Chapter 42 #2
I stand awkwardly silent as the other man glances at me curiously and flicks his eyes down my body in a bold look. My mouth twists as Alexander suddenly places his hand on my lower back and inches me forward slightly.
“Dr. Phillips, this is Sarah Johnson. She’s a wonderful therapist who’s stationed near me in Connecticut.” I fight from tensing up at how uncomfortable the other man makes me feel.
Though my fingers tremble with nerves, I hold my hand out to the older gray-haired man who takes it but then bends forward and surprises me by kissing my cheek in greeting. I bite my lip, blushing furiously as the man steps back, patting the back of my hand.
“Ma’am, please don’t think me too forward, but you smell absolutely delightful,” Dr. Phillip says kindly. “Do tell me your scent so I can buy it for my wife.”
“She wears Kilian’s Love, Don’t Be Shy,” Alexander interjects smoothly, but my throat is so constricted I can't say anything. “It’s pricey, so just go on ahead and kiss the wallet goodbye now!” He laughs; his blue eyes warm, looking down at me teasingly.
Our eyes lock again, and I stare, beginning to tremble and almost scared to smile back at him.
Breaking our eye contact, I look away nervously and take a step back. “Excuse me,” I say softly, turning and leaving them to their conversation.
I make my way out of the auditorium and use the restroom before coming back out to the lobby and seeing Alexander surrounded by people. I take my time going over the pamphlets, looking up when the announcer speaks over the intercom announcing the resuming of the program in ten minutes.
Looking back over, I tense when I see the woman from earlier, who’d bragged about wanting to give Alexander her number, standing rather close to him.
She's pretty, long, dirty blonde hair, and bright blue eyes like his.
They're speaking. I'm sure it's innocent, but I can't help but heat with jealousy once more, so thick I want to scream with it.
I nibble my bottom lip, aware I've got it pretty bad for Alex.
Somewhere along the way I've caught feelings, and I don't quite know how to deal with them. My eyes slide to him.
He bends over slightly to her short frame and nods at her once, holding out his hand for the card she’s giving him.
I bite my lip as she places her hand on his arm rather suggestively.
But what happens next makes me frown; Alexander stiffens the moment she touches him, the icy mask falls back into place, and he pulls away sternly but still keeps his demeanor rather professional.
I catch the hurt look on the woman’s face, but Alexander continues to talk with her as if he didn't just reject her.
“Hey, there you are. So, I couldn’t help noticing, or rather overhearing, that you’re a therapist?” a husky voice sounds out next to me, startling me.
I turn, shoving my papers into my bag and meet a pair of chocolate eyes, seeing it's the man who’d been standing next to Dr. Phillips.
I take a hasty step back and clutch my bag tighter to me.
I hadn’t liked his energy earlier, and I don’t like it now.
Though I try to relax my posture, my shoulders hunch of their own volition.
I stay quiet even as small trembles wrack my body. I’m painfully aware I don’t know this man and don't wish to judge him, but something about him feels familiar.
Too familiar.
It clicks. He reminds me of Brandon.
I feel my skin suddenly break out into a sweat at the realization.
The man holds his hand out to me, and I just stare at it, my fingers like a vice grip around the handle of my purse.
I make myself take a deep breath and unclench my fingers, grasping just the very tip of his in greeting and a very tiny smile. That's all I can manage.
“My name is Charles. I have a practice in New York, and I believe I’m only a bit away from you. Maybe we could hang out one day, get to know each other more?” He looks at me expectantly, and though his smile is warm, there's an edge to it I don't trust.
Determined to not look like a freak, I open my mouth, trying to find the words, but they won’t come. In my mind I hear Brandon screaming at me. My heart races, the small amount of lingering pain in my back heightens, making my stomach knot. Charles has me stuck; I can't look away from him.
“Uhm. Uhhh…” I stammer, swallowing thickly and wetting my lips. I flinch hard when I feel a hand on my back and bite back a scream of terror. Looking over, I see it's Alexander. My heart draws to a sudden stop before racing at a breakneck speed.
“Baby, are you alright?” He looks down at me with a stern expression. However, there's nothing but veiled concern in his eyes, which slide rather sharply to Charles.
My knees buckle as I sag in relief, but Alexander pulls me to him smoothly, hiding me from embarrassment.
He leans down, pressing his lips against my temple as he rubs soothing circles on my lower back.
I tremble, and my heart rate starts to slow as his scent washes over me, making me relax and feel safe.
Charles’ eyes go wide.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were together,” Charles says. His eyebrows knit together as Alexander suddenly slides his hand from its spot on my lower back to grip my hip.
Pressing me rather indecently against his side, Alexander's lips are still in my hair as he replies in a curt tone, “I was standing right next to her. You should have known better.” Alexander's tone is so icy with the man that I feel myself shiver as I break out into a full-body flush.
“Excuse us,” he says rudely, turning us both and putting his hand around my waist, keeping us pressed close as we walk back to our seats.
I'm thankful for his intervention. I can't believe I've had such an embarrassingly horrible public reaction. Not able to help it, I chance a look over my shoulder as we walk away, seeing a put out look on Charle's face that erases almost the moment our eyes lock. I turn my head forward…
Safe.