The Hardest Part

Read The Hardest Part for Free Online

Book: Read The Hardest Part for Free Online
Authors: Heather London
Tags: Romance
Cabernet, please."
    He nodded, but then he just stood there, narrowing his eyes as he looked curiously at me.
    " You look really familiar," he finally said.
    " I've been in once before. My friend lives in the building next door." I pointed toward Lexi's building.
    He shook his head. "No, it's from somewhere else." He tapped his finger on his chin. "I know. You work with Christine, don't you?"
    Unease filled me. Just the sound of her name gave me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. "Yes," I answered and tried my hardest to smile.
    " Thought so. I stopped by her office a few weeks ago and we met. I guess I didn't make a lasting impression."
    Now that he’d said something, he did kind of look familiar.
    " I'm Ben, in case you don't remember." He gave me a quick wink and smiled.
    " Emily." I smiled apologetically.
    " I'll go get you that wine."
    He stepped away as I looked around the restaurant, wishing Lexi would hurry up and get here. She was already ten minutes late.
    Ben returned a minute later, placing the wine down in front of me.
    " So are you meeting someone?" He leaned against the bar, coming only a few inches from my face, way too close for my comfort. I slowly leaned away, hoping I wasn't being too obvious.
    " Yeah, my friend, Lexi."
    " Oh, okay, just let me know if I can get you anything else." He winked again and then turned his attention toward the customer a few seats down from me.
    My fingertips tapped nervously on the wine glass as I prayed for Lexi to get here soon.
    " Mr. Alexander, it's so nice to see you again." A man with a deep voice spoke behind me. The name Alexander immediately caught my attention.
    Turning around, I saw Mr. Alexander standing there shaking hands with a shorter, gray-haired man at the host stand near the front of the restaurant.
    " It's very nice to see you, too, Paul. It's been a long time."
    " I'm glad you're back, sir. We've all missed you."
    " It's nice to be back in the city."
    I knew it was rude to eavesdrop on their conversation, but I couldn't help it. I couldn't even look away from him. Earlier today, when Mr. Alexander had come into the office, I hadn't gotten a great look at him because I couldn't necessarily gawk at him in front of Sharon. Seeing him now, he was very attractive. Okay, if I were being honest, Isabel was right. He was pretty yummy looking. He was dressed more casual than earlier, now wearing dark jeans, a white shirt with a navy-blue sports jacket, and brown boots.
    " Are you home for good or just visiting?" the short, gray-haired man asked.
    " I'll be here for a while," was all he said.
    I was just about to turn around when his eyes caught mine. I couldn't move or look away. He gave me a small smile and a quick nod before turning his attention back to the man in front of him.
    " Emily." A cold hand landed on my arm.
    I flinched and looked to my right. Lexi was standing there, smiling.
    Exhaling loudly, I placed my hand over my heart. "Lexi," I said and swallowed hard. "You really need to stop sneaking up on me like that."
    " Sorry, I'm terrible about that," she said and then glanced over her right shoulder, waving and smiling in the direction of none other than Reed Alexander himself. Lexi must’ve been another admirer, although she didn't seem like the type to flirt with a guy so blatantly. I knew how nervous she’d been talking to Brandon for the first time.
    " Come on," she said, grabbing my arm and pulling me off the stool. "My brother's here."
    She couldn't be talking about Mr. Alexander, could she? No. No way. Lexi's last name was Adams.
    I glanced between Lexi and Reed, and my stomach squeezed. The resemblance between the two of them was clear.
    " Wait." I stopped, causing her to turn and face me. "Reed Alexander is your brother?"
    She nodded and smiled.
    " But you're Lexi Adams."
    " Yeah, I changed last names. There's an explanation for all of that—after dinner."
    I looked back toward Reed and found him staring at me. Then something else began

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