Hollywood Undercover

by Bella Love-Wins

  Staying away for a while felt like such a good idea, after seeing Max being wheeled in by the medics that night. He reread the note after his first swig of beer. She missed him. That was a good sign. Feeling satisfied, he went upstairs to take a shower and change out of his work clothes. As the days were getting warmer, he put on a pair of cargo shorts, a ribbed tank and a button-down short-sleeved shirt after his shower.

  After he sprayed on some cologne, he checked himself out in the mirror. The shadow of stubble gave him the look he wanted, so he left shaving for another day. Alexandra Storme had a hard time hiding her attraction to him, and he would make it damn near impossible for her to ignore their chemistry.

  Thinking what she needed was a home cooked meal, he returned to the kitchen to prepare some food. After forty-five minutes, he finished cooking. He put some dishes and cutlery together to throw into the large lunch pack container he had in a drawer, and picked up a six-pack of beer to take along.

  By the time the sun was setting, he was climbing Max’s front steps to ring the doorbell. Lost in thought, he was caught off guard when the door swung wide open. There stood Alexandra, looking close to tears…or spitting mad…maybe both.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, immediately concerned. He stepped inside and set down the container and beer. Without thinking, he clutched her shoulders and peered down into her face.

  “Yeah. I’m fine,” she said, voice roughened. “You got my message, I see.”

  He released her shoulders and stepped back, ignoring the strong urge to pull her in, possess her with a long kiss, and tell her he was there for her. She had been crying. He looked past her into the dining room, listening to the beeps of the monitor hooked up to Max.

  “Is your uncle okay?” he asked.

  It was part of the reason he hadn’t visited in a while. He thought their decision to bring Max home meant his health had taken a turn for the worse.

  “You can come see him if you want,” she answered.

  She straightened up and pointed to the doorway, looking back at him. He moved to her side. Mr. Storme looked to be resting. Alexandra stepped into the room and told him he had a visitor. Sebastian stepped closer to say a polite hello and offered him wishes for a speedy recovery.

  Nothing more.

  Alexandra was still under the impression he and Max had only known each other for the three years he had owned his parents’ house. She had no idea Max knew him his entire life, and she had known him for at least sixteen years. He was still a little shocked she didn’t recognize him. He had been her neighbor since before he could remember. Except for the two-year age difference, they had gone all the way through kindergarten, elementary school and high school. It wasn’t good for his ego—not at all.

  When he turned back to the dining room entrance, Alexandra was gone from the open archway. It must have been difficult for her, seeing her father slip away little by little every day.

  Swallowing thickly, he leaned down and whispered to the old man, “Hi Max. I’m doing my best to take care of Alexandra. She’s making it a little difficult, but I’m here for her if she needs anything at all…”

  Suddenly, Max shifted around. He lifted a hand to reach out to him. Startled, Sebastian gave him his hand, and Max opened his eyes and turned his head to look at him.

  “Max,” he said in surprise.

  “Little…Sullivan…boy,” he gurgled with some difficulty.

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Alexandra…is she okay?”

  “Yes.”

  Max nodded and relaxed his head at the center of the pillow. His eyes closed, and he began to drift back to sleep.

  Sebastian left Max to rest. He found Alexandra sitting on the living room couch. “Hey, you.”

  She looked up lazily. She must have been tired. He sat next to her, studying her face.

  “So, Mr. Storme’s doing a lot better, I see. You look like you had a rough day, Alex.”

  “You could call it that. I woke up ready to take on the world, bro. Somewhere between then and now, I think the world dished out a few sucker punches.”

  She smiled and pulled back when he ruffled her unruly hair, hoping to get her out of the mood she was in.

  “He just spoke to me,” he told her.

  That got her attention. Alexandra leaned toward him with enthusiasm. Her smile rose up, and her eyes got as wide as lakes. He noticed her eye color then. They were a dark and mysterious indigo blue.

  Sexy as hell.

