Eventually, the ecstatic celebration became a slightly more subdued one and her father came looking for her. “They’ve voted Chisolm off the board too, which means there is an open seat. I nominated you, and I think we have the votes, but we need to act now.”
It was the kind of recognition Alex had wanted for years. With a board seat, she would have more control over the direction of the company. “I need to speak with Lucien.”
“What, now?”
“Yes,” Alex said and left her father standing there looking agog while she wound through the crowd. Someone had broken out the bottles of champagne they kept on hand for important clients and the atmosphere had become festive. She eventually found Lucien backed into a corner by the lobby secretary. But as soon as he saw Alex, he politely excused himself and rushed over to her.
“Hello,” he said happily. “Did your father tell you the news? They want to give you a seat on the board.”
She gripped his lapels to steady herself as someone bumped her from behind. “Can we go somewhere to talk? It’s too loud here.”
Lucien nodded and Alex led him through the crowd and down the hall into her office.
“Alone at last,” Lucien quipped with a smile as he leaned his hip against her desk.
As he stared at her expectantly, Alex could feel her nerves beginning to buzz and shoved them aside. She needed to get this right.
“I couldn’t see it before,” she blurted out.
Well, so much for that.
She inhaled a calming breath and focused her thoughts. “That is, I couldn’t see how you would fit into my life,” she tried again. “I was so scared of changing anything. Because I thought I needed it. Because all I have ever done or have been valued for was work. My sisters are beautiful and charming and talented at a dozen different things. But I am good at business. And for a long time, that was fine. That made me happy. Until you came back and everything changed. Then I thought I could stop it. That I could remain the person I had been before you—” She broke off as her voice cracked.
“But the truth is, Imissyou. So terribly. I miss those stupid little outings that we were forced to go on and whispering through a play and going to the British Museum. I want to do more of that. More ofeverythingwith you. I’ve done nothing but work for the last week and I realized that I absolutely hate it,” she said with a laugh. “That I don’t want to fit you into this life. I want tochangemy life to fit you.”
His hand rested on top of hers. “Alex…”
“What was the other reason?” she demanded. “Why you came here.”
His gaze burned into hers and Alex didn’t think she would ever find the will to look away. “Because I’ve fallen in love with you, Alexandra Atkinson,” he said. Just as Alex’s heart began to soar, Lucien continued: “And I want to court you.”
Alex tilted her head, confused. “But… you already have.”
He gave her an indulgent smile. “I mean properly, this time. For real.”
Alex considered this. Briefly. Then shook her head. “No.”
Lucien’s eyebrows rose. “No?”
“No,” she said firmly. “I don’t care for courtship. It’s a waste of time and there are too many ridiculous rules.”
“Oh.” Lucien looked deflated. “I see. I understand—”
“I think we should marry instead.”
His eyebrows rose again. “Really?”
“Yes. If you’ll have me.”
He pulled her into his arms then, laughing. “Youscaredme, Alex!”
“I’m sorry.” She smiled against his shoulder. “I didn’t mean to.”
Then he pulled back. “I’ll think of a way for you to make it up to me.”
“Please do.”
And just as they were exchanging a smile far too wicked for a place of business, her father interrupted them. “Come on, Alexandra. The board is waiting!”
