AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My hand flew out and slapped him across the face.It was a solid contact and my fingers stung from the force.
Andrew clutched his cheek.His eyes narrowed and blazed with anger.He brought his right hand up and for a moment I thought he might hit me.
He dropped his hand and started to say something.Changing his mind, he shook his head and turned on his heel, leaving me standing alone.
I let him go.It was best if I didn't talk to him right now.Besides, what would I say?
Ryan and Nicole were gone.Probably back to their suite to celebrate.Leo was gone too.Just the busboy clearing the table and the photographer, who was packing up his equipment, remained.I grabbed my purse from under the table and slipped away.
I walked as quickly as I could in my heels.I needed to get away but had no idea where to go.Could you ever really be alone in Vegas?There were people all around me.Laughing, celebrating, having fun.My head was spinning.I couldn't get the image of Andrew's face when he asked me about Leo out of my mind.What could I tell him?What was there to tell?I needed to calm down.
Ben.
I needed to talk to Ben.I stopped in the middle of the casino floor and dug through my purse for my cell phone but before I could dial the number, I noticed the time.He would be asleep.With the hour time difference, I would wake him if I called.And for what?To tell him that his mother was doing a terrible job of keeping their family together?Hot tears pricked at my eyes and I blinked hard, forcing them back.
"Lexi?"
Leo's voice, warm like my favorite quilt, wrapped around me from behind."Lexi, are you okay?"Reaching me, he touched my shoulder and it took everything I had not to collapse into his touch.The need for him to hold me overwhelmed my senses.
I shook my head, pulled just out of his reach and turned to face him.His handsome features were creased in concern and hurt.
He pointed to my phone."It can be hard to get reception inside.Do you need to make a call?"
"No," I said."I shouldn't disturb him."
"Your husband, you mean?"
I sighed and said, "I can't talk about this right now."
"Then when, Lexi?What's going on?"
I turned away so I couldn't look at his face and see the raw emotion there.
"There's nothing going on," I said."Everyone needs to stop asking me that."
He reached out and touched my bare arm.The touch was tender, loving, more than friendly."Okay, I won't ask anymore," he said, his voice only a little more than a whisper."Come.You look like you need some fresh air."
I couldn't argue with that.There was nothing I wanted more than to get out of this casino.The lights, the noise, the smells, and the people made me want to scream.I couldn't think surrounded by all of the activity.And I needed to think.
I nodded my response.He led me out the front door of the casino, his hand just hovering, not quite touching on the small of my back.
Leo spoke to the concierge, who hailed a limousine for us, and I got in without a word.We didn't speak as the car inched through traffic down the Strip, eventually turning off and pulling into a small parking lot.
I was numb, and my feet moved automatically as Leo led me into the restaurant.It was the complete opposite of anything I'd seen on the Strip.Instead of the over-the-top flamboyance of everything else I'd seen in Vegas, this place was tiny and dark.There were no pretentious waiters strutting around, or artsy walls made out of water.Each table was decorated simply with a white tablecloth and a candle.Black-and-white photos of landscapes dotted the walls.
The maître d' led us through the dining room and outside to a patio area where there was a table tucked in the corner.The fountain burbling nearby managed to block out what little noise there was from the other tables.There were mini-lights strung through potted shrubs and vines that created an easy atmosphere, and I could feel myself starting to release some of the tension I'd felt earlier.Leo asked for a bottle of red wine and then we were alone.
"I hope it's okay that I brought you here," Leo said."I don't want to cause you any more trouble."
I shook my head."Don't worry about Andrew."
"I can't help it, Lexi."He reached across the table and took my hand.I let him."I know I shouldn't be with you like this.I know I shouldn't be thinking the things I'm thinking.If I were your husband, I would be insane if another man was feeling this way towards you."
But you're not my husband, I thought."It's okay.Honestly it is."
"When I saw you in my hotel again," he said, "I thought I was dreaming."
"I can't believe you remembered me."
