When Will I See You Again (28 page)
“I have an idea. Have you ever thought about offering dance classes here at Charisma? You know, like have a night a week, or a couple of nights even, where you could set some time aside for guests to have lessons? Maybe bring in a professional dancer as teacher? Think of the people that would draw in.”
Raoul arched his brows skeptically.
Alexx snapped his fingers, his eyes bright with excitement.
“You know what? I bet you could teach one of those classes yourself.”
“Me?” Raoul gave him a startled glance.
“Yes, you. You’re very good. People like to watch you dance, and I don’t blame them. Plus face it, Raoul, you’re a big reason why people come to Charisma. You’re the heart of Charisma. They would flock around you more often if they could. I don’t mind.
Just as long as they know that at the end of the night you’ll be going home with me.” Raoul rewarded Alexx with another soft
kiss.
“Are you a reporter or a business man?” He lightly nipped and kissed his way along Alexx’s throat.
“Neither right now.”
“What are you right now then?” Raoul moved his focus a bit higher. He ghosted his heated breath across Alexx’s ear, eliciting a moan.
“Someone who needs you very badly,” Alexx confessed, pressing closer to Raoul. So close that Raoul felt the urgency of the undisguised desire that matched his own. “Take me home?
Please?”
It was that single word that caused Raoul to come undone.
Home. With all of its implications.
They couldn’t leave Charisma fast enough. He left detailed instructions with Paolo, who gave him an indignant look and reminded him that as long as he’d been working for the Marchands he knew what to do, then he shooed them both out the door. Once inside the Ferrari, Alexx refused to break the speed limit, not even for Raoul, no matter how much he urged him to, and when Raoul growled, he placated him with a few gentle caresses. When they arrived at the cabin and exited the car, Alexx leapt into Raoul’s arms and he carried him inside. By the time they reached the bedroom they were already naked, locked together in fierce passion.
*
“Get up, sleepyhead. It’s already nine o’clock.” The voice came from the wrong direction. He growled again and patted the bed.
“Nine o’clock? That’s too fucking early. Come back here.”
As the blanket and sheet were drawn back, cooler air greeted his naked form. “Look all you like, as long as you promise to touch.” He cracked his eyes just enough to locate Alexx. He stood beside the bed, fully dressed, smirking.
“If I tell you you’re beautiful, will you get up and get dressed?”
He leaned down and stopped any possible protest on Raoul’s part with his lips and for a long moment no more words were exchanged. When Alexx drew back at last, Raoul found himself following, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and sitting up.
“I have something for you. Be right back.” Alexx took Raoul’s face between his hands, tilted it back so that their eyes met, and kissed him again. “You are very beautiful in the morning,” he added before disappearing from the room.
Raoul shook his head, but the beginning of a smile played about his lips as he ran his fingers through his unruly hair. By the time Alexx returned, he’d reluctantly risen and donned a medium gray herringbone suit with matching vest over a charcoal gray tie and a white and chocolate striped shirt. He adjusted his tie in the mirror, turning as Alexx came in, alerted by the scent emanating from the mug in his hand.
“I thought you might like some coffee when you got up, so I made some.” He handed Raoul the steaming ceramic mug, his gaze traveling up and down his body in open admiration. “Wow, you look great.”
“Thank you. For the coffee and the compliment. That was very thoughtful of you. Aren’t you joining me?”
“I already had some, while you were sleeping. Besides, I don’t do so well with drinking and driving, and I think you might get a little upset if I spilled coffee inside your car.”
“Well, when you put it that way… Wait, what? Drinking and driving?”
Alexx grinned. “That’s my way of saying you’re taking it to go. We have a couple stops to make before we meet that guy, remember. What time did he say to meet him? And where?”
“At twelve. In the woods.”
Alexx whistled. “Talk about returning to the scene of the crime.”
“I agree, but I got the impression he was worried about meeting us anywhere else. The woods will be safe enough for him.”
“What about for us?”
“You have me.”
“That’s very true, when you put it like that. I still wonder what made him decide to contact us, though? What can he hope to gain from this?”
Raoul shrugged. “I suppose that’s what we’ll find out.”
“I suppose so.” Alexx chewed thoughtfully at his lower lip.
“Do you have your pills with you? Maybe you should take one now and get that much done before we go? Do you need to take it with food? We can get you some breakfast. Or is it better taken on an empty stomach?”
Raoul held up one hand to stem the rush of words. “Food isn’t necessary and I’m not hungry. If you like, we can stop for breakfast for you. Yes, I have them with me, and it’s too early to take now. Right before we meet that guy will be fine.”
Alexx reached for Raoul’s hand, gazed intently into his eyes.
“I’m not hungry either. I’m just concerned about you. Promise me
you’ll stay calm and not attack him? At least not without provocation?” He lifted the hand to his lips and kissed it softly.
Any inclination he might have had to make a sharp retort melted at Alexx’s touch. “I will do my best,” he promised. “His only saving grace is that he didn’t actually harm you. He tried to kill you. That I will not forget.”
“No, he just used me to try to kill you,” Alexx reminded him.
“At least that’s my theory. That’s what we need to find out. Who wants you dead, and why?”
“True. It makes more sense that I would have more enemies than you would. You’re not even from around here, while I’ve lived here all my life. What if it’s not just me, what if it’s the family that’s in danger? Damn, we need to actually talk to my father, I guess.” He hadn’t wanted to bring him into it, but it seemed unavoidable now. Especially if the family was involved.
He’d rather someone was after him personally than have the entire Marchand family targeted. “Fine. I’ll call him on the way, if I may borrow your phone.
Chronicle
first?”
Alexx nodded. He reached into his pocket for his cell phone.
