Julian watched the woman sideways while he dried the dishes she handed to him with a towel. They worked together well as a team as if they always did, though sharing clean up duties was a first for them. Most of the time they didn't need to use words to communicate, sticking to what was simple, the task of washing dishes and setting them out to dry.
Alexis remained alone in her thoughts. Julian learned to recognize that pensive look, calm relaxation on her face framed by her slightly wavy dark hair. He had been doing his own thinking of the next careful step he'd taken in the emotional minefield which still surrounded them despite the easy going banter they'd shared over the meal.
He was on her home turf, hoping to break his record in terms of not getting thrown or pushed out the front door when she'd had enough of him. So far he'd made it through a delicious meal of Thai takeout and two slices of dark chocolate cake he'd picked up at Kelly's Diner.
His thoughts were heading in some interesting directions.
Not to mention the images that took up residence in his head during dinner. He'd tried to push them away but they wouldn't budge this time. She'd been right there standing in front of him, only instead of her faded jeans and loose knit caramel colored sweater, he'd seen bare skin. Once that got started, he couldn't stop thinking. ..as other senses started coming into play. The way that soft skin of hers would feel under his fingers…how her body would taste underneath his mouth, both its sweetness and its twang. Would it be anything like he remembered?
He'd fidgeted a bit while he sat eating not that Alexis noticed as she had seemed…distracted. Most likely thinking back to her last conversation with Sonny and running it through her head again. He'd caught the tail end of it and it hadn't been pretty.
She didn't wear it at the table, sticking to safer topics like Danny's latest checkup and Sam taking on more cases as part of her business.
Now she stood there next to him casually washing dishes while his imagination ran wild. Reining it in just didn't work and he guessed the circumstances of their lives diverging and their futures remaining shrouded in uncertainty drove his thoughts. She ran the hot water to rinse the rivulets of soap off a dish and he'd be imagining how he'd create a romantic setting for her if he were at his own place. Softening the lighting, maybe with some candles in the bedroom…wine to drink and the right music…his mind in full seductive mode…only the woman next to him wasn't thinking those same thoughts.
Carlos had accused him of not being a romantic but that's because he never saw him in full pursuit before…nor did he understand why he had to view his woman of choice as a worthy opponent first.
"Julian, do you see any more soap?"
He broke his thoughts reluctantly and looked beneath the sink finding a spare bottle which he handed to her.
"The food was great wasn't it?"
"Sure was…Carlos was right about the food at that new Thai place."
She chuckled, running the fingers of one hand across his back feeling companionable but Julian's body tensed anyway. She didn't seem to notice and returned to washing dishes.
"He seems to be a smart man and it was very delicious."
They finished up the dishes and left them on the rack until she'd put them away in the morning. He rested a hand on her back as they walked to the living room, where she sat on the couch. He went to the small wet bar.
"Would you like something?"
She nodded.
"More wine please…I thought I found some Sonoma Valley vintage earlier. Mac had ordered a couple of bottles for me."
He reached for the bottle, uncorked it and poured them both glasses returning to the couch. She sipped hers slowly.
"This is very nice. Better than I remember."
God, she hoped he didn't pick the nervousness in her voice, see it in her posture as she sat down on the sofa. She looked around the room trying not to show it. Sometimes it was so much easier when she was still furious with him. But that had been before…she smiled reaching for her glass.
Julian sipped his wine too. She knew he didn't drink wine often, opting either a good glass of bourbon or imported beer straight from the bottle. He smiled at the question on her face.
"It's good vintage…Mac Scorpio has good taste in wine."
"Julian… "
"Hey, we haven't seen each other for a while and I want to make the most of the time we do have together."
"It's no big deal…I mean now that we're not fighting any longer."
"It is to me Alexis You're very special to me and I hope you know that…life's not going to be the same as it used to be."
She sighed.
"It was just a close call," she said, "I'm fine. I'm sure Dante's looking into the person responsible. So is Sonny despite what he said."
"He should drop everything and find out if it's one of his enemies Alexis," he said, "if he cared."
She arched a brow.
"I don't expect anyone to do that. I don't expect you too either."
He sighed.
"I won't stop at anything until I find out who put that bomb in your car."
He sounded so damn sincere when he said that…she sipped the wine looking at him. His warm brown eyes, his thick crop of hair and that stubble she always knew tickle when he kissed her. How would it feel if he kissed her now? And the shadow on his face, how would that feel against her mouth? She shouldn't be thinking about that, she should be concentrating on the time spent with him so she could hold as many memories inside of her to get her through the ordeal ahead of trying to figure out who targeted her and her family.
Julian sipped his wine, watching her. She wondered if he saw right inside of her right now, through to her excitement, her impatience, but also some fear. No, she didn't want him to look that deep inside of her…not now. Not that he could help himself of course.
"So how's the investigation going? Dante tell you anything else?"
She shrugged.
"No…but it's still early and there's all that forensics to process..."
He chuckled.
"I'm not sure whether to believe you about that…they should know who's responsible by now if it has anything to do with Sonny…"
She rolled her eyes.
