Smooth, he thought to himself. Why not ask her to take the shirt off for research while you’re at it?
Lexi laughed and hopped up onto the desk, facing him. “I know. We’re infuriating creatures, women. Half the time I don’t understand them myself.”
Her hand came to rest on Vincent’s shoulder. “Want to do a little brainstorming? I can grab my handy dandy yellow legal pad and we can mess up your office a little.”
“Sure.” Vincent wasn’t sure what it would accomplish, he was too drained and unfocused, but at this point he didn’t care, he simply wanted to be around her. He would have agreed to learn needle point if it kept that smile on her face.
“Be right back.” She hopped off the desk and ran out the door. He sank back in his chair with a groan, his hands scrubbing over his face. Vincent felt like scum every time he ogled her. It wasn’t fair. The mixed signals he was sending weren’t fair to her, and allowing his feelings to grow when there was nothing he could do about it at the moment wasn’t fair to him. Even Jade didn’t deserve this. He was still beating himself up when Lexi walked through the door. She took her usual perch on the couch and sat, pen poised to take notes.
“Dazzle me, boss.” She always started these brainstorming sessions the same way, with just a hint of a challenge in her voice to spur Vincent’s creativity. Little did she know she was stirring so much more in him these days.
For two hours they tried to nail down a more specific direction for the Marradesi account, and every time they thought they had it, the market research didn’t support the idea. Vincent grew more frustrated with his creative block.
Lexi sat on the couch with her legs folded under her, gnawing on her pencil. Vincent enjoyed watching her work and learning little things about her every day. Her forehead always wrinkled when she was deep in concentration. Occasionally she twisted her hair around a pencil and used it as a makeshift clip as she scanned pages of information late into the afternoon because she hated it when her hair fell into her face as she was reading.
There were times when he simply stood in his doorway and watched her work. She fascinated him, and he wanted her more than he had ever wanted a woman before. She made him happy in ways even he didn’t understand.
All he could do was hope that when the smoke cleared and the mole had been identified, Lexi would still be there. But deep down, he knew that might not happen, and that was beginning to scare the hell out of him. Would she wait for him?
A groan escaped his lips as he raked a hand through his hair. Immediately, he was back on his feet and walking off his sexual tension, trying to think of anything but her. “Repeat that last one, about the modern woman thing.” He was distracted by his thoughts, and Lexi must have picked up on it.
She abruptly jumped up and said, “Let’s go.”
“What?” Vincent stopped mid-step.
“Come on. We are going on a field trip. We need a change of scenery. Move it.”
“I just need to work through this a while longer. You can go if you need to.”
“You’re coming with me,” Lexi insisted. Vincent opened his mouth to protest, but Lexi put her foot down. “It’s not open for discussion.” Her hands were planted on her hips, striking a very Anna-like pose. When he reached for his suit jacket Lexi shook her head. “Leave it.”
Vincent playfully offered her his elbow and she slipped her arm around his, her fingers wrapping around his bicep. “Where to, madame?” he asked.
“It’s a surprise.” There was a definite twinkle in her eye as she ushered Vincent out of the office and toward the elevators.
“Where are you two running off to?” Leigh asked as she peeked up from her desk, trying not to smile.
“I’m being kidnapped. If I don’t return, avenge me, please.”
“Yeah, I’ll get right on that.” Leigh winked at Lexi. “Have fun. If Jade calls?”
Vincent stepped into the elevator and grinned. “Tell her I’m—”
“Playing hooky with Lexi?” Leigh asked hopefully as Lexi groaned.
Vincent gave her an unamused look. “No, how about I’m in a research meeting and can’t be interrupted under any circumstances.”
Leigh clapped her hands together and saluted Vincent. “Will do, boss! Have fun.”
Vincent and Lexi were soon on a trolley, the wind blowing through their hair. They were heading for Fisherman’s Wharf. When they reached their stop, Vincent climbed off first then held his hand out to Lexi so he could help her down. She relished the contact as she stepped into his arms and felt his hand settle on the small of her back as he began to lead her out of the crowd.
“Where to? I am but your simple hostage.”
Lexi rolled her eyes and took his hand. “Come on. You’re such a baby. Most people would be thrilled to skip out of work early on such a beautiful day.” She tugged him down the street, then stopped to point at a large sign in the air.
“Ghirardelli?” Vincent asked.
“Exactly. You should know by now, chocolate makes everything better.”
On their stroll through Ghirardelli Square, Vincent would occasionally pull her hand and lead her over to a nearby store window. His touch was warm, strong and familiar, like they had been communicating this way for years. He could have led her off the edge of the pier and Lexi would have followed. His laughter was like music to her ears, and when she felt him relax, she knew she made the right decision in getting him out of the office.
At the counter in Ghirardelli’s, Lexi sampled a few flavors before finally choosing. She even ordered for Vincent.
“Hey, I just wanted a single scoop of sorbet,” he protested.
“Sorbet,” Lexi scoffed. “Health nut. Don’t listen to him. He needs the espresso chip. He just doesn’t know it yet.” The woman behind the counter nodded in understanding and filled his waffle cone with massive scoops of ice cream.
“You know,” Vincent purred in her ear, “I kinda like you bossing me around.”
Fortunately, Lexi didn’t have her cone in her hand yet or it would have fallen to the ground with an embarrassing splat. She dug her nails into the counter as she struggled to hold herself upright when her knees began to buckle. There was no hiding the shiver that went down her spine when his warm breath grazed her neck. The low rumble of his chest beside her told her he noticed as well. “Cold?” he asked with an air of male satisfaction before he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and tucked her against his side.