“Okay. Alex, I am not going to take a handout. I couldn’t ask that of you.”
He opened his mouth to respond, but my front door opening stopped him. We both spun towards it. I didn't miss how he moved slightly to the left to stand partially in front of me, guarding me against whatever was about to come through the door.
“Agotia? Are you here?”
Lucas' voice echoed throughout the house, seeming loud and intrusive. I did not care for the way he had walked in multiple times without knocking first. It spoke to ownership that he did not have.
“Lucas. What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice cold with anger.
“What amIdoing here? What ishedoing here?”
Alex said nothing, but he did not move from the protective stance he held.
“He was invited in,” I said pointedly. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to offer my help and company, but I can see that you already have that covered. I must say, Agotia, I am surprised at you. I never imagined you to be a woman who would sell herself for money. You never really know a person.
“That is completely uncalled for,” Alex interjected, his voice laced with fury. “Apologize. Now.”
I wished I could have seen Alex's face because something in it prompted Lucas to backtrack out of the door as he muttered an apology. When the door slammed shut, I sagged.
Alex’s arms looped around me, the scent of me comforting as I tried to wrap my mind around what had just happened.
"That is why I can't take your money. People would assume the worst of me. And of you. Not to mention, I don't want money to impede our friendship."
I could feel him nod against the top of my head.
“I understand.” A beat and then, “can I ask you a clarification?”
I pulled out of his grip to lean back to see his face. His eyes were dark with an emotion I couldn't name.
“Of course.”
“Are you and Lucas dating?”
“What? No. What gave you that impression?”
"He seems very possessive over you. I could understand an angry significant other storming in here and saying those things. But for a man who is merely a friend, that was severely out of line. I don't want someone who acts that way on my payroll."
"Please don't fire him. He is a hard worker; he's just hung up on a boyhood crush. I agree; he should not have said those things or burst into my house. I will talk to him about it."
“Okay, but if he does anything else, will you let me know?”
“Alex, he is not going to hurt me. You don’t have to worry about that.”
"I know I don't have to. Remember I don't do anything I don't want to do?"
I chuckled then, feeling like a sunflower soaking in the sun’s rays with the way he was smiling at me.
“Well, do you want to help me figure out how to make some soap?”
Chapter thirteen
Alexander
Ihadneverspenta day more covered in dirt and grime, working as hard as I had. I had also never had more fun. Agotia made mucking out the stalls and hauling buckets of water around an enjoyable way to spend the afternoon.
It had taken my mind entirely off the snuff boxes and the problems back in New York. As we laughed at each other throughout soap making, our jakes diffused our frustrations.
