by Lily Black
As he entered the lobby, he heard low laughter and what sounded like a smothered giggle from the storage room. He went to the door and rapped at the frame with his knuckles before looking in.
Alexa was seated on a barstool pulled up next to a small sink. Her foot was extended, and her friend was patting it dry. Both of them looked up at Drew with surprise on their faces.
“I, uhm…” Drew cleared his throat. “I wanted to see how your foot is. I’m sorry you got hurt.”
“Thanks, but it’s not your fault, and also not the first time I’ve forgotten to pull my foot free,” Alexa said.
Her friend’s head was bent over the bloody scrapes on the top of Alexa’s foot, but Drew heard her murmured response. “Yeah, just the first time you’ve hit the brick that hard.”
Alexa gave her friend a not-so-subtle jab, which only confirmed Drew’s suspicion that she’d messed up her break because of him.
“It’s just some surface bleeding and a bit of bruising,” Alexa said, as if making an effort to be polite. “We’re only bandaging it so I won’t get blood on my white gi.”
Her friend dabbed ointment on the cuts then wound gauze around Alexa’s foot and reached for the scissors.
“Here, let me.” Drew stepped forward and picked up the scissors. Cutting the gauze one-handed would have been awkward.
“No, that’s fine, thanks.” Alexa quickly reached out and took the scissors from him. “Keri and I are quite capable of getting this patched up, and I’m sure Master Hays would prefer it if you were out there where you belong.”
Those last three words seemed to slip out, and Alexa’s face showed her surprise that they’d been spoken aloud.
Drew resisted the urge to snap off a sharp comeback. The woman really was too stubborn for words. He folded his arms across his chest and tried to speak pleasantly. “Sorry to bother you. I felt responsible, so I—”
“Responsible?” Alexa’s hazel eyes pinned him with a look that implied he was the world’s biggest moron. “For what? My hyper-enthusiasm and slow reflexes? How could you possibly be responsible?”
Drew made an exasperated sound. “You looked at me—”
Alexa laughed. “Yeah, and I looked at almost everyone else in the dojo too. Try not to get a big head about it.” She turned away from him, dismissing him with her posture. Her friend held the gauze, and Alexa snipped it, then held it in place while her friend dug out the tape. Neither of them looked at Drew.
He turned on his heel and walked out, but he didn’t miss the sound of laughter that erupted just as soon as he was gone. A quick roll of his head dismissed their laughter, and he pushed open the front door. He would catch up with Master Hays later and let him know the brick-breaking class had been very impressive. But at that moment, he needed to put some space between him and Alexa before he decided to try shaking some sense into her. As a Ranger, he’d been in some tricky situations. Missions had dropped him down behind enemy lines with ten men under him and a hostage to extract. But none of that compared to the absolute impossibility of understanding Alexa Wolving.
Chapter Three
Alexa hobbled her way through the rest of the breaking class, but it was obvious she wouldn’t be sparring that night. Not at her usual level, anyway. Which was too bad. She’d wanted to go a round with Stuart. She owed him some one-on-one time if he was going to be ready for his black belt test. As an adult student, he’d struggled to find the right balance between force and finesse, and Master Hays was keeping him at brown until he learned it. If she was honest with herself, though, she had another reason she was interested in talking with Stuart. She wanted to make sure he understood that Drew’s coming to the breaking class hadn’t been her idea. After he saw Drew helping her with the flat tire, he might wonder, and that was one bit of gossip she would like to nip in the bud before it even started.
Unfortunately, Master Hays caught her flinching when she put too much weight on her foot and ordered her out of her gi and into her street clothes. Keri followed her after having a quick word with Master Hays.
“I’m to take you down the block to Marcellino’s and get you some comfort food,” she said. “After that, I’ll drive you home and see to it you take some pain meds before going to bed.”
Alexa scoffed. “As if. It’s not that bad. It just smarts where the raw spots keep sticking to the underside of the bandage. Pain meds will not be needed, though I won’t say no to some comfort food. And no way are you driving me home. First, ’cause I need my car and the stuff in it for morning. And second, ’cause I’ve seen the way you drive.”
