Just as no other man would be his master.
But Rex Morrow didn't want to be tied down. He'd been burned once, and he was determined not to trust again. She should understand. She'd been hurt.
But he'd taught her that the world could be beautiful, too. He'd taught her to love and to laugh....
Couldn't she teach him the same things?
The car jerked violently. She didn't even know where they were. Her heart beat violently. Did he still intend for them to go away? She cleared her throat.
"Er, where are we?"
"The marina," he said curtly. "If you would deign to come into the dining room, someone wants to meet you."
He got out of the car, slamming the door. Ignoring her, he started toward a building with a painted sign that boasted of the yacht club's famous Florida lobster thermidor.
Alexi followed him slowly. She felt so numb. What had she done? The best thing in her life, and she was letting it all slip through her fingers. Losing it all, because she didn't know how to hang on.
She got out of the car and followed Rex. He had waited for her at the restaurant door and was holding it open for her.
Curious, she stepped inside. The place was bright, pretty and air-conditioned but open to the sun, with wall-length plate-glass windows on all sides. The tables were made out of varnished woods and heavy ropes, and the scent of fine seafood was unmistakable. A hostess in navy shorts and a red-white-and-blue sailor top was just coming toward them when Rex waved toward the back of the restaurant.
Alexi followed his gaze, then gave a glad little cry as she saw Gene standing there, waiting for them to join him.
She hugged him fiercely, receiving his tight hug in return. He talked in fragments, and she did, too. Then she smiled brilliantly, kissed his cheek and told him she was very glad to see him.
Rex came to the table, and they were all seated. Alexi realized after a moment that Gene was studying her as surreptitiously as she was studying him. He lifted her chin with his thumb and forefinger, openly looking her over with a thorough scrutiny.
"Still pale," he commented. "I'm fine! The doctor let me go." "Hmmm. Well, it's good you're going out to sea for a few days. Sea air has always been the best thing in the world."
Alexi stared at him blankly, wondering just what Rex had told him. It wasn't that she wasn't old enough to indulge in an affair; it was just that it seemed very strange to be quite so open with him.
The waitress came. Alexi quickly ordered some wine and the lobster thermidor. She sipped her wine after it was poured, not daring to look at Rex at all and nervously aware that Gene was still watching her, a good deal of humor in his deep and wonderful blue eyes now.
After a few moments, Alexi realized that Gene and Rex were going on almost as if she wasn't there. They were discussing different security systems for the place, the possibility of a big dog--all the things she had been thinking about herself.
"Hey, I'm here, you know," she reminded them. They both stared at her. She wished for a moment that she could tell Rex to go jump in a lake, that she could take care of herself. But she couldn't really do that--not then. Although Gene had turned the Brandywine place over to her to reconstruct and refurbish as she saw fit, the property belonged to him, not her.
She sipped more wine, then smiled, a little spitefully, and sat back. "Well, I am here, but please, don't let me bother you. You two just go right ahead without me."
They glanced at her again, arched their brows at each other, then thanked the waitress as she delivered their lunches. Then Rex went on to tell Gene that he thought maybe Alexi needed to have some sort of peace warrant sworn out against John Vinto
Alexi decided to ignore them then. Her lobster was delicious, and the wine was dry and good.
Toward the end of the meal, Rex excused himself to get the check. Alexi looked down at her plate, unable to think of a thing to say to Gene. She felt a blush rising to her cheeks; she knew he was watching her.
"You're not surprised that we're together," she said.
"I'm overjoyed."
"Oh?" Alexi stared straight at him, but she quickly lowered her lashes again. Gene, it seemed, had amassed all the wisdom of the ages. She had always felt that he was incredibly wise. That his gnarled and leathered face and fantastic eyes held all the wisdom of the ages. He could read her mind--and he could read her heart.
"Let me just say this. I like you both very much."
"But, Gene!" Alexi protested softly, loving him. "Liking us both doesn't make us right for each other!"
"Haven't you been?"
She didn't answer him, and he went on. "I've lived a long time, Alexi. A long, long time. I remember the turn of the century; I remember Teddy Roosevelt and the Roughriders, and I even remember what clothes were being worn when World War I broke out. I've known thousands of people, Alexi. Thousands. And out of that, only a handful could I really call friends, could I really admire. I learned to know people from the soul, Alexi. Appearances mean little; even words can mean little. What's in a man's heart and what's in his soul, those are the important things. Rex--he just doesn't like crowds. But then, well, I'm not so fond of fuss and confusion myself."
"He has an awful temper," Alexi supplied. "And he has a way of being horrendously overbearing." "Does he now?" "Yes."
"Well, you have a way with you yourself, Alexi. You can't listen to good sense if you've got your mind set. Oh, here comes Rex now."
Alexi glanced up. Rex, so dark and arresting that even in his jeans and polo shirt he was drawing fascinated glances, was coming back toward them, a thoughtful expression knit into his features. He scowled, though, as he saw Alexi's eyes on him. She felt a little chill run down her spine. He was still ready to kill. She might have added to Gene that he didn't seem to be a bit forgiving. But then, of course, maybe she deserved his anger for what she had said. Even for a male ego that wasn't particularly fragile, that might have been a low blow.
I just want you to love me! she thought, watching him Love me forever, believe in me, trust in me...
A pretty brunette in very short captain's shorts suddenly jumped up from a table, barring Rex's way. She had one of his books in her hands--a hardcover text. Rex paused, gave her a devastating smile and signed the book.
Alexi looked down at her plate again. She wasn't the jealous type. Things like that would never bother her-- normally. But she couldn't help wondering what Rex was thinking as he looked at the young woman. Was she someone that he would want to call once Alexi had returned to New York?
"Before I forget," Gene was saying, "I thought you might enjoy this."
"Pardon? I'm sorry."
Alexi returned her attention to Gene. He was handing her a small, very old and fragile-looking book that had been carefully and tenderly wrapped in a plastic sheath.
"What is it?"
"Eugenia Brandy wine's diary. She left it to me--I was always such a pesky kid. Interested in war and life before Mr. Edison came along with his electric lights. I thought you might enjoy it. She made entries after the war, but an awful lot is about Pierre, meeting him, running away with him. Very...romantic."
"Oh, Gene!"
Alexi stared down at the little book. She would enjoy it; she would treasure it, just as she treasured the old house and the very special history Gene had always given her.
She looked up at him again. "I can't take this. It's a family treasure--''
"Alexi, you are my family." He patted her hand. "Eugenia's family. Keep the book. Take good care of it."
"I will!" Alexi promised. She leaned over to kiss his cheek. "Thank you so much."
He smiled at her, covering the softness of her hand again with the weathered calluses of his own. “No, Alexi, thank you." He stood then, abruptly, an amazingly handsome man of immense dignity. "I've got to go."