by Lexy Timms
"Fine." He lifted his eyes and pinned her with a hard stare. "What would you do if you were me?"
"I would get her to take a test to make sure she’s pregnant. Then I would have the DNA testing done. If you think for a moment this kid might not be yours, you need to watch yourself. She could be playing a game. I don’t know her, though. You dated her, so you know how she is. It might all be the truth and it might make you look like an ass, but better an ass having to apologize than an idiot roped into a lie.” She swallowed. “From what I’ve seen of Annette, my opinion is that there’s no way to assume she's only been with you and that the baby is yours." Jamie moved to the edge of the couch. "After that I would make some decisions, but not before."
The pain in Alex’s eyes made her want to help. She knew she loved him, and, whatever he had to go through, she would be there for him.
"I don't want to hurt you in this, Jamie. I don't know what the outcome will be, and I feel like I'm dragging you through the mud with me." He shook his head. "I care too much about you to hurt you at all. I need to figure this out and, then, if you're still willing, we can move forward."
Pain laced the center of her chest as she tilted her head, her eyes widening. "And until then?" she whispered. She didn’t want this. Please don’t say it. Please don’t say it.
"I think we should take a break. I need to clear the air of all of this shit. I've worked my whole life to make something of myself. If anyone was to find out about…about… Annette, I would be toast. People don't look too kindly at investing in someone who seems to lie to and cheat people in life. The media would make me out to be the bad guy. They’d have a field day rummaging through my life. I don’t want that. Not for you, Mark, or the people who work for me. I made this mess." He let out a long breath. "We'll — I’ll figure this out."
She’d heard what he had said but none of it sank in… just the part about breaking up. "Explain what taking a break means."
He nodded, licking at his lips quickly. "I think we should just try to remain good friends. Keep things platonic. And of course still work together. The minute I clear this up, and if you're still into me, I want you to be at my side; my girlfriend or whatever you want to call it. We'll come out and tell everyone. I want you beside me.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I just need a break from the pressure of figuring us out until I can get this shit behind me."
"‘The pressure of figuring us out’? I didn't realize it was keeping you up at night." Anger tore through her and she clenched her jaw. She was hurt; acting out in anger seemed the safest response. Hating him seemed better than loving him and letting him break her heart. Why was nothing in her life ever easy?
"It's just been a lot." He pulled his phone from his pocket and glanced down at it. "Mark wants to go for beers. You want to come with us?"
"No. Thanks, though." She turned and stretched out on the couch. "So we're on a break."
"Yeah, if you're okay with that."
"Yep. That means that if something were to happen between me and some guy at the bar I'm going to this week, that you don't care. You’re not allowed to care. I'm not having anything held against me, right?" She glanced up from watching the TV, as if he didn't matter. She could play it cool.
Whatever.
She could so NOT play it cool.
Devastation swirled in the pit of her stomach, and nothing seemed right all of a sudden. She was in complete defense mode, where her only recourse was to attack and draw blood as she did it.
"What? No, I'm not okay with that." He swallowed hard and shook his head. "I don't mean a break like that. If you need me, come to me and I'll give you anything you need. I don't want anyone touching you."
"Oh. That's usually what a break is." She turned back to the TV. "So if I need to be fucked, you're up for just being my meat?" She couldn’t believe she could act this callous. Maybe she would be a good CEO, like Nicholas said.
He stood and crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm not too fond of the term, but I guess if that's what you want to call it."
"Can't be much more when you don't let your heart get involved." She glanced over at him. "Tell Mark hi for me. I'll think about your offer. I'm not too sure that I don't agree with the idea of a break."
"Then what offer are you referring to?" He spoke through clenched teeth.
"The one where you'll take care of my needs. I'm a pretty sexual creature, Alex. I like to feel a man's hands on my body, to hear him grunting my name in my ear, to feel the pressure of being laid open for him. I like to be fucked. I get cranky when I don’t get some." She shrugged and tugged the covers up, trying to show him that her body wasn’t for him. "Thanks for the offer."
"Jamie. Stop. I already have enough shit on my plate. Don't put this on me too."
"The door's over there. Lock it when you leave." She yawned and continued to ignore him. Things would work out with them, or they wouldn't. She would be beyond devastated over losing him, but he was making decisions without her, and she wasn't going to beg for anything. If the last six months of her life had taught her anything, it was that she was worth more than that. She deserved something great.
His phone vibrated again.
“Mark’s waiting for you.”
Alex stared at her, obviously torn about what to do. He inhaled and let it out slowly. "I'll see you tomorrow then." He turned and walked to the door, pausing as if he expected her to reply.
She had nothing else to say.
She waited until the door closed to turn into her blanket and press her face into the waiting softness. Her sobs wracked her body as she let all of the pain and disappointment pour out of her. How did it manage to work out that, just when she found the perfect person, job, and house, she had to lose them all?
Her phone buzzed but she ignored it, not giving a damn about who wanted to talk. It continued to buzz over and over until she jerked the covers from her face and picked it up.
"What?" Her voice was thick with emotion.
"Hey. It's Christine. Come over to Mom’s. We're making margaritas and lamenting over life. We want you with us."
