She laughed a hollow sound to his ears. “A learning experience is being with a man who beats you and causes the loss of your baby. You learn and move on. A mistake is marrying a man who you think reminds you of the man you really want and can’t have. I cheated Donald and now, I have to live with that.”
“I didn’t-”
She plowed on, as if he hadn’t spoken a word. “The worst part is that the day he was killed, he’d surprised me with a trip. He knew something was wrong and he was trying. I was going to tell him that night I was leaving.”
He exhaled, a heavy sound in the quiet room. He moved toward her “Lexi-“
“I think I should go.” She turned to look at him; her eyes filled with unshed tears. It was a punch to the gut to see her like that, her eyes wet, mouth trembling. He wanted to wrap her in his arms, chase away her hurt and pain with his body, just make her forget everything. At least for a little while. But he couldn’t. She’d thrown a wall up and it was going to take some doing to knock it down. Besides, he had some thinking of his own to do. He nodded mutely, stepping aside to let her walk past him towards the door.
~***~
The next morning, Alexina woke to the sun as it streamed through her windows, a headache pounding at the back of her eyes. The night before still weighed heavily on her mind and her sleep had been restless to say the least. When was she going to stop letting the guilt eat away at her? That was like asking when the earth was going to stop spinning. The answer to both questions was NEVER.
Her foot has just touched the carpet when the phone began to ring. under her breath she swore at the loud noise and wrenched the phone from its hook.
“Yes?” she barely refrained from snarling into the phone.
“Oh dear, did I wake you up?”
The childlike voice on the other end had her sitting up straight, looking around in a panic. It couldn’t be that time could it? “No. No, of course not. What can I do for you Mrs. Arrington?”
“Why dear, I’m at the airport here in Austin. I need directions to your house.”
Chapter Ten
All she really needed was a stiff drink, just some rum with a little bit of coke. Anything to dull the sharp ache under her heart. This had to be some form of punishment for her, torture the gods had designed especially for her. As soon as she could, Alexina was headed back to her condo, pouring herself a tall drink and crawling under the covers.
She and her former mother-in-law were sitting on a couch in her ex-mother-in-law’s hotel suite, going through her wedding album. The older woman was dressed very much the grieving mother, even seven months later, in her stylish black sheath and short black beaded jacket. While in town, she’d had her hair done at one of the trendiest salons, her white hair now a delicate blond color, curling around her round face. She’d ordered tea from room service and insisted Alexina stay and share with her. Unable to brush her off and unwilling to upset her, she’d relented. For the past three days, the older woman had visited and there seemed to be no end in sight. To add salt to the wound, her cell phone had been silent the entire time. Luciano hadn’t tried to call her since the night at his house and she was too stubborn to call him. He’d reacted just as she’d known he would; he’d left her.
Today was hopefully the last day of her mother-in-law’s visit. The constant presence and chattering of the other woman had Alexina’s nerves on edge. Torn between crying and screaming at the woman to stop her slow torture, she could only sit rigidly as the woman flipped through photos, cooing and crying over each one.
“You two looked so happy here.” Mrs. Arrington pointed at a picture from their wedding reception. Donald, with his straw colored skin, turquoise eyes and impeccable accountant style, stood at the altar, his lips pressed to hers, eyes half closed in happiness.
Alexina remembered it all too well. It was the exact moment she’d known something was wrong. She made a noncommittal sound, shutting her eyes against the jagged pain shooting up her spine.
“This was the happiest day of his life. He couldn’t wait to marry you.” She sniffled a little, turning the page. Mrs. Arrington didn’t notice Alexina’s hand clenching the arm of the sofa, or the pained expression on her face at the image of her and Donald feeding each other cake. She wondered how no one else had noticed the panic in her eyes.
“Oh...well...” she knew the other woman was only trying to cheer her up, but it felt like she was doing this on purpose. Did she know how Alexina felt, even now after all these many months?