"As if things are so peaceful in Casa Jerome," she said, "Speaking of which have you and Ava decided to finally kill each other yet?"
He shrugged.
"She's still upset that I'm not going to her party. But if it's anything like the last one…"
Silence fell between them as they sipped their wine, she on the couch, he in a nearby chair. She didn't want to think about her near brush with death and who might be responsible. She'd spent most of the day being interviewed by Dante and another detective and talking with a sketch artist.
She just wanted to forget all about that for a while. The man sitting across from her wasn't making that easy.
She looked at him, blowing softly through her pursed lips while the latest glass of wine began to envelope her body with warmth.
"I don't know how this goes Julian…I don't know how to say what I need to say."
"Hey now, just relax…we've got all night until you kick me out for some reason and this is a good time for just kicking back drinking a little wine and talking…"
She nodded.
"Okay because I…"
He put his glass and moved to sit next to her on the couch. She certainly looked as if she had dressed for comfort like he did in his jeans and button down shirt.
He wondered what she wore underneath her own outfit. He wondered if he'd ever have the courage to find out. He wondered how she'd react if he did. Then it hit him that there was only one way he wanted this night to end but…he looked over at her still sipping her wine looking deep in thought.
First things first and that was getting her comfortable…and plenty relaxed before he stepped things up a notch. It was like luring a horse into a body of water, it had to be coaxed into doing it step by step so by the time the horse figured out what was going on, it was already chest deep. He knew what he was doing both with horses and women but this was a whole lot different…and it mattered a lot more than anything in the past. His body pushed him forward almost faster than he wanted to go but the woman next to him just meant too much to rush anything with so he had to settle down here. He had to remember what his experiences taught him about proceeding slowly…during times when his instincts told him to charge full speed ahead. His Uncle Leon might have been right about taming horses…but would it work on a woman? Still Leon had never steered him wrong in his advice on anything and he trusted it.
One reason why he still was alive.
So that's how he'd handle Alexis …step by step.
"You nervous about this…?"
When he looked at her like he did now, she couldn't bother denying it. She knew where they were both heading too.
"A little…"
He nodded.
"That's okay…me too…but there's no reason to be."
Damn he had just read her mind.
"I already know that…it's just that it's different for a woman like me than for many others."
He sighed.
"What do you mean?"
She looked away just then as if she didn't want him to see her face.
"It's just different…not as easy to walk away from…at least not for me."
He studied her face carefully, not paying any attention to the seconds ebbing by just focusing on the woman sitting next to him.
"Does it have to be?"
She didn't look like she exactly believed him but he'd show her later. For now, he knew to take it slowly, He'd had learned early enough in life that the best things couldn't be rushed. So it would be with her.
His eyes brightened.
"Fortunately I brought my deck of cards…"
"Your what?"
"You heard me, ever play poker…and don't say you haven't because I know you're pretty good."
She smiled at that.
"I'm not bad…but in case you don't know pool's my game."
"Yeah I know but we're not in a pool hall," he said, "besides poker's another game of skill…"
She narrowed her eyes at him.
"A game of chance too…and it favors those players who lie very well…including through omission."
He winced a bit at that but recovered quickly.
"Alexis…okay listen up…the game's poker…five card stud…"
"Okay…I hope you brought your wallet then," she said, "if that's the way you want to play."
His eyes narrowed.
"Is there any other way?"
She shrugged casually at him, feeling anything but underneath her skin.
"Maybe…for those without imagination."
His eyes sparkled when he actually whipped out his deck and they started playing several hands and sure enough, she won most of them. Fortunately they had kept the stakes fairly small but still she was getting wealthier by the minute as it didn't seem like poker was his game after all. Occasionally, they took a break to pour themselves some more of that fine Sonoma Valley vintage. Alexis just felt the tension slip right on out of her and her body relax, her mind beginning to wander to other things. Suddenly what she'd been thinking about the past few hours didn't seem so crazy anymore, not giving into how she felt seemed more insane. She was entertaining thoughts she had no business entertaining.
She knew then if she didn't act, she might live to regret it.
She'd watched him while they played, wondering what he'd been thinking but he hadn't given anything away. He had established himself as a mediocre player at best which meant it was time to use the game and teach him a little lesson.
"We're not playing for money this time…"
He looked at her startled as she began to deal the cards.
"We're not?"
She shook her head and put the rest of the cards down on the table.
"No, the game we're about to play is strip poker…you lose a hand, you take off an item of clothing…your choice…same with me…"
She just looked at that startled look on his face began transforming from complete shock into one of his easy going smiles, the kind that would make any woman's legs weaken. Why was he smiling given that he'd just lost a couple hundred bucks mostly in small bills?
Shouldn't he be protesting? Though…wait he'd revealed himself to be somewhat at ease with minimal clothing on, who answered their door in a hotel wearing only briefs?
Maybe she should rethink her plan but then again…maybe not.
She shook her head at the folly of her thinking and picked up her cards to check out her hand waiting to see how he'd respond to her set of rules for their poker playing.
Ah, crap…came to mind first…then she smiled at him wondering if he were thinking the same thing.