by Susan Bliler
Chapter 17
Recker kept casting sidelong glances at Alex. She was quite today.
Last night after what happened at the diner, he’d taken her back to his hotel where she’d showered and claimed to be tired before climbing into bed. He’d tried to talk to her about what happened, but she’d just shut down on him and today was no different. She was acting like nothing had happened. She was pretending like it was any other day even though the side of her face was bruised all to hell. When he told her they’d be traveling to StoneCrow today, she’d flashed him her first genuine smile since the incident, and he had to accept that she’d open up to him when she was ready. Still, though, Recker couldn’t wipe the scent of Alex’s terror from his mind. The panic and fear on her face had been the most gut-wrenching thing he’d ever had to witness, and for as long as he lived, he never wanted to see that look on her face again.
“Where are we going?”
Her question pulled him from his thoughts. “The mall. We won’t be coming back to town for a while. We need to get you anything you may need to get by for the next few months. There is a commissary at StoneCrow, but it’s limited in what it carries. It’s basically a small grocery store with a few articles of clothing. It doesn’t feel like it now, but summer will be here soon enough. When I packed your things…”
Her head jerked toward him. “Wait! You said they packed my things.”
Recker dipped his head. “Well, me. I. I packed your things.”
Alex canted her head, her eyes narrowing into suspicious little slits.
Okay, this he could deal with. He knew this Alex. He liked this Alex. The quiet, sullen version just wasn’t her and if he had to throw himself under the bus to drag her back to her old self, he’d do so gladly.
***
“You packed my things?” Alex ripped her thoughts away from her attack, and her mind was now going a mile-a-minute trying to inventory anything he may have seen that would be embarrassing. “And what did you find?”
He shook his head with an uncomfortable tweak to his lips. “I wasn’t looking for anything to find. I was just packing your things.”
“And…” she prompted.
He looked at the road in front of them. “I was surprised by all the basketball jerseys.” He flashed her a smile. “I’m assuming you’re a fan?”
She nodded and lifted her hands together before flicking her right hand forward mimicking shooting a ball. “And you know this!”
His smile broadened.
Alex dropped her hands. “Anything else? Anything suspicious or questionable you want to ask me about? Best to do it now.”
His smile slipped. “In your top right-hand dresser drawer…”
Alex’s own smile disappeared, and she felt heat stain her cheeks. The drawer he was referencing was her panty drawer. She looked away, “They’re called unmentionables for a reason, Recker Rhodes.”
“You asked if I found anything questionable or suspicious. In that drawer, I found fists full of the tiniest scraps of lace and satin, articles that slid through my hand like a sigh.” Now, he was canting his head, his eyes sliding down to her hips. “You wear those things?”
She shrugged. “Obviously.”
The smile that took Recker’s face was wolfish. “So underneath it all, all the hard exterior, the little punches and basketball jerseys, you’re hiding a siren?”
She snorted, still not looking at him. “I am not a siren.”
She watched his hands tighten on the steering wheel and something coiled tight in her middle when he licked his lips and swallowed hard before answering. “Your panties say otherwise, Alexandra Hayworth.”
She shuddered at the way he said her name. He made it sound like a decadent sin.
Recker pulled his truck into an empty spot in front of the mall, and Alex hurried from the cab, not bothering to wait for Recker to rush around and open her door like he typically did.
Outside, she drew in a deep breath, letting the air cool her skin and slow her pulse that had started tripping inside the tight confines of the truck.
Turning, she ran into Recker’s chest, and he had to grab her arms to steady her.
Looking up into mocking eyes, Alex was spellbound a moment as Recker teased, “Running away, siren?”
She simply stared up at him as something intense passed between them before she jerked her gaze away and headed for the mall entrance. “B-better get a move on.” She swore she heard Recker chuckle behind her but then she heard his booted feet keeping pace.
At the automatic doors, she instinctively lifted her hand and feigned using the force as the doors slid open. Wincing at her own action, she hurriedly dropped her hand.
