Page 32 of Where We Fall

"Thousand? Twenty to thirty thousand?" Her voice slightly rises.

I happen to look over at Gabe and Mia across the room. They're talking to William and his wife, Kathryn. When I see their heads turn towards us, I quickly look back down at Lexi. I guess it's showtime.

I wrap my arm around her waist again, grabbing her hip, giving it a solid squeeze.

"It's Super Bowl tickets, Lex."

She doesn't seem to bat an eye at my hand on her body. It annoys me. Is she not feeling what I'm feeling right now?

"Still, that's an awful lot of money. Let's just keep walking."

I grab her hand and interlace our fingers as she starts to look at the other items. This seems to get her attention. She looks down at our joined hands and then back up at me.

"Are we being watched?" she whispers.

I wink at her then move my hand to her neck as my lips graze her ear. "Why? Is this making you feel…uncomfortable?"

Her body shutters under my touch as I drag my hand down the length of her back until my fingers brush along the lower part of her back, just above her ass. I look down at my hand and take in the eyeful of her perfect ass in this dress.

I let out a barely audible groan. The view shows off her long slender back in this dress.

When our eyes finally meet, she looks like she's drunk on my touch. Her eyes are heavy and her breathing is labored.

I'm so lost in her, that I don't notice our company.

"Marcus," Gabe says, giving a stern smile when I look at him.

I give him a curt nod then turn to William.

"Hi, William. Pleasure to see you. Thank you for inviting us, it's quite an amazing event," I say as I extend my hand. He shakes it and looks over at Lexi then back at me. "Allow me to introduce my girlfriend to you. This is Lexi."

I bring her to my side, smiling with pride. Who wouldn't with a woman like her in their arms?

Lexi shakes William's hand.

"Nice to meet you, Lexi. This is my wife, Kathryn." While the ladies are shaking hands, he looks back at me. "I must say, I'm surprised to hear that things are getting pretty serious between the two of you."

Lexi looks up at me with a smile that to the public, might seem genuine, but I know to be fake. I lean down and kiss her on the forehead.

"Not serious enough. She keeps trying to slow things down, but what can I say? When you know, you know."

Kathryn is smiling at us like we're the sweetest thing she's ever seen. "You two make a beautiful couple. Your love is unmistakable. I could see it from across the room."

"It's a bit soon," William cuts in. "Just a couple of months ago you were here in Chicago. I hope you were single then."

Lexi clutches my hand. She's got a lot of strength in that tiny hand of hers. I look down and see the anger in her eyes.

I know, the man's got some nerve to try and bring it up right here, in front of mygirlfriendand everybody else in the room. But we aren't here to make a scene, we are here to put on a show for the man standing in front of us, insulting meandLexi.

"Well, Lexi and I have worked together for a year now. It started as admiration for her work ethic and dedication to her family. When I got back from Chicago a couple of months ago, we had to work more closely together. That one-on-one time, getting to know her, seeing how sweet and fun she is. Well, that was all it took for me to fall head-over-heels."

I know I'm supposed to be saying these words to William, but I find myself staring into Lexi's eyes as I say them.

"I see," Williams says.

Lexi breaks our connection and turns to William. "Marcus is amazing. He can somehow make anyone in a room with him feel welcome and accepted. He's thoughtful and he's honest. I know all about his past. There's nothing he doesn't tell me, and I appreciate that quality in him. Our time together has been incredible. I've never been happier."

"Well, I'm glad he found somebody to settle down with. It's important to show the world you aren't afraid of commitment."

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