Frenemies With Benefits (Geek To Chic Book 2)

by Brinks, Nikki

  “That’s right we will basically be in the middle of nowhere and I won’t have a witness when I finally carry out my murder plot.” Izzy joked.

  “Sorry sweetheart, you just admitted your intention to murder me to the two people the cops are going to speak to first after they find my body.”

  “You think they would actually find your body? That’s cute.” Izzy grabbed two small bags by her feet and headed off to the SUV with a smirk on her face.

  Once all of the bags were loaded, and Derek had check the lock on the front door at least forty times, to ensure he did in fact lock that door, they were off to the airport. As they drove through the streets, Izzy took a good look at the neighborhood that Derek and Roni lived in. All the houses had beautiful landscaping, and each house had a different design, as though they had all been custom built. “Oh look at that white house with the wrap around porch. That house is beautiful.” The southern style house was the type Izzy had always envisioned raising her family in.

  Alex slowed a little passed the house. “It’s nice.” His voice held a strange hint of emotion she could not name as he spoke.

  After that the girls went about talking about the meetings Roni would have to attend and her plan for keeping Derek from yelling at the clients. Derek huffed and they all laughed. All too soon they were at the airport.

  ~*~*~*~

  Dropping Roni and Derek off at the airport took longer than Alex had expected. The girls hugged and cried in the drop off area as though they were never going to see each other again. Thankfully an officer came and instructed them to move along or they may never have left the airport.

  Izzy sat slouched in the seat next to him. He took her hand in his, kissing her knuckles, before placing their entwined hands on his lap, to his great delight she did not pull her hand from his. “Where do you want to eat?”

  Quiet at first, he was unsure if she was going to answer him. “How about somewhere that has steak? I know that is more a meal for dinner than lunch but I am starving and it is the only thing that sounds good.”

  “Steak is always good no matter what time of day.” He answered with a smile, kissing her knuckles again he set off for the Buckhorn Exchange. They had a great lunch time menu.

  When they arrived they were immediately seated by the overly friendly hostess. She batted her eyelashes at him and smiled while biting her lips a little. It took everything in Alex not to roll his eyes at her over the top come hither look. Instead he grabbed on to Izzy’s hand pulling her close, wrapping his arm around her waist. Trying to give the hostess the clear sign that he was taken.

  The hostess’ attitude changed immediately after that, she quickly seated them and practically threw their menus at them. Izzy grabbed her menu and met his eyes. “Old friend of yours?”

  The question itself was innocent enough, it was the underlining tone that bothered him. He knew she was asking if the flirty hostess was someone he had seen naked. “Nope, never seen her before in my life. What are you going to have?” He picked up his own menu in an attempt to avoid any further questions about the hostess.

  “You know you didn’t have to turn down her blatant invitation just because I’m here.” She sounded so sad when she spoke what must have been a painful sentence.

  Taking her hand again, he waited patiently for her to put down her menu and meet his eyes. “Izzy you don’t get it do you? I am with you. A naughty look from anyone else in the world isn’t going to change that. We still have an agreement.” He added the last sentence because he knew how uncomfortable she was acknowledging any type of relationship between the two of them beyond friendship.

  “Ok I was just making sure that you didn’t want to sample the offerings here.” She winked and to his surprise dropping the subject.

  They both ordered large steaks, potatoes and salads. As their food arrived they ate in a companionable silence. To his surprise she ate everything on her place. “I don’t think I have ever seen you eat that much.”

  Smiling a little, she took a sip of water before responding to him. “I usually don't eat that much, but lately with my running schedule being so many miles I have had a huge appetite. Next week I won't be running as much as a taper down my miles before the marathon."

  "When is your marathon?"

  "A week from Saturday. This year I am going to do it in four hours flat. I was so close last year." Izzy said completely determined.

  "If anyone could run a marathon in only four hours it would be you. I have never met a woman as stubborn or goal orientated as you. I'll drive you to the start line and meet you at the finish how does that sound?" He was actually excited to see her run her marathon.

