LOVING LEX: A Billionaire Romance (NIGHT OF THE KINGS SERIES Book 6)

by Shayne Ford

  “That’s it?”

  She nods.

  I drop my phone on the desk.

  “Okay. The usual stuff then.”

  “Larry Wells meeting is at eleven o’clock. The boardroom meeting is set for two o’clock.”

  “Reschedule that one.”

  She arches an eyebrow.

  “When would you like it to be moved, Sir?”

  “Tomorrow morning. And have all the reports ready for review this afternoon.”

  “Okay, Sir. Coffee?”

  I ponder.

  “I’ll bring you one.”

  I say nothing.

  “Oh, one more thing,” she says. “Ed Preston should pop in some time today.”

  “Okay.”

  She spins around.

  “Sheila?” I call her as she almost steps out.

  She turns around and nears my desk.

  “Yes, Sir?”

  “Are we still hiring for the Sales Department?”

  “Yes.”

  “Have all the positions filled up?”

  “All but one. The one we had offered to Dahlia Fox initially.”

  “Freeze the interviewing.”

  I feel her stare on my face.

  “Any news from her, Sir?”

  She searches my eyes as I lift my gaze to her.

  “I don’t know,” I say, finding myself staring blankly at her.

  She studies my expression for a few more moments.

  “Okay. I’ll bring your espresso in a moment, and then I’ll be in my office if you need me.”

  She smoothly closes the door behind her, and I snatch my phone off the desk, checking my messages again.

  Fuck.

  This is not as easy as I thought.

  Frustrated, I toss it in a drawer and start working. Close to noon, I grab my suit jacket and dart out the door.

  Fall greets me outside.

  The wind is cooler, and the colors brighter this time of year. I jump into my ride and take the road to downtown. The sun pours light over the meadows, draping the trees in golden cloaks. The sky looks painted in cerulean blue.

  The aspen trees flutter their sunny leaves.

  As I take all in, a good sensation flows through me, tinged only by the slightest shred of fear. I push it to the side and let myself enjoy the view.

  Half an hour later, I pull to a stop in the parking lot of a small restaurant downtown. James’ car is parked not far from mine.

  The hostess, a petite woman with a lovely smile, shows me to the table. He sits next to the window, bright light pouring over his shoulders.

  He pierces me with his dark green eyes from across the room, a smile lighting up his face.

  He rises to his feet and gives me a brief hug, patting me on my back.

  “Glad to see you back, man,” he says.

  “I’m happy you’re still here,” I say as we sink to into our chairs.

  “Anything to drink?” he asks me as the server approaches us.

  “I’m good,” I say.

  We order the food, and he takes a sip of his drink.

  “I may be back for good,” he says.

  My eyebrows slide up.

  “Really?”

  “Mmm-hmm,” he says and swallows another swig of his drink. “Rain wants to move back. I never wanted to leave anyway. I can still travel to New York whenever I need to, but this is my place. You know me...” he says, smiling.

  I laugh softly.

  “It’s your fucking kingdom.”

  He chuckles as well.

  “It’s not only mine, brother,” he says.

  “Are you coming back to work full time?”

  “Maybe. Why?” he asks, searching my eyes for a moment.

  I look down and hide a secret smile.

  “You have news from the trip?” he asks, suddenly clued in.

  I whip my gaze to him. A slow smile starts curving his lips.

  He lets out another soft chuckle.

  “Don’t you fucking tell me...” he mutters, his eyes glued to my face. “I lived to see this one.”

  I briefly tear my gaze away from him, grinning.

  “What’s that Sexton?”

  “Lex Harrington in love.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “As if it’s that hard. I know you. Besides, I lived it myself. I know what it looks like. She finally got you,” he says with a softer voice this time, and a nostalgic smile on his lips.

  My grin turns melancholic as well.

  “Time changes everything, doesn’t it?” I mutter, glancing briefly out the window.

  A couple with a dog and a child walk by, the kid barely holding the dog from chasing a squirrel.

  “Yes, it does,” he says.

  “Who would’ve thought?” I say, shifting my gaze back to him. “When I saw those pictures of you and Rain I knew what I was missing,” I mutter. “I never thought it’d feel so good.”

  He slowly nods, staring blankly at his hands.

  “Life pulls us forward whether we want it or not,” he says.

  He flicks his eyes up.

  “So what’s next now?”

  “I’m waiting.”

  A questioning look hovers over his face.

  “She said I’ll hear from her one way or another whether she moves back. So far, I haven’t heard from her, but one thing I know. The time we spent together was some of the best of my life.”

  “She’ll come,” he says categorically. “I have no doubt.”

  “Yeah... I feel that too. It’s just that the waiting part is killing me.”

  The waitress brings the food to the table.

  We start eating.

  “I’m glad you’re back,” I say after a few moments. “Maybe you can pull Ed out of his funk.”

  He runs a napkin over his lips.

  “What’s the problem with him?”

  “I don’t think he’s recovered from Caroline’s death.”

  “Did he say something to you?”

  I sway my head side to side.

  “No. He never did. And that’s the problem. I know it affects him more than he shows. She was his only family, and she was a good mom. Better than ours in some respects.”