Behind her, Recker chuckled again. “May the force be with you.”
In another embarrassing habit, she immediately responded, “And also with you.”
Alex blushed to the roots of her hair when Recker barked an outright laugh. Turning, her hands found her hips as she lifted her chin haughtily. “Well, that’s what you can expect from a Star Wars fan who was raised Catholic.”
Recker held up his hands. “Not judging.”
She snapped her eyes and turned. “Smart man.” Walking into the mall, she liked how just being with Recker helped her to forget what had nearly happened to her yesterday.
Chapter 18
Five hours later, Alex was settled into what Recker had dubbed a ‘candidate’s suite’ on the second floor of StoneCrow Manor. Alex’s suite was about three times the size of her apartment, and one of the first things she’d noticed was how warm and clean the space was. There was a large four-seater island that separated the space from a kitchenette that had state of the art appliances. A long hall led to a bathroom and the master suite, which also housed an ensuite bathroom. Everything was done in cream colored carpet and earthy peach tones that made the suite feel elegant and expensive.
It felt surreal finally being here. But, what made it even more unbelievable was how after Recker helped haul her bags up and got her settled, he’d told her he had a surprise. He’d opened the front door and Stoney, with a beaming grin, rushed her.
The two women hugged like they hadn’t seen each other in years and to Alex, it felt like they hadn’t. She was so relieved and happy to see Stoney that it came as a surprise when Recker excused himself and disappointment immediately flooded her. She’d done her best to mask it, but Stoney knew her too well. She’d been badgering Alex for the past ten minutes.
“He’s single,” Stoney sing-songed from an oversized chair in the sitting area.
“Single?” Alex looked down to fidget with her fingers before relaxing back against the buttery softness of the leather sofa. “Am I speaking fucking French or are you ignoring me on purpose?” She frowned over at Stoney. “I am not interested in Recker Rhodes.”
Stoney smiled knowingly. “Uh-huh. Then why do you keep saying his name like that? Recker. Rhodes.” She said it all sultry like Marilyn Monroe.
“Because A, that is his name, and B, it only sounds right to say it together. And, I don’t say it all breathy like that. Besides, he’d probably be mad if we didn’t use his wrestling name.”
Stoney rolled her eyes and laughed. “He is not a wrestler. Did he tell you that?”
“Nah,” Alex smirked. “I kept teasing him about being a wrestler. He didn’t like it, so I kept doing it.”
Stoney was laughing again before she sobered and studied Alex’s face. “Gods, I missed you!”
Overwhelming relief and gratitude suddenly flooded Alex, and she flashed Stoney a tremulous smile. “I missed you too Stoney-bologna.”
They both laughed then Alex was up off the sofa and squeezing her ass into the chair beside Stoney as they hugged, sniffled a little and squeezed each other tighter.
Suddenly the door was thrown open. Cindy KillsPrettyEnemy entered with a shouted, “My bitches!”
Alex released Stoney with an ear-shattering, “Eeeeeeeeee!” as she raced to Cindy and practically
tackled her in a hug.
Cindy held her tight. “Goddamn, I missed you, girl!”
Stoney turned sideways in her chair, hooking her knees over one armrest and resting her head on the other as she watched her two best friends hugging it out, a huge smile beaming on her lips. Finally, she offered. “You two do realize that we all just saw each other like a month ago.”
“We know!” Alex and Cindy barked in unison.
“But it’s different this time.” Cindy held Alex at arm’s length. “She’s one of us now, Stone. She gets to fucking stay!”
That was enough to get Stoney off her ass as the three huddled and screeched and jumped up and down, bouncing in a tight circle.
Cindy chanted a line they’d stolen from a movie. “We’re the three best friends that anyone could have.”
Alex laughed, while Stoney groaned. “Oh God, not that dumb song again!”
They didn’t stop squealing or bouncing in their circle. It was how Recker found them when he stepped through the door that Cindy had left open.
“Uhhhh.”
