Page 26 of Is This Real or Just Pretend?

Alex tapped her fingers on her desk and let out a huff. She had been going over the same page for a quarter of an hour now, as every time she tried to focus, her mind wandered.

This was not like her at all . Neither was this infernal fidgeting.

She splayed her palm across the worn wooden surface of her desk and glanced at the small brass clock on the corner.

It had been a present from her father to mark her first year with the company.

The second hand ticked away. Five fifteen. Lucien would be here shortly.

Alex let out a sigh of defeat and set the report aside for the morning. Then she leaned back in her chair until a throat cleared from the doorway. It was Potts. Goodness, she had forgotten all about him.

“Do you need anything more from me, Miss Atkinson?”

“No, you can go.”

He hesitated a moment until Alex raised an eyebrow. “Are you still expecting Mr. Taylor? I can wait if—”

“I don’t need a chaperone, Potts,” she said crisply. His concern was wildly misplaced. And, more important, Alex was his superior.

“Yes, miss,” he said sheepishly and gave a short bow before exiting.

With him gone, Alex was properly alone now. The building was always empty at this hour.

Because everyone else has people at home waiting for them.

She frowned at the unexpectedly maudlin thought.

It wasn’t as if she was going home to an empty house.

But then, her parents and Freddie didn’t really count.

At least, not like that. And they knew better than to wait for her anyway.

Alex ate alone in her room most evenings, while the rest of her family was out.

Because that is the way you like it.

And it had been. But now… now Alex wasn’t so sure.

She closed her eyes and was met by the same images that had been haunting her for days: Lucien in the Turners’ music room dragging his palm down her bare arm while gazing deeply into her eyes.

Lucien watching her intently as she took in the marvels of the British Museum.

Lucien and his inviting smile. His warm touch. His understanding gaze.

Alex suddenly startled as footfalls sounded outside her office and sat up just as the man himself appeared in the doorway, as if he had been conjured from her thoughts.

“Hello,” he said while knocking on the door frame.

“Come in,” she rasped, hoping her cheeks didn’t look as red as they felt and grateful he couldn’t read her mind.

As Lucien entered, Alex realized the only source of light came from the little lamp on her desk. “Sorry.” Quite rightly he lifted a brow in question at her odd comment. “It’s just so dark in here,” she explained. And why did her skin suddenly feel so tight?

For heaven’s sake, get ahold of yourself.

But Lucien waved her off as he took the seat across from her. “It’s fine with me.”

As Alex forced her body to relax, she looked him over. “Is that a new suit?”

The corner of his mouth lifted. “You noticed.”

She couldn’t help smiling as he preened a little. “It’s very nice.” Indeed, the charcoal gray suit fit him better than the one he had worn to the museum.

“After the tailor measured me, he said he had a suit already made in nearly the same size,” Lucien explained. “The client who ordered it changed his mind, so he was happy to have me take it off his hands. It needed only a few adjustments and I was able to wear it out the door.”

The suit showcased his lean form to impressive effect, and Alex had to take care not to linger overlong on his shoulders.

“How fortuitous.”

Then his face fell. “I hope that’s all right. I know it’s more than what we agreed on…”

“Of course. It’s fine. Really, Lucien.”

“And I will pay you back,” he insisted.

“I know.” But in truth, she didn’t care whether he did or didn’t. She was already seeing the benefit of their arrangement.

That was well worth the cost of a few new suits.

“So, then,” Alex said briskly. “What have you brought me?”

Lucien looked amused. “You don’t waste any time.”

“I don’t want to keep you,” she demurred.

“As you very well know, I’ve nowhere else to be.” Then he flashed her a smile before pulling a stack of papers from his satchel. While he was momentarily distracted, Alex couldn’t help smoothing her hair.

As if it would make a difference.

She had worn one of her nicer gowns today in anticipation of his visit, but now she felt silly for bothering in the first place. Lucien didn’t see her that way. He couldn’t. Moreover, she certainly couldn’t even begin to compete with someone like Freddie.

Just as her heart began to sink to the floor, Lucien placed the pages on the desk, then stopped. “Here, let me come closer. Then I can point out the changes I made.”

