Touched by a Phoenix (21 page)

“Damn, she’s gorgeous.”

Robert shook his head. “Brad, are you crazy? Alexandria Saunders packs a mighty mean punch on her own but if her father finds out you’ve got the hots for his only daughter, you will be a dead man!”

Brad chuckled, “Maybe Robert, but she is simply amazing.”

Brad no longer heard Robert’s rambling. He devoured Alexis with his eyes, assessing every aspect of her as she spoke with the Secretary.

Her long flowing skirt had a chiffon overlay and a sweeping train. The skirt draped over her hips, pooling in a soft puddle at her feet and hiding what he knew was a long, lean, and very taut body. The party had not even begun and he was already in pain. He wanted to undress her very—very slowly, letting the dress fall to the floor, to gaze upon her standing before him in nothing more than heels.

The ruched surplus bodice was the ideal fit for her breast, giving just a glimpse of firm, voluptuous cleavage. Austrian crystals adorned the dress, accenting the empire waist and rose to frame her bosom. The crystals continued to run up and over her shoulders into a wide, jeweled cap sleeve displaying an open back to the waist, revealing her toned arms and back. He swallowed hard…he was all too aware of how supple her body was lying beneath him. He closed his eyes, trying to clear his head…the image of her passion-filled eyes invaded every fiber of his being. He groaned inwardly.

The crystals sparkled like diamonds in the night sky. She floated across the floor—rather than walked, as she headed towards him, stopping to speak to guests along the way. A single strap crossed the top of each foot, sparkling with crystals as her French manicured toes peeked from beneath the dress as she walked. She was the picture of sophistication.

Her eyes danced with delight as she approached. “Good evening, gentlemen,” she greeted with an alluring smile.

Robert extended his hand to shake hers, which she accepted graciously. “Robert, thank you for coming. It will mean a lot to Phillip and Catherine.”

Robert, a normally confident young man, could stand up to almost anyone…but not Alexis. “Good evening, Miss Saunders,” his voice was a little shaky.

“Gentlemen, you both look quite dashing this evening.” Her smile was quiet and warm, yet somehow she managed to turn him to mush. Again, Brad wondered if she realized the power she held over him. She could be a real pistol when it came to protecting the company, but as a person, Alexis was the most humble individual he had ever met.

Lying against her neck was a simple masterpiece. If he didn’t miss his guess, he’d say about three carats of diamonds adorned the chevron necklace. A garden of luminescent round diamonds glistened in a collection of blossoming flowers. The chevron dipped into a V at the base of her throat, adorning her ears and wrist were matching blossoms of sparkling diamonds.

He took her hand, rather than to shake as protocol warranted; he brought her hand to his lips as he bowed slightly. His lips brushed the top of her knuckles with a luscious kiss, making Alexis shiver.

“Alexis,” he crooned, “you are stunning this evening.”

Brad did not release her hand. The butterflies fluttered wildly in her stomach and the fire blazed like the sun rising in the desert, heating the morning. She wondered if Brad could feel it as well. Their eyes met—Lord, what was it about this man that caused her to lose all self-control? Not just lose it but also want to give it up—to surrender to his willing touch. His eyes filled with desire and love. It was impossible to resist him.

Her cheeks flushed. In his tuxedo, he was even more dashing. His appearance gave the air of stepping off the cover of GQ Italia. His talk dark and devilishly handsome physique suited the black tuxedo well, the crisp white shirt complimenting his coal black hair and those beautiful blue eyes of his. His broad shoulders filled out what must be the finest Italian fabric.

Ooh, it was going to be a long evening,
she thought.

“Brad,” her soft breathy voice belied her calm exterior.

Beneath slightly lowered lashes, Alexis wore that mysterious and seductive gaze. That all absorbing look…a look that called to the primal instinct deep within him. The gaze that said,
come play with me, I promise you it will be a night to remember
. He couldn’t break free from her golden eyes.

The expression in each of their eyes needed no explanation just as the universe needed no explanation as it traveled through time endlessly—it just does. Brad knew he was in the presence of the only woman who would ever hold his heart in her hands, and with no need for words, she recognized the same.

Brad had never been more certain of anything in this world. Nan had always told him he must know a person before falling in love and committing himself. Nevertheless, sometimes two people stumble upon each other, and the past and the future become unimportant. For Brad, there was only this moment and the incredible certainty that everything under the stars had been written by one greater than any on earth. The one that evoked love, created a twin soul for every person, and wrote it in the stars long before either of them existed. Without Alexis, his dreams, his life…held no meaning.

His gaze held her frozen in time. When she least expected it, life challenged her willingness to let go of the past and surrender to something greater than her fear. In that moment, there was no point in pretending that nothing had happened. She accepted her destiny and now she had nothing left to lose. She was free to surrender herself to Brad; he was her beginning and her end. Her dreams paled in comparison to her reality. This moment was magical, exclusive, a single moment destined to be their eternity.

With a soft smile and without a second thought, she placed her free hand on the side of his face, kissing him gently on the lips, as she whispered, “I love you.”

“I love you too my darling, but what happened to discrete?” he asked huskily.

“That was discrete, my love.” No words were necessary. The love that shimmered in her eyes mixed with desire told him that she wanted more…so much more.

His voice was soft as he whispered in her ear, “You are a bewitching little vixen. How I am supposed to make it through the night? You know what that look does to me.”

Her lashes fluttered, trying to hide her own desire. Thankfully, the Master of Ceremonies called for everyone to take his or her seats, meaning that dinner would be served shortly.

Alexis turned to her attention back to Robert, “Robert, I’m sure I’ll see you again before the evening is over. Please enjoy yourself.”

Brad patted the stunned Robert on the shoulder. “Robert old chap, if you wouldn’t mind keeping this to yourself for now, we would appreciate it. Alexis wanted to wait until after the party to tell her parents.”

