In less than a heartbeat he turned to face her, a huge smile on his face, probably from something corny Jess had said to entertain him.
“Lindsey, you look gorgeous.” He stepped toward her, which was convenient since her legs seemed to have stopped working. She was frozen in the hallway several feet from him.
His gaze traveled the length of her, not ogling, but admiring, as he advanced. Lindsey stared at his handsome face. His soft brown hair was filled with blond highlights from the sun and it hung slightly too long, the thick waves swaying across his eyes. Perhaps he needed a trim, but she loved it that way. It was incredibly sexy the way he tossed it away from his eyes as he leaned into her.
Startled by his unexpected proximity, Lindsey continued to hold her breath.
Alejandro casually reached for her elbows with his warm hands and leaned across first her left and then her right cheek, breathing a kiss over each.
Ah, you idiot. He’s Spanish. It’s a greeting, you dolt.
Chills coursed down Lindsey’s skin from her neck clear to her feet. She gritted her teeth to avoid outright shivering at his touch, his scent. He smelled like summer, a hint of tropical sunscreen under the soap he’d showered with. And his hair, all those glorious locks, caressed her cheek as he pulled away. Whatever shampoo he’d used was perfect for him, a very masculine almost outdoorsy scent.
Lindsey cleared her throat, hoping her voice wouldn’t squeak whenever she was finally able to say something coherent. “You too.”
You too? Is that the best you can come up with? A degree in education with an emphasis in English and the best you could utter was, “you too?”
“Gracias, mi alma.”
Whatever mi alma meant, she loved the way it sounded rolling off his tongue. He’d have her any way he wanted if he kept using that sexy Spanish voice.
What was she thinking? She needed to slow down a bit. No way was she ready for an intense relationship. Her body was getting ahead of her mind just by his proximity. Sure, her shrink would tell her to go for it. Let loose. Move on with her life. But could she really do it? Could she slough off the first eighteen years of her life after four years of counseling?
“Are you ready?” His eyebrows rose in question, his palms still wrapped around her elbows, seeming to cover half her arms in their gentle warmth.
Lindsey had always been quite tan, but when she glanced down at their skin next to each other, she realized how much darker Alejandro was. Probably from working outside all summer. The sleeves of his deep purple dress shirt were meticulously folded up far enough to reveal his bronzed muscular forearms covered in a dusting of blond hair.
She couldn’t help wondering if that same hair covered his chest or if he was smooth under that shirt. As she returned her gaze to his face, she paused at his neck. The top two buttons were undone, but not far enough to answer her question.
“Yes.” It was going to be a short night if she didn’t come up with anything more conversational.
He didn’t seem to mind, however. His smile grew slowly across his face as if he were completely aware of her plight and found it amusing.
He couldn’t be of course.
“Shall we?” Letting go of one elbow, he guided her toward the front door with the other.
Jessica was nowhere in sight. Not surprising. She never liked to interfere.
“Where are we going?” Ah, a full sentence. And even apropos.
“I thought we’d try that new Spanish restaurant across town. Do you know it?”
“No.” Does that count as a sentence also? “But, it sounds wonderful.”
“I hope it’s authentic and not a disappointment. You never know about these places. I’ve heard good things about it, but not from anyone Spanish. We’d be taking our chances. Are you up for the adventure?”
“Absolutely. Even if it’s not completely what you’re used to, it will surely be delicious.”
“We Spaniards are culinary snobs.” He probably wasn’t kidding, but his words were so gentle and his face so calm, she didn’t believe he was even capable of disappointment right now. A fact that made her feel pretty good.
Alejandro led her toward a brand new black Toyota truck parked in the street in front of the townhome she shared with Jessica. Ever since Kara had moved out earlier in the summer, they hadn’t bothered to get another roommate. They had both gotten teaching jobs locally and as soon as school started in a few weeks they’d be making enough money to handle the expenses. In the meantime, they were enjoying the last few weeks of summer, their last few leisurely weeks for what could be a long time.
Ever the gentleman, Alejandro opened the passenger door and held on to Lindsey’s arm until she was situated inside. She felt like a princess in his care. Doted on. Appreciated.