Chapter 248

‘There you are, London! I was upstairs looking for you.’

I pause, breath catching in my lungs as Alexi catches up with me from the lift, obviously having missed me in passing, and turn with my brightest smile. God knows where he was in this building, probably the office floor, and I feel weirdly shy around him suddenly. A strange warmth and bubble of happiness that he is still in the building. I don’t know why there is a change in how I feel around him today, other than waking up tucked up in my own bed and knowing he did it.

Maybe the gifts? The thoughtfulness behind them?

I don’t know!

‘I’m right here. Where do you think I would be?’ I question him cheekily, definite perky mood at his appearance and no hint of sassy at all. I feel great and even he couldn’t dampen my sparkle today.

He’s looking unusually suave in casual attire again, a t-shirt and jeans that are snug but not overly tight and has shades stuck on his head in his messy hairdo. It’s a good look but it’s not my perfectly tailored sinister mobster, and I feel a tad disappointed in it. He’s hot like this, but he’s smoking in a suit.

‘I left some files on the desk for you that you needed signed. And I wanted to say thanks.’ He grins at me, all dimples, sparkly eyes and great teeth, looking equally merry today and I wonder if maybe there is something in the water. He gestures me with his eyes, nodding down and it takes a moment to register that he’s sticking his foot out and lifting his jean leg to let me see his socks.

I pause as I stare at them, momentarily dazed, and burst out laughing when I notice the little Kingpin font around his ankle just above his trainer and smile stupidly. Losing all inhibition and breaking into a real grin of genuine amusement.

I never actually imagined he would wear them and it’s ridiculously funny to me. Alexi can be surprising, to say the least. If only he was also naked … would have just made it for me.

‘You don’t have to wear them; they were bought as a joke.’ I laugh softly, forgetting myself around him for a minute and basking in the genuine happy look he throws me back. The air around us gets light and fluffy and my whole body relaxes in his zingy presence.

‘I happen to appreciate the gift, even if it was bought to put me in my place. London to New York! I love them.’ He reaches out and tugs a strand of my hair affectionately, a cheeky smile and a glint in his eye that only serves to make him more devilishly handsome. It sobers me up instantly as I come to my senses and pull my guard back up; should never get too soft around this man, for anything.

‘I should go feed the cat.’ I swallow hard, moving away and turn back on my heel to get out of here before this goes anywhere else. He’s in an infectious mood, and I know that means I have less of a self-defence system in his presence.

‘Hold the door, I’m coming. I have to leave,’ he adds in afterthought and follows me, despite it being the last thing I want, and catches up to keep pace with me as I get to it with easy strides.

‘Where are you going?’ I ask to cover the awkwardness I feel around him now, and he just pulls down his shades as sun floods in from the open door as I yank it towards me. Looking all Playboy cover model like this, and I shake my head to dislodge the giddy weirdness that comes over me with him getting closer.

Damn this body and its infernal internal inability to not want to get this man naked between my thighs. He should bottle whatever it is he gives off and sell it to men who can’t get laid. Works wonders on unsuspecting women.

‘Another of my clubs; I have a meeting with my bar manager about an overhaul of another place.’ His tone is bright and warm, husky as usual with that very deep sexiness that I could listen to all day. It’s more evident when he’s being completely relaxed.

‘A club like this?’ I question, intrigued and also a little green with that thought. Somehow having more than one of my little endeavours doesn’t sit well with me and I double glance at him, leading the way outside ahead of him and down the steps towards the bowls I keep there for Feral.

‘No … a regular nightclub that I have owned for years; it needs updating and some cash thrown in to give it a boost. It’s uptown, right in cash central.’ He smiles sexily at me and my stomach plummets as my insides churn crazily.

Stop it, Camilla.

We walk in two directions when we hit the tarmac of the car park, and I sigh in relief to be getting control of my libido again. Me to the left and him to the right towards his car, throwing me a glance as we separate and I stop to rip the can lid off the food with the little tab on top, hoping focus will simmer my inner tingles a little.

I have no idea why he’s majorly affecting me this morning.

‘You want to come?’ Alexi’s question makes me stop and turn to look at him in surprise as he stands at his car and opens his driver door.

‘What, me?’ I look around in case he’s asking someone else that I didn’t know was out here, and then look back to him when I realise he’s smiling at me in wide-eyed surprise.

‘Yeah, you … Girl who made this place look amazing; could use your input over there and some of that Cam magic.’ Alexi is in a very good mood today, it’s weird. There’s probably something wrong with him, possibly a bang to his head—especially if he’s inviting me for a ride along to another of his businesses.

He’s all smiles and laid-back charm and I narrow my eyes at him, forgetting about dishing out Feral’s food as he starts yowling at me nearby in annoyance.

‘You really want my company? On purpose?’ I blanch at him, and he just narrows his gaze at me, amused but yet not. Looking at me like I might be a bit insane and he shouldn’t have to answer that.

I jump in fright as something pushes against my naked leg, a warm fuzzy sensation that’s completely alien to me and look down in shock. Eyes bulging with what I see. Feral rubs his face across my naked ankle for a second, head butting me playfully. Affectionately purring like a maniac, or a vibrating toy and has another go at meowing pitifully.

I don’t know why this little act of trust gets to me on a major level, but I just stop every fibre of my being and gawp down at the little crazy furball. He’s showing me some clumsy affection as he rubs his body back and forth across me in a bid to hurry the deliverance of food, but I just stare. A lump catches in my throat and I stand frozen, afraid to move as my eyes mist over and my heart swells so achingly it sticks in my rib cage painfully.

‘I think he’s telling you to hurry up and feed him.’ Alexi points out the obvious, seemingly not as impressed with this contact and not understanding the significance of this moment. My cat is touching me … On purpose, by choice!

Feral refused to come near us, no matter how often we came out here and here he is, by his own volition, rubbing against me gently and purring at me because he wants to. It’s a massive show of trust and affection and I can’t believe Alexi doesn’t get it at all.