It wasn’t until Izzy looked up to see the pained look on his face that she realized what she had confessed. For the past six month, she had been hiding the pain he had caused her under name calling and aggressive behavior.
Alex walked around the island, placing a hand on her cheek. He spoke softly to her. “Oh, honey, you didn’t do anything wrong. Everything that happened after we slept together is on me, not you. I never imagined I hurt you so badly. Please, Izzy, forgive me. Let me prove to you I have changed. I’m a better man now. Let me take you on a date.” He rubbed his nose against hers, and kissed her sweetly. “One date, Izzy.”
Lost in the moment of his kindness, she was on the verge of saying yes. Just as the word was about to leave her lips, he smiled at her, the same way he had the night they met. That beautiful self-assured smile snapped her out of the moment and back into the pain he had caused her. “No. I won’t let you hurt me again.” She tried to slip away from him, but he blocked her with his hard body. “Your playboy reputation tells me that you haven’t changed at all.”
Determined to have the final word, Izzy pushed him out of her way. She went to the living room to regain control of her emotions and her hormones. Luckily the doorbell rang a few moments later.
~*~*~*~
Stupidly, Alex had believed that if he came clean to Izzy on how he felt she would forgive him. He had tried that approach twice now. So far it wasn’t working for him. If anything she was pushing him away harder. A small smile tugged at his lips at the thought of her leaning into his kiss. In her mind she might hate him, but her body responded to his touch the same as it had when they met.
As long as he only had small snippets of time with her, she would always see him as a man whore. He needed a better plan to get her to see that he was more than his playboy reputation. Sure, he had earned that reputation fair and square. That didn’t mean that was all he was.
Hearing the chatter of his friends in the living room, Alex opted to stay in the kitchen for a bit longer. Grabbing his abandoned beer, he chugged the remains and grabbed another. He needed to get himself in check, or someone was going to figure out his true feelings for Izzy. He had a feeling that buried under all of her constant insults was a hint of some other feeling for him. After all she hung around five year olds all day, maybe she had picked up on their habits of picking on the boy or girl they liked. Or, more likely, he was grasping at straws.
Hearing the arrival of what sounded like the remainder of their friends, he let out a deep breath and heading for the living room. Bringing with him beers for the new arrivals.
“Is Alex playing waitress again?” Phin chuckled.
“Just for that, no beer for you!” Alex smiled back. Handing out the remaining beers in his hand to everyone else.
Phin was quick though, and snagged the beer Alex had just placed in Jemma’s hand. “Hey!” Jemma protested.
Alex simply shook his head at Phin and handed Jemma another beer. Standing with Jemma and Phin, listening as she went on to tell Phin that he was like having an annoying brother around always taking her things. Phin and Jemma had become fast friends when he started with CPST. Since she did well with numbers and Derek was clueless, Jemma was often the go between for the finance guys, Phin and Alex, and Derek. Translating the numbers into something Derek’s coding corrupted brain could understand.
As his two friends bickered back and forth, Alex kept an eye on Izzy. Dressed simply in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt with a stick figure runner on the front, she looked more beautiful than the models he had taken to different events clothed in dresses that cost thousands of dollars. She stood with Caroline and Collin, laughing at something the man had said.
Having her back in his life was a blessing and a curse. A curse only because she refused to acknowledge the spark between them. She refused to let him in. Alex wished she would relax around him the way she did Collin. Collin and Alex shared the same type of humorous charm and personality. Yet, it was Collin who got the nice and funny Izzy while he got the dragon lady version.
“Anyone heard from the happy couple today?” Gavin asked the room, as he sorted through Izzy’s Xbox games. It had become a tradition to have a game night any time they all came over to the girl’s house.
“Roni said they would be here around six or so, when I spoke with her before their flight departed. She sounded very happy. I even heard Derek laughing in the background.” Izzy shared happily with the group. A smile warm on her face as she spoke of her friend. Izzy had obviously missed Roni while she was away.
