“I was contacted a month ago by someone in Alexandria and was offered a position with the CIA.”
“Shut the hell up,” Jen whispered, eyes wide.
“Oh my God,” Charlotte said at the same time. “That’s amazing.”
“That is so badass.” Jen’s expression was one of pure admiration.
Alex laughed. “It sounds badass. But remember, I look at maps.”
“Yeah, badass top-secret maps.”
Charlotte gave Jen a silly look.
“What?” Jen asked. “Am I right?”
“You’re sort of right. It does require a security clearance.”
“See?” Jen pointed at Charlotte. “I watch Homeland. I know about this stuff.”
They all stopped chatting while their food was delivered, but as soon as the server walked away, Charlotte was back on the case. “So, are you interested in this job?” she asked.
“I’ve already accepted. That’s the secret,” Alex said.
Charlotte’s eyes went wide. “Oh. Wow.”
“I know Dean is going to freak, but … sometimes—although losing Nate was the worst thing that’s ever happened to me, even worse than losing my parents in a lot of ways—I kind of feel like I have gotten a second chance. You know?” She looked up at the other two women who’d gone quiet. “Before, we’d had to discuss everything. Compromise. Even fight sometimes. We’d wanted to have a family, and that meant a normal life. And I’d wanted that, don’t get me wrong. But now … it’s like, I can do anything. Be anything. I know that sounds selfish.” Alex shook her head, suddenly feeling frustrated and confused.
Charlotte put up a hand. “Stop right there. It doesn’t sound selfish at all. You’re right. This is a chance to take another path. And as for Dean, this is your life, Alexis. It will take him a minute. You’re right. But he’ll be fine. Besides, how awesome to have a sister-in-law in the CIA.”
They all laughed at that, and at Charlotte’s prodding, Alex began to fill them in on the details, telling them about her interview and the timeframe. It felt good to get it out there. Share it with some friends.
“Okay, so you leave for Virginia in early November. Correct?” Jen asked when they were wrapping up lunch.
Alex nodded. “I’ll probably need to go sometime in September to find an apartment.”
“It’s not even August yet. You should just work the front desk for a couple of months,” Jen said. “Make some extra cash. It would give you something to do while they look for my replacement.”
Alex considered that. It wasn’t a horrible idea, but she’d kind of wanted to relax. Maybe do a little traveling. Then again, her entire mode of survival for the past year had been to keep busy. Maybe her lack of activity had been why she’d felt a little depressed this past week. She’d thought of Nate much more than she had in a while. It had felt like a bit of a backslide. “Yeah, maybe. When do you move your office?” she asked Jen.
“Not for a few weeks. TJ and I are going to start working on it this weekend.”
“I’ll think about it,” she said, before giving Charlotte a pointed glance. “Remember, not a word. I’ll tell Dean about my new job tonight.”
* * *
Jake took the towel he’d been using to dry the Stag Wagon and tossed it into his yard. All morning he’d been busy working. First cleaning out the inside of the RV and then driving it over to the extra-large car-wash bay on the edge of town. He was exhausted, hot, and starving. And according to his overly worried geriatric neighbor who’d brought him out a glass of tea a half hour ago, he was sunburned from working shirtless for the past two hours.
Next up, he needed to wax the giant diesel pickup that the fifth wheel was hitched to. Not his favorite thing to do, but hell, none of this was his favorite. Especially when he was feeling so pissed off.
So far over the past twenty-four hours he’d ignored eight phone calls, a dozen texts, and even an email from his fellow co-owners—and supposed friends. He’d get back to them when he was good and ready. And not so damn hurt. And ashamed. And pissed off.
The conversation had come at exactly the wrong time, because his insecurities with his role at the Stag had been at an all-time high. Also, the fact that he knew that TJ was sort of right had made it even worse to hear. But at the same time, screw that Amanda woman for thinking she had the right to call him out. She’d flirted with him the first time they met. Wasn’t even subtle about it, and he hadn’t taken the bait, so this felt a little like revenge. She was probably smug as hell when she’d made the phone call to TJ to tell on him.