Keri laughed. “Fine, but let me treat you to dinner and carry your stuff to your car.” She said it as though it was already settled and smiled quietly as she helped Alexa hang up her gi.
Alexa tilted her head. “You knew I wouldn’t let you drive me home, didn’t you? That was just a ploy, so I’d let you baby me between now and then.”
Keri smiled as she raised her hands in surrender. “Is it my fault you’re so stubbornly independent that you won’t accept help without your friends resorting to trickery?”
Alexa sputtered a protest and followed Keri out the dojo door.
Keri shook her head. “Your friends know you too well. Brian tried to bet me earlier that by the end of the breaking class, or sparring at the latest, your frustration with Drew would make you overdo it, and you’d be hurt.”
“You guys bet on that?” Alexa asked, outraged. She forgot to hobble for a couple of steps, and the pain in her foot reminded her to go easy. It was a good thing Marcellino’s was so close by.
“No, he tried to bet me.” Keri waved thanks to a car that let them cross the side street between their school and the restaurant. “I wouldn’t put any money down, ’cause I was sure he was right.”
Alexa laughed. “Remind me to consult the two of you next time I need the advice of a psychic.”
They were still laughing when Keri pulled open the door to Marcellino’s. They let the hostess lead them to a patio table since it was a nice night. The tables were surrounded by a screen of shrubs and flowers, and the outdoor seating space was lit by tiny sparkling white lights. Thankfully, there were several larger parties seated on the patio, so Alexa and Keri weren’t the only ones dining sans dates.
Keri was true to her promise that she wouldn’t ask about Drew until no one was listening, and didn’t mention Drew or the tire change all through ordering and the arrival of the soft homemade Italian bread Marcellino’s was famous for. Instead, they talked about Keri’s latest art projects and the painted glass show she had coming up in a few weeks at the gallery.
But as soon as the server had left the appetizer they planned to share—they’d decided against a full dinner since Alexa wasn’t that hungry and Keri still had sparring class—Keri leaned forward. “All right now, spill. How did it come about that you let Drew change your tire?”
Alexa smiled faintly, appreciating her friend’s wording. How had it come about that she let Drew change her tire? “I was trying to be super cool with things. Deflate the rumors that have spread about us.” She launched into a description of her conversation with Mandy and the girl’s assumption that Alexa would storm out of Crazy Pops once she knew Drew was placing a big order with them.
Keri nodded in sympathy, demonstrating her worth as a friend all over again. Of course it was Alexa’s own fault that people thought she hated Drew, but Keri was kind enough not to mention that.
“When I realized Drew could come out any minute, and moreover, that the menu was sadly insufficient as a long-term hiding place,” Alexa continued, “I made a dash for the exit and the parking lot.”
Keri set her glass down with a clink of ice. “That’s why we didn’t have to pay for our pops! You didn’t get the receipt.”
Alexa straightened in her chair and put on a dramatic air. “What are receipts and mundane money detail
s to a girl who is desperately trying to avoid a boy?”
Keri laughed. “Nothing, of course. Women of principle and heart can feast on their convictions and clothe themselves with the finery of righteous scorn.”
“There you go!” Alexa tossed her hands in the air. “Unfortunately, they can’t fix a slashed tire and apparently need help changing it.”
Keri nodded, sobering, but she seemed to sense Alexa’s preference that they not dwell on the stalker, so moved past that topic. “So, describe the scene for me. Did he take off his shirt? Remember, I’ve dated very little of late, and give me every detail!”
Alexa sputtered. “No, he did not take off his shirt! Don’t you dare let that turn into a rumor. I’ll have enough to live down, as is.” She went on to describe the discomfort of the tire change—complete with heated moments whenever their hands touched—in dramatically lurid tones. Keri was laughing so hard at the story that she nearly snorted her mushrooms.
