’d only just recognized herself the true reason for her unease in attending the party tonight.