Really? Of all people? Her sister and her mother wanted to spend time with her? Hell had to be freezing over.
"You guys need someone to make you feel better? Is that it?" She hated how harsh her tone was.
"No, Jamie. I've been trying to talk to you about me and Stephen for a damn week now, and Mom's just walking around mumbling about missing Dad. Look, if you don't want to come, I get it. You're the best lay and have a great job, and have a super fine man loving on you. It's fine. Forget I called."
"Wait. Where are you? Mom’s?" Jamie got up and let the blanket drop at her feet.
"Yeah. We'd love your company."
"I’m on my way. I’ve got tequila.”
Jamie walked into the front door of her mom's, after coaching herself how to act and not act all the way over. If they said one thing that hurt her feelings, she was out. She couldn't take much more in the way of being beaten down.
Alex had done enough damage in his desire to take a fuckin’ break.
"You guys in here?" Jamie called out, and walked into the kitchen to find them leaning on each other, laughing loudly. She couldn't help but smile at their silliness.
"There she is!" Christine smiled and walked over to pull Jamie into a sloppy hug. Her sister had put on a few pounds, but it actually made her look better, healthier.
"How are you, Jamie?" Her mom handed her a drink and tilted her head to the side. "Have you lost weight? You're looking good. Better. Damn fine!"
It was a compliment. She could take it at face value and move on. It was the swearing from mother’s lips that made her want to laugh. "Good. Thanks." She took the drink and leaned against the counter before tasting it. "So everyone’s lamenting over their problems, hmm?"
"Yep. Stephen has been on me to get help for my lack of creativity in the bedroom." Christine shrugged and hiccupped loudly, which caused their mom to laugh and snor
t.
Jamie chuckled, not used to seeing the two of them drunk as skunks.
"Tell him to stop complaining about it and show you a few things. He can be inventive. He's a complete whore." Jamie took a long drink of the beverage as she watched her sister digest the information.
"That's true. Okay. I'll try it. What about you? Any problems or everything hunky-dory great?"
"Alex wants to take a break because he has some stuff going on in his personal life."
"Oh, that's not good. Hurry and drink up. You have some catching up to do with us." Her mom moved up beside her and slid her arm over Jamie's shoulders.
"Yeah, but he wants us to still sleep together.” Was she really telling her mother this? “I told him I’d think about it. Sleeping with him isn't like sleeping with someone I just met. I love him." Jamie's eyes filled with tears, much against her will.
"Oh, don't cry." Christine walked toward her. "Just use him for sex and remind him of what he's missing. You're the best lay in New York, right?"
"What? I do not need to hear this." Their mother stumbled from the kitchen, laughing again.
Jamie rolled her eyes, but took her sister's advice to heart. "Yeah, maybe you're right."
“My sister’s got a hot-ass body now.” Christine raised her glass, sloshing her drink on the floor. “Damn you, Alex Reid, for thinking you can have your cake and eat it too. Damn you!”
“I’ll drink to that.”
Chapter 14
If anyone had told her that she was going to spend a night getting drunk with her mother and sister, she never would have believed them. Somehow, by the end of the evening she felt better... more solidified in her decisions where Alex was concerned. She had never been one to give up on anything too easily. If it required her to be a little more aggressive in the bedroom to remind him of what he was considering giving up in the name of chivalry, then so be it. She could play Annette's game.
"Bitch probably isn't even pregnant." Jamie worked on whipping up a quick breakfast of eggs and toast in her kitchenette. Sundays were usually spent lounging around or trying to get a bit of Alex's time, but today she felt the need to burn up some energy.
She took her plate and sat down at the table, letting out a long breath and forcing herself to smile. They would get through this, and be stronger because of it. She just had to keep in mind that Alex wasn't going to be too pleasant until they did. He was the type of man who could roll with the punches in the business environment, but in his personal life, he was as big a mess as anyone.
Her phone buzzed and she answered it, seeing Mark's number on the screen. "Hey. How are you?" She put her fork down and licked at her lips.
"Good. You up for a jog, and maybe some football in the park a few miles from here? I want to get out in this weather and could use a partner to come with me." He sounded ten times better than he had just yesterday. His heart was growing lighter.
"That actually sounds great. I was just thinking I needed to get out for a jog this morning. I'll change and meet you in front of the house. Not sure on the football thing, though." A thought crossed her mind. “Is it just you?”
"Yes. The insufferable fool had to rush out this morning to work on something for the investors’ conference you guys have coming up."
"Why am I not surprised? I'll be up shortly."
"I look forward to it."
They hung up, and Jamie got up, cleaned up her breakfast, and changed into a pair of tight spandex pants, a running shirt, and her favorite running shoes. She stretched just before walking out into the beautiful morning.
She could see Mark as she walked around to the front of the house. He was a little bigger than Alex, more the football-playing type than a swimmer. He was attractive, but for some reason she couldn't see herself with anyone but her illustrious boss. It was a beautiful tragedy in the making.
"Hey, there. We missed you last night. The beer was good, but the wings were better." He gave her a goofy grin, and she couldn't help but smile back.
"And the cute waitresses had nothing to do with it?"