Twenty minutes and a delicious plate of bruschetta later, Alexa sat back and sipped her espresso. “So I told Drew he could forget my helping him get in Crouching Tiger’s good graces—not that he needed my help, it seems. Then I piled into my car and left.” She watched Keri as her friend looked thoughtfully into her macchiato.
Keri straightened and fixed Alexa with a serious look. “Do you still love him?”
“What?” Alexa sputtered, spraying coffee on her chin. “No! Of course not.” She grabbed a napkin.
Keri went on. “Because I think he might feel something for you. All joking aside, the most gallant suitor or romantic gentleman couldn’t have been more considerate of your feelings. While I’m sure Drew Cosimo is as thoughtful as they come, I doubt he’d be that way for just anyone. And that’s before we add in his schoolboy nerves when he stopped by to check on your foot. I mean, he’s a Ranger! But you wouldn’t know it from the way you sent him packing.” She gave Alexa a mischievous smile. “So would your answer still be no if you thought he returned your feelings?”
“Keri, that’s just…” Alexa shook her head. Her fingers twisted the napkin into something roughly resembling a unicorn horn. “What Drew feels, or doesn’t feel, would make no difference. We had our chance five years ago. If he cared about me, he would have returned my calls, kept in touch. More importantly, he wouldn’t have acted like a jerk and then blown me off without taking the chance to make things right or at least end things well. He didn’t, and that opportunity has passed.”
“So, you do care about him,” Keri said softly.
“No… or yes.” Alexa held up a hand to forestall Keri. “But only as a man I once loved during a lovely summer in my past. The here-and-now Drew, I don’t care for at all. Moreover, there is absolutely no chance I will ever let Drew back into my heart, no matter what twists life throws at me.”
Keri pursed her lips. “Will you hate me if I say that’s begging for a ‘famous last words’ remark?”
Alexa laughed and tossed her napkin onto the table. “Not at all—I’m sure about this. Aside from the part where I think he’s just a charming playboy who excels at manipulating people, I’m serious that I really don’t believe in second runs. Over and over in my life, I’ve seen women take guys back after booting them out, and it always ends badly. There’s a time in every relationship when the spark can take off and grow into something more, something special. If that chance is missed, it won’t come back. All the things people do to recapture that moment just sours it ’til even the good times are remembered with pain. My heart is safer with Drew than any other man on this earth, ’cause he hasn’t got any chance at all.”
Keri watched Alexa for a minute then nodded. “Well, it’s a good thing he’s set up shop as our direct rival, then.” She grinned and raised her coffee in a toast. “To enemies we love to hate.”
Alexa laughed and raised her own cup to clink against Keri’s. “To enemies.”
Drew marked another nail sticking out at an odd angle with a bit of red tape then stepped back to scan the wall of what would be his office when the martial arts studio was finished.
Someone rapped on the doorframe behind him, and Drew looked up to see his buddy Aaron leaning there, the aerobic workout space behind him. Aaron was the manager of Handy Man Auto and Tire, so he was probably stopping by with news of Alexa’s tire.
Drew excused himself from the electrician, who was doing a bit of post-drywall work on a problem outlet, and went to meet his friend. Alexa had been cluttering his thoughts since he’d left Crouching Tiger. He would be grateful to clear up the issue with her tire so he could put her out of his mind.
Aaron looked around with admiration. “The place is looking good.”
“Thanks,” Drew said. “We need to hang the doors, and some of the rooms still need to be painted, but it’s coming along.” He walked slowly, leading Aaron out of the workout room and into the front desk area. His buddy’s limp was extra-pronounced today, but Drew knew Aaron would never ask him to slow down.
Opening the sliding glass door on the big industrial fridge behind the desk, Drew motioned to the energy drinks inside. “Want something?”
Aaron settled on a stool at the high counter. “Sure, I’ll take one of those acai cocktails.”
Drew passed the bottle over to Aaron then grabbed a GreenGo drink for himself and sat down across from his friend.
“So, how about that tire?” he asked.
Aaron took a sip of his drink. “The puncture is ragged, and wider on the inside. Too thin for a branch, and too high on the sidewall to be your typical road damage. There’re no marks around it, so a scrape over the edge of a curb is unlikely.”