  “That’s true,” he agrees quietly.

  “Speaking of the devil,” I mutter as my eyes fly to the entrance, and Ed’s tall silhouette fills the doorway.

  “Did you tell him we were here?”

  “I left him a message,” James says.

  “I did too, but he never answered.”

  A server rushes to set an additional plate on the table as Ed swaggers to us.

  His gaze sweeps us.

  “Hey, man,” he says, plopping on his seat.

  “Where were you?” I ask.

  “Nice to see you too,” he says.

  “What’s with the attitude?”

  He chuckles.

  “I thought you’d stop by at my office,” I say.

  James gaze swings back and forth between him and me.

  “I thought so too, but I was caught in meetings the whole morning,” he says with a serious voice this time.

  “Is everything okay?” James asks, voicing a thought I have.

  “Yeah, yeah...” Ed mutters.

  He unbuttons his suit jacket and places his phone on the table. My gaze dips to his hand, a question popping in my head.

  “I called you,” I said.

  “I know. I told you I was busy the whole morning.”

  Evading my eyes, he motions to a waiter. He orders his food. James and I exchange looks.

  “What’s the problem, Ed?” James asks.

  He glances briefly at James.

  “It’s nothing.”

  Both, James and I search Ed’s eyes.

  “You don’t sound like you,” James says.

  Ed runs a hand through his brown hair.

  “It’s nothing important,” he mutters, and I sense the frustration in his words.

  “It’
s work?” I ask.

  “Nah.”

  “Women.”

  “Maybe,” he says, and his gaze swings to the waitress.

  He gets his food and starts eating.

  Soon, James and I shift our focus away from him and start talking about the business.

  15

  Two Weeks Later

  LEX

  “I don’t want to hear it, Ed.”

  “Why are you annoyed with me, man?”

  “I’m not.”

  We walk down the corridor and enter my office.

  “You said you wanted to work here. Would you rather manage the Livingston business?” I ask, taking a seat behind my desk.

  He remains standing.

  “No.”

  I search his eyes for a moment.

  “You always complained you didn’t get a big enough chunk. If James takes over the Casino, you can manage this part of the business.”

  “I’m good where I am. I’ll talk to James,” he says.

  “Okay,” I say deadpan.

  “Why are you so keen on shifting roles?”

  “I’m not. Someone has to take care of the Livingston portfolio. You said you’re not interested. James wants the Casino, so I guess I’m the only one left.”

  “No need to get all worked up. James and I can share the job at the Casino and take care of the Livingston group as well.”

  “James is not going to share.”

  “Don’t worry about it. We’ll figure it out. Aren’t you supposed to be waiting for your work wife anyway?”

  I clench my teeth and push back in my chair.

  Slowly, I bring my hand to my face and rub my brow, a headache testing me.

  “What?” he asks, not fooled by my silence. “You’ve got news?”

  I raise my gaze and click my tongue.

  “Oh,” he mutters, sliding into a chair. “No word at all?”

  “No,” I say cryptically.

  “You were sure she’s coming. James said the same thing.”

  I shrug.

  “Why don’t you call her?”

  “She asked me not to.”

  His eyebrows arch with surprise.

  “Since when are you following someone else’s rules?”

  “This is Dahlia. And I do respect her rules. I don’t want to end up single like you,” I say mockingly.

  He smiles.

  “What’s wrong with that?” he says, smiling slyly. “Seriously now.”

  “Seriously,” I mutter, my grin fading away. “I gave her my word. Besides I don’t want to look desperate.”

  “But you are.”

  “You’d be too Preston. And I hope one day you will be so I can poke fun at you.”

  He smirks again.

  “It’s not only that,” I say. “I don’t want to press her. I want her to be sure of this move, and once she’s back, to be here for good.”

  “Well... You know better.”

  “Exactly.”

  He pushes out of his seat and heads to the door.

  “Let me know if you find something,” he throws at me over his shoulder.

  “You’ll be the first one to know, pest.”

  Laughing, he walks out.

  Silence unfurls in his wake. I sweep the phone from the desk, slide my thumb onto it, and pull up pictures of Dahlia and me.

  I sift through them, my gaze lingering on a couple of them in particular.

  I took the first snapshot. She smiles at me, the pale light of the afternoon rolling over her face, lighting up her eyes. The camera hasn’t captured it, but I remember her blushing. A soft smile curls her lips, her eyes brimming with love. For me.

  I scroll down and get to the second picture. A woman who was passing by was kind enough to take that photograph.

  Dahlia is glued to me. She looks so beautiful in my arms, and I look happy.

  My eyes stay on that shot a little longer, my memory bringing back snippets from the past.

  I miss her badly.

  My desk phone beeps, pulling me out of the reverie. I press the intercom button.

  “Yes,” I say evenly. “Is Wells already here?”

  “He’s on his way, Sir. Most likely in the elevator as we speak.”

  “Okay.”

  “Also, Dahlia Fox is here for you, Sir.”

  My heart thuds in my chest, my voice withering away for a moment.

  “In your office?” I ask incredulously.

