She would bet her life he had been thinking about their kiss, as she had. That delighted and dismayed her. They shouldn’t be thinking about kissing each other; things were getting completely out of hand between them. He was her boss, not her date. The sudden stark realization that she longed for him to be the latter instead of the former caused her to pull back from his much-too-welcome embrace. She needed to put some distance between them—now!
“I’m thirsty.” Nicole pushed fully out of his arms and walked back to the table without waiting for his response.
When she reached it, he was standing beside her, holding out her chair as she sat down. It was perfect timing because their drinks were being placed on the table. Nicole picked up her glass and took a long drink while Alex watched her as if she were an insect under a microscope.
“Mmm, that hit the spot,” she said, mainly to have something to say.
Alex took a big gulp of his own drink. “Yeah, it sure does.”
Nicole glanced around, feigning interest in the ambiance to escape his penetrating gaze. He remained silent, and she made the mistake of looking at him. His concentrated stare sucked all air from her lungs.
He shrugged out of his jacket and placed it on the back of his chair, thus ending Nicole’s ability to concentrate on small talk. Her eyes were drawn to his powerful arms, left bare by the short-sleeved white T-shirt he wore. He was so ripped; he must work out.
Her wandering eyes continued exploring his magnificent physique, trailing from one shoulder to the next, lingering on his well-defined pecs pressing against the confines of his shirt. When her eyes rose to his face, he was again watching her with intense hunger that nearly sent her flying off her stool.
Before either of them could speak or react, Monique and Victor chose that moment to rejoin them, plopping down onto their respective seats in breathless laughter.
“Whew, that was fun!”
Victor’s eyes twinkled. “Because I was your dance partner?”
“In spite of.” Monique sipped her drink.
“Just can’t give me a compliment.” Victor grinned. “Can you?”
“No,” Monique easily admitted.
Victor turned his attention to the other noticeably silent couple. “Alex didn’t bruise your toes, did he Nicole?”
“No, I didn’t.” Alex shot Victor a killing look. “I do know how to dance with a woman, you know.”
“I just thought you might be a little rusty, bro.” Victor snickered at his brother’s scowl.
Nicole watched the interplay between the brothers with interest. Much more than simple dancing was being discussed between them. Apparently Alexander hadn’t been dating much lately, and for the life of her, she couldn’t understand why. Frankly, a handsome man like him should have women beating down his door.
“Well, I’m not,” Alex growled.
“He’s definitely not,” Nicole agreed, and Alexander shot her a private smile, which Victor and Monique intercepted. Thankfully, their pizza was delivered before they could remark on it.
“Just in time.” Alex glared at his brother. “Maybe food will keep you quiet.”
“Mmm, it looks wonderful.” Nicole placed a napkin on her lap and prayed food would stem the need for awkward conversation.
“I know how to eat and talk at the same time,” Victor said slyly.
“God, help us.” Alex’s audible sigh had everyone laughing.
“Here, chew on this.” Monique placed a gooey piece of pizza on Victor’s plate.
“I thought you were going to feed me?”
“Dream on,” Monique scoffed.
“Dreaming is my middle name,” Victor promised with a wink.
“I swear he was adopted.” Alex shook his head in mock disgust. Victor stuck out his tongue at his brother, and Nicole and Monique nearly choked on their pizza from laughter.
As Victor had predicted, it was the best pizza they had ever eaten. Dinner passed amicably enough, with an occasional good-natured barb directed at Alex or Monique from Victor, and then they made their way back to Monique and Nicole’s place. They congregated outside of the apartment door in preparation of calling it a night.
“Thanks for dinner and for helping me move.” Nicole directed her gratitude toward Alexander.
“It was our pleasure,” Alex responded before Victor could.
“Yes, thank you, guys.” Monique glanced from Alex to Nicole, who seemed to only have eyes for each other.
“You’re welcome.” Victor spoke up when it was obvious Alex hadn’t heard a word Monique said. “We’ll have to do this again sometime—the dinner part, I mean.”
“We’ll see,” Monique noncommittally responded.
“Well, good night ladies.” Alex tore his eyes away from Nicole, took his brother’s arm and pulled him away. “See you at work tomorrow.”
“Good night,” Nicole and Monique echoed before entering their apartment.
* * *
“Why the hasty exit, Alex?”
“They were ready for us to go.” Truthfully, he was ready to go before he did something unwise—like kiss Nicole again in front of everyone.
“It didn’t seem that way to me,” Victor argued. “I think I made some progress with Monique tonight.”
Alex raised an eyebrow. “Are you interested in her?”
Victor shrugged. “I wouldn’t mind dating her.”
“Oh, no you don’t!” Alex stopped and slapped his brother across the back of the head.
“Ouch!” Victor grumbled, rubbing his head. “What’s that for?”
“Listen, you. Good designers are hard to come by. So don’t you mess with mine unless you’re contemplating marriage.”
“Yes, sir!” Victor saluted, and Alex’s frown intensified.
“I mean it, Victor.”
“Alex, it’s called casual dating, and there’s no law against it.” Victor sighed. “You need to get out more, bro.”
