it narrow-minded isn’t it?’
‘I didn’t dismiss her because of that,’ he flashed at her, rubbing the back of his neck as if this whole conversation was terribly unnecessary. ‘Look, perhaps you should sit down.’
‘I don’t want to sit down,’ she flashed right back.
‘I’m just as unhappy about this turn of events as you are but, realistically, it would have taken Ty too long to get used to her anyway.’
Lexi raised an eyebrow. He’d become an expert on his son now had he? ‘So who are you going to get to help you out?’ she asked, knowing before she’d even finished her question what his answer would be. ‘No.’ She shook her head and spoke before he’d even opened his mouth. ‘That’s not possible.’
‘I will, of course, pay you for your time.’
‘No!’
His lack of any response to her vehemence made her nervous. ‘Anyway, I’m busy this weekend,’ she said, hating that she felt as if she had to explain herself to this man. She moistened her lips and watched his eyes follow the movement. His gaze lingered and once again she wondered how his lips would feel against her own. Aimee’s words about his sexual prowess popped into her head and her lips were once again bone-dry.
Oh, Lord, she had to get out of here.
His eyes returned to hers and she expelled a breath in a rush.
‘Doing?’
‘I’m going to Paris,’ she declared. Deciding there and then that she’d give Simon a chance. It was time. Past time. And Simon was a saint compared to this man.
‘Your friend seemed to think you hadn’t yet made up your mind.’
Lexi frowned, wondering how he knew that. ‘Aimee doesn’t know everything,’ she said, slightly flustered.
‘And whom are you going to the city of light with, hmmm?’
Lexi felt her jaw clench at his supercilious tone. Simon would never have asked that question! He was well-mannered, polite, civilised, boring …
No. He was perfect.
Frustrated with her erratic thoughts, Lexi glanced towards the entrance foyer and wondered if she shouldn’t just head for the door and be done with Leo Aleksandrov.
As if sensing her intention, his body tensed, his eyes fixed on her as if he would spring if she made the slightest movement to flee.
‘You haven’t answered my question.’
‘Because it’s none of your business!’ she exclaimed hotly.
His penetrating gaze held hers but his body relaxed as if her answer had been predictable. Then he made her teeth clench even harder when he smiled knowingly. ‘I’ll send you and your lover first class next weekend.’
Lexi’s eyebrows hit her hairline. ‘You’ll send?’ she repeated indignantly. Just who did this man think he was?
‘Pay. Organise.’ He blew out a frustrated breath. ‘Stop getting caught up on semantics.’
‘Mr Aleksandrov, I—’
‘I have to go to Greece for the weekend. I need somebody I can trust to take care of Ty.’
‘You want me to go to Greece with you? For the long weekend?’
Lexi wasn’t even prepared to go into the next room with him, let alone another country!
‘No. I was taking Mrs Parsons to Greece because she is an unknown entity for both myself and Ty, and I felt it was better to have her close by. You, on the other hand, are not an unknown entity. You have looked after my son for two years and you will be perfectly fine to take care of him here, in London. And, as I said—’ he paused, regarding her calmly ‘—I’ll pay you. Well.’
‘Is money your answer to everything?’ Lexi snapped.