But it didn’t change the fact that deep down, he’d known it wasn’t the best idea to sleep with women he met while on tour. That shit always got out. But hell, he was always alone, at events where people were having a good time, and surrounded by available ladies. Only a monk could have resisted, and even he’d have struggled.
Jake put his hands on his hips and stared at the front of the pickup. Jerking his head to the right, he gazed at his neighbor’s window. Were the curtains moving? He turned away and grinned. Mrs. Curtis was a dirty old lady.
He sighed, recalling what a shitty day he was having. Although he’d threatened to leave the Stag the day before, TJ and Dean would have to buy his ass out before that happened. He’d been trying to prove his worth to them for the past six years. He wasn’t about to stop now. Thursday, he’d leave on the late summer festival tour and he would be damned if he didn’t kill it with sales and new contracts. There was no doubt that these trips had contributed to their success. Purchasing the RV and the truck and doing these tours had been his idea. The guys had been on board and had never questioned him since, but TJ had also never bothered to crunch the numbers and announce how effective they’d been, even though Jake was certain that the data would prove his worth.
“If you set out a tip jar, you’d be rich by the end of the day.” A sweet feminine voice called out behind him. Jake turned to find Alex getting out of Charlotte’s car at the edge of the cul-de-sac his duplex was on.
“Didn’t even hear you pull up. What are you doing here?” he asked, feeling a smile creep up on his face.
“Came to check on you,” she said, walking toward him.
He forced his eye on her sunglasses, far away from her legs, which were on full display in those shorts she had on. “Were you sent as the sacrifice, or maybe pulled the short straw?”
“None of those things, considering no one knows I’m here.” She stepped up to him, and even behind dark lenses he could tell her eyes had gone sympathetic. “But I did hear what happened. I’m sorry.”
He shrugged. “No big deal. Obviously, I had it coming.”
Her head tilted to the side and she mirrored his crossed arms. “Don’t say that.”
She was wearing a tank top, revealing firm and shapely little biceps. He reached out and squeezed one. “Damn, girl. You in the Army or something?”
Laughing, she swatted his hand away. “Don’t change the subject.” Her face tilted, eyes running down his body. “Besides, you’re the one standing out here showing off your six-pack for the neighborhood.”
He put a hand on his stomach and nodded slightly toward the duplex. “Charity. I do it for little old Mrs. Curtis. In fact, don’t look now, but I betcha she’s watching.”
Alex bit back a laugh, her bottom lip tucked under her teeth. She hesitated a second and then nonchalantly glanced over and then jerked her head back grinning. “Oh my God. She is.”
“Told ya.” He flexed his arms. “A purely selfless act.”
She shook her head. “Show me this Stag Wagon.”
“All right but be careful. Word on the street is that women are not safe in here,” he said, turning and heading for the door.
“Whatever,” she said behind him. “I’m always safe with you.”
Her words surprised—and pleased—him. He wanted her to feel that way, because he cared about Alex a lot. Probably more than he had any woman outside his ow
n family. A shock, considering it was a purely platonic relationship.
They stepped up into the RV and he held out his arms. “This is the main room.”
She walked in and took her sunglasses off, eyes darting over the light tiled floors, blonde cabinetry, and ivory vinyl seating. Jake knew it was slightly dated, but it was clean and well maintained.
“It’s nice,” she said, walking into the galley kitchen area. “Roomier than I thought.”
“Yeah, it’s not bad. I’ve even been known to cook in here.”
“I’m impressed.” She opened a cabinet that contained a big canister of protein powder. She turned and gave him an eyebrow raise.
“Can’t let myself go just because I’m on the road.” He nodded in the direction of the house. “Mrs. Curtis is counting on me.”
She laughed. “Of course.” The next cabinet she opened contained the three packages of cookies and two bags of chips he’d bought for the trip. When she looked over her shoulder again, he just grinned.
