by Lexy Timms
Christine said nothing, she just watched Jamie with accusing eyes.
“Your dress is very pretty, Christine. Stephen’s only going to have eyes for you.”
Her sister scoffed as tears filled her eyes but didn’t fall. “Stephen told me everything,” she said. “About how he got drunk and then how Alex threatened him to protect you.”
Jamie smiled a few moments later. “I accept your apology.”
“I didn’t say I was sorry.”
“No, but that’s the closest you’re ever going to get to apologizing.”
She rolled her eyes. “I didn’t tell anyone,” she said. “I mean, how embarrassing would that be? My fiancée went after my sister.”
“Oh gee, I can’t even imagine,” Jamie said dryly. “But I’m sure it would be very embarrassing.”
Christine winced. “I never meant to steal him, you know,” she said. “I just found him incredibly attractive from the first time you brought him home. And he was always so nice to me, you know? Like, he puts up with my bullshit. And when I found out that it was me he really liked… well, I just couldn’t resist, I guess. It was shitty of me, and I’m sorry I hurt you. I should have told you.”
“It’s okay. Sometimes stuff happens and we don’t realize what’s going on till it’s too late. Or, we try to deny it and then we are only fooling ourselves.”
Christine stared hard at her sister. “You talking about Alex?”
Jamie flushed. “Um…”
“He’s here with you right now, isn’t he? I was definitely wrong about him not ever liking you, that’s for sure.”
“What do you mean? Because he threatened Stephen?”
“Not just that,” Christine said. Her eyes widened. “You have no idea, do you?”
“What?”
“Nothing, it’s just… mom told me, okay? And I guess you should probably know.”
Jamie’s stomach slowly started to clench again. “Tell me what, Christine?”
“The day before Dad called you, Alex showed up at his office. Dad didn’t want to see him, of course, but he also knew Alex Reid isn’t someone you ignore. So, he made Alex wait in the waiting room for a couple hours while he handled ‘pressing work’. He, apparently, didn’t even go to the bathroom in that time. When Dad finally couldn’t avoid it, he let Alex into his office. He wasn’t planning on actually listening to whatever Alex wanted to talk to him about, but Alex made him. I guess they talked well into the evening about how Dad needed to reconnect with you, and he refused to leave until Dad agreed to call and ask you out for lunch.”
“That was nice of him.” She smiled, not completely sure what to make of the situation. “Mr. Reid went through some personal family things and probably didn’t want us to go through the same thing.”
“Whatever,” Christine scoffed. “There’s no doubt Alex likes you. No, I take that back. I bet he’s completely in love with you.”
Jamie blushed and bit her lip. “I’m sure Alex didn’t go to see Dad. He probably bumped into Dad on the street and told him to call me.”
Christine nodded. “That’s not how Mom told me. We talked about it for hours one night.”
“Seriously?” Jamie smirked. “You had a wedding to plan and you had nothing better to talk about than me?”
“Mom and I still like a piece of hot gossip, even if it’s about your love life.” She grinned at her sister. “He really, really likes you. Doesn’t he?”
Jamie pressed her cool hands against her burning cheeks. “Hey, this day is supposed to be about you, remember?” She handed her sister a lipstick tube. “Fix the last bit of your face. As soon as Mom gets back, I’ll fix your dress.”
“I’m glad you’re here, Jamie.”
“Me, too.”
“So, you made it through,” Alex said, pouring them both a glass of champagne. “How do you feel?”
“Relieved,” Jamie said honestly. “But it’s not over yet.” She looked around at everyone enjoying their meals and making polite chatter about the wedding ceremony. At the sweetheart table, Christine was leaning into a very uncomfortable Stephen, who kept looking fearfully at Alex and Jamie. Christine, however, looked more content than Jamie had seen her in a long time.
“Don’t worry,” Alex whispered to her. “Christine will whip him into husband material soon enough.”
“I think they look adorable together,” Jamie’s mom broke in. She and Jamie’s father were their only two dinner companions, much to Jamie’s relief. The last thing she wanted was to talk to any of Stephen’s or Christine’s shallow friends.
Jamie’s dad rolled his eyes. “I hope he knows that I can make it look like an accident if he hurts her.” He looked directly at Alex when he said it.
Alex gave such a slight nod that Jamie just caught.
“Okay,” she said. “Christine told me everything about what happened between the two of you.” She pointed at both men at the table who simultaneously groaned.
“I can’t believe you told Christine!” Alex pointed a fork at Jamie’s father and chuckled. “I told you I didn’t want Jamie to know and you told her sister!”
“I didn’t tell Christine, I told my wife!” The older man turned an accusing eye on his wife. “I didn’t know she’d blab it out.”
