“Oh, he’s here?” Claudia skeptically asks.
“Yeah, if you see a tall, dark, and handsome man wandering around looking a little lost, send him my way,” I joke. Okay, that probably made Lex sound even more made up.
As if on cue, a familiar hand snakes its way on my hip, the comforting scent of Lex filling my nostrils before I even see him. “Tall, dark, and handsome… Are we talking about me?” he asks, stepping beside me.
“Actually, yes. Lex, that’s Susan Temple. She lives across the street. That’s her daughter, Claudia, and her fiancé, Nate. Everyone, this is Alexander.”
Mrs. Temple and Claudia stare at him like he’s a mythical creature. I don’t even try to hide my pride. I don’t like to play their games, but I’m clearly winning—no offense to Nate.
“Nice to meet you,” Lex says cordially.
“Likewise. Isabella told me her daughter is seeing someone, but I wasn’t sure if it was true,” Mrs. Temple explains.Oh, that bitch…
“I’m very much real.”
She lets out a weird cackling sound, a fake laugh I’m used to. “What do you do, Alexander?”
“My best friend and I created a start-up eight years ago,” Lex humbly replies.No! Now’s the time to brag, baby. Dazzle them with your wealth and success!
“I watched a bit about that the other day. Such an ungrateful field of work. I hope your little start-up will work out,” Mrs. Temple continues.
“Between our contracts with the private and public sectors, government funding for research, and hardware integration, we’ve made well over three hundred million this year. So, I’d say our ‘little start-up’ worked out, Mrs. Temple.” That shuts her up real fast, and her eyes widen at the number. I’ve endured two decades of their passive-aggressive insults, and all this feels like the biggest clapback. “Now, if you’ll excuseus, I need a moment with Andrea.” With his usual bluntness, Lex gives them a nod and pulls me away from them and back into the living room.
“Ugh, thank you for saving me,” I tell him once we’re safe.
“You’re welcome. Maria Carmen told me those two enjoyed tormenting you and your mom. I thought I’d give you a hand.”
“You thought brilliantly, as usual.”
Pushing myself on my tiptoes, I thank him with a quick peck on the lips. “Were you with MC the whole time I’ve been looking for you?”
“We were packing our bags. We’re eloping and never looking back.” I giggle at his joke, pinching his arm. Lex’s smile warms me up everywhere, and something in the intensity of his gaze makes me stop laughing. He tenderly pushes a stranded curl behind my ear, his gesture so loving my chest hurts.
“She was teaching me how to dance,” he confesses.
“What?”
“Yeah, we worked on it for a couple of hours yesterday and then this afternoon. And just now, she gave me a quick reminder of how it all works.”
“You were learning how to dance?” I insist, still stunned.
“So I could invite you.” I’m tongue-tied, unsure of what to say. It’s so cute that he’d do that for me. He extends his hand, an inviting smile pulling his lips up. “My love, will you dance with me?”
Dazzled by the thoughtful gesture, I slip my hand into his and let him lead me to the dancing area. My palpitating heart pulses heavily in my throat. When he turns to me, I perceive his uneasiness. Before I can tell him we don’t have to if he isn’t comfortable, he takes his position before me, placing his hand on my hip. It’s a salsa, so I correct his posture, pulling his hand higher and resting mine on his shoulder.
His mind runs at full speed, probably repeating everything he learned about the steps and rhythm. He’s so adorable and considerate, it makes me grow emotional.
“Just relax and let me guide you,” I offer with a sweet smile. He nods and braces himself with a deep breath.
Slowly, I lead him into the dance, following the suave tunes blasting from the speakers. Lex is too stiff and rigid for this, but we make it work. More or less. His feet game isn’t bad, but he’s too focused on the steps rather than enjoying the moment.
We bump into each other when he doesn’t move how he’s supposed to, and his clumsiness is so endearing that I giggle. The frustration makes him groan, so I offer a reassuring smile.
“You’re doing great, baby. You just need to relax,” I whisper.
“I’m trying.”
It lasts for a few seconds with no incident until he stomps on my toes. “Ouch,” I whimper.