“What can I say? I believe in living a balanced life.”
“Makes sense.”
He lifted his chin toward the back of the RV. “Don’t forget the master suite.”
“Of course not.” She took the very few steps to the far end and peeked into the pocket door that led into the bedroom.
“Wow,” she said, walking in. Jake followed her in just in time to see her flop onto the bed. “This is better than I expected.”
“Not too shabby, huh?”
Dipping her chin, she looked at him. “Maybe I should buy an RV. This is great.” Rolling over, she looked the back wall up and down where there were cabinets across the top of the bed and then down each side. “Who’d have thought there’d be so much storage?”
“Yeah and most of those are empty or just holding Stag stuff.”
She rolled back over and sat up, crossing her legs. Her perfectly toned, sexy legs. Look. Away.
“What do you do in here when you’re not working?” She asked. Before he answered, she put up a hand. “Except for … you know.”
He laughed. “Honestly, I read.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” she said. And it shouldn’t. They’d messaged before about the books they liked and both of them were fans of suspense.
She glanced around again, then back at him. “When are you leaving?”
“Thursday.”
Her eyes widened. “This Thursday? Like, in two days?”
He nodded, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorframe.
“I’m kind of jealous.”
“Don’t be. I work hard and obviously now I’m not allowed to have any fun.” He hoped that hadn’t come out sounding too bitter.
“Let me come with you,” she said, shocking him.
He chuckled. “Uh huh. Sure.”
“I mean it.”
He widened his eyes. “Alex, are you serious?”
She shrugged. “I have nothing else to do and I told you once how much I wanted to travel during my off time. Besides, I’m sick of being at Dean and Charlotte’s. He may even kick me out tonight after I tell him I’m moving to Virginia.”
“Not a chance,” Jake said.
“Okay, you’re right. He would never do that. But still, let me come, because I’ve been depressed since I came back. The past few days I’ve felt almost like I was regressing through the stages of grief. I need a distraction.” She let her shoulders slump and tilted her head to the side.
He matched her head tilt and raised an eyebrow. “Are you using my concern for your emotional well-being to manipulate me?”
She gave an exaggerated grimace. “Is it working?”
He sighed and sat down on the foot of the bed, halfway facing her. “Alex, I’ll be gone for nearly two weeks.”
“So what? I was just gone for a year. I can certainly handle a couple of weeks.”
How was he going to talk her out of this idea? A better question was whether he wanted to? Maybe this was what he needed. A friend to keep him company while he traveled. Someone to help with the work. That actually didn’t sound too bad. Things could get crazy, hauling boxes of product, setting up and taking down. Never mind the lonely drives. Podcasts and audiobooks got old fast. And yet, Dean would have a fit.
Right now, though, Jake was struggling to care about Dean’s feelings on the matter. Alex was his friend. She wanted to come. And if he was honest, he liked the idea. Maybe a little too much, but after what had just gone down yesterday with TJ, he’d be damned if he laid a finger on any woman on the Stag’s dime. Not now, and definitely not Dean’s little sister. Besides, he knew better than anyone that she still wasn’t fully over Nate. As hard as she tried to project otherwise.
Over the past year he’d come to realize that Alexis Parker was one of the strongest people he’d ever known. Her determination to overcome, to keep moving forward, and at the same time to look out for those around her was incredibly admirable. And appealing. He liked talking to her. Liked that she didn’t push but was always willing to listen.
Today was a perfect example of her compassion. His friends had blown up his phone in every way possible. Alex had gotten in her car and driven over to check on him. And although her concern got him right in the chest—among other places—he knew that he needed to keep this on the up-and-up. That being said …
“Okay. If you want to come … I think you should.”
Her mouth dropped open and then slid into a grin. “Really?”
“Really. But you better be ready to work your little army ass off. This is no senior road trip.”