"Nope. Neither was it at all classy that half their asses were hanging out the bottom of their shorts." He pressed his hand to his mouth and widened his eyes.
Jamie chuckled and popped him in the chest. "Men. Come on before I change my mind."
"What? We were blessed with an exorbitant amount of hormones. They have to come out somewhere. Better here than church or parent-teacher conferences."
She shook her head as they started to jog toward the park. "I have no comment for that."
"Wise girl," he chuckled.
Jamie let the conversation drop between them, wanting to ask about his evening with his brother and yet not wanting to appear nearly as needy as she was for information on Alex.
"What're you thinking about?" Mark asked as they reached the park. He tossed her the football that sat snug under his thick arm.
"Alex." She caught it, jogged down the field in front of them, and turned. "I love him. I wish I didn't this morning, but I do."
She shocked herself by the confession, but Mark had quickly put himself in her path as a trusted and decent friend. He'd been so open and forthcoming about his divorce and financial struggles. Plus, if she were going to convince Alex that he belonged with her, she would need some help.
"I think the feeling is mutual. He didn't shut up about you all night last night. He probably mentioned you another thirty times in the hour we were together this morning." He lifted his hands. "Give me your best throw. Let's see what I'm up against."
“I have no idea how to throw this thing.”
“Put you hand near the end and line your fingers up between the laces. Just drill it and let your wrist flick. It’ll do it naturally. A few tries and you’ll get some spin on the ball.”
She chucked the ball hard. It looked perfect as it flew. It sailed above Mark's head, but he jumped and caught it in midair. He laughed and threw it back.
"Wow. For a girl, you've got a great arm."
"For a girl?" She lifted her eyebrow in challenge.
"If you weren't my brother's, I'd probably tackle you just for the look on your pretty face." He slapped his hands together. "Again."
"I'm not your brother’s, but I want to be. I'm just not sure how to go about getting him. It seemed like everything was fine until this shit with Annette came up."
"Was it? Seemed to me like you guys were struggling out at Dad's house last week. Did he know about the possible baby then?"
"No. I guess not." She shrugged and chucked the ball back. "New subject: What's going on with you and the divorce?"
"Oh, I see how it is. We're moving from your heartbreak to mine?"
"Much safer for me. I'm a good comforter, but sufferer? I suck at that job." She turned at her middle, stretching her back and loosening up.
"I'm meeting with my attorney on Tuesday. I leave tonight so that I can get all my ducks in a row." He shrugged and tossed the ball back. "I'll just be glad when it's over."
"And you're sure this is what you want?"
"Yes. My relationship with Paula has gotten so far off the course we first charted that we're just hurting each other now."
"Dump the old bitch." Alex walked up, surprising them both.
"What the hell?” Marked grinned, clearly happy to see his brother. “You done already?" Mark drilled the ball to Alex, catching him off-guard.
A single hand reached out and caught the ball like it was nothing. "Yeah." Alex glanced at Jamie, his eyes running down the length of her. "I take one morning off from watching you two, and you're out here playing with each other. Unbelievable." His words were condemning, but, by the look on his handsome face, he was just kidding.
"Gotta fill my days with someone's company, Mr. Work-a-holic." Jamie winked and lifted her hands to show him she wanted the ball. "Let's see if you have stamina like your brother."
"Oh, no, she didn't," Mark laughed loudly as Alex's eyes narrowed.
H
e drilled the ball at her, causing her to have to turn and run to try to catch up with it. She jumped and barely wrapped her hands around it before rolling onto the ground. Alex was on top of her the minute she hit the ground, his landing a little rough, but worth the pain.
"Fill your day with someone's company?" He held her tightly as she laid on her side, laughing.
"Yes. You're far too busy with drama." She grinned up at him as his body hardened against her hip. "No sex for you, by the way. I've decided that I'll go with your need to be on a break, and use you when I'm needy, but no sex until I feel the need." She spoke only loud enough so he could hear.
His eyebrow lifted sharply. "Why do I feel like this is about to turn into the most seductive game of my life?"
"Because it is." She moved up and brushed her lips by his. "I hate that you're going through this crap. I'm going to teach you a valuable lesson, though."
He moved up and tagged her shoulder, forcing her onto her back as he pressed himself against the front of her.
She wiggled a little to see over him. Mark was gone. Smart man.
"What's that, Jamie?" He moved down and brushed his nose up the line of her jaw, and she took quick breaths.
"That, if we're going to be together, then I'm your partner. You don't drop me like a sack of rocks when something hard comes up. If that's the kind of woman you're looking for, then you belong to Annette." She dropped the ball and pushed into the ground with her heel, forcing them to roll over. Sitting up, she straddled his waist and ground into him one good time. The thick press of his hardness between her thighs caused her to yearn for staunch carnality, but it would be there in the park. She was a little too classy for that. Yeah, like fucking in the back of a limo.
"You're right.” He reached up to touch her breasts, but she swatted him away.
"Oh, no; no touching when you want to, mister. I'm only available to you when I want something. That's the way booty-calls work. You’re my bitch." She grinned wickedly, the feeling of empowerment a little too much to her liking.