Jamie’s mom held up her hand in defense. “Look,” she said. “Nobody said anything about keeping it a secret from Christine. I’m so not to blame here.”
“Enough children!” Jamie laughed. “It’s water under the bridge. How about we all agree to let it go?” She elbowed Alex. “Cheeky bugger.”
“Jamie!” Her father cleared his throat. “I plan on continuing these lunch dates and please tell your mom, I’m not having an affair. That’s the whole reason I had to tell her.”
Jamie grinned and she felt the tension in her stomach go away. “Mom, I’m seeing your husband.” She beamed at her dad. “That’s all I wanted to hear, Dad.”
The band began playing as the meal finished up. The obligatory first dance, and then the father-daughter dance, followed by another slow song for couples to join the wedding couple.
“Dance with me, Jamie,” her father asked, and pulled her away from Alex before he could ask her.
“Of course,” Jamie said, flashing an apologetic smile to Alex, who nodded and went to sit back down.
“I’m glad you came,” her dad said. “And I’m happy you and Christine have made up. Truly.”
“So am I,” she said as her dad twirled her. “It’s nice being part of the family again.”
“You always were, Jamie,” he said, grinning. “We can just be assholes sometimes.” His face grew serious after they danced a bit. “What’s going on between you and Alex? Are the two of you dating?”
Jamie flushed. It didn’t matter how old she got. Her father asking her about her love life would always be awkward. “Dad.”
“I’m serious,” he said. “Are you dating?”
“It’s complicated,” Jamie said.
“I’d tell you not to let him go, but I doubt he would leave you even if you tried to pry him loose.”
Jamie raised an eyebrow. “What are you saying?”
He smiled. “I’m saying he loves you, Jamie. More than anything. He’s proved himself to be a good guy, and he deserves a chance with you.” He cleared his throat. “And you know I don’t say that lightly.” He tilted his head. “Are you not in love with him?”
Jamie shrugged. “I don’t know,” she lied. “I think Alex’s heart is in the right place, but I’m just not sure it’ll work out. I mean, he’s my boss, and he doesn’t really do committed relationships.” Her face burned with embarrassment. She needed to figure out a way to stop the constant blushing, it was getting ridiculous.
“He’s already committed to you, Jamie,” her father said. “He just hasn’t told you yet because he doesn’t want to scare you away.”
Jamie stared at her father. “How many times have you guys talked, exactly?”
He gri
nned. “Just once. After he told me to take you to lunch. He asked me what he should do to win you over. It’s a father’s job to scope out bullshit, and I know he’s being completely genuine. We’re not perfect, Jamie. We all make mistakes. Give him a chance to try and fix his.”
“I can’t believe he went to you for dating advice,” Jamie grumbled. Not only was her dad a terrible example when it came to romantic relationships, but it was so awkward.
“You’ll get over it,” he said bluntly. “I’m telling you, Jamie, he’s a good guy and I don’t think there’s a better fit for you out there.”
“We’ll see.” She still wasn’t convinced things would work out. It might take her leaving her job for them to have a relationship. Maybe talking to Nicholas wouldn’t be a bad idea. She loved her job, but she was pretty sure she was in love with Alex more.
The song ended and Alex came up to her. “May I have the next dance?”
Her father smiled and backed away. “Think about it, Jamie,” he said as he went to join his wife at the table.
Alex raised an eyebrow. “What was that about?”
Jamie flushed. “Nothing.”
The band started playing a slow dance and Alex smiled at her as he slipped his arm around her waist. “You look incredible. That dress is amazing. Remind me to not let you wear something like that to an office party. I might start a fight.”
She smiled back at him. She knew she was blushing more than anything and she looked down, wishing she could hide it.
“Hey, why are you looking at the floor?” Alex said. “Believe it or not, I do know how to dance. I won’t step on your feet.”
“The thought never even crossed my mind.” She smiled, thankful for his humor. “I just… I just can’t believe how much you’ve done for me today. Thank you.” She swallowed. “I want to thank you for everything. Not just today. For the job, for helping me find my confidence, for all of it. I—”
“You deserve every bit of it,” he said, cutting her off, as if afraid she might tell him she would miss him when she left. “I would do it all over again,” his whispered, voice thick with desire. “And more. I’ve screwed up more times than I can count, and yet, for some reason, you keep giving me chances.”
He twirled her around the floor, his ballroom dancing skills making it easy for Jamie to follow. Several other couples stopped to watch them move.