  "You're going to wake up at four in the morning to drop me off blocks away from our building when it would be easier for me to walk?" She smiled.

  "Sure why not. I don't want you walking alone that early it is still dark out." He was serious about that point.

  "Trust me I won't be alone. Most of the marathoners will have to walk by our building to get to the start. Once I'm there I have to check in, stretch, warm up. You would be bored. I do like the idea of you meeting me at the finish line though."

  "Fine, but be careful walking to the starting line. After the race I we can go grab a bite to eat and then I can give you a full body massage." He wiggled his eyebrows at her making her laugh.

  ~*~*~*~

  Even though Izzy had insisted that she didn’t need him to get up at four to take her to the starting line of the Rock N Roll Marathon, Alex was determined to be at the finish line to cheer her on. Of course, the rest of the gang decided to show up as well ruining the restful afternoon he had planned for the two of them. They all chatted away about where to go eat once she finished the race.

  Sighing, he leaned over Jemma to look down the street at those finishing the race, waiting to see Izzy’s smiling face. She loved the runners high. The longer the run the happier the girl was. Even with his significantly longer stride, he had problems keeping up with her. She had been running marathons for years and this year her goal was to do the marathon in four hours. Glancing at his watch, he realized that the four hour mark for her start time had come and gone. "Crap, she's going to be disappointed." Alex mumbled.

  The discussion about where to eat beside him stopped. "Who's going to be disappointed? Did you have a hot date that you're late for?" Jemma joked as she pushed her glasses up her nose.

  "Huh?" Alex really hadn't been paying attention to anything but his watch as he calculated her time.

  "I asked, who's going to be disappointed?" Jemma laughed at him.

  "Izzy, Izzy's going to be disappointed. She has been training for months to do this race in four hours or under and she didn't make it." Alex could almost feel her disappointment.

  Looking from his watch to the finish line, he saw out of the corner of his eye all of his friends staring out of him. 'What?"

  They looked at each other and then back to him, "How did you know what time her heat started?" Gracey interjected with a sardonic smile.

  Crap! Crap! Crap! Did I just step in something? "Ummm, she told all of us, a few nights ago, don't you remember?" He was desperately trying to backpedal, he couldn't exactly tell them that they had been discussing her start time in bed last night.

  "I don't remember that, but then again I only hear about half of what the girls yammer on and on about." Phin shrugged returning his attention to his iPhone.

  With more force than Alex thought she had in her small little body, Jemma knocked Phin on his ass. Phin pushed to his feet with a comical stunned look on his face. As soon as he was steady on his feet, she knocked him on his ass again. This is great! Takes all the focus off of my own stupidity! Alex gleefully thought.

  "Why the fuck do you keep pushing me over? And how the fuck are you able to knock me on my ass? I am twice your size!" Phin grumbled as he rose again, grabbing Gracey by the arms using her as a human shield.

  "I took self-defense classes about using an opponen
t’s body weight against him. And I did it because you're an ass who deserves to be knocked over, repeatedly. Did you hear me or am I just yammering on?" Jemma declared with her hands on her hips and a look of contempt on her face.

  "Well, I hear most of what you yammer about I was talking about the other girls." Clearly Phin forgot that he was using one of the other girls as a shield. Gracey turned quickly and once again Phin landed on his ass.

  At this point Alex and Gavin are almost falling over themselves because they were laughing so hard watching Phin get the crap kicked out of him by two girls who collectively still weighed less than him. They were both in Phin’s face carrying on about how he needed to learn respect.

  A familiar voice grabbed his attention from behind him. “Darren, come on let’s find the medic tent.” He turned to see Izzy patting a man who was bent over vomiting on the back. Leaving his friends without a word, he was at Izzy’s side in a few steps.

  “Hey, I was getting worried. You ok, man?” He wanted to ask Izzy how she was doing after the twenty-six plus mile run, but figured he better be nice to her puking friend.

