Alveus (ABC's Inc. Romance #1) Read Free Page A

frequent visits to our New
York City office; I’ve even got an apartment there. It seems like the logical
place for us to have met. Are you familiar with the city?”
    “Yes,”
Lexi replied.
     
    »ɞ»ɞ«ɞ«
     
    Lexi
had visited New York City with her parents when she was a child. More recently,
her friend Fani had lived there. They used to Skype, and Fani was full of
adventures to share with her. Lexi lived vicariously through her friend,
imagining being in her place. Especially on her mother’s difficult days, the
days when she would yell at her as if a stranger, cruelly demanding that Lexi
get out of her house. She glanced surreptitiously at her companion.
    Dane
Wellesley was yet another chafe against the empty wall of her emotional core.
He didn’t recognize her. Daney had been her first love, her first crush at the
tender age of twelve. Actually, her feelings for him started years earlier when
she’d first met him. He and his grandparents had been guests in their home when
the business moguls got together. The Brightons and the Albertons had been
friends long before she and Dane had come along. Alex Alberton, Henry Brighton
and Fani’s father, Lee Carsten had risen into powerful businessmen at the same
time, and with the support of each other. They had called themselves the ABC’s.
    Lexi
really couldn’t fault Dane for not recognizing her. She might not have
identified him, had he not been introduced by name. His arrogance was also
forgivable. He was, after all, a formidable businessman – if the media could be
trusted. God given, drop-dead good looks, added to the package. Admittedly,
Lexi had seen the pictures online of him escorting beautiful women around New
York City, but the photos did not do him justice. His light brown hair was cut
short and professionally styled, except for one rogue curl reaching down his
forehead toward amber eyes. Dressed casually, his blue long-sleeved Henley
emphasized the bulging muscles of his arms, not to mention a rippling chest. As
she scrutinized the man beside her, Lexi could envision the boy he had been, though
he had changed. She never would have dreamed that boy would grow up to treat
human beings, women, as objects to be bought and sold. Another dream crushed.
    As
Dane drew a picture of their fictional love story, the irony wasn’t lost on
Lexi. She’d lost count of how many nights she had fantasized being in this very
situation.
     
    Lexi
eyed the beautiful old estate as Dane stopped the car at the front entrance.
Handing the keys over to an awaiting servant, he quickly strode around to her
side of the car, opened the door, and reached in to assist her. Pulling her out,
he eased her against the car in an embrace.
    “I’d
venture a bet that Oma is watching from the front sitting room,” he said into
her ear, proceeding to nuzzle her neck affectionately.
    Lexi
wasn’t prepared for her physical response to the gesture. The tingle it ignited
spread through her body and brought forth an involuntarily gasp. Dane pulled
back and searched her eyes, a puzzled expression on his face.
    “Don’t
be afraid,” he said, misreading her reaction to the intimacy. Leaning in close,
he placed his lips on hers in a gentle kiss. “Oma will immediately fall in love
with you. Anyone who can put up with me goes straight to the head of the class,
as far as she’s concerned. Come on.” Before Lexi could get a grasp on the startling
new sensations she experienced at his innocent gestures of intimacy, Dane took a
hold of her hand and escorted her into the house.
     
    »ɞ»ɞ«ɞ«

Chapter Three
     
     
    “Guten
tag, Frau Brighton; it is a pleasure to finally meet you.”
    Dane
hid his surprise as Aly greeted his grandmother in her native language. The
words flowed smoothly out of her mouth with barely an accent.
    “You
are German?” Oma said, her brow creased in confusion. “I cannot distinguish your
accent.”
    “No,
Oma,” Dane quickly intervened, “Aly’s an