The Lavender Menage

Chapter Two

The rest of the event went by in a flash. Before she knew it she was at the valet stand and within moments a black limo pulled up to the curb, its driver promptly appeared, opened the door and beckoned her inside. She paused at seeing Enzo's large form inside the darkened space.

Reading her hesitance he offered, "I hope you don't mind that I'm here. We're going to pick Matteo up on the way, he didn't want you to have to travel alone."

A pause, a breath, and she got in. The driver closed the door behind her encapsulating them inside the quiet, cool space.

He sat at ease across from her. His body draped across the leather seat in the nonchalant relaxed way that she was quickly starting to recognize as emblematic of his self-assured nature. The low-lit interior accented his grey shirt and the whites of his eyes, which highlighted his thick lashes. A man shouldn't be allowed to have such sultry eyes, she thought. He looked sexy and wicked, like he was made for riding in the back of limos and doing naughty things. A real life fallen angel come to earth.

"You two must be as thick as thieves if you would bother yourself waiting outside an event for me on Matteo's behalf."

He smiled. His expression changing from sultry to mischievous at her words.

"We are pretty thick." He paused before adding: "I thought it was a good opportunity to get you alone."

This time she couldn't school her reaction. Perhaps the events of the night were loosening the controls she kept so carefully in place, but his blunt and innuendo-laden statement equally piqued her interest and startled her.

"Pardon me. My translation is not always the best. I mean I want to get to know you more."

"Why would you care about getting to know me?"

He studied her for a moment before answering.

"Matteo wants to entice you back."

"Entice me... to come back?" Alarms were going off in Lexi's head.

"I mean he wants to find a way to get you to work with Attraversiamo again."

She suspected as much. It was the only logical reason why he'd invite her to meet with him tonight but even so she was surprised to hear that he would extend such an offer after not having any communication with her for all this time.

"That's not likely. But I thought as much."

"Matteo thinks very highly of you. You left quite an impression on him."

For the second time tonight she was hearing that Matteo spoke of her to his inner circle, which was a surprise and something she had to reconcile with the guarded man she remembered. She needed to change the subject. "How do you know Matteo?"

"Matteo and I have been friends a long time. Since we were children. Our families spent a lot of time together. As kids we were inseparable." He took a deep breath and went on. "But, then our families had a falling out and we were not able to see each other for a time. When you knew Matteo we had just started talking again. My apologies. I shouldn't go on like this when it is your night. You must be delighted with how successful the event was."

"Yes, it went quite well. The team did a good job."

"You are too modest. I've been to many events over the years and I know how much planning goes into them. You do good work."

"Thank you." It was hard not to be distracted by how sexy he was. His sooty dark eyes and vortex like attentiveness pulled her to him. Women must fall at his feet, she thought, and reined in her thoughts, determined to keep the conversation light. Plus she wanted to keep him talking, to hear whatever he was willing to share. She sensed an undercurrent of something that she couldn't name yet.