  He was surprised when in her excitement, she placed her tiny hand on his thigh. He put in a serious effort to keep his hands to himself. He didn’t dare move, not even to give her some space on the couch.

  “What did he say?” she asked.

  “He asked if you were okay. I told him you were.”

  “Awww. That’s sweet.”

  “You didn’t look too great when I first walked through the door, though. What’s going on, bud?”

  “Just one of those days. You know?”

  “Girlfriend trouble?” he asked, trying to keep a straight face. He couldn’t help himself. He was born to be provocative, and Alexandra walked right in on that one, with this act she was hell bent on keeping up. “If you need to vent about it, I’ve been there. I know what it’s like.”

  “Nah. I’m done venting,” she answered. “I’ve had my share of seriously screwed up relationships. I think I’ve been going about that all wrong. For now, I’m staying away altogether. I’m taking a break. How about you, Bash? Is that why you’ve been so busy lately? You’ve got a girlfriend or something, don’t you?”

  “Nope. No girlfriend.”

  She looked relieved, and also like she expected that answer. He grinned.

  “While we’re on the topic of being busy, I was planning on coming by today, even before I got your message. Some friends of mine want to take me to this speed dating thing on Friday night. I told them you’d probably want to get out of the house, too.”

  Alexandra leaned away from him and doubled over laughing. It started off as a very feminine giggle, but as she caught herself mid-laughter, she deepened the tone to keep up the act. He couldn’t believe she thought she could fool him after that laugh, but she pressed on.

  “Speed dating?” she asked. “Why don’t you just go online like normal people?”

  It was only then that Alexandra noticed her hand was still pressed down on his thigh. She quickly leaned back and shifted away, moving over to the end of the sofa. He raised a playful brow and looked over at her.

  “I’m not serious about it. I’m doing it to get those guys at work off my back about meeting someone. The way I see it, you should come. You’ll get a break from taking care of your uncle, and I can show you some of the city. If you’re going to be in town for a while, you might as well meet some new people. So, how about it?”

  She hesitated before replying, “I can’t. No really, it sounds like a blast, but I don’t want to leave my uncle alone.”

  “Don’t you have nurses taking care of him around the clock?”

  Sebastian noticed everything, including the different vehicles in Max’s driveway, and the women in scrubs coming and going at different hours since Max had returned home.

  “I do. Joanne is here. She’s in the kitchen preparing his dinner.”

  “So then you’re covered.”

  “Yeah…true.” She paused again, and for a minute she seemed to give it some serious thought. “You know what? It’s not for me. Thanks for the invite, but I’ll have to bow out.”

  “Okay. Well that’s the second time you’ve turned me down,” he teased, and gave it one more concerted try. “Come on. Max is doing so much better. He would want you to get out. You can’t stay cooped up in here this long and not feel it. I’m sure the nurses are used to taking care of their patients all by themselves. They probably won’t even notice if you’re out for a while.”

  She dropped her head, and looked over at him from beneath hooded eyes. Fuck. That allurin
g expression had him rock hard almost immediately. He shifted so she wouldn’t notice.

  “I’ll think about it,” she said.

  It wasn’t a ‘no’, so Sebastian was stoked. “That’s the spirit.”

  The borderline flirtation between them was odd and confusing. Looking at Alexandra, who was trying to pull off ‘Alex’ with style, Sebastian’s gaze automatically stopped on her lips whenever she spoke. When they made eye contact, it sparked his need for her. He began to feel he had to have her. He smelled the faint scent of her fruity shampoo, and looked at her hair. It was longer than when she first arrived, and tumbled across her forehead. He resisted the urge to run his hand through it, cradle her neck and kiss her fiercely. She was a forbidden temptation at the moment, and that made Sebastian want her that much more. He wasn’t allowed to have her. Not now—not while she was playing ‘Alex’. She couldn’t continue her hoax forever, but while she was still at it, he treaded lightly.