Most of the guys had expected Derek to go through withdrawals from work during his vacation. He had left all of his gadgets, including his laptop and phone, behind. Although, Derek’s spontaneous vacation had not come at the most ideal time for the company given the merger, Alex was thrilled to see his friend take a break. If he was being honest, he was even a little envious of his friend. Derek had run away to a secluded island with the woman of his dreams. Meanwhile, the woman of Alex’s dreams was standing on the other side of the room ignoring him.
At the announcement that the happy couple would be arriving home soon, the room seemed to explode in different conversations. Phin and Gavin joked how easily Derek had fallen, declaring that would never be them. Jemma laughed, shaking her head in agreement.
“I have seen the two of you go through more girls than I thought even lived in Colorado and I have only known you a few months! I can’t believe your crappy lines work.” Gracey quipped. “And the quiet one in the corner must secretly date because I never see him with a woman on his arm.”
“I am just more discreet than those assholes.” Rocco shrugged, taking a swig of his beer.
“So are you in the same super slut category as these guys,” Gracey waived her hand around in the direction of Phin, Gavin and Alex, “or are you a little more particular of who sees you naked?”
Rocco had walked to stand directly in front of Gracey, who now had to look up, way up, to look him in the eye. He was by far the largest of the men. Rocco brushed a finger down her cheek. “Honey, I don’t give a damn if the whole world sees me naked. Now, who I share my naked body with is a different story.”
With a gleam in her eye, and a very quiet audience, Gracey took a step away from him. “Good to know you are ok with nudity. However, since you didn’t bother to answer the question directly, I assume we just haven’t seen your flock of one night stands.”
Phin turned to Gavin, “Should we be insulted she just called us super sluts?”
“Better than being called Super Asshole like that one calls me.” Alex chuckled, tilting his beer in Izzy’s direction. Phin and Gavin laughed.
“Calling you Super Asshole was more of an observation than a nickname, but if the shoe fits.” Izzy shrugged.
Alex smiled; at least she was done ignoring him. Annoying her seemed to be the only way he was able to garner her attention. Before he could respond with a statement guaranteed to annoy her, Caroline interrupted him.
“You two are well beyond Super Sluts, the first night I met the three of you;” Caroline gestured to Gavin, Phin and Collin, “you two swept my friends out of the restaurant five minutes after getting their names. Ending my first night out since the birth of my child! Oh, and of course neither of you called either of my friends again.”
“Oh right Carrie. She was fun, for a night anyway.” Phin smirked.
“Kelley her name was Kelley. Phin, you just proved our point hands down. Luckily for me, Collin saved my evening by staying to talk to me.” C said rolling her eyes.
The sound of tires in the driveway alerted everyone that the guests of honor had arrived. “They’re here!” Gracey giggled excitedly, interrupting the great slut debate. She was a conundrum to him and the rest of the guys. She was so tough one moment and a giggling little girl the next.
They all huddled in a small group near the front door. Alex purposely stood behind Izzy, very closely behind her. She pushed her butt back at him in an attempt t
o get him to take a step back. Leaning down to her ear so only she could hear him, “Izzy, pushing that perfect ass against my crotch is only going to make me move closer to you.” He laughed.
Whispering curses under her breath, one he thought threatened his manhood, she stepped forward away from him. She glared at him over her shoulder, yet he couldn’t miss the sweet blush that covered her cheeks. He would take that as a win.
Derek opened the door, dragging two large suitcases with him.
“Welcome home!” They all yelled.
“Shit what are you all doing here?” He asked as he set the suitcase down.
Roni came bounding in behind him, clearly not seeing the suitcases on the floor as she went running to hug the girls. Roni tripped and everyone lunged for her, all of them are used to her clumsiness, Derek grabbed her. He steadied her on her feet and kissed her forehead. “Thanks.” She kissed him and continued on to greeting her friends.
