“I wouldn’t have it any other way, man. Great meeting you, Vince. Lexi, always a pleasure, my record goddess.”
“Bye, guys. Christina, I’ll talk to you soon.”
She and Vincent watched the couple make their way to the bar. Julian was soon surrounded by admirers. Lexi was so excited, she couldn’t help herself and hugged Vincent. “You did it! I can’t believe the way you worked him. You’re brilliant.”
The smile on Vincent’s face was electric. He held her tighter and buried his face in her hair as they danced. “We did it. Lexi, thank you. I couldn’t have done it without you.” He pulled back, but kept his face close. His lips were so inviting and just within reach. Lexi began nervously gnawing on her bottom lip to distract herself. Vincent continued to smile and stare at her.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“For what?”
“For everything, but most of all for not remembering you.”
Lexi’s breath hitched in her chest at his words. They had never talked about the fact that he didn’t remember her. There really wasn’t much to even say about it. It was a lifetime ago for both of them, so he didn’t ask and she didn’t offer, and that was how they had existed until now.
“How could I not notice you?” he whispered as he reached out and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear, his fingers gently brushing against her cheek.
All the blood in her body surged to her face. “Your mom said you were an unobservant boob if that helps.” Lexi was trying to lighten the situation before her heart leapt out of her chest and he realized the effect his touch had on her.
He threw his head back and laughed, spinning them in a circle. “I guess I am. I’ll try and work on that, okay?”
Lexi could have spent the next few moments over-thinking things and reminding herself to keep her distance from Vincent. She could have acknowledged that she had absolutely nothing to offer this successful, sexy man with a supermodel girlfriend, other than her organizational skills and talent for slipping him greasy burgers on the down low. Instead, for once she simply went with it and enjoyed the feeling of being in his arms.
Even if it meant nothing to him, for that dance, she pretended it did.
But eventually, as the music slowed and came to an end, she drifted back to reality. Lexi swallowed, trying to clear her head, but the rumble of his laughter and the heat from his body overwhelmed every sense. He was too much. He was … everything. She had to stop this train of thought before she was crushed all over again. What better way than to dredge up the past.
“It’s not your fault you don’t remember me. I was horribly shy.” Lexi’s chin dropped to her chest, allowing her hair to veil her face from his prying eyes.
“Got over the shyness, did you?” Vincent teased, lifting her chin so he could catch her eye. “Because anyone who stands up to Tony on her first day, stops him in his tracks, and threatens to fire him, then tells me when I’m being an ass … well, that doesn’t exactly sound like something a shy person would do.”
“That shy girl is still in there, don’t you worry. I’ve simply gotten better at faking my bravado.”
“Well, I’ll never tell,” he said with a wink as he led her off the dance floor.
Leigh was there to greet them when they stepped back onto the carpet. “Lexi, who knew you were such a good dancer?” Vincent excused himself and headed over to Elizabeth.
“I can’t dance to save my life. That was all Vincent.” Lexi sighed and watched the guests still on the dance floor swirl around them. After a few minutes, she scanned the room and found Vincent and Elizabeth in what appeared to be a very serious conversation. His face was darkened again, all traces of amusement and fun gone. He appeared to be completely focused on business once again. When she followed their gaze, she found Paolo Marradesi conversing with Adria Parketti. Paolo’s wife looked like she wanted to strangle Adria as she flirtatiously ran her hand down the front of Paolo’s chest, giggling about something.
“Leigh, Vincent hasn’t talked to Paolo yet, has he?” Leigh shook her head no. “Well, don’t look now, but Adria Parketti is about to wrap her legs around his waist right in front of his wife. Good Lord, does the woman have no shame?”
Leigh laughed. “Adria? Have shame? You must be kidding.”
“I’ll be right back.” Lexi hurried over to Vincent and Elizabeth and asked, “What’s the plan?”
“No plan. No stalking. It’s called being patient,” Vincent snipped, obviously stressed out.
“I hate to break it to you, but you’re running out of time. His wife keeps looking at her watch. She’s ready to go home.” Vincent raked his hand through his hair.
Elizabeth took a deep breath. “You have to get five minutes with him, Vincent, or we’re screwed.”
“Go ask his wife to dance,” Lexi said as she nudged him and nodded her head toward Francesca Marradesi, who was burning holes into the back
of Adria’s head as she continued her shameless flirting.
Vincent looked at Lexi as if she’d sprouted a second head. “And that’s going to help how?”
Lexi tapped her purse, indicating the note cards she carried with her. “She used to be a prima ballerina, Vincent, you read her bio. She probably loves to dance, but have you noticed she and Paolo haven’t stepped on the dance floor all night?”
“No.” Vincent crossed his arms like a petulant child. “I know you’re new to all this, Lexi, but you don’t just steal away the wife of a man of Paolo Marradesi’s stature. It simply isn’t done.”
Elizabeth mulled it over in her head for a minute before reacting. “She’s right. Go try and score a few points with Francesca. Be your charming self, and pray that in gratitude she introduces you to her husband.”
“That, or Paolo will get jealous and storm the dance floor to reclaim his wife,” Lexi added. “Either way, at least you’ll get to talk to him. But let’s hope it plays out more like Elizabeth said. And if you know any Italian, now would be a good time to use it. Buona fortuna.”
Vincent rolled his eyes at the women, took a deep breath, and confidently strode over to Francesca Marradesi. He respectfully bowed his head to Paolo, and then whispered something in Francesca’s ear that put a huge smile on her face. She took his hand, and the pair glided onto the dance floor. Lexi noticed Adria Parketti tense when Vincent walked over, and now that he’d absconded with Francesca, she looked absolutely livid.