  Clearing his throat, he gestured back toward the front door. “Oh yeah, I brought over some food. I figured you were tired of those TV dinners you make. That crap is bad for you. You know that, right?”

  “Yeah. For now, I can’t do any better. I don’t cook, but thanks for bringing me food, buddy,” she said, grinning and putting her arm out for a fist bump.

  It was getting harder not to burst out laughing at the effort she made to keep up her ruse.

  They crossed paths with the nurse when Sebastian followed Alexandra to the kitchen with his food pack. He took the food to the kitchen center island and began to fix her a plate. As she sat on a barstool, she appeared more upbeat. Sebastian even noticed a slight smile. Whatever had been bothering her took a back seat when he was around.

  “Show me what you brought this time,” she said, peering into the lunch pack.

  “It’s wild rice with pan-seared rosemary chicken, and a green salad. Pretty simple.” He passed the plate over to her. “Why don’t you tell me what made it such a bad day?” he asked.

  A thoughtful expression came up on her face as she took the first bite. “Well,” she said, chewing slightly, “I got a call from work today. Basically, my boss is ready for me to get back on the job. I told him I needed to be here for my uncle, but he was a jerk about it. You know how it is?”

  “What do you do for a living?” he asked, wondering what she would say.

  She coughed. He reached for a beer and cracked it open, sliding it across the table top to her. He was laughing on the inside as she appeared to scramble for an answer. Her eyes darted around the room, probably for a believable profession that had nothing to do with being Lexxi Rock.

  She said, “I work in a, um, bar.”

  “Oh, I see.”

  “Yeah,” she said hurriedly. “So, you know, I was pissed off about that call. Then, the nurse earlier was talking about me—talking to me, about my cousin.”

  “What about?”

  “The usual celebrity trash-talking. It was such bullshit. That nurse had me thinking how hard it is for Lexxi, you know? She’s under everyone’s scrutiny. Complete strangers think they know her. I’d be tired of being judged that way all the time.”

  She let out a long breath. Sebastian reached across the bar and patted her hand, tracing her slender knuckles with the pad of his thumb. He squeezed her fist and pulled his hand away, staring across at her.

  “It’s really brave of you. You’ve set aside your life, your job, and everything you have going on to be here for Max. I’m sure he’s grateful to have you here…”

  He trailed off. Her blue eyes drowned him. He wanted to lean forward and kiss her lips; to make her stop this ‘Alex’ game she was playing, long enough for him to be there for her. She had him captivated, and he couldn’t do a thing about it. Well, he could have told her who he was, and that he knew she was Lexxi Rock. It would only make her walls go up.

  Right now, Alexandra needed a friend. The media may have portrayed Lexxi Rock as the type of woman to party it up in France while her father was on his death bed, but Alexandra was right here, soldiering through Max’s dark days.

  “I just want to say, I’m impressed by how much you’ve done for him.”

  The words caused her to look down. She smiled slightly, and tossed her hair. “It’s nothing, man,” she answered. “Just an average guy doing what anyone else would do for family.”

  “True, but you did it, unlike those who say they would and then don’t. You’ve got character, bud.”

  She took a sip from her beer, and they finished eating in silence. The plates were scraped clean and the conversation started to trickle back in. She put the dishes into the dishwasher, and told him she would bring them over to his place tomorrow. He packed up the rest of his things.

  “Enough about that,” he said, following her back to the living room. “I came by to hang out and keep you company. How about we watch something on TV?”

  “Sure,” she answered.

  “Cool. You find something. I need to use the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”

  She relaxed back on the sofa, and by the time Sebastian got back from the bathroom, she was fast asleep, looking innocent and vulnerable. He had to stick his hands in his pockets to keep from brushing the hair out of her beautiful face. Everything in him wanted to hold her, protect her. He searched around for a blanket, and found one on an armchair. He threw it over her gently, and quietly left the house.

  He laughed as he walked into his house. The girl of his dreams was right next door—tying to pull off being a dude. He wondered if he could be what she needed without completely giving away that he was crazy about her now. She wanted him around, and he couldn’t stay away.

