15. Alex
15
ALEX
I hated myself for the jealousy that reared its head when I saw Olivia walk past my table with another man. It was ridiculous considering that I was on a date. I thought hooking up with one of my dalliances would make me forget about Olivia. The irony of her walking into the same goddamn restaurant…
After my embarrassing ordeal with Candy, the exotic dancer, I was determined to get back on track with my flings. I had a playboy reputation to uphold after all, and I dared not disappoint all of Boston. The blogs had been noticeably dry since my brief disappearance from the social scene. Plus, I hadn’t gotten laid since I reunited with Olivia, and I was determined to change that tonight. However, things went downhill with my date the moment I laid eyes on my ex.
“Alex, babe, you’ve barely paid me any mind since we got here.”
I glanced at the pouting woman in front of me. Lila was an up-and-coming fashion designer who I had something in common with. Like me, she was climbing the ladder of success from absolutely nothing. I admired her for that, which was why I chose her to ease back into the dating game. Although this was more like a fun fling rather than dating…
“You know I don’t like to be called, ‘babe,’ Lila,” I murmured.
Olivia used to call me that in college. Goddamn Olivia. I couldn’t go five minutes without her popping up in my mind, and I was ready to tear my hair out.
Lila pouted again. “I got all dressed up for nothing. You haven’t even commented on my latest design. This dress really shows off my new accessories, don’t you think?”
My gaze dropped to said accessories . Her breasts were significantly larger than the last time we had dinner. “Uh-huh. They look great, Lila.” I hated fake tits. I hated fake everything. You know who had nice perky natural tits…?
My gaze slid back to the table where Olivia and that guy sat. Who was he? Were they serious? He didn’t look like her type. He seemed… shady.
Jeezus, Alex!
I wanted to detach my foot and kick myself in the ass. How could I go from hating a woman, or convincing myself that I did, to being obsessed with her? I should have gone to therapy years ago as my friends advised. They were poking fun at the time, but hell, I think they were onto something. I’d probably be diagnosed with selective rejection disorder turned into hopeless infatuationitis or some fuck-shit like that.
“Alex.”
I blinked and returned my attention to Lila. Her eyebrows were puckered and her lower lip protruded. Aw hell, I was pissing off my date. We definitely weren’t going to have hot sex after this. It hit me that I didn’t want to. I hadn’t had the desire to touch another woman since I saw Olivia again. Fuck me. Maybe hopeless infatuationitis was a real thing…
“Did you hear anything I said?” Lila asked hotly.
“Uh…” I blew out a breath. “I’m sorry, no.”
“I was saying the food here is great. I’d love to come back soon…”
I glanced at her as I suppressed a sigh. This was why I stopped seeing her the first time around. Lila kept getting attached when I made it clear what I wanted. No-strings-attached fun. I didn’t bother to respond because I noticed how Olivia kept smoothing her hair. She’d done it more than ten times since I’d been watching her and her date. That meant she was nervous as hell and barely keeping it together. I hated how well I knew her.
From her profile and stiff posture, she seemed distressed. Just what was that guy saying to her? And why did I care? Nevertheless, that gut instinct I had about danger, which was cultivated from living in a dodgy trailer park in the capital of muggings and murder, was going haywire.
“So you’re going to ignore what I just said?” Lila fumed. “God, Alex, you haven’t changed one bit. You’re still an emotionally unavailable jerk.”
I lifted an eyebrow as I subtly positioned my phone and zoomed in to take a snapshot of Olivia's date. “Lila, if you’re trying to hurt my feelings, you’re wasting your time.”
“I know,” she said dryly. “It’s a good thing you’re incredible in bed. You’d better make up for this disaster of a date later.”
I grunted my amusement. “If I’m such a jerk, why did you agree to this date? I mean, I ignored you for months and you happily agreed to dinner when I called.”
Genuinely interested, I took my eyes off Olivia for a moment as I waited for Lila’s answer .
She watched me through narrowed eyes as she sipped from her glass. “Honestly?”
I nodded. “Honestly.”
“You’re incredibly generous, Alex. I’m sure half the women in this city know that… I enjoy your extravagant gifts.”
“Mhmm,” I hummed. Women loved it when I pulled out my black card.
“But I also see something underneath your devilish smile and rakish ways. It’s not just the money and amazing sex. You’re a good guy… incredibly sweet sometimes. But you hide that side of you so well. I wonder what happened to make you stop being that guy…”
I gawked at Lila. Since when was she so deep? She mostly giggled and batted her eyelashes. However, I guess that was her trying to appease me. I didn’t know why some women thought they had to do that…
I swallowed hard, trying to hide that she’d hit a nerve. To distract myself from the cauldron of emotions and bad memories being stirred up, I sent the picture I’d taken of Olivia’s date, a.k.a Scarface, to my most trusted employee and prot?g?.
Need identification pronto. It’s an emergency.