“Then I guess I will take the coffee to go.” One more kiss, and with a last lingering look in the direction of the bed, he followed Alexx out to the car.
“Father? Yes, it’s me. Of course I’m fine.” Raoul slipped the mug of coffee to the seat, gripping it between his thighs, Alexx’s cell phone pressed against his ear. “Drive carefully,” he mouthed to Alexx, with a significant glance at the hot liquid perilously close to his crotch.
“Of course,” Alexx assured him with a knowing smile, his voice deliberately low. “Precious cargo.”
Raoul heard his father’s chuckle. Naturally he’d heard Alexx’s
comment with his own preternatural nearing.
“You’re with him, aren’t you?”
“Him has a name. It’s Alexx. And yes, we’re together.”
“No offense. I do remember his name, of course. It was a pleasure to see him again. I’m glad to hear that you are both all right.”
Slightly mollified at his father’s words, Raoul moved closer to the heart of the matter he’d actually called to discuss. “About last night. I’m sorry I walked out on you without saying anything. I hope Mother isn’t too upset with me.”
“She’s not upset, just worried about you, as am I.”
Raoul didn’t bother to add there was no need to worry. He understood their reasons only too well. “I’d like to make it up to both of you. Do you think we can reschedule dinner for another time?” Not that he’d requested it the first time, being more of a command performance. Something impelled him to make amends.
Perhaps a need for his parents to accept Alexx as part of his life, although he didn’t anticipate a problem there.
“Of course, we’ll do it another time. You know we only want you to be happy, Raoul.”
“I am happy,” Raoul assured him, his hand automatically reaching for Alexx’s. He threaded their fingers together, felt a peace steal through him. “Are you busy this afternoon? There’s something we need to discuss…about my current situation. I’m sure Jon has told you some of what’s going on.”
“He has. He’s only concerned about you, too.”
Raoul rolled his eyes. Sometimes people seemed to forget he was forty, not fourteen, and very capable of taking care of himself.
“I appreciate that, Father. Alexx and I are handling things.
However, there’s been a…disturbing development. One we’re
looking into today. Hopefully we’ll be able to tell you more when we see you.”
His father didn’t answer immediately. After several moments of silence, Raoul began to wonder if the connection had been broken. “Your mother and I will be at the beach house all day. I know that… I mean, shall I meet you somewhere else?”
“No, we can come there. That’s fine. I’m not sure what time we’ll get there. Sometime in the afternoon, I should think.”
“That’s fine. We’ll see you then.”
“I’ll give you a heads-up when we’re on our way.”
Once he’d disconnected, Raoul slipped the phone into his pocket.
Alexx glanced at him. “Everything okay?”
“Yes, everything’s fine. Keep your eyes on the road.” Raoul grinned, removing any sting from his admonition. “You like driving her, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I do,” Alexx admitted. “I never thought I’d like a sports car, to be honest, but this one…handles very well. I bet the insurance is killer.”
“It’s not cheap. Would you like me to buy you one of your very one?”
“A Ferrari? For me? Are you kidding?” Alexx took his eyes off the road again for a quick second, his brows furrowed. “No, I don’t want you to buy me a Ferrari.” His cheeks wore a faintly reddish tinge.
“Did I say something wrong?”
“Yes. No.” He made a half-hearted attempt to remove his hand from their joined grip, but Raoul held on tightly. “I just mean I don’t need to be bought, Raoul. I love you for who you are. Not for your damn money. So please don’t treat me like a gold digger.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything. Forgive me. Sometimes I am an idiot.”
Alexx pulled the car into the
Chronicle’s
parking lot, sliding it into a spot on the far side, away from everyone else. He turned toward Raoul and leaned across the console that separated them. “I know you didn’t. I’m sorry I overreacted. Just remember that you’re always
my
idiot,” he whispered, before he claimed his lips.
They drew apart reluctantly and exited the car. “You know just how to make me feel better,” Raoul murmured, “with just one word, one touch. I don’t know how you do it, but please don’t ever stop.”
“I don’t intend to.” They held hands as they strolled across the lot. “Oh, before I forget, just ignore Miller if he drools. He thinks you’re really hot.”
Raoul snorted. “Not a problem.”
*
Chronicle
offices at this relatively late time of day, and without his hands being filled with hot beverages. Not to mention that he was with Raoul Marchand.
With
Raoul Marchand. Two days ago if Alexx had been told that the hottest, most popular man in Crescent Bay would become his lover, he’d have laughed. Now that very same scenario had come true, but sometimes he had a hard time convincing himself that it was real.
Alexx steered them directly to reception. Miller’s eyes grew large as they approached his desk, looking between Alexx and Raoul, staring at their joined hands, ending with Alexx’s face.
“Raoul, you remember Miller from the club.”
“Of course, nice to see you again.” He held out his hand. Alexx thought Miller would lose it right then and there, but he managed to collect himself enough to reciprocate.
“Very nice to see you too,” he murmured before turning his attention to Alexx. “I was going to call you, Alexx. There’s something very strange going on here today.” He gave Alexx a significant look.
Alexx frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that Price has been walking around here like he owns the place or something. Even more than usual. I heard him talking about looking for leads for the murder story, and when I mentioned that was your story, he just said I didn’t know everything and to mind my own business. I didn’t say anything, of course, but what’s going on? Did you talk to Mr. Randolph already?”
“No, I didn’t. That’s why we’re here, actually. Is he in?”
“Yeah, hang on. Let me see if he’s free.”
Raoul tugged at Alexx’s arm, walked him a few steps from the reception desk, a furrow of concern creasing his brow. “Is it possible that Chancellor is just bluffing about the story to make himself look better?”
“It’s possible. Maybe he thinks he’s got some kind of an in or something. It doesn’t matter. Once I explain the situation to Mr.