  This shit is insane.

  Chapter 17

  ALEXANDRA stood back from the front door as Felicia was leaving.

  “See you later, Alex.” Felicia waved with a wiggle of her fingers, and stepped through the open door.

  Alexandra couldn’t shut it behind her fast enough. It was time for damage control. She had a new problem. She still believed her ‘Alex Roberts’ cover was a brilliant way to hide out in plain sight. That wasn’t the issue. The problem was she hadn’t stopped to think about what a shock it would be to her father, once he became aware of her gender-bending antics. Half-hour earlier, he had asked Felicia where his daughter was. Felicia apologetically explained that Lexxi was in France. Thankfully, Alexandra overheard the interaction. She stepped in just in time to distract Felicia before she noticed Dad’s confusion.

  It was bad enough she fell asleep last night when Bash was over. Yes, she was really comfortable around him, but falling asleep like that? She had no idea what came over her. Now that Felicia was gone, Alexandra hurried back to the dining room. Dad was sitting up in bed. He pulled his oxygen mask off his nose and mouth. The scowl on his face was impossible to miss now.

  “Before you think I’ve lost my mind, let me explain, Daddy.”

  “I’m not judging you, Alexandra,” he said, huffing out a labored breath. “I just want to know what the hell is going on with you. And who is Alex Roberts?”

  She asked him to put the oxygen mask back in place. He obliged, still scowling. Alexandra sat on the chair next to his bed.

  “It’s really not what you think, Dad. I had to get out of Beverly Hills without the media or paparazzi following me. If I didn’t try to keep them away somehow, coming home would have been a nightmare. They would have been all over us, and I didn’t want that while you were in hospital. It was like a costume at the beginning. It worked so well, I kept it up.”

  His eyes lit up. He lifted the oxygen mask again and laughed, shaking his head and cocking it to one side. “That was a smart move, Alexandra. Risky as hell, but very imaginative.”

  She smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. He was in on it now, and she was suddenly aware that she needed to bring him completely up to speed before he blew her cover. “When I got the call from Rosa telling me you were in the hospital, I cut my hair and made arran
gements to get here. You should’ve seen me, Dad. It took everything in me to let Lilly cut it off. I just couldn’t see an alternative. The media would be camped outside the house, and paparazzi would try to sneak into your hospital room. I don’t regret doing it either, Daddy. It’s been forever since I could walk the mall or pass through an airport without being recognized. My hair will grow back. Plus, I like the look, actually. But you need to help me keep it up. The story is that I’m your nephew, Alex Roberts. I’m here to take care of you while you’re sick.”

  “And people are actually buying this?” he asked skeptically.

  “So far, so good. I mean, Felicia keeps hitting on me, so, yeah.” She held on to her father’s hands and smiled. “I’m sure it’s hard for you to see me like this, but it’s still all me. And I’m free again, Dad. Who would have known it was this easy to fool the world?”

  “It definitely takes some audacity to pull that off.”

  She took it as a compliment. Maxwell Storme had always been gutsy.

  He grinned at her through the oxygen mask, then lifted it again. “I’ve been a lot more clear-headed the last day or so, Alexandra. Or should I call you Alex?”

  “Let’s stick to Alex so you don’t slip up with one of the nurses.”

  “Fine. What I was trying to tell you is I’ve watched you. I’m worried about you, Alex.”

  “You’re worried about me? Why?”

  “I think you spend too much time hovering over me. I’m glad you’re home, honey, but you need some time to unwind. Go on. Reconnect with some of your old friends. Get outside for fresh air. At least enjoy some of your time back here.”

  “I don’t know if it’s a good idea, Daddy. I don’t want anyone tipping off the media.”

  “I’m better now, kiddo. You should get out a bit.”

  She looked away, thinking about it. A crooked smile turned up slightly on her lips. Her mind wandered to Bash, who said something similar when he invited her to that speed dating thing.