  “I came across Darren in mile twenty-four. He should have already been done with the race since he started a few heats a head of me. Anyway, I found him limping along, puking every so often. I am not sure if he is dehydrated or if he has the flu. I couldn’t get him to stop, he wanted to finish so I stayed with him. Can you help me get him to the medic tent?”

  Alex nodded in response, grabbing one of Darren’s arms he placed it around his neck to help the man along. “You’re still going to help me even after I took your girl on a date.” Darren joked.

  Alex shot Darren a fake glare, “I had to endure her yelling at me that night because of my behavior. You could have helped a fellow man out and gave me a sign you were just friends.”

  “I thought about slipping you my phone number, but that would have only made her mad at me, better for her to take it out on you. At least you got make up sex.” Darren winked.

  Together they got Darren to the medical tent, where the paramedic on duty seemed to know Darren. “What have you done now?” The man, who even Alex had to admit was good looking, earned a smile from the weak Darren. “I guess I will have to take care of you as always.” The winked.

  “Thanks for helping me Izzy. I think I’m in good hands now. Right, Pete?” Darren said weakly with a smile aimed at the paramedic.

  “Ok, call me later.” She kissed Darren’s cheek.

  “Sorry I screwed up your time.” Darren added.

  “No worries, sweetie, I am just glad you are ok.” With a wave and blowing a kiss, she allowed Alex to lead her to their friends.

  “I can’t believe you guys all came out. Thank you!” She hugged the girls. “Why is Phin sitting on the ground?”

  “I’ll tell you why.” Phin answered, standing quickly. “I decided to sit on the ground because your friend are bullies and kept knocking me over, all because I said one comment about you girls yammering away.”

  Blinking a few times, Izzy turned to Gavin. “You were smart enough to keep your mouth shut weren’t you?”

  Gavin nodded in response. “Yep, they have not had to use their self-defense moves on me once, because I am the nicest guy in the world.” He boasted.

  “Whatever asshat, can we go eat? I think I better buy them lunch so that they will be nicer to me.” Phin whined.

  Patting his head, like a child, Izzy leaned in to stage whisper into Phin’s ear, “I think you’re going to have to buy more than lunch for them to be nicer to you.” She leaned away smiling. “You guys go to lunch, I need to shower, desperately. Make Phin beg for forgiveness and I will see you guys later. Any chance you drove here Alex? Since we live in the same building I was hoping you would drive me home. Unless you wanted to go to lunch with them.”

  “Nah, Phin doesn’t need too many witnesses to his graveling. I can take you.” With a wave they left their group of friends who were already buys arguing over where to eat. When they were far enough away that no one would see them, Alex slipped his hand into hers. “I didn’t actually drive but I can call a cab if you are too tired to walk.”

  “That would be great my feet hurt.” She squeezed his hand.

  A few minutes later the cab they had called pulled in front of their building. He paid and helped her out. Once they were in the elevator he spoke again. “So this shower you are in need of, is this a private shower or do you need help washing your back?”

  Biting her lower lip a little, she stepped into his space. “Oh I think I am going need some help.” She barely finished the sentence before his lips met hers.

  ~*~*~*~

  After a quick shower to rinse the sweat and dirt from her body, which Alex was so willing to help her with, they decided to take a bath together to relax. She sat in his massive bathtub, laying with her back to his front. Her head rolled back as he rubbed her shoulder. “Mmm that feels good.”

  Kissing her hair he rubbed her shoulders a little harder. “When we get out of the bath, I’ll rub your feet and then tuck you into bed for a much earned nap. How does that sound?”

  “The nap sounds great, but you can skip the foot rub. My feet are nasty.” She made a face of disgust.

  He kissed her shoulder and neck. “Not possible. You are perfect in every way. Plus, I don’t remember your feet being nasty last time I gave you a foot rub.”

