“Yes,” Alex replied. “We would.” She had completely forgotten about the blasted ball. Now she would need to be fitted for an uncomfortable gown, stay up far too late, and make small talk with dozens of people she did not like. She might even have todance. Alex held back a shudder at the thought.
“I’d love to. It would be an honor,” Lucien answered just as the lights began to dim once again.
Alex couldn’t deny that the thought of Lucien attending brightened her outlook considerably. And that was a dangerous development.
“Now, pay attention,” her father hissed, gesturing to the stage. “I paid a lot of money for these tickets and I haven’t a clue what’s going on.”
“Yes, Father.”
Lucien shot her another smile and Alex returned it despite the warning gnawing inside her. For whatever this was between them could not be easily controlled. Not even by her. And if she gave in just a little, that would mostdefinitelymean trouble.
Twenty-One
Alex glanced at the clock on her desk and let out a sigh of relief. It was well after six, which meant she had made it through an entire day without getting sidetracked with thoughts of Lucien. Tomorrow they would attend the lecture at the Royal Geographic Society, but that was different. There would be no opportunity for them to be alone, and Alex was determined to keep things that way. After all, the whole point of this was for them to be seen by other people. Being alone would be a waste of time.
But as Alex’s mind began to drift to thoughts of justhowthey might waste their time, footfalls sounded in the hall near her office. Had Potts left something behind? That wasn’t like him. She must have been in a good mood because as Alex quickly sorted the papers on her desk she was ready to tease her usually fastidious secretary about this oversight when the man appeared in her doorway.
“Really, Potts. Did you forget—” But the rest of the words died on her lips.
Lucien.
Alex sat back in her chair. Hard. “You,” she breathed, which sounded very much like an accusation.
Lucien quirked a brow at the strange greeting. “Good evening.”
“Is something wrong?” Alex practically barked the question.She was being incredibly rude, but her nerves were in shambles. Why was he here? Andnow? He was ruining everything.
“No. I came to see you.”
He stepped into her office and Alex instinctively leaned back in her chair, though there wasn’t anywhere for her to go. “But it’s nearly dinnertime.”
Lucien gave her an amused look and shrugged. “I took the chance that you would still be here.”
Alex began to bristle. Was she truly so predictable? But then he held up a hamper. “And wouldn’t have eaten yet.”
“Oh.”
“Since you haven’t made it to Paris, I thought I’d bring a little of it to you.”
Oh.
“That is… very thoughtful,” Alex conceded grumpily.
Lucien smiled and came closer. “I found an excellent bakery while wandering around town earlier,” he explained while he pulled a few items out of the hamper and set them on her desk. “The owner is from Marseilles and prides himself on his baguettes, though his patisserie looked very fine indeed. Then he directed me to his favorite cheesemonger—”
Alex bit her lip. No. This was too much. She couldn’t bear it. “You shouldn’t have gone to all this trouble.”
Especially for me.
Lucien paused and his gaze turned inscrutable. “It’s no trouble. There,” he said with a flourish. “We have bread, cheese, some fruit, andtarte aux pommes Normande.”
Alex took in the perfectly baked baguette, the wedge of creamycheese, the apple tart, and the golden pear. “It’s perfect,” she murmured, then looked at Lucien. “Thank you.”
His eyes warmed and he looked proud enough to burst. “My pleasure.”
Lucien insisted on serving her first and Alex was forced to wait while he quickly and competently sliced the pear into equal wedges, then selected the best bits of everything for her. The man had even thought to bring a set of plates and napkins, along with a small flask of wine.
It wasreally too much.
