CHAPTER 29 ALEXIS
“What the hell did he do?” my father yells as he walks into the kitchen. It’s mid-afternoon, and I just got up after a late night flight from Vegas back to Los Angeles.
It’s everywhere. Images of Danny with his mouth on mine are all over the media—and not just the tabloids. Mainstream media. Brooks just showed me a post from ESPN.
It’s bananas, but somehow the world is up in arms over Danny Brewer kissing Alexis Bodega in celebration after last night’s victory.
“This. This is why we set it up to make the world think you’re with Brooks. But clearly baseball’s bad boy doesn’t give a damn that you’re in a relationship!"
“I mean…he knows the truth,” I admit. Clearly that’s the wrong thing to say based on the glare that comes my way from my father, so I try a different approach. “Is it a bad thing that I’m all over the media?”
He shakes his head. “We were on track for this proposal in a few weeks, but we need to move it up. We have to erase this image.” He holds up his tablet, showcasing Danny’s lips on mine.
Good Lord, what I wouldn’t give to have Danny’s lips on mine again.
We look good together. So good.
It was nothing. A little victory celebration. He got caught up in the heat of the moment and kissed the first woman he saw. That’s the angle we’re spinning, anyway, and nobody is any the wiser that I’ve been talking on a daily basis to the man who kissed me.
Nobody—including my father and Brooks—know what he is to me now.
That he’s become…well, everything to me in the last six months. That he’s my first thought when I wake and my last thought when I fall asleep. That he’s become someone I can talk to about what I’m thinking, what I’m feeling.
Except for the proposal. I was sort of hoping my dad would forget about it by the time the tour wrapped, and I wasn’t really sure how to bring that up to Danny anyway.
Clearly he did not forget.
But my God, every time I see that photo, I’m reminded about how much I want it to happen again. I’m desperate for him. For another kiss like the one in that hotel room all those months ago.
To give myself over to him completely.
I’m ready.
Nothing changed for me over the last six months other than feeling myself fall deeper and deeper, and he did little things the entire time I was on tour to let me know he was thinking about me.
Sending donuts to my hotel suite. Texting me all the time. Reminding me that he was waiting for me.
And he did wait for me. The man who had a different woman in his bed every night has had an empty bed since he met me.
That means something.
Something big. Huge.
And now I’m back. The wait is over.
I’m set to start filming in a couple weeks. Most of the filming will be done here at a studio in Los Angeles, but some will be on location, too. I studied the script while I was on tour. I’m ready.
And I’m hopeful I’ll have time to see Danny…to figure out what all this really is now that he’s out of season and I’m back in town.
It won’t be easy, but neither were the six months that passed, and we managed to get through that.
My father tosses the tablet on the table. “Brooks, get me a meeting on your father’s schedule. We need to push forward sooner with the paperwork. And you,” he snarls in my direction. “Stay out of trouble. And for God’s sake, do not take any calls from Brewer, you hear me?”
As if he conjures it out of thin air, my phone buzzes in my pocket with a new text.
I wait until he storms out of the room and Brooks toddles off after him before I slip my phone out to check it.
Sure enough, it’s from Danny. And he told me not to take his calls. He didn’t say anything about text messages.
DJ: My agent said I owed an apology to your camp for last night’s kiss. I suppose I’m sorry if it got you into hot water, but I’m not sorry I did it.
I smile down at my phone like some delirious person as I read his words a few times.
Me: I just got yelled at about it. No regrets other than the fact that one kiss wasn’t nearly enough.
DJ: [laughing face emoji] Agreed.
Me: It was a nice preview for what’s to come. Oh, and congratulations again on that epic win last night. I’m so freaking proud of you.
DJ: Thank you. And I’d like more details on what you mean by “what’s to come.” Because I assume you meant YOU.
DJ: And me. LOL
Me: Hmm, do you mean…victory sex?
DJ: Is that what you meant?
I study my phone for a beat as I try to figure out what to say. And then, rather than play coy, I give it to him straight.
Me: It’s all I can think about.
DJ: Fuck. I’ll be on the next plane out of Vegas.
I send back a laughing emoji. I wish it were that simple.
Me: As much as I’d love that, I have a business dinner tonight, a bunch of meetings tomorrow, and a charity event Tuesday. But I don’t have anything on my calendar for Wednesday night. I might be able to get to Vegas.
DJ: I need to head to LA anyway for the weekend, so why don’t I plan to come in early so I can see you on Wednesday?
Me: Yes. I would love that.
DJ: I’ve been waiting for this since you left back in April.
Me: So have I.
Maybe even longer than that, if I’m being honest.
All the phone sex has done nothing but heighten the need between the two of us to finally be able to hear those same sounds in person.
I for one can’t wait. I’m nervous, but knowing what I know about him now tells me that he will take care of me.
He will make sure I’m comfortable and that my needs are met—every one of them, from emotional and mental to physical and even spiritual, because I have a feeling being with Danny Brewer naked in the flesh is going to be a spiritual experience unmatched by anything else I’ve ever been through.
Steven was good practice a few years ago, but this is like playing in the majors…no pun intended.
I glance at the clock and realize I need to shower ahead of tonight’s business meeting, which is likely about what comes next for Alexis Bodega musically since I’m filming first and recording after that.
My dad pulled something together with a couple lawyers, Brooks’s dad, and, of course, Brooks and me.
I’m not really looking forward to it.
I’d rather spend the night on the phone with Danny, to be honest, but he’s become my little secret.
Whoever would’ve thought Danny Brewer would be anyone’s secret? The man has always lived a loud life in the spotlight, but I’m enjoying every single second of his attention that he gives to me.
And I really can’t wait for Wednesday.