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There were a thousand reasons why I couldn’t do that. First and foremost, she was a reporter who was there to do a story on me. I didn’t want to blur the lines for her or myself by getting romantically involved. It wouldn't be right for her, for the story, or for me, even if that was where my mind constantly went when I was with her.
When we had talked the other night about our arrangement, I had specifically not brought up the obvious attraction we felt for each other. I thought it was best not to. It wouldn’t prevent it from being there but hopefully it conveyed to Alexandria that this was a business arrangement nothing more.
Yet, all it took was seeing her looking so beautiful and sexy in her dress for all those thoughts to go right out the window. It brought me to my second reason for not getting involved with her; I didn’t have time for a relationship. Even if the more time I spent with Alexandria and thought about her, the more I wanted to try to make the time.
“It will be fine. There are a few reporters, family, friends, fellow restaurant owners outside. We’ll welcome them to the restaurant and take a few photos. There will be some with my family as well, then everyone will go inside.
“I’ll be busy but I should have time to stop by and talk to you and my family when I get a free moment,” I said.
“Your family? I’m going to be having dinner with your family?”
“What did you think would happen? I would hide you in the back? Put you at the kid’s table?” I teased her.
“There’s a kid’s table?”
“No,” I said with a laugh and I could tell she was joking and it only added to my attraction to her.
“I didn’t think about it one way or the other. What do they know about me? About us?”
“You asked for complete honesty and I will give it to you, so will my family. They know who you are, why you are here, and our arrangement. They are all for it. It was actually Mac who first suggested this.”
“Wonderful. As long as everyone’s on the same page,” she muttered.
“You’re going to do great. We have our story in place. I think everyone’s going to be shocked by you being next to me that they won’t have too many questions to ask. If they do, I can answer them, don’t worry,” I said and gave her arm a light squeeze.
She smiled up at me and tried to show more courage than she actually felt. It only made me hope that the evening went well for both of us.
“Thanks for doing this,” I said.
“Remember you said that when I grill you and your family,” she said with a laugh.
“You can start on that tonight if you’d like. I warned them about you.”
“What did you tell them?” She put her hands on her hips and glared at me. Clearly, not as amused as I was by my statement.
“Just that you were a cutthroat reporter who was out for blood and you blackmailed me into being my date tonight.”
She quickly saw that I was joking and smiled at me. “Glad to see you were so honest with them. They should know what they are getting from me and not be surprised by the questions I ask them,” she said and with a pat on my arm turned and walked out of the office.
I couldn’t hold back my smile as I watched her go, taking in the view of her incredibly tight ass and how well it looked in the dress as she did. As I followed her out of the office, I knew it would be one hell of a night.
Alexandria was waiting for me right outside the kitchen when I exited the office. She smiled at me sweetly as she did and put her hand out for me to take. It was a simple gesture but my heart jumped at the thought of taking her hand, of feeling her flesh next to mine. It was crazy to be excited about something that would normally be so mundane, but I was when it came to her. It was as much because I knew there was so much more that I wanted to touch and I couldn’t.
“For appearances sake,” she said when I placed my hand in hers.
“Definitely,” I felt there was more to it than what she was saying as I squeezed her hand in mine and then smiled at her.
“Don’t forget to have fun,” I said and she laughed.
“You too. And one more thing. My friends and family call me Lexi.”
“Lexi,” I said slowly.
I let the word roll off my tongue and through my body. It fit her. Alexandria fit her too, in her professionalism, her intelligence, and her wit. Lexi fit the other sides I was seeing of her. The more carefree, the more open, and even the sexier side. It made me want to know who Lexi was and how she differed from Alexandria.
“Let’s go. You can’t be late to your own party,” she said and tugged on my arm.
I followed her out to the dining area, giving a quick once over that everything was in place. The staff was milling around doing the last-minute preparations and I shot a quick glance at Rosie who nodded at me that everything was ready to go.
