“Is it really possible for you to slow down?” Alexa asked.
“I already have.” He looked affronted, frowning down at her as if she’d insulted him. “As I showed you earlier today, I can leave work early.”
“And what caused this change?”
The intensity of Leonardo’s stare increased, and he lifted his thumb to trace along the line of her delicate jaw to her chin. “In my old age,” he began with a cynical smile, “I’ve realized there are more important things than work.”
Breathing momentarily suspended, Alexa lowered her lids immediately to hide the feelings charging through her. She didn’t want to get her hopes up, but it certainly seemed possible their marriage could take on a new life. She was willing to take the plunge, to believe he was talking about their marriage, but she was unsure whether or not his mindset was the same as hers. To reconcile and wake up next to him every day would make the torment of the last four months worth it.
He traced the same finger over the curve of her full lower lip.
She lifted her gaze to him. How she loved this man!
Could they start over? Would he invite her to Brazil after the period of their arrangement had expired?
“What are you thinking right now?” Leonardo asked, lowering his head so that his lips were mere millimeters away from hers.
He was in seduction mode again, which was fine with Alexa. She figured she’d learned all she could because she was now distracted by the mouth that hovered temptingly above her. The erotic memory of their frantic coupling in the library and then the sensuous manner in which their bodies came together in bed made her heartbeat pick up speed. With Leonardo’s tender touch, her body was coming back alive, and hope fluttered in her chest.
“I was thinking about how much I want you,” she whispered seductively, lowering her lids so her lashes almost brushed against her cheeks.
There was a rumble in Leonardo’s chest as he quickly settled himself over her.
The next morning, Alexa slowly opened her eyes to find herself alone in the bed. She was mildly disappointed because she expected to wake up in Leonardo’s arms. She had gravitated to his side of the bed, like she always did. Her cheek rested on the pillow his head previously occupied. She closed her eyes briefly and inhaled sharply to get a good whiff of the woodsy scent of his cologne and his intoxicating maleness. She smiled, laughing at herself.
She was behaving like a woman in love, and she couldn’t wait to see the object of her affection.
Stretching, Alexa turned over and saw he had closed the curtains so the sunlight wouldn’t come in and awaken her too early. She smiled to herself again. It was Saturday. Maybe they could do something together today. She dared hope, even though she knew she risked disappointment. She felt optimistic after the passionate night they shared, and her wishful thinking propelled her from the bed.
After taking a quick shower, she moisturized her body with a flowery-scented lotion and then threw on a white silk robe. She took her time going down the stairs. The house was quieter than usual because most of the servants had the weekend off. Only a small staff reported on the weekend, and they remained largely unseen unless called for.
Since Leonardo’s office was on the ground floor, she searched for him there first.
Knocking lightly on the oak wood door, she waited to hear a response, but there was no answer. She tried the doorknob, found it to be unlocked, and entered.
“Leo?” she called uncertainly.
Alexa peered around the office. It was similar in design to his office at the Radiant Communications building. The design was minimalist, with glass and leather furniture dominating the decor. This office had French doors that opened onto an outdoor patio, and there was a wall of shelves that contained numerous business books and knickknacks from Brazil.
Thinking Leonardo must be in some other part of the house, Alexa was about to walk out when she heard his muffled voice just beyond the French doors. They were cracked open about an inch, and when she walked over, she saw him standing with his back to the house. He held his cell phone to his ear and was engaged in what must clearly be a very intense conversation.
Unlike her, he was fully dressed, looking comfortable in a faded blue T-shirt that hung loosely on his broad chest. His worn blue jeans hugged his lean hips and encased his powerful, muscular thighs. He walked slowly back and forth, a clear indication of irritation etched in his profile.
Thinking it was best to leave him alone, Alexa would have walked out except a folder on his desk caught her eye. The manila folder was partially hidden beneath a stack of blue folders, but the undercut was clearly showing.
The handwritten label had “Xander Dixon” written on it. She hesitated. Why would Leonardo have a Xander file on his desk?