“I promise you I won’t screw it up this time, Jamie.” His hand pressed against the small of her back, sending thrills of desire in every direction starting from his touch. “It’s me who doesn’t deserve you, Jamie. But I want to spend the rest of my life trying.” He cupped her face with his free hand as her feet forgot to keep moving. He stopped with her. “I’m in love with you, Jamie. More than work, more than money, hell, even more than myself. If you decide to give me one last chance, I promise you I’ll give you everything I possibly can. I’ll do everything I possibly can to make you happy. I’ll never throw you away or treat you like crap because you deserve so much more than that.”
She bit her lip. “You really mean that?”
“I do.”
She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him. Alex sighed and pulled her close, his hand sliding up her back to hold her neck and run his fingers into her hair. He kissed her gently.
She smiled and deepened the kiss, trying to express all of her feelings and all of her love with that simple contact.
They broke apart when the song ended. Alex rested his forehead against hers. “I’m yours,” he said. “Forever.”
Jamie grinned. “What do you say about getting out of this place and fooling around in that big limo of yours?”
A sexy smirk broke across Alex’s mouth. “Hell, yeah. You don’t have to ask me twice.”
She grabbed his hand and pulled him away from the dance floor. “Good. I’m dying here.”
“You are?” He followed closely behind her, his free hand reaching to caress her derriere.
“And I’m not wearing any panties!”
The growl that came out of his throat had them both running for the exit.
~ THE END ~
Note from the Author:
Thanks for reading Managing the Bosses Series! I am always a fork in the road when I finish what I plan to be a series. Part of me would love to continue Jamie & Alex’s story, and another party feels I’ve told you what you wanted to learn. So, as usual, I turn to my readers for advice. Let me know what you think! If the story is not over, or if you feel it’s done!
My contact information is on the next page!
Sincerely, Lexy xx
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Managing the Bosses Series
The Boss
Book 1
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UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B012CBKNC4
The Boss Too
Book 2
US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016LS6EDQ
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/ B016LS6EDQ
Who’s The Boss Now
Book 3
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UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B017TRA2RW
More by Lexy Timms:
Book One is FREE!
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Book Two:
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Book Three:
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Book Five:
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Book Six:
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Sometimes the heart needs a different kind of saving... find out if Charity Thompson will find a way of saving forever in this hospital setting Best-Selling Romance by Lexy Timms
Charity Thompson wants to save the world, one hospital at a time. Instead of finishing med school to become a doctor, she chooses a different path and raises money for hospitals – new wings, equipment, whatever they need. Except there is one hospital she would be happy to never set foot in again--her fathers. So of course he hires her to create a gala for his sixty-fifth birthday. Charity can’t say no. Now she is working in the one place she doesn’t want to be. Except she’s attracted to Dr. Elijah Bennet, the handsome playboy chief.
Will she ever prove to her father that’s she’s more than a med school dropout? Or will her attraction to Elijah keep her from repairing the one thing she desperately wants to fix?
** This is NOT Erotica. It's Romance and a love story. **
* This is Part 1 of an Eight book Romance Series. It does end on a cliff-hanger*
Heart of the Battle Series
Celtic Viking
Book 1
US:http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VVK8S5W
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00VVK8S5W
Celtic Rune
Book 2
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UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/ B00WXI50TI
Celtic Mann
Book 3
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UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/
In a world plagued with darkness, she would
be his salvation.
No one gave Erik a choice as to whether he would fight or not. Duty to the crown belonged to him, his father's legacy remaining beyond the grave.
Taken by the beauty of the countryside surrounding her, Linzi would do anything to protect her father's land. Britain is under attack and Scotland is next. At a time she should be focused on suitors, the men of her country have gone to war and she's left to stand alone.
Love will become available, but will passion at the touch of the enemy unravel her strong hold first?
Fall in love with this Historical Celtic Viking Romance.
* There are 3 books in this series. Book 1 will end on a cliff hanger.
*Note: this is NOT erotica. It is a romance and a love story.
Knox Township, August 1863.
Little Love Affair, Book 1 in the Southern Romance series, by bestselling author Lexy Timms
Sentiments are running high following the battle of Gettysburg, and although the draft has not yet come to Knox, “Bloody Knox” will claim lives the next year as citizens attempt to avoid the Union draft. Clara’s brother Solomon is missing, and Clara has been left to manage the family’s farm, caring for her mother and her younger sister, Cecelia.
Meanwhile, wounded at the battle of Monterey Pass but still able to escape Union forces, Jasper and his friend Horace are lost and starving. Jasper wants to find his way back to the Confederacy, but feels honor-bound to bring Horace back to his family, though the man seems reluctant.
NOTE: This is romance series, book 1 of 3. All your questions will not be answered in the first book.