Before Alex could respond, he was out of the chair and by her side. The smell of soap and skin-warmed starch invaded her senses as he leaned over her shoulder to turn a page.

“I added more biographical details here. And outlined the history of the club here.”

She cleared her throat. “Good.”

“Then I created the one-month timeline, like you suggested.”

“Good,” she repeated. Alex tried to focus on the paragraph he was pointing to, but her mind felt dull. Sluggish. All she wanted to do was look at him and it took all her concentration to fight against the urge.

“I thought you’d be far more difficult to please than this,” he murmured.

Alex straightened against the shiver working down her spine. “I will be. Keep going.”

Lucien chuckled then continued going over his changes, but after a few moments Alex didn’t really hear the words. Just the sound of his deep voice washing over her. It was so calming. She could listen to him forever.

“ Alex .”

She jolted in her seat. “Yes?”

Lucien peered at her. “You seem… distracted.”

“I am. A little,” she admitted. Only then did she realize she was quite obviously staring at his mouth. Alex lifted her eyes to meet his gaze.

“Should we do this another time?”

“No, no,” she said hastily.

He rose one dark brow. “Then what is distracting you?”

Her heart beat faster at the amusement in his voice. Was he actually flirting with her?

There were any number of things she could have blamed her behavior on: the hour, hunger, the mountain of work that always needed to be done.

But Alex couldn’t muster the will to lie. For what would be the purpose? Better to have him reject her outright and put an end to her ridiculous hopes. So instead, she told the truth.

“You.”

As she whispered the word, she fully expected him to move back. To explain that she had misread the situation.

“Is that so?” he replied, still holding her gaze.

Alex then noticed the heat in his eyes flaring to life and forced herself to nod. It was too late to turn back now.

Lucien draped his arm across the back of her chair and leaned in closer, slow enough to give Alex time to stop him.

To tell him this was a mistake. That it would only complicate their agreement.

But Alex again found she lacked the will to stop.

She was so tired of thinking everything through a half dozen times.

Of imagining every possible outcome. Of being the responsible one.

The boring one. Everyone else in her life seemed to be at the mercy of their desires at all times.

And just this once, she wanted to be too.

As the warmth of Lucien’s body enveloped her own, Alex closed her eyes and tilted her head back. Just as Freddie’s words muscled their way into her brain.

No one will believe he wants you.

Alex’s eyes flew open. Lucien’s face was an inch away from her own. His brows rose in question, but they simply stared at each other. The only sound Alex could hear was her own sharp, panting breaths. She still had the chance to save face. To explain this all away. But then her sister would win.

Well, to hell with Freddie.

Alex surged upward and pressed her mouth to his. Her sudden movement seemed to catch him by surprise, but Lucien quickly recovered and pulled her into his arms. As Alex came to her feet, Lucien immediately pressed her backside against the desk.

She kissed him with feverish, searching lips, unable to contain her eagerness as the need for him clawed up her belly, no longer held at bay.

Lucien responded in kind, his hands cupping her jaw and adjusting the angle of her face to better suit them.

His enticing mouth was soft and warm. She wanted to taste him.

As Alex slipped her tongue past his lips, Lucien let out a sharp groan and pulled back.

“Jesus,” he panted by her ear as his chest heaved against her own.

She loved how he reacted to her. And Alex, who never had any trouble maintaining control, was suddenly overcome with greed.

With the need for this man. She nuzzled his neck and caressed his chest. How hard his heart was beating.

Then she met his eyes. He was still breathing hard, his eyes like two black orbs.

Alex dragged a hand lower while still holding his gaze.

Lucien made no move to stop her, even when she grazed his belly, even when she reached the front of his trousers.

She was just about to touch him when he inhaled sharply. Alex paused and shot him a questioning look. “Do you want me to stop?”

“No,” Lucien grunted.

Alex smiled. “Good.” Then she began to palm him through the cloth, taking stock of his length and girth.

“Quite impressive, Mr. Taylor,” she murmured with approval.

He squeezed his eyes shut and moaned. “God, when you talk like that…”