Drew eyed his friend and swirled his drink. “You’re saying it was slashed?”
“Most likely. Probably with a fair amount of force.” Aaron took a long swallow then set the bottle down and faced Drew. “Of course, I can’t be absolutely positive, but if it was my girl, I’d be all for setting up some good video surveillance and alerting the cops.”
“That would be a smart move,” Drew said.
Aaron grinned. “But it won’t be happening?”
Drew shrugged. “Maybe. It’s not my call right now. I was just collecting facts.”
“Wow.” Aaron gave a low whistle. “How did this person get you to do her toting and fact-finding but manage to cut you out of the decisions? The Drew I know doesn’t get involved with a sticky situation unless he’s in charge. It isn’t family, is it?”
Drew shook his head and stood. Then he smiled and held out his hand for Aaron to shake. “Thanks for looking into this for me.”
Aaron gripped his hand. “You’re not going to tell me whose tire that was, are you?”
“Not just yet,” Drew said. “It’s not for me to say.”
“Whatever.” Aaron grinned, not seeming the least bit put out by Drew’s discretion. He rose and limped toward the front door. “You know where to find me if your pretty bird needs a new tire to replace the one you brought in.” He paused in the doorway and looked back at Drew. “Just keep an eye out for her, Drew. This guy wasn’t fooling around.”
Drew nodded and watched Aaron go. He gathered up their empty bottles and tossed them in the recycle bin. Was it possible Aaron had guessed whose tire he’d brought in? It was a small town, and there weren’t many people Drew was likely to be toting tires for. Of course, Aaron had the advantage of knowing how besotted Drew had been with Alexa back in the day. He and Aaron had kept in touch after Drew graduated from Ranger school, so all through Drew’s leave, Aaron had heard plenty about Drew’s golden girl. Of course, he also knew that Alexa living in Willowdale was one reason Drew had been reluctant to make the town his home base at first.
In the end, the pull of the beautiful Willowdale property Drew had inherited from his grandfather had been enough to bring him back. Since Aaron had come to town—accepting the position at Handy Tire an
d Auto from a sympathetic veteran—he’d heard plenty of grumbling from Drew about how impossible Alexa was.
Yeah, Aaron had probably guessed it was Alexa’s tire. But Drew trusted his friend to be discreet. He trusted his assessment of the tire, too, which didn’t bode well for Alexa.
Drew walked back into the main workout room to see if the electrician had finished up. Maybe after he wrapped things up at the studio, he could stop by Alexa’s place on his way home, tell her about her tire, and make sure she was set for the night. He knew it was none of his business and that she wouldn’t thank him for his help. But he couldn’t shake the feeling that she shouldn’t be left to face this situation alone.
Chapter Four
Alexa pulled into her driveway and turned the car off. She opened the door and eased her foot out but hesitated to put weight on it. She’d forgotten to pack a spare pair of shoes that morning, so when she went home, she had to wear the black leather boots that went with her skirt. Normally, that wouldn’t have been any big deal. But today, her bruised foot was feeling pinched in her boot, and it had been fussing at her all the way home.
Well, no reason to put up with it any longer. Alexa eased her boot off then gave her foot a minute to calm down before slipping off the other boot and climbing out of the car. The foot started to feel better the minute the pressure was off. It really wasn’t that bad of a scrape; it just didn’t like confinement.
She stretched it gently for a minute, letting herself enjoy the quiet of the night. Standing tall above her, the pines that took up most of her front yard seemed to whisper in the wind. The scent of cedar wafted down from her neighbor’s tree, and all around her were the cute Cape Cods that lined her street. They weren’t big houses. Only half of them had a garage, and hers wasn’t one of those. Still, she loved the way the big trees gave the neighborhood a sheltered feel.
She put her feet out on the ground, and both protested the chill of the driveway. Either that, or her entire body was conspiring to punish her for that idiotic moment of distraction when she’d seen Drew. What had she been thinking?