She sat up straight and gave him a salute, which was just about the hottest thing he’d ever seen because it was obvious she’d done it a million times. “You’re pretty good at that. Looks like you almost got it down.”
Rolling her eyes, she leaned over and slapped at his bare arm, except he jumped off the bed and dodged her. They were both laughing as they stepped out of the RV and as he walked her to the car.
“So we leave Thursday,” she said, turning to look at him as she opened the car door.
“Yeah. Early. Are you really sure you want to do this, Alex?”
“Yes, really. In fact, the more I think about it, the more excited I get. It’ll be fun.” She gave him a serious look. “Now, when are you going to go talk with the other guys?”
He sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Not sure. I’ll text TJ today just to let him know I still plan on going Thursday.”
“Okay. Good. Should I bring anything specific?”
He shook his head. “Nah. I’ll grab you some Stag shirts to wear when needed. But other than that, just some comfortable clothes. Maybe a couple of nicer things. I do some restaurant and bar visits, and one day is a liquor convention.”
“Huh. Okay.” She bit at her lip, looking concerned. “I should probably go shopping.”
“Don’t stress about it. I can always do those things alone if needed.”
“No, no. If I’m going to come I’m going to be an asset. It’s fine. I needed some things anyway.”
“Okay,” he said.
She put one foot in the car to go and then hesitated, looking up at him. “Listen, I don’t know everything that TJ said, but don’t let it get you down. I think he and Dean both can be a little uptight. Still, none of it’s worth you guys arguing, and for what it’s worth, according to Jen he’s pretty upset about how it went down.”
Jake sighed. That made two of them. “Thanks,” he said.
She smiled, put her sunglasses on, and then nodded toward the duplex. “Also, you should probably flex. Your number-one fan is watching.”
With a big grin, she got in and he watched her drive away.
Four
Alex squared her shoulders and repeated herself. “I’ve accepted a position in Alexandria, Virginia. With the CIA.”
She wished she could read the look on Dean’s face, but it was one she’d never seen before. There was definitely shock, poss
ibly mixed with disbelief.
He leaned forward on the sofa, hands together and elbows resting on his knees. “How long have you known about this?”
“I was approached about the possibility a few months ago. I visited and interviewed last week before I came home.”
Dean’s eyes shot open. “You’ve already been there?”
“Just for a day. One night. Then I flew home and Jake picked me up.”
“Did Jake know about you accepting this job?”
Alex sighed and gave Dean a long look. “He did, but I obviously wanted to be the one to tell you.”
Dean’s brow furrowed. “What’s up with you and Jake talking so much lately?”
“We’ve become friends. No big deal. We’ve been messaging for the past year.”
“What?” Dean asked, sitting up.
Charlotte—who’d been sitting beside him the entire time—gave his thigh a gentle squeeze. “Don’t get loud. Alex is a grown woman. And Jake is your friend.”
Dean scowled over at her. “I know that. I’m just … surprised.” He looked back at Alex. “Why didn’t you tell me that?”
She shrugged. Good question. “I don’t know. It happened slowly. He was so kind to me the night of the uncasking. Listened to me when I talked. That’s why I like him—he’s a good listener, and he doesn’t try and tell me what to do.”
Dean’s expression made it clear that comment had hurt.
“And this.” She held a hand out toward her brother. “I didn’t want to hurt your feelings. You and I are super close, Dean. But you’re still my brother. You want to fix things and you hate for me to be sad. Jake was a connection home, but also someone who just let me feel how I needed to feel.”
“I always let you feel how you need to feel,” he said defensively. Charlotte touched his leg again but this time in support, which made Alex feel bad. “I’ve done everything I can for you, Alex. Your entire life.”
“I know! And that’s part of the problem. I’m an adult and yet you still feel responsible for me. Especially now that I’ve lost Nate. I know you do. I’ve always had you or him. But it’s been good for me to figure out how to find my own way. Not only as an adult, but as a woman who is now on her own in the world.”
Maybe for You--A Whiskey and Weddings Novel Page 5