  “Yes, Sir. She’s right in front of me. Do you want––”

  “Send her in, and tell Wells to wait.”

  “Okay, Sir.”

  I push out of my chair, nervous as hell.

  The door opens. She smoothly slips in. My sight fills with her, and so does my heart.

  A smile lights up her face.

  She closes the door behind her and turns to me.

  “Hey,” I say before she can utter a word.

  She erases the space between us, curls her arms around my neck and kisses me on my lips. She presses herself against me.

  A firestorm sweeps my body. The scent of fall breathing through her skin, and a dash of hope flow through me.

  “Hey,” she says, breaking away from me.

  My pulse starts racing. A flutter swirls in my chest.

  “When did you come back?”

  “A couple of hours ago,” she says, her whole face smiling. “I came straight from the airport.”

  I run my gaze down on her. She doesn’t look like someone who just spent a good ten hours or more flying.

  A form fitting skirt suit sets off her narrow waist. The plum color brings out the color of her eyes, playing a nice contrast to her hair. Tall on her heels, she brims with energy, looking so alive.

  She sets her purse and her phone on my desk and curls her arms around my waist.

  A grin dances in her eyes.

  “Missed me?” she asks playfully.

  “Yeah. And I thought you missed me too. Enough to give me a sign.”

  She purses her lips and crushes a smile.

  “I don’t like games, Dahlia,” I say, a bit irked.

  I wait for an answer or an explanation when she twines her arms around my neck, pushes up on her toes and presses her cheek against mine, hugging me tightly.

  “I love you so much, Lex Harrington.”

  “Is that your answer Ms. Fox?” I ask jokingly.

  She pulls away and looks at me.

  “I can’t believe you got worried for a moment,” she says.

  “A moment? I melted that phone constantly checking missed calls and texts. Ogling your pictures.”

  She picks up her phone and punches in her password.

  The picture of us hugging and kissing, is the first thing that pops up.

  “I’ve done the same thing.”

  “Well... I almost thought you changed your mind.”

  “How could I?” she asks seriously.

  I don’t have an answer.

  “What have you done these two weeks?” I ask.

  “I gave Blackmore a two-week notice. Yesterday was my last day. I told him I was leaving the first day after you left.”

  “Why didn’t you call me?”

  “It was hard enough to see you leaving and wait two weeks. It would’ve driven me crazy to hear your voice and not be able to be with you,” she says sincerely, and I exhaust my arguments.

  “It’s the last time you do that Ms. Fox.”

  She tilts her head to the side and gives me a sly smile.

  “Are you going to punish me, Mr. Harrington?”

  I bite my lip to push back a grin.

  “Yeah... I might do that too.”

  “Mmmm...” she moans, and I begin to laugh.

  “You make my life so much more interesting,” I mutter.

  “Good. Do I have my job back?” she asks with a different voice. “I put in my resignation, relying solely on your offer,” she says, only partly seriously, mostly fucking with me.

  “There’s
more than one job waiting for you? Which one would you like to start with?” I ask.

  Slowly, I run my teeth over my lips. Smiling ear to ear, she watches me hypnotized.

  She waggles her finger at me.

  “Very funny, Mr. Harrington,” she says, grinning.

  The intercom buzzes. I stretch my hand out and press the button.

  “Larry Wells is here, Sir.”

  Shit. I forgot about him.

  Dahlia already picks up her purse and phone.

  “I’ll go home,” she mouths to me.

  I grab her arm.

  “Reschedule him for tomorrow afternoon,” I bark to Sheila.

  A small pause follows and then Sheila’s voice.

  “Okay, Sir.”

  I release the button.

  “I’ll take you home,” I say.

  Her eyes fill with light.

  A week later

  DAHLIA

  “How do I look?” I ask.

  “Good,” Elsa says.

  “Beautiful,” Connor mutters, raising his eyes from his computer.

  “Mind your own business, Connor,” Elsa tosses at him.

  “What?” he mutters, grinning ear to ear.

  “Don’t you have work to do?” she says, glancing over her shoulder.

  “I can also appreciate beauty,” he says, winking at both of us.

  “I’ll give you beauty,” she says, turning to him and wrapping her arms around him.

  He jolts in his seat and grabs the edge of the table to regain his balance. She tousles his hair and tickles him, both laughing.

  I shift my eyes to the mirror.

  “You’re not helping me, people,” I say.

  “I wanted to,” Connors says, and the next thing I know, Elsa bites his earlobe to punish him.

  “Ouch. It hurts,” he says turning to her, his face flushed, his plump lips red.

  He runs a hand through his hair.

  “Leave him alone,” I chide my sister. “I need your advice, Elsa.”

  She spins back to me.

  “Why are you still unsure?” she asks, combing her hair with her fingers, her cheeks flushed as well.

  “Is it too elegant?”

  “There isn’t such a thing as too elegant. It’s your first day of work. It’s a different job than the executive assistant position.”

  Slowly, I run my gaze down my dress. Somehow, I find it too feminine. It’s a black, brushed wool frock with a sweetheart neckline, fitted top and waist and flared skirt and sleeves. The delicate silver necklace adds a bit of sassiness.