Robert stood in shock as Brad tucked Alexandria’s hand in the crook of his arm. He studied the pair as they walked away, muttering to no one in particular,
“What the hell just happened…and when?”
His thoughts ran away with him. Brad was a dead man walking. Mr. Kincaid would see to that!

Brad escorted Alexis to the table; they made a striking couple as they gracefully moved through the crowd. Brad pulled the chair out for Alexis to be seated and took his place at her side.

Phillip stood to greet everyone. “Ladies and Gentlemen, Catherine, and I would like to thank each of you for being here this evening to share this special day with us. If you will bear with me for a moment, I would like to thank my beautiful wife Catherine, for thirty wonderful years, I pray we have another thirty ahead of us. Catherine dear, you have supported me through the good and the bad; I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect wife.” He raised his glass. “I love you my dear Catherine, happy anniversary.” Phillip and Catherine touched their champagne glasses together and took a sip. As the guests applauded, Phillip continued, “Everyone, please enjoy yourselves the evening, there will be music and dancing after dinner.”

Phillip was in rare form as he took his seat. Brad wasn’t sure he had ever seen Phillip so at ease and content.

As always, Phillip made a gracious host. “Brad, you remember Secretary Thompson and this is his lovely wife, Nancy.”

Brad extended his hand to the Secretary, “Mr. Secretary, it is good to see you again.”

“Brad, it’s good to see you too.”

“Ma’am,” Brad nodded as he took Nancy’s hand.

Phillip continued with the introductions, “Brad, I’d also like you to meet Dr. Bentley, the Chief of Pediatric Surgery at John’s Hopkins Medical Hospital and his wife, Barbara.”

“Good evening, Dr. and Mrs. Bentley. It is a pleasure to meet you both.”

“Likewise, Mr. Scott.”

Phillip’s voice brimmed with pride as he spoke, “Brad is our new VP of Technology. His diligence and hard work over the past four months have led us into the next phase at AAS.”

A Mushroom Hazelnut Salad arrived, the conversation remained light and pleasant throughout dinner. Brad slipped into his typical observation mode, watching, figuring out what made each of them tick. He knew Phillip well. They had many conversations about the future of AAS, and he thought he understood the man fairly well. Still, he was certain their relationship would change the minute Phillip found out about him and Alexis. Phillip had pulled him to the side shortly after he began work and warned him to steer clear of his daughter.

On the other hand, Catherine was a beautiful stately woman in her mid-fifties, he guessed. She exuded grace and elegance. To anyone who cared to notice, Phillip loved and doted on her. With Catherine, one would never know that Phillip was a hardcore Marine.

Alexis had become quiet, glancing at him from time-to-time.

A Vichyssoise, potato leek soup and then a lime Basil Sorbet followed the salads.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

She smiled demurely, “Nothing in particular and everything all at once, if that makes any sense.”

He chuckled, “Yes, as a matter-of-fact, it does but that still doesn’t tell me what you were thinking.”

She was in a playful and somewhat provocative little mood this evening. He had become accustomed to her eyes telling him exactly what she was thinking, but tonight was different. She was affectedly coy and it was very sexy.

“Okay, do you remember when we ran in the rain?”

“Yes….”

“You wrapped your arms around me to keep me warm and all I could think was I needed to run away. I never thought anyone would understand what happened or be able to love me.”

“Why didn’t you…run, I mean?” his voice was tender as he reached up to brush a wayward curl from her face.

She shivered, “That’s why,” she replied with a warm smile.

Confusion flittered across his face.

“You brushed the hair from my face just before the rain started. The rain was cold, but not what made me shiver. Your touch was so warm and gentle. I think I was more afraid of not being able to feel your touch again than I was of my past.” She leaned her face into his hand and placed a kiss in his palm.

“Alexis,” his husky voice laden with love, “My darling, had you run, I would have followed,” he finished, kissing her gently on the forehead.

The waiter cleared his throat. “Sir, ma’am. May I take your sorbet glasses?”

Alexis turned bright red. She had forgotten they were in public. Glancing around the table, she saw that everyone was still chatting. She let out a sigh of relief; no one seemed to have noticed her stolen moment with Brad. Unexpectedly, his warm hand touched her leg, his thumb gently circling her thigh.

She gazed up at Brad, his eyes filled with love and pride…telling her there was nothing to worry about.

“I hope you like lamb,” she began, her words slightly unsteady.

“Yes, but why?”

“Well, since you didn’t officially RSVP with your dinner choice, I took a guess at what I thought you might like.”

“No, I meant why are you breathless?”

“Brad, please….”

“Please what?”

A gentle moan escaped her lips, her eyes fell closed remembering the last time she had pleaded with him. “Brad please,” she begged softly, “I can’t take it. I’ve missed you.”

“We’ve been apart for one night.” He wondered if he was trying to convince Alexis or himself. Damn that look, it told him it didn’t matter if it was one night or a hundred nights, she needed him. “My darling…what have I told you about that look?”

“Please, sweetheart….”

“If you insist,” he yielded removing his hand from her thigh.

She needed something to distract them both. Thankfully, the waiter arrived with their entrees: herb crusted rack of lamb with mint sauce, Parisian potatoes, mixed vegetables of brocolinni, green beans, and sugar snap peas garnished with tomato roses.

As they ate, Brad stated, “I had meant to tell you earlier this evening that everything is magnificent; you did a wonderful job putting all this together.”

Catherine had been watching Brad and Alexis off-and-on throughout dinner and would not miss the opportunity to join them in conversation. “Bradley, I couldn’t agree with you more. Alexis, everything is beautiful, a night that your father and I will never forget. Tonight is perfect in every way. Thank you, dear,” she said with a knowing and gentle smile.