“I’ve got a secret for you.” Mrs. Arrington leaned in, her voice lowered in collusion. “He told me he couldn’t believe you picked him. He felt so lucky you two were getting married.” A dab at her eyes with her silk embroidered handkerchief and she flipped the page.
Alexina couldn’t take this anymore. No more pretending. She was going to tell Donald’s mother the truth about them and what had really been going on the last few months of their marriage. Her stomach roiled at the thought, but she couldn’t keep up the façade any more. She didn’t want to lie anymore.
Alexina watched as the older woman took a sip of her tea and seized her chance. “Mrs. Arrington-”
“Sweetie, call me Colleen.” Setting the cup down, she turned to face Alexina. “We’re family. I miss my boy so much you know. Sometimes, on Sunday, I expect the phone to ring and for him to be on the other end, calling to see how I’m doing.” She dabbed at her tears again, the green of her eyes going fuzzy as her mind drifted off.
“Ah-” her chance had slipped away. More like she’d let it, she thought wryly. It just wasn’t meant to be and who was she hurting really by letting this sweet old woman think she and her son had been in the perfect marriage?
“But look at me, going on. How have you been honey? Aren’t you lonely down here?” Colleen patted her hands as they lay limply on the couch.
“Well...I do have a few friends here. And I’m starting a new business.” She explained weakly.
Alexina knew Donald’s mother would never understand the exhilaration she felt every time she went into her shop building, every time she ordered something for the store. Colleen had been the ultimate housewife, raising a son and keeping her home for her husband, never once wanting something for herself. The very idea of Alexina working had upset her for months and it had taken Donald’s firm support of his wife to bring her around. No, she would never understand what independence and freedom felt like.
“Oh, friends are fine, but you need family.” She patted Alexina on the hand, a matronly smile on her face.
How was someone supposed to respond to a comment like that? Say no, I don’t need family. She searched for a pat answer. “Hmm...I suppose-”
“You know, I was thinking. Perhaps I should stay a bit longer.” Her eyes flashed excitement as the idea started to take hold. “Maybe spend a few weeks here. My plane is supposed to leave at noon today, but-”
Panicked at the thought of one more day with the woman, Alexina thought fast. “What about your beautiful Persian, Mr. Dandy? And Mr. Arrington? You know how men are. They can’t take care of themselves.”
Colleen tilted her head to the side, a contemplative look on her face. “Well you are right. I just hate to think of you being here by yourself.” She reached out again, her hand gripping Alexina’s.
“I won’t be. My dad is coming down to see me in a few weeks, so I won’t be alone.” She smiled and prayed her answer was enough to get the woman to go home.
“Well I’m glad to hear that. If you’re sure you’ll be okay...” Colleen gazed at her, mouth twisted with doubt.
Alexina nodded, a bright smile in place. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
~***~
Luciano was in the shower, the water beating down on his head. The past few days had gone by very... slow. Alexina had been on his mind the whole time, tormenting and teasing him. He’d debated on and off whether or not to call her, to see if she was okay. His pride had demanded he not do it, to see if s
he came to him. So far, the score was self- zero, Lexi- two.
He still had feelings for her and if given the chance, he could make something of them. He knew they could be good together, if she would just let him past her walls. He squeezed his eyes shut, the image of her sad face making him shiver beneath the warm spray. What was he supposed to do?
“Here baby, let me warm you up.” Small hands ran up his back and over his shoulders.
He spun around, his eyes wide with shock and dismay at the sight of who was standing in the shower with him.
“Kelsie- what the hell are you doing here?” He shut off the water and stepped out of the shower, letting the glass door slam in her face as he grabbed a towel and wrapped the fluffy fabric around his midsection. Great, as if things weren’t tense enough, this crazy girl was back in his life.
Kelsie stepped out behind him, a hand skimming down her petite naked body, sure in her ability to attract him, a come-hither pout to her lips. “I just stopped by to see you.” She walked towards him forgoing a towel, running a hand through her wet hair water spraying everywhere. The smile on her face was sharp, brittle around the edges and Luciano could see a fight brewing in her eyes.