“I get out every day.”
“You know what I mean. How long has it been since you had a date with a lady that I didn’t force you to go on?”
“You know exactly how long it’s been. Five years.”
“Nina wasn’t a lady. She was a barracuda,” Victor insisted.
Alex couldn’t disagree with that. At the mention of a woman he wanted to forget, his eyes hardened perceptibly, and tension rolled off him in waves.
“I don’t want to talk about Nina.”
“I know, bro.” Victor patted his stiff shoulder. “Lord knows I don’t blame you for that after what she pulled.”
“Change subjects, Vic,” Alex demanded and started walking again.
“Okay.” Victor held up his hands in surrender and followed. “Nicole is nice, isn’t she?”
“Yes.” He wasn’t too sure he liked this subject either.
“You’re attracted to her.”
“I hardly know her.”
“But you’d like to.” Victor stared at his rigid profile. “Wouldn’t you?”
“I don’t date my employees, Victor.”
“You used to.” His unpleasant reminder caused a thinning of Alex’s lips.
“Which is exactly why I don’t anymore.”
“Alex, you can’t judge every woman by she who shall be nameless.” Victor gave his shoulder a shake. “Leave the past where it belongs.”
Alex sighed heavily. “Easy for you to say.”
“I know, but you can’t keep living like a monk, man.”
“I’m not.”
“Oh, no?” Victor stopped walking, forcing Alex to do the same. “When was the last time you...?”
Alex’s frown halted his words. “Victor, I don’t intend to talk about my sex life with you.”
“Because you don’t have one.” At his brother’s darkening countenance and clenched fists, he took a step back and chuckled in mock surrender. “Okay, okay, I can take a hint.”
“Since when?”
“Since I just remembered you’re slightly bigger than me and that you fight dirty.” Alex laughed at his assertion, as intended.
“Tell yourself whatever you have to in order to explain the fact that I can still whip your butt,” Alex said as they started walking again.
“I just have respect for my elders.” Victor grinned. “That’s all.”
“Whatever you say, Vic. Whatever you say.” Alex placed an arm around his shoulder as they walked off, laughing companionably.
Neither of them spoke, each lost in their own secret thoughts. Alex silently admitted Victor was right; he was attracted to Nicole—but he wasn’t going to act on that attraction for a multitude of reasons. Most of all for his own self-preservation.
* * *
“Tonight was fun, wasn’t it?” Monique smiled at Nicole as they sat side by side on the sofa.
“Yes, it was nice of Alexander and Victor to help me move. Did you ask them to do that?”
“No, I was as surprised as you were.” Monique paused before offering, “I think the boss likes you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Nicole’s words came out more forceful than intended. “I mean...”
“So you like him, too.” Monique’s smile showed that she approved.
“I just met him,” Nicole said to evade the question. “Besides, he’s my boss.”
“What do either of those things have to do with it?” Monique shrugged dismissively. “This is Paris, the city of love—not New York. In this country, employees date their bosses and don’t think anything of it.”
“Perhaps, but I’m not going to date Alexander. That’s not why I’m here.”
“We’ll see.” Monique tucked her legs underneath her. “Chemistry is a powerful force to fight.”
Nicole completely agreed.
“I’m beat.” Nicole suddenly stood. “I think I’ll take a shower and turn in.”
“Tired of my unsolicited advice, huh?”
“No, I’m just exhausted. It’s been a long day.”
“It has indeed.” Monique stretched her arms above her head and then smiled. “I’m glad you’re here, Nicole.”
“Me, too.” She bent down, kissed her roomie’s cheek and walked toward her room. “Good night,” she said over her shoulder.
“Good night,” Monique echoed with a broad smile.
Nicole entered her bathroom and closed the door. About thirty minutes later, after a long relaxing bath during which forbidden thoughts of Alexander tortured her, she went to her room, donned a black T-shirt two sizes too large and climbed into her inviting bed.
She sighed contentedly as the mattress conformed to her body and the white down comforter caressed her nearly bare skin. Her head sank into the pillow as she turned onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. A soft cool breeze ruffled the sheer white curtains at her window, and she inhaled happily.
Her overactive imagination refused to be muted. She tried to keep her mind from fixating on Alexander, but she failed miserably. He was so mysterious, unpredictable and kind. Why did he have to be so appealing? Why couldn’t he be obnoxious and unlikeable? At first she had thought that description fit him perfectly, but she now knew he was as far from that unflattering description as he was from being untalented.
Oh, God, why did he have to kiss her? The brevity of it had only made her long for more, and she wondered how she was going to face him at work in the morning without her mind torturing her with the memory of how his lips had felt against hers.
Her body masochistically reminded her brain of the short yet vivid time it had spent in close proximity to Alexander’s as they had slow danced; her flesh still tingled as if his body had been permanently imprinted on hers. She still felt his big hands nearly engulfing hers and resting on her waist.
Closing her eyes, she remembered how the muscular shoulders and chest seemed ready to escape the confines of his shirt when he had removed his jacket. She wondered if his chest and abdomen were covered with the same fine black hairs that dusted his forearms. A smile curved her lips before she placed a hand to her mouth, horrified at her thoughts.