Derek simply shook his head. “I am going to put these suitcases in the bedroom, so no one, as in Roni, trips over them. Again.” He quickly picked up the suitcases and was off to make the house Roni proof.
“I am so happy you are all here! I missed you guys so much, well maybe not Alex but everyone else.” Roni laughed, winking at Alex.
Bringing his hands to his chest in mock pain, “You wound me Roni, truly wound my heart.” Alex declared to the room. Everyone laughed.
The girls pulled Roni to the couch. “Spill. Tell us everything.” Gracey insisted, with a wiggle of her eyebrows.
“Ah, not everything. Remember he’s my brother. Hearing everything would be gross.” Caroline spoke up.
“And my boss.” Jemma chimed in.
The girls went about gossiping about the house the two stayed at and the private beach, blah blah blah. The guys, stood next to the couch mimicking them with exaggerated hand jesters and facial expressions. Each of them either received a slap on the arm or the middle finger directed their way.
Derek came out from the bedroom and went straight to the kitchen to grab a beer. As he walked out opening his beer, he asked Roni, “Have you told them the big news?” He handed her a beer as he took a seat in the chair, since the girls had commandeered the couch.
“Fuck, don’t tell us you two are getting married!” Phin spoke with a childish disgust.
Gracey grabbed Roni’s left hand and all the girls leaned in to see the ring. Only there was no ring. “Obviously, you can calm down Phin. No ring, no wedding.” Gracey laughed.
“Even worse, is she pregnant?” Gavin chimed in making a face.
“You two are worse than my kindergarteners!” Izzy laughed. “How about you let Derek finish.”
Derek and Roni exchanged a look. Alex was a little worried that Gavin was actually correct and that there was going to be a little Derek running around soon. God help the computer world.
Roni rubbed her stomach, and smiled up at Gavin sweetly. Before they could truly panic on behalf of Derek, she started laughing and threw a pillow at Gavin. “No, asswipe, I’m not pregnant. First clue, I’m not pregnant would be the beer in my hand, idiot. We’re moving in together!”
“No wedding, no babies, I’m good with that decision.” Phin remarked, nodding contently.
“And it was your approval we were most looking for, douchebag.” Derek responded with laughter.
The girls all squealed and chatted at a level, he was certain only dogs could hear. He caught words now and then…..redecorate…color….new roommate…moving. Wait new roommate? That’s right Izzy would either need a new roommate or she would need to move. How can I work this to my advantage?
Chapter Five
Moving? I don’t want to move. Yes, Izzy knew her inner thoughts were those of a petulant child, but she really didn’t want to move. Sure, she figured that at some point her and Roni would go their separate ways. She even knew it was going to be coming in the next few months, since Roni and Derek had become so close. Yet, she was still shocked by their announcement last night that they were going to be moving in together at the end of Roni and Izzy’s lease which was in less than a month.
Crap, I need to find a place ASAP. Izzy finished stretching her legs on that thought, and started her run around Wash Park. With the Kongos blaring in her ears, she ran to escape all her inner thoughts. Not only did she have to find a place to live since her roommate had gone and fallen in love. She also had to deal the feelings the kiss from Alex had brought on last night. Over the last six months he had been pursuing her, or rather trying to get her back into bed, quietly and relentlessly. Last night his tenderness had tempted her for more than any of his cocky ‘every woman wants me’ attitude ever had.
Picking up the pace, she fought not to think about him. I hate him! Why am I even thinking about him! Izzy chastised herself. The man irritated her, plain and simple. Of course with Roni and Derek together, Izzy knew she would have to find a way to get along with the cocky bastard. They would be undoubtedly spending countless more evenings together.
Maybe she needed to start dating someone seriously. Having a boyfriend would be a deterrent for Alex, right? She snorted a little at the thought. Two problems with her plan came to mind immediately. First, she hadn’t met a man in over a year that sparked even a tiny spark of interest in her. Secondly, Alex would probably see her having a boyfriend as even more of a challenge and pursue her even more relentlessly.