Disgusted at the display, Luciano spun on his heels and headed into his room. “How the fuck did you get in?” he yanked on a pair of jeans and turned back to her.
“I had a key made.” Shrugging, she sauntered towards him, her arms outstretched.
Jerking back, he pushed her hands away. “Get out now!”
She stopped, her body red with rage. “But-”
“I’m not playing this game with you. Get out.” He grabbed a shirt off the end of his bed, pushing his arms into the sleeves. He left the buttons undone, the fabric hanging open as he stared at her. This was getting ridiculous. He knew he should have changed the locks, but he’d never suspected she’d had the nerve to make a copy. In hindsight, he should have hired a house sitter when he’d gone to Virginia.
Her lips poked out, she started walking towards him again. “Lukie-”
“Stop fucking calling me Lukie! You know I hate that name. Don’t you have any respect for yourself?” He stomped out of the bedroom and down the hall. He turned into the living room, walking across the carpet and into the kitchen.
Kelsie followed behind him, still naked and dripping water all over his Persian rugs. “What-”
“Why in the hell would you show up here and think I would want you back?” He stopped short at the sight of her clothes on the floor of his kitchen. What the hell had been going through this girls mind? He’d made things perfectly clear after finding her with another man they were over, no more chances.
“I thought-”
“You thought wrong.” Grabbing her clothes off the floor, he balled them up and turned to face her.
He threw the bundle at her, “Get dressed and get out.” He hissed through clenched teeth. All he needed was for someone he knew to come to the door and see the two of them like this.
The sound of the doorbell had them both pausing, frozen in place.
He should have knocked on wood.
Luciano shot Kelsie a look demanding she get dressed, before he left the kitchen and headed towards the front door.
Swinging the door open, his mouth almost hit the floor at the sight of Alexina standing on his doorstep, with a smile that actually reached her eyes. Shit, this was just not his day.
“Alexina, what are you doing here?” He stood in the open door, blocking her line of vision to the kitchen.
She rocked on her tip toes, her smile dimming a bit. “I ahhh... I was in the neighborhood and I thought I would see how you were doing.” She shrugged, her eyes sliding past his to a tall shrub covered in purple flowers growing next to his door.
“Well... I’m good. How about you?” Though it pleased him to see her, he could hear Kelsie moving around in the kitchen, the witch. Had he just heard a cabinet door closing? What the hell was she doing in there, making a snack?
“I just put my ex-mother-in-law on a plane back to Virginia.” Her smile fell, her once relaxed posture changing to a rigid stance. “I was hoping we could maybe talk.” She ran a hand through her hair she’d left down, wild mahogany curls clung to her chin and shoulders. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?” she gave a nervous laugh, obviously uneasy with his stiff attitude.
Hell yeah he wanted to let her in. He wanted to drag her inside, strip the little blue camisole she was wearing off her body and just plunge in. Too bad he had a rodent problem. “Ah...I’m a little...how about I call you later? We can hang out.” He glanced over his shoulder, trying to see where Kelsie was. He didn’t notice Alexina looking over his shoulder also.
“Oh...” she turned away from him, her face closed off. “No, it’s okay. I didn’t-”
With lightning fast reflexes, he reached out and grabbed her, tugging her inside. He let the door shut behind them. “No, don’t leave like this.” He hadn’t meant to hurt her feelings. Her body was taut and cold in his embrace, her hands braced on his naked chest. He liked the sight of her sexy dark fingers against his tanned skin. God she was beautiful, with those coffee eyes and juicy lips. He just wanted to spend all day tasting her toffee colored skin, her voluptuous legs wrapped around him. Maybe, if he moved quickly enough, he could soothe her feathers and get her out of the house before Kelsie popped her head out of wherever she was.
Going with the urge, Luciano pulled her into his arms, tucking her head under his chin. He ran a hand up and down her spine to work out some of the hurt tension out. He smiled into her hair when he felt her back soften under his touch. “Things are sort of-”
“What is she doing here?”