All three women stopped jumping and jerked back from their huddle.
“Hey, how ‘bout knocking,” Stoney growled as Cindy shrugged and stole Stoney’s seat. Alex ducked her head and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear before crossing to the sofa and sitting.
Recker frowned. “A, the door was open, and B, who wouldn’t just barge in with all that screeching going on? I thought there was a damn rattlesnake in here or something.”
Stoney’s mouth dropped open and she grin-gaped at Alex, pointing a finger at her. “A and B!”
Alex blushed and ducked her head with a muttered. “Coincidence.” She peeked up at Recker who was staring at her in confusion.
Cindy eyed Recker. “What do ya need, bro?”
He jerked his chin toward Alex. “She’s got orientation.”
“Ooooh,” Cindy made to get up.
“You can’t come!” Recker pinned her with hard eyes.
Cindy sat back down with a deflated pout of, “Oh.”
“And not to rain on your parade,” he looked right at Alex. “But nothing is cemented.” The words that followed were quieter, almost as if he were afraid to speak them aloud. “Best not to get our hopes up.”
It wasn’t lost on Alex that he’d said, ‘our hopes’. Could it be that ol’ Recker Rhodes was rooting for her too?
Taking his advice, she doused the flare of hope that blossomed in her middle.
Chapter 19
In the hall, Recker led Alex down the corridor before casting her a sidelong glance. “You tell Stoney what happened behind the diner?”
Her tone was offensive when she clipped out, “No!”
“You need to talk about it to someone, Alex.”
“I talked about it with you.”
“No,” he countered. “You didn’t.” He stopped walking and grabbed her arm, turning her to face him. “But if you’re ready, I’m listening.”
“What’s there to talk about?” she snapped. “I was attacked. You saved me. Period. End of story.”
“That’s not the end of the fucking story, Alex.”
“What do you want me to say, Recker? You want me to tell you that I was terrified? That I was more scared than I’d ever been in my whole damn life? Do you want to hear how sick I felt because they were touching me? How badly I wanted to die just thinking they might do more than punch me around and I couldn’t do anything to stop them?”
Tears were filling her eyes now, and Recker felt like shit for even bringing it up, but he didn’t want Alex keeping that shit to herself. Girls needed to talk about things like that. Hell, they talked about everything else, so it only made sense that she’d need to get what happened to her out in the open and off her chest. Now, watching her lower lip tremble, he wondered if he should just leave it alone. He was willing to drop it, but Alex kept going.
“It was the most helpless I’ve ever felt in my life. I hated every fucking second of it. And God only knows what would have happened if you didn’t come looking for me.”
She angled her face away from him, but he still saw when her tears breached and slipped free.
“I fucking hate that,” she breathed, swiping angrily at her cheeks. “I hate that just because someone is bigger or stronger or because there’s more of them that they think they can take something from you. Fucking…bullies!” More quietly, she whispered, “Men are fucking bullies.”
Unable to stop himself, Recker captured her jaw in his hand and turned her face to his. “Not all men, siren.”
She blinked up at him with those big brown eyes, and he hated the emotion he saw swimming there. She looked so damn uncertain like she didn’t know whether or not she could believe him. That pissed him off because someone had done this to her, and whoever it was had come along way before Fitz and his sick fucking friends had ever gotten their hands on her.
Smoothing his thumb along her lower lip, he asked, “Who hurt you, Alex?”
She blinked up at him. Her lips parted like she was going to answer him. Instead, she jerked away and brushed at her cheeks again. “No one. Just an observation.”
For a second he considered pressing her. It’d be easy. He’d pick her up, carry her someplace quiet, and keep her there until she spilled whatever it was that had twisted her thinking on men. But, he didn’t. That little voice in the back of his mind began barking like it always did, telling him that it wasn’t that Alex didn’t want to talk. It told him that Alex didn’t want to talk to him.
