The Lavender Menage

Chapter Three

"I thought we should dine in tonight," Matteo explained as they entered his building. The doorman ushered them to the elevator and hit the button for the top floor. "We will have more privacy here so I've arranged for my staff to make us dinner."

Still reeling from their illicit back-to-back kisses, Lexi was quiet until they reached the top floor and entered Matteo's penthouse home. "You moved." She finally commented as they passed over the threshold into the dramatic foyer.

The room was paneled in dark wood and was accented by several framed mirrors. Light glimmered from an opulently modern crystal chandelier, which hung at the center of the room. Under it stood a substantial oval table that was adorned by an enormous vase of Calla lilies. The arrangement was made up of dozens of long stemmed lilies, which arched over en mass to a graceful bow. Their virginally white blossoms glowed under the sparking light; each unfurling spathe loosened just enough to reveal a golden spike peeking out from each center. The air was sweet with their fragrance as the party passed and moved into the expansive living area.

"Yes. I decided to buy something more permanent. Business in North America is booming and it keeps me here more than it has in the past. Plus I'm starting to enjoy the city. It's become my home away from home." He artlessly added, "It would be nice if there was another reason to spend more time here."

As with the foyer the rest of the home was distinctly masculine and dramatic in design. Modern and sleek, the space was softened with lushly upholstered furnishings and thoughtful art. It was tied together with a blue, grey, and dark brown color palette, no doubt the work of some upscale interior designer. But it was the view of Central Park that drew Lexi across the room. A bank of giant windows lent themselves to the picture perfect vista. Tonight the full moon washed across the tops of the trees giving the park a luminescent brilliance.

An elegantly set table stood at the edge of the room offering the most spectacular view. A white tablecloth, fine china, stemmed glasses, and a red rose centerpiece adorned the table, all illuminated by softly flickering candles. It was set for three.

"This is quite the romantic setting" Lexi observed. "And set for three. Somewhat presumptuous on your part don't you think Matteo?"

Matteo pulled out a chair for her and took his own seat before answering. "I could never presume to have the upper hand with you Lexi and I'm not that premeditated."

She shot him what could only be interpreted as a let's cut the bullshit look.

"Okay maybe I am that, shall we say, deliberate. But I'm also just a man who happens to be very attracted to you. Don't expect me to pass up the opportunity to dine with you by candlelight even if we were discussing business tonight. Besides Enzo is my business partner so it makes sense that he'd be here and I never expected tonight to take this turn."

"We haven't turned anywhere yet." She replied as one of his staff members poured them all a glass of red wine.

Matteo waited until the server walked away before replying, "True but, now that we've cleared up the miscommunication from before, you are more...open to the idea. So when you broke things off it wasn't because you were offended about the ménage, but because you were opposed to the third being female. Do I have that right? Why is that?"

Enzo who had taken the opposite seat next to Lexi raised his eyebrows inquisitively. He too was curious to hear her reply.

"Personal preference perhaps," Lexi answered and then contemplated her next words weighing how honest she wanted to be. Finally she continued: "I didn't want to share you with another woman and I thought you might already be sleeping with her."