Every single time they went out as a group, Alex somehow managed to get her alone and cornered. Sometimes he would whisper the dirtiest things in her ear and walk off as though he hadn’t just ignited a flame in her body. Other times, he would approach her with his tilted smile that screamed he was up to no go and immediately proceed to piss her off. Alex was lucky she hadn’t followed through on any of her plans to kill him.
Then there were her favorite times, the times when she would be coming back from the bathroom and he would be standing there waiting for her. One second she would be walking past ignoring him, the next he would have her pinned to the wall. Kissing her in a way that can only be described as fucking her mouth with his tongue. During those kisses, her hands had minds of their own and wandered over his rock hard body. Those occasions left her wet and breathless. He always pulled away from her just as breathless, with an unmistakable need in his eyes.
Those stolen kisses shouldn’t be her favorite moments with him. In fact, she should kick his smug cocky ass for even touching her. Unfortunately, her mind clicked off the moment his lips hit hers. Those kisses were all passion and unrelenting desire. Once her hormones calmed a few minutes later her shield went back up in regards to Alex. Last night’s stolen kiss had been entirely different. The same desire was still present. However, the feeling she felt from him were more than desire. His kiss was from a need to comfort and touch her. To help heal her broken heart.
In that brief moment in the kitchen, she felt the same way about him as she did in Cabo. Completely smitten and comfortable. Those were the emotions she needed to shut down in both of them. And quickly too. She couldn’t give herself over to him again. She knew he was still the same playboy she had met in Cabo.
You know that’s not true. A little voice inside her head argued. She hated that voice, the voice of reason. To be honest she had only heard of Alex’s playboy reputation, she had never seen him with a woman first hand. She had chalked that fact up to him not even deeming the woman he slept with important enough to introduce to his friends. He had to have had several special friends over the last few months. Guys like Alex didn’t go that long without getting laid.
That was what she needed to hang onto. The thought of him in bed with another woman. No not another woman, other women, as in plural! That was her ticket to staying completely in the hate zone when it came to Alex. If she thought of nothing but his playboy ways, she would even be able to push him away next time he decided to push her against a wall and scramble her brains with his incredible kisses.
Nodding to herself at her perfect
plan, she looked down momentarily at her iPhone to check her mileage and ran smack into a wall of muscle. “Oof.” She stumbled back and rubbed her nose, the only part of her that hurt from the impact. She was about to apologize when she looked up to see who she had run into. “Really? Are you stalking me now?”
“I’m fine from you running into me, thanks for asking.” Alex stood tall, with his hands on his hips, casting a shadow over her. “And yes, I am stalking you.”
“Alex go away…wait a minute how did you know where I was? Do you have one of your company’s drones following me or did you put a GPS device on me somehow? Crap, it’s in my phone isn’t it? Never did trust you techy types.” She scolded, with her eyes narrow and her arms crossed under her breasts. Breasts which Alex’s eyes were now fixated on. She moved her arms to cover them, earning a look of disappointment from him.
Lifting his gaze to her eyes, he explained. “No drones, not that CPST has any, or GPS devices needed. And no I can’t track you by your phone. Although, I am sure Collin or Derek can.” He smiled, placing his hands in the pockets of his running pants. He looked absolutely yummy in his black track pants and tight white t-shirt soaked with sweat. He had obviously already run a few miles. The smell of him all sweaty was even more intoxicating than his expensive cologne.
“So if you didn't use any of your tech toys how did you know where to find me?” She scowled, trying to hide her growing lust for him.
Runners kept glaring at them as they had to go around them on the path. Alex grabbed her elbow and led her out of the way, off the path, to a group of large oak trees. “I knew were you would be, because I know you Izzy. I have paid attention to every word you have spoken around me for the past six months. I know that you always run on Saturday mornings at Wash Park if the weather is nice enough. If it is raining or snowing you go to the gym.”
Frenemies With Benefits (Geek To Chic Book 2) Page 4