The Arrangement .(17)

How could the hardened, unfeeling man she went to yesterday be the same man providing comfort and assurance in her time of need? Why hadn’t he before they were separated? Had he simply not understood the depth of her concerns all along?

Being apart for the past four months had done nothing to squash the feelings that blossomed inside of her whenever he was near. She hadn’t wanted to admit it, but working at Second Chance Closet and helping her brother with the bakery became welcome diversions from dealing with her broken marriage. She’d told herself it was for the best and eventually she would get over it. She’d even convinced herself she no longer loved him and the time away had been good.

She was no longer deceived. Just over twenty-four hours after thrusting herself back into Leonardo’s life, she found she was wishing their temporary arrangement could become permanent.



Russell Simpson was a successful corporate attorney whose firm worked closely with Leonardo on Radiant Communications’ telecommunications licensing deals. Over time they’d become very good friends and usually shared in the milestones in each other’s lives. Tonight, Russell and his wife, Joan, were celebrating their thirtieth anniversary.

The two were complete opposites, but they managed to make it work.

Where he was reserved, she was outgoing. He was conservative, and she was liberal. He was a Yankee from New York, and she was a born and bred Southern gal from Rome, Georgia. Yet, they were perfect together, and thirty years of marriage hadn’t changed that one bit.

The Simpsons’ home was located in an exclusive gated community in a suburb of Atlanta. Theirs was one of the few homes situated on the lake.

Standing outside the door was a group of attendants hired to take care of the guests.

After the Porsche was driven away by the attending valet, another young man escorted Alexa and Leonardo into the house, through the grand foyer, and down a hall to the room where the anniversary party was in full swing.

Several large stations were set up with food for guests to help themselves.

There was a hot table, a cold table, and a dessert table. Meanwhile, uniformed servers circulated with glasses of wine and champagne and even more food to nibble on. In one corner was a bar with an attending bartender making mixed drinks. Tables and chairs were strategically arranged in the room to encourage conversations of two or three. Two beautiful Strass crystal chandeliers punctuated the elegance of the room and its high-end decorations.

After a short while, Alexa was surprised how easy it was to fall back into her old routine as she mingled with the other guests. She was proud to stand beside Leonardo and be introduced as his wife. He was handsome in his well-fitting tuxedo, his wavy dark brown hair tamed and brushed back from his face, resting across his collar.

They spent the next forty minutes or so chatting with the other guests.

From time to time, they were drawn into separate conversations, mostly because Leonardo was pulled away to talk business. He never strayed too far or too long, and Alexa wondered if he was doing it on purpose—purposely returning to her side so she wouldn’t feel uncomfortable or alone. She wouldn’t be surprised, not since he’d shown her such gentleness in the car.

Part of her warmed to the thought that he was being so considerate, and her resolve to remain cool and distant melted against the warmth of his attentiveness.

“Well, hello!” That high-pitched Southern twang could belong to none other than Joan Simpson.

Alexa turned just in time to be drawn into the older woman’s warm embrace. “Do my eyes deceive me?”

Alexa returned the hug. “No,” she said, smiling into Joan’s stunned face.



Joan had been friendly from the first time they met, and this meeting reminded Alexa of how welcoming she was and how much she had missed the camaraderie when she left Leonardo.

“What’s going on here?” Joan asked, eyeing one and then the other. She propped her hand on her hip and tilted back her platinum blonde head to give Leonardo a questioning look.

Leonardo’s arm snaked around Alexa’s waist and drew her close to his side. The intimate gesture made her body tingle in hidden places. “What does it look like?” he asked with a roguish grin.

“It looks like you two are back together,” Joan answered, looking as if she’d just learned a juicy bit of gossip and couldn’t wait to get permission to spread it around the neighborhood.

“Then you would be right.” Leonardo’s fingers moved slightly up and down Alexa’s side and came to rest on her hip. She wondered if he had any idea the havoc he was wreaking with such innocent physical contact.

“Woooonderful!” Joan gushed. She grasped Alexa’s hand to draw her away. “Do you mind if I borrow her?”