He was lacking, fucked up, and flawed. Always had been, probably always would be. Hell, even if he weren’t, he wasn’t sure he wanted Alex confiding in him because getting attached to her or anyone was an avenue to disaster. He of all people knew better than to hope for a connection. The fact that his own parents had abandoned him was enough of a lesson in heartache.
Alex preceded him down the hall and quietly, he followed. Eyes on her back, he couldn’t help but wonder what it’d be like to have Alex confide in him. People’s secrets, their past, was a gift. He knew well because he hadn’t yet granted his to anyone. It was a critical part of him; it was where his flaw—the worst part of him—emanated from. The prospect of showing that to anyone, let alone, someone you were interested in was more terrifying than any enemy he could face.
Funny though, staring at Alex as she tried to force self-confidence into her proud shoulders, he didn’t feel that familiar hollowness in his middle when he thought of telling Alex how he hadn’t been enough to keep his parents around. He wondered if sharing the gaping hole in himself could be enough to get her to show him hers. He’d do it too. If exposing his sole ache would get Alex to open up to him, he’d gladly expose the source of his shame.
***
After three hours of touring the Estate and too many introductions to keep track of, Recker knew Alex’s head was spinning. He’d taken her to the cafeteria for an early dinner and had felt proud when she’d eaten all the food on her tray and had gone back for a second plate of roasted chicken, gooey macaroni and cheese, and seasoned green beans.
Conversation during their meal had been easy, mainly because he hadn’t brought up the attack again.
At Alex’s suite, she invited him in and against his better judgment, he accepted the offer. Again, he’d made sure everything was to her liking and that she knew where everything was at before he settled onto the sofa. Alex sat on the opposite end, and they talked about how StoneCrow was living up to her expectations.
“Everything is so much bigger than I expected. And the people,” Alex paused a moment. “They are way cooler than I thought they’d be to an outsider.”
“Yeah,” Recker laughed. “It’s only because the guys wanna do you and the women are too damn lonesome for female companionship.”
Alex was shaking her head. “A, no one wants to do me, and B, there are plenty of women up here.”
Recker was too distracted by her ‘nobody wants to do me’
statement to comment. Fuck yeah somebody wanted to do her, and that somebody was sitting on the opposite end of her couch.
He was staring at Alex. When he didn’t respond, she turned and looked at him, the playful grin sliding from her lips.
They held like that a moment, both staring at each other intently when Alex’s cell phone jangled loudly from where it was resting on the coffee table.
Out of instinct, Recker lunged for it, but Alex was faster.
Pulling her phone to her chest with a mock gasp, she frowned at him. “How dare you, sir! Trying to read my text from…” She glanced at her phone, “My friend Alise who has just sent me a picture of her new fabulous shoes.”
Recker's brow ticked up and his lips quirked. “You’d only not want me to see you’re your phone if you were hiding something.”
Alex snorted a laugh and chucked her phone at his head. He caught it easily.
“My life is an open book, Recker Rhodes.” She leaned back on the sofa, crossing her legs at the ankle and lacing her fingers behind her head. “Dig to your heart’s content.”
She told him her code and then beamed a smile and closed her eyes, relaxing into her pose, appearing confident that he would find no incriminating evidence in her cell.
A few minutes passed with Recker snooping before Alex cracked an eye open to peek at him. He was scrolling through her phone, and she closed her eyes again and hummed to herself. She was almost convincing in her apparent belief that there wasn’t anything worth note on her phone.
Wait!
“Uh…,” Recker drawled, eyes glued to the screen in his hand. “Do you always take pictures of yourself in lingerie?”
Chapter 20
Alex’s eyes slammed open, and she dove for her phone. “Ghaaaaaa! That’s not me!” She yelped.
She was crawling onto Recker’s lap as he lifted the phone higher out of her reach, his eyes still glued to the screen. “Pretty sure it’s you.”
“It’s not me! It’s a relative. My aunt!” She lunged for her phone, but he jerked it just out of her reach. “It’s my aunt….” Shit, think! Think! THINK! “Aunt…Aunt…Aunt Jemima!”