Rich, Rugged...Royal. Cynthia Rutledge
but wonder when it would be her turn. When would she have a man of her own? And a child to hold in her arms?
“Tell me why you think you’re just like your mother,” Sara said when Lauren didn’t elaborate.
Lauren stared down into her cup then lifted her gaze to Sara. “She sees what she wants and she goes for it, regardless if it’s a wise course of action or not. Lately I’ve been doing the same thing.”
“That’s not true.” Sara’s response said more about her loyalty than her ability to be realistic when it came to her friends.
“It is true. I’ve leased a town house I can’t afford.” Lauren decided that sounded better than saying she’d had a one-night stand with a man she’d never see again. “And I’m constantly buying clothes I don’t need just because I want them.”
Her gaze dropped back to the sacks at her feet.
“If this is about money,” Sara began, “I have some extra and I’d be happy to—”
“Absolutely not,” Lauren said firmly. Taking money from friends was her father’s specialty. She’d sleep on a park bench before she’d accept a dime from Sara. “But I do have to get a roommate. So, if you know anyone who might be interested, send them my way.”
Sara leaned back in her chair, her expression thoughtful. “I might know someone. The only problem is, he’s a guy.”
Lauren resisted the urge to smile. Who, but Sara, would worry about such a thing? “That doesn’t bother me. I lived in a coed dorm in college.”
“I’m not sure how long he’ll stay in St. Louis but he is looking.” Sara raised a finger to her lips. “And I think the two of you would get along.”
Lauren raised a brow, her curiosity piqued. “Do I know this guy?”
“He’s not from here,” Sara said. “I’ve just hired him to handle the arrangements for my upcoming European tour.”
“Is he cute?” The question popped out of Lauren’s mouth before she could stop it.
“I think he’s attractive,” Sara said. “But then I’ve always been partial to guys with dark hair and hazel eyes.”
Lauren smiled. Sara’s husband, Sal, a hunky excop, fit that description to a T. So did Alex.
An image of Alex flashed before Lauren. Though it had been almost a week since their time together, she still found herself waking up at night and thinking about him. Even now, just the thought of him rekindled her desire.
Lauren shoved the memories aside. If she did get a male roommate, part of the ground rules would be that there would be nothing personal between them. Otherwise it would never work.
“How well do you know this guy?” Lauren asked. “I mean, I don’t want to worry about living under the same roof with Jack the Ripper.”
Sara chuckled. “This guy is definitely no Jack the Ripper. Both Tom Alvarez and his previous employer couldn’t say enough nice things about him. That was the reason I decided to interview him in the first place. I have to say I was impressed. And he passed muster with Sal.”
Sara’s eyes softened, the way they always did when she mentioned her husband. She’d been married for almost three years to the former undercover cop and Sal guarded his wife and baby daughter’s privacy with the zeal he’d once reserved for his police work. If he approved of this new guy, the man must be okay.
“Is he even looking for a roommate?” Lauren asked. “Maybe he wants a place of his own?”
Sara lifted the cup to her lips and paused. “I think he’d prefer a roommate. Money seems to be an issue.”
“Not paying him enough?” Lauren teased.
“According to my manager, I’m paying him too much,” Sara said with a laugh. “But he had great qualifications.”
“So why would money be an issue?”
“I don’t know.” Sara gave a shrug. “We didn’t get into his personal life. But a few things he said led me to believe he’s watching his pennies. It struck me as odd at the time because the clothes he wore were very stylish and definitely not off the rack.”
“Sounds like my kind of guy,” Lauren mused. Though the man would only be living under her roof and they wouldn’t necessarily have to be friends, it was reassuring to know they shared a love of nice clothes. “When do you think I could meet him?”
Sara’s eyes widened and she lifted a hand in a gesture of greeting. “How about right now?”
“Now?”
“He just walked through the front door.”
Lauren swiveled in her chair. Her heart stopped at the sight of the tall, broad-shouldered man making his way to their table.
“Alex,” she breathed the word, feeling suddenly light-headed.
Chapter Three
Lauren saw the flash of recognition in Alex’s eyes and the watchful look that replaced the smile he’d bestowed on Sara.
“What a surprise.” Sara’s smile widened as he drew close and she gestured to the empty chair at their table. “Won’t you join us?”
“I’d love to.” Casting Lauren a questioning glance, Alex pulled out a chair and took a seat.
He was absolutely gorgeous. The cream-colored button-up shirt accentuated his tan and made his eyes look even darker. His brown dress pants were definitely hand-tailored and, if she wasn’t mistaken, the belt encircling his waist cost more than all the clothes in her sack combined.
As she’d relived their night together in her memory, Lauren had convinced herself that he couldn’t have been as handsome as she’d remembered. She’d decided that the late hour, the wine and the stress had clouded her recollection. But she’d been wrong. His features were chiseled, his nose long and aristocratic. His chin was strong and his lips perfectly sculpted.
His sun-streaked brown hair gleamed in the coffee shop’s subdued lighting. He wore it conservatively short but it was thick and wavy and almost begged for her fingers to run through the strands again.
“Alex, this is my good friend, Lauren Carlyle,” Sara said. “Lauren, Alexander Gabrielle. Alex is coordinating my European tour.”
Lauren met Alex’s gaze. From the watchful look in his eyes, she knew that he was willing to take his lead from her. It didn’t take even a second for her to decide how to handle the situation.
“You look familiar.” Lauren extended her hand. “Didn’t we dance together a couple of times at Melanie’s wedding?”
“I think you’re right.” He grasped her hand and brought it to his lips. “Enchanté.”
She shivered as he placed a kiss on the back of her hand, feeling her cheeks redden.
“I should have warned you, Lauren.” Sara laughed, a silvery tinkle that reminded Lauren of tiny bells. “Alex is very European.”
Lauren widened her gaze, truly surprised. “You’re not American?”
He smiled and gestured for the waiter, ordering an espresso before turning his attention back to her. “Actually I have dual citizenship. My father is American while my mother is a citizen of Carpegnia.”
“Carpegnia?” Though Lauren knew the location of practically every Nordstrom store in the United States, geography had never been her strong point. “Is that in the Mediterranean?”
Alex nodded. “Off the southern coast of France.”
“But you don’t have an accent,” Lauren said.
He