My text got an immediate response. You got it.
I put my phone in my breast pocket and waited. It wasn’t my habit to invade anyone’s privacy but that bad feeling I had mounted the longer I watched Olivia’s behavior with that man.
“Well?” Lila prompted. “Are you going to tell me what happened?”
I snorted. “Maybe you’re wrong, Lila. Maybe I’m just a jerk and that’s all there is to me.”
She quirked an eyebrow and then our deeper-than-usual conversation ended. “Maybe, but it doesn’t matter. I know the drill. After dinner, you’ll take me to some hotel, blow my mind in bed, and not call me back.” She sighed. “At least I’ll get a nice gift out of this. What will it be this time, Alex? An insanely expensive necklace from Tiffany’s? Another Louis Vuitton dress or purse?”
Her tone was half-mocking, half-resigned, and it struck a chord. Shit, Lila was on a roll tonight. I remained silent as I pondered her words. A feeling of unease washed over me. Many of my relationships had a transactional nature and that was sad. Suddenly, I felt like a stranger in my body because the person I’d been for a decade wasn’t really me…
The vibration of my phone halted my spinning mind. I pulled it out to see the result of the search on Olivia’s companion. My blood ran cold, and a chill went up my spine. There was no way that Olivia was dating a man with a rap sheet that long. I forgot all about the emotional reckoning that almost took place when Olivia and the criminal got up.
They didn’t walk directly past my table this time. I was sure it was deliberate on Olivia’s part because I knew she had seen me earlier.
“Lila… I’m sorry,” I said.
I wasn’t even sure what I was apologizing for. I suppose for the fact that I was about to rudely and abruptly end our date or because it seemed I had hurt her over the course of our… fling, which wasn’t my intention.
“I have to go, but you can stay and enjoy dessert.” I signaled the waiter.
Surprisingly, Lila didn’t protest. She merely nodded. “How about a bottle of Dom P?rignon to go with dessert?”
Reaching for my wallet, I smiled. “You got it. Lila…”
She held up a finger. “No explanation needed.”
I snapped my mouth shut and gazed at her for a moment. Perhaps if I had resolved my issues with Olivia and was able to carry on a healthy relationship, Lila and I could have something. With a final nod, I made my escape.
I stepped outside to see Olivia standing on the curb, looking expectantly down the street. The car that I assumed she was looking for was nowhere to be seen. The man who she was dining with appeared from a corner. At the same time, an SUV pulled up in front of them.
I was on high alert, but I didn’t intervene or make my presence known until the man wrapped his fingers around Olivia’s arm. I’d been inching closer, so I heard when he told her to get in as he gently pushed her toward the SUV.
“I’m afraid she can’t do that,” I said, stepping under the streetlight.
Olivia and the man turned to me. His eyes were squinted and hers were wide and filled with terror. I think I saw a sliver of relief in her eyes, but it was dark, so I could be wrong.
“Why not?” the man asked with a hint of annoyance.
“Because she’s coming with me,” I drawled, taking her other elbow. I maneuvered Olivia away from him and behind me. She didn’t protest, so she really must have been scared. She didn’t take too kindly to being treated like a damsel in distress.
The man’s gaze hardened as he sized me up. His posture stiffened and his voice had a dangerous edge when he spoke. “I don’t think you understand the situation here. Olivia was just about to help me with a little problem.”
My jaw tightened at the sound of her name coming out of his treacherous mouth. “I think she has helped you enough for one night,” I bit out, my voice as low and threatening as his.
He stepped forward, his stare intense. I guess I was supposed to be intimidated. I almost laugh out loud at the thought. He was really irritating the hot-headed kid that still lurked beneath my polished exterior, the one who grew up on the rough side of town.
When I held his gaze and didn’t flinch, his eyebrows elevated, and he changed tactics. “You don’t know who you’re messing with, friend.”
Olivia was silent, but she placed a hand on my arm and squeezed as if to tell me to back down.
“I’m well aware of who I’m dealing with,” I returned. Boy, did I know. The information I’d gotten on this guy made me shudder to think of Olivia alone with him.
“I suggest you mind your business,” he warned.
“And I suggest you back the fuck off,” I growled. This time, I took a threatening step toward him only for Olivia to gasp and tighten her hold on me. Her touch cooled my temper, and I stopped.
The man blinked as if shocked by my reaction and then he gazed at me with curiosity. He’d find out who I was soon enough, and I’d be of interest to Boston’s most dangerous crime organization. How did Olivia get involved with these guys? Of course, I’d stick my neck out for her… just like old times.
“Ms. Brentwood,” the man said evenly as he took a step back toward the SUV. “We’ll chat later then.” With that, he ducked into the vehicle.
I glared at the SUV until it disappeared into the darkness. I didn’t take kindly to him thinking he’d get anywhere near Olivia again. I’d make sure that never happened.