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“I’m on it.” Aunt Sabrina uncaps the wine and smiles to herself while she pours. “I’m thinking,” she admits, “that perhaps Lucien and I could visit you and Alexander in Italy for a few days.”
I grin, delighted.
“We’d both love that. My dads have said the same, so maybe you could coordinate with them. It would be so fun.” My smile dips. “I want Paige to come as well, but I’m not sure she will.”
Aunt Sabrina smiles. “I’ll talk to her. Perhaps if she knows that as Alexander’s parents we are okay with you both being together then maybe she’ll come around.”
“Ramon and Noah have gone to Boston for a few days to make sure she’s okay.” I shrug. “They think maybe something else is going on and that she’s letting her anger out on me.”
“They’ll get to the bottom of it, I’m sure. You’ve both fallen out before and it hasn’t ever lasted too long.”
“Not over a boy before,” I say and chuckle. “Not that Alexander is a boy, or anything.” My blush rises as I quickly turn away.
Aunt Sabrina laughs. “All I’m going to say on the matter, considering he’s my son, is … the McKenzie men are all children, just in a man’s body.”
Uncle Lucien clear
s his throat in the doorway. “You were saying?” He raises a brow at his wife.
“You heard exactly what I said.” She grins and taking ahold of his jaw, pulls him to her waiting lips. “I love you,” she whispers, and quickly steps away. “I think we need to eat.”
“I’ve been sent to tell you Alexander is hungry.” Uncle Lucien picks up two of the dishes on the countertop. “He figured as I’m the authority figure you’d listen to me and get a move on.”
Aunt Sabrina shakes her head as we follow Uncle Lucien through to the dining room—no Alexander though.
I glance around and find him lounging against the corner of the window behind me, a soft smile on his lips.
Pulling my bottom lip between my teeth, I move over to my man and slide into his arms, my gaze on his handsome face. “Is everything okay?”
“I’m so happy, Rachel.” He searches my eyes as I let him see how much I love him. He nods and places a light kiss on my forehead. His hand slides into mine and our fingers intertwine.
As he leads me to the table, I don’t miss the knowing look that passes between his mom and dad.
21
Alexander
The view from my office in the McKenzie Holdings building never gets old. I’ve sat here many times, staring off toward the snowcapped mountains in the far distance while I think about current projects that I have on my desk. Today I’m not thinking about work. I’m thinking about the woman I love who is currently at home, packing.
Rachel leaves for Italy tomorrow morning and I’m not sure how I’m going to be able to say goodbye to her. I’m going to be joining her in just a little over a week, but it hurts that I’m not going to be able to accompany her over the ocean.
We have a date in Florence, which will have to keep me going while I miss her. Her beautiful face will appear daily on my phone while we video chat. I’ll still be able to hear her voice, but I won’t be able to touch her or bury my nose in the curve of her neck to inhale her scent. She says the curve of my neck is her calm. Well, hers is mine.
For the first time since I started working in the family company, I want to walk away from it all to be with Rachel. I know that it’s wrong of me, and probably stupid, but I want to be on the flight with Rachel tomorrow, it’s a desperation that I’ve never felt before.
I feel as though the morning is going to be the last time I see her, which is ridiculous. I can’t get rid of the feeling.
My palm rubs the ache in my chest as I catch my sister’s reflection through the window. Olivia leans against the entrance to my office, observing me in silence.
I’m not sure how long she’s been standing there as I sigh heavily and turn my chair in her direction. I rest my arms on the large oak desk in front of me and try to relax. I don’t succeed.
“I’m worried about you,” she says, sitting in one of the two visitor’s chairs. “You’ve never been distracted before.”
I offer a mirthless laugh. “I’ve never been preparing to say goodbye to the only girlfriend I’ve ever had.”
She shakes her head. “You do know she’s coming back, right?” She frowns. “I also thought you were heading over there in a week.”
“I am.”