  Her mind was starting to fade a little with his hands and lips on her body. Somehow she managed to respond to him. “That was before I started running marathons, now I have runner’s feet, which means dried, cracked feet that have blisters and cuts. Not something you need to be touching.”

  Feeling his mouth turn to a grin on her skin, he suddenly moved with speed that made the water slosh over the side of the tub, he went for her feet. “No.” Izzy screeched, tucking her feet under her naked ass.

  “Come on I have seen every inch of you, let me see your feet. I bet they aren’t as bad as you say they are.” The look on his face was one of playful innocence and warmed her heart.

  “Nope, every girl has a part of her body she hates, mine are my feet. Don’t make me drawn you in your own tub.” She threatened.

  He stood picking her up and throwing her over his shoulder, as he often did. Playfully he slapped her ass. “I will see your feet.” Suddenly she was dropped onto his bed and was grabbing at her legs. She kicked and giggled, but she was no match for his determination. In a few moves he pinned her and was examining her feet. “Ick! You don’t need a foot massage you need a pedicure. Get dressed.” Again he playfully slapped her ass.

  “No nail technician deserve to have to touch my feet.” She pouted.

  Ignoring her, Alex grabbed his phone calling the spa he must normally have his pedicures done at to make an appointment for both of them to get pedicures. “You better be dressed in ten minutes or I will carry you out of this place butt naked.” He playfully called out as he grabbed his clothes from the closet.

  Knowing he would make good on his threat, Izzy hurried to dress in the allotted time. Twenty minutes later, they were sitting side by side in pedicure chairs at a very pricey spa in Cherry Creek.

  “Where’s your mom today Alex?” The nail technician asked him as she started to work on his feet.

  “At home, or torturing my Dad by taking him antique shopping.”

  Izzy’s nail technician took one look at her feet, put down the small pumice stone and grabbed a harsh looking file. She felt sorry for the woman. “How often do you and your mom come here?” Izzy said, flinching a little as the woman working on her feet roughly dragged the file across her foot.

  “Oh Alex and Mrs. Porter are here once a month. Have been coming for years. Such a good boy to spend time with his mother like that. This is the first time he has brought anyone else. Is your mom going to be mad you didn’t call her?” The nail technician massaging Alex’s feet answered for him.

  “Mom will be fine, she will be happy I brought Izz
y. Now the deal is I’ll treat for this but you can’t tell the guys I do this.” He shot Izzy a look that was far too serious, so she laughed.

  “Right wouldn’t want your man card to be taken away.”

  “Damn right!”

  For a few minutes they simply sat there in silence and allowed the women to work their magic on their feet. She had to admit this was a great idea. “Thanks Alex, this is great.” She pulled his hand into hers.

  “After this we will go get some dinner.”

  “We better check in with Phin, make sure the girls left him alive.” She joked.

  “Oh, trust me I’m sure he is just fine.”

  “Why did you say it like that?” Her brows scrunched together in confusion.

  “I just think as long as Jemma is around he will be just fine. She may kick his ass a little for being an overt asshole, but in the end she won’t let Gracey kill him.”

  “Jemma and Phin, really?”

  “Watch them together sometime. They may play the ‘we are like brother and sister’ bullshit, but I think there is something there.” He shrugged.

  Izzy dumbfounded at his insight, thought back over the past few times they had all been together. Every time, Phin and Jemma had arrived together, joked about picking up other people but ultimately left together. Although, she knew for a fact that Phin had been hooking up with random women on the sly.

  “Now that you mention it, I can see them together.” Her female mind started working overtime on how to make that happen.

  A squeeze of her hand brought her attention away from her plotting to Alex. “Don’t.”

  “Don’t what?” She blinked, trying to pull off innocence.

  “I know that look, you’re plotting. This time instead of plotting my murder, which I thank you for, you are plotting on how to get the two of them together. Stay out of it, let them find each other.” He implored her.

  “Fine. For now.”

  “Fine, back to us. With Roni and Derek gone, that mean two less people to hide from. Which means we can go out on the town.”