Her pulse slowed after they walked a few steps. His hand against hers, rough, warm, strong. Her pulse sped back up. She pulled free and wrapped her arms around her waist, needing a minute to clear her head. The water wall—a nice distraction. More than sixty feet of water splashed down from the manmade structure. A few tourists strolled nearby. It was an unusual and romantic sight for Houston.
Alexi eyed the splashing water with interest. “I’ll show you a waterfall in Greece.”
“Okay.” She knew she needed to disagree with him sometimes, because he was too spoiled, but she would like to see a wate
rfall, and she couldn’t quite think clearly.
He slid his hand under the oxford shirt she’d thrown on over her halter and his fingers rested against her waist, stroking her skin with his thumb. She bit her lip to stifle the moan, the sensation wonderful. She put her arm around him, and they walked a bit. When they saw the driver return holding a large coffee cup, they headed to the car.
Alexi held the door, and she climbed in. He followed and reached over and removed a jewelry box hidden in the car’s minibar. “Shut your eyes. I picked up a present for you.” Her gaze flew to his hands. “Close them.”
His hands glided over her hair, and the light weight of a necklace landed against her skin.
“It reminds me of your eyes and the color of the water back home.”
A round Australian blue opal hung from the end of the gold chain; the colors were a mix of light blues and greens and it sparkled with hidden layers. She loved it. “It’s beautiful, perfect, but I can’t take this. It’s too much…it’s not an occasion.” She paused, then lifted it.
Alexi stilled her hands with a frown, took the charm and tucked it into her neckline, then kissed her. “Please? It’s our first real date. It’s an occasion to me.”
She couldn’t argue with that, and she didn’t want to do so. “Yes,” Mia said against his lips.
He kissed her again. She slid onto his lap and put her arms around his neck.
Chapter 34
Mia bounced down the steps wearing Alexi’s gift. The necklace was beautiful. Her dark green dress floated just above her knees. It was one of her favorites. He was beautiful waiting for her there at the bottom of the steps. Happy day.
Alexi smiled and opened his arms, and she threw herself toward him.
Wrapping her arms around his waist, she hugged him in greeting then turned to her father. “We’re just going to Niko and Hope’s to watch a movie; it’s not far.”
Alexi jingled a set of keys.
Dad nodded. “Drive carefully and be home by eleven.” He turned away.
Mia eyed the keys. She put her lips against his ear. “I’ll teach you a new American experience,” she whispered.
“The small American car is not something I want to experience.” Alexi held open the front door for her to pass through. “I want you with me in my new car.”
“You got a car?”
“Mine.” He shook his keys again.
“Cool.”
He walked out the door, and she spotted his Lamborghini immediately. She stopped mid-step and stared.
It was like something out of the movies—shiny, sleek and extremely foreign. The car negated most of her efforts to make him look like a normal American teen. She found she couldn’t chastise him about that fact. “That’s gorgeous. Niko loves you.” She peered in the window. She winked. “No backseat?” Her tone was playful and disappointed.
Alexi blinked. “Is that the American experience you were talking about? We can take your car.”
He’d never fit in her tiny backseat. “Oh, no.” She laughed. “Now that you’ve shown it to me, you have to take me somewhere.”
He twisted his lips but reached behind her to open the passenger door. Nice manners. She kissed him before she got in. She slid down the seat, trying for graceful, but it was a drop, and the hem on her dress hiked up. He watched her legs as she modestly tried tugging down the hem. Skirts and Lamborghinis don’t mix. Who knew? She latched her seatbelt while he got in.
“You look pretty.”
“Thank you.” She assessed his off-white tailored shirt and dark-colored pants. Back in his formal clothes without her there to make him casual, he still was stunning. She rested her hand against his leg. “I can’t believe I can touch you whenever I want now. Not that I was that good at restraining myself before.” She tightened her fingers against the fabric. The muscle underneath didn’t give; no wonder he could kick such long field goals.