“This is all your fault, Marcy,” she grumbled and then chuckled at the thought of her new sister-in-law.
Nathan and Marcy were on their honeymoon. When they returned in a few weeks, she’d have to call Marcy and complain that her teasing about Paris’s romantic ambience casting a spell on her was coming true. Nicole was determined to fight the pull of attraction she felt toward Alexander with everything she had; however, after tonight, she wondered if she possessed enough resolve to be successful in that endeavor.
Sighing, she turned onto her side and stared out the window. She had no intention of jeopardizing a wonderful career opportunity by unwisely incorporating a romantic entanglement into the mix. Alexander had gotten over her being late, she had made two good friends and had moved in with one, she was codesigning a gown with one of the best designers in the world and it was going to be featured in his next fashion show.
Her career was going fabulously, and she wasn’t going to jeopardize it for anything, especially not for a brief fling. She’d get her attraction to Alexander under control soon—somehow.
That decided, she stifled a yawn with the back of her hand. She was exhausted but happy to be in her bed in her new home instead of a hotel. She was going to be happy here; she felt it. Plumping her pillows, she turned onto her stomach, closed her eyes and told herself to go to sleep.
It didn’t take long for sleep to claim her. However, against her will, her last thoughts centered on the man who was off-limits to her—the enigmatic Alexander James.
Chapter 6
Nicole hummed happily as she entered the break room to make herself a morning cup of coffee. She was stirring in cream when the door opened. She glanced around with a smile, which fell from her mouth as she recognized Crystal—the woman who had yet to say ten whole words to her.
“Good morning,” Nicole brightly greeted, deciding to try to be friends with the woman determined to be her enemy.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the new protégé.”
Nicole’s eyebrow rose at her snarky comment. “I beg your pardon?”
“The boss’s new toy,” Crystal vindictively substituted.
“Crystal.” Nicole sat her china cup down in its matching saucer with a clank and turned to face the other woman. “Right?”
“Yes.” She nearly hissed the word.
“Crystal, I’m Nicole.” She offered her hand, which, as expected, was blatantly ignored, so she shrugged and withdrew it. “We don’t really know each other, so I’m at a loss to understand your hostility toward me.”
“Nina was my friend,” Crystal woodenly informed her.
“Who?”
“Nina Laurent,” Crystal huffed. “The designer you’re trying to replace.”
“First of all, I’ve never heard of Nina Laurent, and second, I’m not trying to replace anyone. I was hired as Alexander’s new designer.” She paused, then continued. “Nina doesn’t work here anymore, so I suggest you get used to that fact.”
“Smug, aren’t you?”
“It would be great if we could be professional, but that’s up to you.” Nicole picked up her coffee and walked toward the door. “I’d like to have a civil working relationship with you, but you’ll have to meet me halfway.” She paused, hoping her offer would sink in before promising, “I’m not going anywhere.” Without a backward glance, she left the room.
Nicole had just settled back in at her desk after that run-in when Alexander entered the room. He stopped by several
desks to look at a design, ask a question or answer one as he made his way toward her. Oh, boy, how should she act after their dance last night?
Good Lord, woman. It was just a dance—well, three—and you weren’t on a date. You were out with his brother and your roommate.
She studied him as he approached. He wore a three-quarter-length black jacket, black shirt and black pants. Whew, he looked good! From the entourage of female eyes that followed him as he moved through the room, every lady present shared her sentiments. Unwilling to be caught staring, she quickly averted her head when he glanced her way, praying he hadn’t seen her gawking at him.
Of course, he stopped at her desk, standing to the side of the tall stool on which she sat. He didn’t say anything—simply watched her pretending to sketch. She tried to act normal, but after a few tense minutes, her hand began to shake, and she placed her charcoal onto the easel and turned to stare at him.
“Did you want something, Alexander?” She was proud that her voice didn’t shake.
“Just observing,” he responded. “Continue.”
She picked up her charcoal again, blew out her breath from between her lips and willed herself to forget how close his maddening body was to hers as he watched her sketch. Her traitorous mind tortured her with memories of how wonderful it felt brushing against his hardness when they had danced last night.
“Thank you for helping me move.”
“You’re welcome.”
She glanced at him sideways. “I enjoyed dinner.”
“Did you?”
“Yes.” She frowned slightly. “Didn’t you?”
“Mmm-hmm,” he noncommittally replied.
She nearly jumped out of her skin when his hand unexpectedly covered hers. He inhaled deeply, and was it her imagination or did his hand grip hers a little tighter? When she glanced at him, she felt like a tasty treat he couldn’t wait to devour. She quickly lowered her eyes and willed her heart to cease its erratic pounding, as if it was trying to escape and lay itself at Alexander’s feet in offering.
“Relax,” he whispered into her ear, causing a shudder within her. “Your design is good, but how about making the sleeve more flowing?” His hand guided hers over the canvas. “Like this.” Together they redesigned the sleeve; it was the sweetest torture. His free hand rested lightly on her shoulder, sliding down her arm before leaving her skin. “What do you think?”
Our First Embrace Page 6
