Rich, Rugged...Royal. Cynthia Rutledge
he said as if it were no big deal.
“When I interviewed Alex, I knew he was just what I was looking for,” Sara said. “Not only is he fluent in all those languages, he’s very familiar with Europe.”
“I know it intimately,” Alex said. Was it only her imagination or had his deep, sensual voice lingered on the last word?
Lauren’s heart skipped a beat but she cast him a warning glance. Sara was smart and if he wasn’t careful, she’d catch on that her new employee and her old friend knew each other better than they were letting on.
“Your espresso, sir.” The waiter placed the cup before Alex, smiled and turned on his heel.
“Lauren is in the market for a roommate,” Sara said as soon as the waiter left. “She asked if I knew anyone who might be interested and I mentioned you were looking.”
“Roommate?” That cute little dimple she remembered so well flashed in Alex’s cheek, and Lauren decided she’d be safer with Jack the Ripper under her roof.
“It’s very small,” Lauren said.
“Your town house is spacious,” Sara protested. “And quite lovely.”
“We’d be tripping all over each other,” Lauren added.
“I don’t mind being close.” Alex took another sip of his espresso but mischief gleamed in his eye. “Not at all.”
Sara’s brows pulled together in puzzlement and Lauren kicked Alex under the table.
“The extra bedroom and bathroom are in the basement,” Lauren said.
Actually, the downstairs area was light and airy with huge daylight windows. But there was no need for Alex to know that.
“Sounds cozy.” Alex didn’t appear the least bit dissuaded. “I like cozy.”
He winced as the pointed toe of her shoe connected with his shin once again.
“I’m sorry, but I just noticed the time.” Sara pushed back her chair and rose to her feet. “I have to pick up the baby.”
Alex rose to his feet. “Are we still on for seven?”
Sara hesitated a fraction of a second. “Absolutely.”
Lauren hid a smile. It was obvious that her friend had completely forgotten the plans. Since her baby had been born, Sara’s already hectic schedule had kicked into overdrive and she’d confided in Lauren that half the time she didn’t know whether she was coming or going.
Sara shifted her gaze. “Lauren, I’d love to have you join us. Sal’s mother sent over some lasagna this morning and I’ll probably just throw together a salad. You haven’t been over in forever. Please say you’ll come.”
Lauren squirmed in her chair. She couldn’t imagine being in the same room with Alex all evening. Even now the electricity between them was almost palpable. “I’m not sure tonight will work.”
“C’mon, Lauren.” Sara put a hand on her hip and her lips came together in a pout. “You told me earlier you didn’t have anything going on this evening.”
Lauren glanced at Alex and found him grinning.
“We’ll eat at seven,” Sara said as if the matter were already decided. “Sal will probably want to go over some of the tour’s security requirements with Alex after dinner. That’ll give us the opportunity to continue our talk.”
Lauren offered a noncommittal smile. Alex’s appearance had effectively ensured that her night of passion in Chicago would remain her secret.
Unless Alex decided to talk….
Lauren waited until her friend was out the door before she turned back to Alex. “What is going on here?”
Alex stared unblinkingly, the anger in her voice taking him by surprise. He’d gotten the impression she’d been glad to see him. Now he wasn’t sure. “What do you mean?”
“You told me you were unemployed.”
“I also told you I was interviewing for jobs,” he said.
“You could have told me you knew Sara.”
“I had no idea you two were friends,” he said. “I was as shocked as you when I walked in and saw the two of you together.”
Actually, shocked didn’t begin to describe how he’d felt when he’d glanced across the crowded coffee shop and saw Lauren sitting at the table with his new boss. For one crazy second, he’d wondered if his job was over before it had begun. Sara was a devout Christian and even though Alex believed he had in no way taken advantage of Lauren, he knew Sara might not see it that way.
“I take it you didn’t tell her about us?” Though Sara’s comments had led him to believe that was the case, Alex had to know for sure.
For a second she hesitated. His heart dropped until she rolled her eyes.
“Get real. What was I going to say? Hey, Sara, I know how you feel about sex before marriage. Want to hear about the one-night stand I had last weekend?”
He chuckled but quickly sobered at the warning look in her eyes.
“No one knows about that night,” Lauren said. “I want it to stay that way.”
“I understand,” Alex said.
“I don’t think you do.” Lauren leaned forward and lowered her voice, resting her elbows on the table. “My friends have high moral standards. The school where I teach is very conservative. This can’t get out.”
“You’re right. Teachers don’t have sex.” Alex tried not to smile, but he couldn’t quite pull it off.
Her lips pressed together. “Be serious.”
She looked so cute with her emerald eyes blazing and a rush of pink staining her cheeks that he was tempted to tease her some more. But the lines of worry edging her eyes stopped him.
He met her gaze. “No one will hear about it from me.”
“Thank you.” Her sigh was clearly audible.
“But if your friends are as conservative as you say,” Alex said. “What are they going to think about us living together?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Lauren said. “I’ve decided it’s not a good idea for us to be under the same roof.”
The same thought had crossed his mind. Alex needed this job and he couldn’t afford to get on Sara’s bad side. Living in the same house with her friend would be just asking for trouble.
A sensible man would drop the subject and go back to reading the want ads. But Alex had never been particularly sensible and he’d never liked the idea of living with a stranger.
Lauren wouldn’t be a stranger….
She’d remained in his thoughts since that night in the hotel. Alex had cursed himself for failing to get a phone number or address. He’d thought it would be so easy. When he arrived in St. Louis he’d look up her name in the phone book and give her a call. The only problem was there had been no listing for a Lauren Carlyle. Just when he’d reconciled himself to the fact that he’d never see her again, their paths had crossed. It seemed like fate.
“I don’t see the problem,” Alex said in his most conciliatory tone. “It will be strictly a business arrangement. You need the money. I need a place to live.”
“I know this may be hard for you to believe—especially after how I behaved the other night but I usually don’t have trouble keeping men at arm’s length,” she said. “It’s different with you.”
He could sense her cryptic comment was significant, so he pondered the words for a moment before speaking. “So you’re saying you think you could be