I glance back at the narrow table I’m using as a desk. The idea of returning to that chair is repulsive. “Sure. That’d be great. Just let me clean up and I’ll be down.”
Amy gives a tiny hop and flashes a huge smile. “Great.”
She’s so nice, and outgoing. I used to be more friendly. Used to love people. What’s she going to think of me when she finds out I was sent here to nefarious reasons? My stomach turns and I regret agreeing to dinner. But I gave my word, so I find a clean top and freshen up in the bathroom before forcing myself down the stairs. But once I’m on the ground floor, the insecurity of not belonging freezes me in place.
There’s a crowd of people like the first night. Stone is at the grill. Amy and Tyler are making trips back and forth to the kitchen. Eliot is back along with Cade each with a beer. No Alex.
“You going out there, or what?” The familiar Texas twang in my ear has me spinning around and practically falling into Alex’s arms. I lurch back. “Whoa.” He grabs my shoulders before I topple over. “Didn’t mean to scare you. Figured you would’ve heard me coming down the stairs.”
I swallow, searching for composure and inexplicably fighting the urge to rub up against him. He’s wearing a clean white t-shirt, and black denim. Black cowboy boots and his hair is damp on the ends. Freshly showered. He smells like soap and water, and man. That indescribable musky heat. The urge to bury my nose in his neck catches me off guard. I step out of his hold.
He drops his arms. “You okay?”
“Good.” I clear the squeak in my voice. “Just hungry.” That’s no lie. I’m starving for this man and I’m not at all sure what to do about the urge to push up his shirt and run my tongue along his cut abs. Retreat to the patio is my only option, but he’s right on my heels. My body is acutely aware of exactly where he is, like a spider with a new victim wiggling in its web. I’m all for wrapping him up tight and taking him and this conversation to the bedroom. Not gonna happen.
Alex pulls out a chair for me. I almost miss the gesture it’s so unexpected. Who does that anymore? A flutter of uncertainty makes me awkward in my own body.
“Thanks,” I say as he scoots the seat forward as I drop into it. He settles easily into the chair a the head of the table, leaving space between us and stretching his long legs under the table—completely relaxed.
“How’s the club coming?” Stone calls from the grill, saving me from making conversation.
Alex stiffens and sits up. “The painters are almost done. Bathrooms are done.”
“All of them?” Stone sounds surprised.
“Tile to towel dispensers. Put up the last one before I finished for the day. I would’ve stayed longer?—”
Stone interrupts. “You’ve been living there.”
“Have to. I spend all day managing the subs. Still gotta get my work done.”
Stone shoots Alex a look filled with doubt and calculation. Does Stone think he’s avoiding me too?
“How’s the copy coming for the website, SJ?”
I startle, my focus darting away from Alex to the current threat. Now, I’m in Stone’s crosshairs. I sit up taller searching for the right words. I catch myself about to twist my finger in my hair, and push it back off my face instead. Sticking with the truth, I answer, “Good. Slow. But good. Alex is helping me with some questions after dinner.”
Another laser-guided glare from Stone heads toward Alex. Before Stone can say a word Alex pipes up, “I’m on it, boss. We’ll have something for Katherine soon.”
Ha.Hegot the virtual spanking from Daddy. Now he has to help me. I breathe out, releasing the tension in my jaw.
Amy places a bin of silverware in the center of the table and passes plates around before she sits opposite of me with a smile. Tyler is right beside her as usual, handing Alex a beer. “Move over. Let me sit next to my wife.”
Alex glances at me like he’s assessing a threat but he shifts over one chair to sit next to me. My body lights up in awareness of his proximity. If anything that’s another mark against him. Like my uncle reminded me, I never could pick good men. He shifts his chair away from me.
I open my mouth to tell him I don’t bite, but the smell of the steaks makes my stomach grumble.
Alex grins at me a twinkle of mischief in his eye. I glare, daring him to say something about my embarrassment, but he sips his beer as if nothing happened. Why does he have to be so damn attractive? Everything my uncle is asking would be so much easier if Alex were a monster on the outside or rude or mean to kittens. Something other than adorable, sexy, tall cowboy.
“How’s Blake?” Amy asks in the direction of Cade and Eliot.
Cade looks away. Eliot tilts his head in contemplation and finally responds. “Physically, getting better faster than expected.”
“It can’t be easy for him. For any of you.” Amy’s focused on Cade who faces the group after another beat.
“It helped when you came to see him,” Cade says. “He needed space from me and Eliot.” Cade blinks and tilts his head back to the sky. “I just wish there was more I could do.”
It’s obvious Cade is tied in knots over the situation with Blake.