They both turned to see Kelsie, her shirt open and no pants, behind them. Luciano groaned when he felt the tension snap back into Alexina’s body as she stepped out of his arms. Kelsie walked over to them, eyes ablaze.
“I thought I told you to stay away from him?” she pushed her finger into Alexina’s face. Alexina pushed the offending digit away, the angry glow in her eyes sent Kelsie tripping backwards over her feet.
“Keep your fingers out of my face.” Though soft, the hint of steel underneath Alexina’s voice had the hairs on Luciano’s arms raised.
“Kelsie, get out!” He ground out as he tried to grab Alexina’s hand, but she slipped away.
“No, I think I’ll leave.” She stepped away from them towards the door, her face a frozen mask of anguish and hurt. His gut twisted at the sight.
“Alexina stay. This really is not what you think.” The one step he took towards her had her moving quickly towards the door. Shit, how was he going to smooth this over?
She put up both hands, as if she could block out the entire situation. “No. I’m not going to do this.”
“I told you he was mine, didn’t I?” Kelsie sneered, a smug look on her face as she propped her fists on her hips and smirked.
“Kelsie shut up and get the hell out! Alexina, stay and let me-” He reached out for her, but she backed into the door, scrabbling behind her to find the knob.
“No.” She twisted the knob sharply, spun around and rushed out, the door slamming behind her.
He stared at the door a moment, his skin hot and pulsing. He turned on Kelsie, murderous thoughts whirling through his head. “Get out and if I ever catch you near me or Alexina, you will regret it.” He brushed past her and headed towards his room.
Hands on her hips, she glared at him, her bottom lip trembled with rage and humiliation. “How dare you!” she swung out, striking his back. She froze, fear written across her face.
Luciano stormed back to her, a vice grip on her upper arm. “Do you have any idea what you may have done?” he pulled her towards the front door, nearly jerking it off the hinges as he threw it open and thrust her out, her discarded clothes tossed after her.
She screeched in outrage as she tried to pull her shirt together and keep her balance from falling over. Her eyes shot daggers at him, but he c
ould have cared less as he stared back at her.
“Don’t try this again.” He slammed the door shut.
Chapter Eleven
The next day, Luciano sat at his drawing table, trying to catch up on overdue work. The designs for a new hybrid were spread out before him, but his mind was elsewhere. The scene from yesterday popped into his head and he cringed. God, he’d messed things up there. Disgusted with himself, he sank into his chair, throwing the pen in his hand across the room. What the hell could he have done in such a situation? Who could have known that Kelsie had made a copy of his key? Damn, how was he going to fix everything now?
The look on Alexina’s face still swam before his eyes every time he closed them. The whole incident left him feeling lower than dirt. He reached for a pack of cigarettes, putting one between his lips and lighting up. He inhaled deeply, letting the smoke fill his lungs. He was trying to cut down, but with the way things were going, he didn’t think he’d ever kick the habit.
Luciano brooded over the whole fiasco until his cigarette burned down to his fingertips, snapping him out of his thoughts. Damned if he was going to let Kelsie ruin his life. Picking up the phone more forcefully than he’d intended. He didn’t stop to think as he dialed Lexi’s number.
The phone rand three times before she picked up. Just the sound of her smoky voice sent an electric shock straight to his crotch.
“Hey, how are you?” he hoped his voice wasn’t too eager.
It took the span of a heartbeat for her to answer.
“What do you want?” Her frosty voice blasted ice across the line. There was a bite that said don’t mess with me.
He took a deep breath. “I wanted to talk about yesterday.”
A scoff, “I really-”
“I know what it looked like, so let me take you to lunch today and I’ll tell you what happened. If you decide not to listen to me, then fine.” Luciano rested his head on his hand. This was going to be harder than he thought. Under the anger and disinterest, he could hear the hurt thrumming in her voice, calling out to him.
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