“I think you might be theonlyperson who doesn’t get this. Maybe you’re too prolific to see it? Weallrun in the same circles,duuhhh.” I wave a hand dismissively as he chuckles at my admittedly juvenile expression. “He was kind enough to let me interview him for an assignment while I was in grad school getting my counselor degree,andhe also wrote me a letter of recommendation." As I tilt my head, my eyes fall to his lips, watching him chew slowly while he regards me with an expression that, if I didn't know any better, I would classify as stony. "I remember emailing and askingyoufor an interview back then too, but somebody was just. Too.Busy.For me.” I smile softly, wanting to see that expression crack just a little before biting once more into my bunless burger. "But David wasn't."
He visibly stiffens. The tension ramps up even hotter between us, and it's all I can do to keep my hands from trembling as I continue to eat as if I'm not affected by him. But that's insane because anyone with half a brain would be affected by this charismatic, handsome, and, hell I'll say it, sexy-ass man sitting in front of me.
Alexander gives me a little grunt as he puts his burger down, licks his lips, sits back in his seat and wipes his hands very slowly with his napkin. My eyes are drawn to his movement, seeing him rub the napkin with his fingers; though, there's nothing on his hands to clean off. My heart begins to race as his eyes remain almost unbearably hard and cold on mine, causing me to shiver as he doesn't relent and let me into his warmth.
A tiny thrill goes through me at the seriousness behind his eyes. And I wonder what it would feel like to have all that intensity trained on me in the bedroom, burning it down with me between the sheets.
“Uh-huh. So, the nickname?" He circles back. "Why does he call you that?” His eyes fall to my hands holding my burger, and I see a little glimmer of judgement, or maybe even displeasure, in his features, and I wonder why. Noticing that he's been picky about food since I've been around him, I wonder if he's got a past history of being hungry that makes him so finicky around food.
Thinking of Alexander's possible "what-ifs," I soften my tone out of my teasing one and give it to him straight, picking at my burger.
“My close friends call me that. They did all the time in graduate school. David saw it on a group email thread one time between me, Jerome, and Christopher, and now he teases me every time I see him. Which hasn’t been a lot in the last couple of years. I only speak to him lately when I refer clients to him via email.”
Alexander stays silent for a second, watching me eat a small piece of my burger. I suddenly feel very vulnerable around him.
He tightens his jaw, and I wonder what he's thinking about.
Chapter twenty-five
Cravings
Ohno,baby.Youwill absolutely not be going to lunch with him.
I sit back in my seat, having stunned myself with the fierceness and vehemence of my thoughts.
One thing for sure, this woman's abrat.Her last comment about David proved it, and she knew it'd get to me, which is why she said it.
I tilt my head for a moment, thinking. I have nothing against David, absolutely nothing. I can't find any fault in the guy, other than he's annoying, really. He's passionate about his job, and thankfully his work ethic is admittedly solid. But the thought of Sarah speaking to him while he uses a pet name for her, and gets to put his arms around her, and then the fact that she sends some of her clients to him makes me irrationally angry.
So I gotta work to cool myself off. And what's better than to focus on a trip where I get to have her all to myself?
I don't want her to think I'm rude, so I hum a response before clearing my throat and jiggling the mouse to wake up my computer. Thinking of having her to myself, I change the subject back to what we were talking about before we were interrupted.
“So, I upgraded the hotel suite in Vancouver for two beds and a kitchenette. We’re staying four days, flying back on the fifth—”
“Alex,” she whines, interrupting me.
The low sound in her soft voice surprises me, turning me on so viciously that I'm momentarily speechless. My half-erection comes back at the sound, and it's all I can do to keep the smile I feel tugging on the corners of my mouth from showing. I don't want her to think I'm overtly interested, especially so soon after what's happened to her.
And especially when I'm trying to finagle my way into convincing her to share a bedroom with me.
“Yes,Sarah?” I tease her back with a little laugh. My eyes hold hers a few seconds longer than I know she's comfortable with, but I don't waiver. Her eyes are like twin pools of dark brownchocolate, inviting me in with their sweetness. If only she knew how much I love sweets. Crave them.
Unbeknownst to my inner turmoil, she scowls at me before leaning forward; the top of her cleavage peeks out from her neckline and makes my mouth go dry.
“I had only planned on staying for three days,” she says, successfully making the grin I've been holding back break free.
She does this thing with her voice where the inflection of her tone goes down, and she whispers some of her words; it's the fuckingsexiestthing I've ever experienced in my life.
“Well, now you’re staying five.And bring a swimsuit,” I whisper back, tenting my hands together on the desk. I rub the tips together slightly, wishing to feel her skin on mine again.
“Fine! And I don’t swim. I can’t get my hair wet.” Sarah’s eyes flash at me, and her nose scrunches up, making the tiny hoop in her nose glint in the light coming through the window.
“If you don’t bring one, I’ll be forced to provide one for you… and do you really want to see what I’d choose to put you in?” I say, resisting the urge to lick my lips, turning my head back to my computer screen. But she's not having it.
“Ugh, if I’mhardheadedlike you said in the car, then you’re a stubbornass,” she says under her breath.
I give her an amused laugh, listening to her adorable, infuriated mumbling as she stands up and picks up her bag, and stomps to the door. “See you at home,” I call out after her with not a care in the world as I browse through internet pages of things to do in Vancouver during our down time at the conference.
