Page 70 of Game of Love
Xander.
He was talking to Frankie and while he talked it up with him, a blond woman checked him out. I couldn’t blame her, couldn’t blame the two dark-haired women by the water fountain either. They were pointing at him, obviously talking about him.
He was gorgeous and had the kind of looks that made the women swoon.
I was doing it too and thinking about last night. I wasn’t sure I could look at him again and not think of last night, it was virtually impossible.
At least it had happened.
Frankie stopped talking to him and went in the opposite direction. Then Xander turned and saw me.
Our eyes locked and for a moment I forgot that I was just standing here watching him. I never even thought to act like I wasn’t.
He was several feet away but I didn’t miss the little smile that tugged on his lips.
I tensed when he made his way over to me.
The women watched and kept watching him. When he stopped a breath away from me everything and everyone else faded away. All I saw was him.
“Morning.” He arched his sensual lips bringing out the dimples.
“Good morning,” I answered returning his smile. The morning did feel better for seeing him. My heart warmed and my body buzzed with memories of his touch.
“Are you okay?” He shifted his weight and leaned slightly toward me.
“I’m here.”
“I noticed. Are you sure you should be here? A day off from this place after a night like last night could have been a good break.”
I shook my head. “It’s better to come here.” I was sure too that if I hadn’t come I might not have seen him. Dad would send Armand to stay with me. I was sure of it.
“I don’t know about that. If I were an artist I think I would have used the day to paint.”
I smiled at that. “I don’t have anything to paint today.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be working on something for me? Did you forget?”
I smiled wider. “No…”
His face brightened and it reminded me of happier times. It was just the feeling I got. The sensation. Like last night. Just like last night and suddenly I knew what I’d paint for him.
“I’ll work on it this week.” I nodded.
“I look forward to it Jia.”
We looked at each other and that awkward silence filled the space between us. The breath that separated us opened the haze that shut the world out and I noticed the blond woman still staring at him. He followed my gaze then looked back to me.
“What? Do you know her?”
I chuckled. “No, I’m just jealous.”
“Why? Why would Jia Marchesi be jealous?”
I took advantage of our closeness to run my fingers over his chest, just lightly, just to touch him and remember how he felt against my fingertips.
“She’s not me. She’s not the boss’s daughter. She can do whatever she wants and go wherever she wants. She can look at you because she’s beautiful and she might have a shot with you. And I’m sure if you asked her to, she could go wherever she wanted with you… Not like me. It’s crazy. I shouldn’t be jealous, because you aren’t mine.”
He glanced over his shoulder and an easy grin drew my attention to the dimple in his left cheek.
