Chapter 1 #2
The shower turns on, a nice white noise that almost drowns out the voices in the living room. I’m guessing Alex has upped our protection team now that we’re back in the lion’s den. How long until the press gets word that we’ve been spotted at one of New York’s swankiest hotels?
There’s a knock at the bedroom door. The temptation to ignore it is strong, but I have a hunch who’s on the other side, so I take a gulp of my latte, then push to my feet. Steeling myself to deal with the day, I twist the knob.
My heart does a little flip.
Alex.
Shoving the paneled door wide, I reach for him.
I don’t know why I was holding out hope that Gabe would show up. We haven’t spoken in days. No texts. No phone calls. I know I’m being stubborn, but you know, sometimes a man just has to figure out what’s important to him, on his own time.
I can’t beg. I won’t.
Alex steps into the room, his big body filling the doorway, before I’m in his arms.
Clinging to his shoulders, I lift my lips to his. “I missed you.”
“You didn’t come home this morning,” he grouses, his hands circling my waist.
I’m not entirely sure where home is right now. My apartment, according to him, needs complete remediation. On the list of things that need my attention, it feels quite low.
He, on the other hand, is near the top. There’s a nice little platform there at the top of that list.
I shake my head a little, almost laughing at myself.
“What is it?”
“You’re right. I didn’t come home.” Because home isn’t my apartment or his apartment or the townhouse or even King’s sailboat. Home is wherever they happen to be. “But to be fair, we landed at three.”
His frown turns to a pout. I grin up at him, and he scoops me up, hands beneath my ass. I wrap my legs around him, my soul settling.
“Did you fix things with Gabe?” I murmur, needing details.
Alex goes still as a statue. He won’t meet my gaze.
My heart aches, and I squeeze him tight. “Talk to me,” I whisper.
“We’re working on it,” he says.
Cupping his cheeks between my hands, I force him to look at me. “Are you really?”
For the dozenth time this week, regret thrashes me. Worse. It fills every crevice. Where there was joy and pleasure, angst and fear reside.
“Yeah,” he says. “I saw him last night.”
“And?” I trail a thumb over his smooth cheek. “I don’t want to be a pest, but…”
“You’re not a pest.”
“I feel like—”
He kisses me. Soft at first. A shut up and kiss me kiss. Normally, I wouldn’t mind at all. I don’t really. But I do want to get to the bottom of whatever this tiff is between the two best friends.
So I pry my lips away just as he turns and presses me against the wall. All those powerful muscles make me melt and lose my head.
“Let’s go shop—” King’s words stumble to a stop. “Morning, Alex.”
With a little growl, Alex lifts his head, drops a kiss to the tip of my nose, and then glances over his shoulder. “Morning.”
“Wildfire wanted me to take her shopping,” he supplies, fiddling with the collar of his shirt.
“Shopping?”
“Big day.”
Alex returns his attention to me. There’s so much to catch each other up on. Does he feel it? The space between us? I don’t like it. A week ago, my world was clicking into place, and I was finally, finally figuring out where I belonged.
He takes a step back and lets me slide down the wall until my feet touch the floor.
“Something I need to know?” he asks, his dark gaze darting back and forth between King and me.
“Not yet,” I say, tempted to ask him the same question. Instead, I press a hand to his heart, soak in the steady thump, and silently borrow some of his strength for the day ahead. “See you tonight?”
“Of course.”
Not exactly the excited response I was hoping for. I glance at King. “Would you check with the guys and see if they’re ready for us?”
There’s a pause as he glances between us and then nods. “See you later.”
“Later,” Alex replies.
Bless my best friend. He shuts the door behind him, leaving Alex and me alone.
“What aren’t you telling me, Alex?”
His hands hang loose at his sides, giving him the appearance of being ready for anything.
“What makes you think I’m not telling you something, Beauty?”
The nickname soothes me a smidge.
“Because you’re a protector at heart and you’d keep something from me if you thought it was going to hurt me.” I know that to the marrow of my bones.
With a sigh, he hangs his head and clamps his hands over his hips. “It’s just a little complicated.” Then he looks at me, and those gorgeous brown eyes convey so much more than words. Desire. Need. He wants my trust.
He has it.
“We’re working it out, though. I promise.”
My stomach flips, and my veins thrum heavy with desire. “I believe you.”
He nods, my words pleasing him.
“I’m not trying to manage you,” I say, the words soft. “I just—”
I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment as my heart squeezes in pain. How did this happen? Everything was going so well, and then poof. They’re at odds and don’t seem to be any closer to mending fences.
He wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me close again. His heat and amazing scent swirl around me. “We are working on it. We talked last night—”
“And?” I’m eager for details. For hope that they’re getting back to where they were and that I’m not a wedge between them.
His chest expands on a deep sigh. “Well, he walked out in the middle of it. But it’s okay, Katie Bird. It’s going to be okay.”
“I miss him,” I whisper.
So much. Tears threaten, and I blink them back. How can I miss someone I’ve only really known for a few weeks? But it’s there. A Gabe-sized crater in the middle of me.
Alex drops a kiss into my hair, squeezing me tight. “I know, Beauty. I know.”