She smiles, looking down for a moment before her gaze flits back to mine. When we lock eyes, I imagine all the things she could do with her tongue. My cock twitches again, and by the way she arches her brow, this time Alessandra can feel it. She wraps her arms even tighter around me, pressing her body more purposefully against my bulge. Within moments, her lips are moving feverishly against mine, soft moans escaping from her lips as I move my thigh between her legs.
Suddenly, we’re interrupted by Alyssa’s bright and chipper voice over the intercom. “Quinn, your brother is here to see you.” She may be the world’s most efficient assistant, but her timing is horrendous.
Alessandra pulls away from me, her eyes wide and embarrassed. “Oh, my God,” she mutters quietly under her breath. She pulls a compact out of her purse and groans as she examines the state of her hair. “We’re so busted.”
“Everything’s fine. We’re not doing anything wrong,” I say, though to be honest, I find her little freak-out adorable.
“Yeah? Tell that to your tie. And you might want to wipe the lipstick off your face before letting your brother in.”
So full of life. So fucking sexy.
As Alessandra continues fixing her hair, I straighten my tie and walk to the door, while I surreptitiously run the back of my hand over my mouth in case Alessandra wasn’t just teasing me about the lipstick.
I open the door to find Cooper standing there, a bemused smile spreading across his face.
“Yes?” I say, deliberately blocking the doorway. I haven’t told my brothers about my new Italian tutor, and while I’m by no means ashamed of Alessandra, I’m more than a little aware of our age difference. I don’t want to put unnecessary pressure on her by introducing her to my family.
“Have a minute? I wanted to run the final numbers on this jackass so we can tuck his file away for good,” Cooper says, trying to walk around me into my office.
“Now’s not a good time. I’m in the middle of an Italian lesson.”
“Sal’s here? How’s he doing? God, I haven’t seen that guy in forever,” Cooper says, peeking around me.
I love my brother, but he can be a nosy little fucker sometimes.
“Not Sal,” Alessandra says from behind me, her voice light and playful.
Cooper raises his eyebrows. Without saying a word, he pushes past me into my office.
“I’m Alessandra. It’s nice to meet you,” she says, holding out her hand to him.
“Piacere di conoscerti,” Cooper says, shaking her hand and bowing slightly.
I know he only said nice to meet you, but the playful glint in his eye rubs me the wrong way.
“You Kingsley brothers must have been keeping Sal busy.” Alessandra chuckles, her eyes bright and cheery.
After seeing how nervous she was to be caught in the middle of making out, I’m in awe of how quickly she pulled herself together. Brilliant, beautiful, and good under pressure? This woman is making it nearly impossible not to fall for her.
Cooper laughs and shakes his head. “I had a particularly memorable vacation in Italy years ago.”
Alessandra smiles, and Cooper gives me a questioning look.
“I’ll get out of your hair. See you at dinner this Sunday,” he says, turning and walking to the door. Before leaving, he stops and looks back at Alessandra. “Will you be there? Sal never could make it, but it’s nice getting to know the people who are regularly coming in and out of our building.”
Alessandra looks at me, her eyes wide and curious. “Oh, I don’t think so,” she says, but I cut her off.
“No, that’s a great idea. You should come.” I give her my most reassuring smile.
Cooper nods, tells us he’ll see us Sunday, and promptly exits the room, leaving Alessandra and me to discuss what just happened.
“Quinn, if it’s too complicated to have me there, I really don’t have to come.” She plops herself down in one of the chairs in front of my desk and rakes her fingers through her hair.
“I think it’s a great idea,” I say, sitting in the chair next to her. “I understand if it feels like a lot, but I like spending time with you, and I want to do more of that.”
Alessandra nods, though she still looks unsure. “Okay. I’d love to.”
“Good. It’s settled.” I shift in my seat, so painfully aware of her that for the first time, I realize that actually concentrating on learning a foreign language is going to be difficult. “Iniziamo?” I ask. Shall we begin?
Alessandra nods, and we launch into a friendly conversation that I barely manage to keep clean.
I need to up my game at flirtatious Italian phrases.
By the time our hour is up, Alessandra rises to her feet, placing the strap of her purse high on her slender shoulder, and a rock settles in the pit of my stomach.
“What are you doing Saturday?” I blurt. “There’s an art exhibit featuring classic Italian artists at the museum. Want to meet for coffee and go check it out? Late morning, maybe? We could breakfast if you like.”
I smile and imagine the two of us huddled together at a small café table, laughing over my Italian accent. It’s a cheesy daydream, I know, but I can’t deny how much I’ve enjoyed this gorgeous woman’s presence in my life.
Alessandra smiles softly at me, but I note a touch of hesitation as she speaks. “That sounds lovely, Quinn,” she says, tucking her hair behind her ear. “But there’s something I need to tell you.”
I nod and wait for her to continue, bracing myself for another one of her adorable feisty quips.
“I’m leaving for Italy in a few weeks. It’s a one-way ticket. . .. I’m moving there, giving up my job as a nanny to start a new life. I’ve enjoyed spending time with you-truly, I have-I just think it’s important that I’m honest with you. This thing we have, it can’t develop into something more. I’ve wanted to move to Italy for so long, and now that it’s happening, I can’t let anything or anyone keep me from fulfilling that dream.”
Fuck. Her words strike right through me, so hard that I swear I actually flinch.
Though my mind is reeling, I hold myself together. After taking a deep breath, I lift her chin and look deeply into her soft brown eyes, stroking her cheek with my thumb. “All the more reason to enjoy your company now while I still have you stateside.”
Alessandra smiles, her eyes crinkling in the corners. “Pick me up at ten Saturday morning?”
“Ten, it is.”
I draw her face to mine and place a gentle kiss on her lips before she gathers her things to leave.
As Alessandra walks out of my office, my mind is racing with a thousand thoughts about what’s happening, what I will do, and how I should feel. Though I don’t know how to move forward with this woman who blows my mind a little more every time I see her, one thought rings loud and clear above the rest.
I’d better make the next few weeks worth it.