Once I hit the 1500 block I started to run again and the salty ocean air whipped around me. My lungs burned, as I pushed myself the last few blocks. I slowed my stride as I came upon the home interiors store on the 1200 block corner. And then my eyes lit up at the sight of the space. It was perfect, two huge windows and the storefront was white, which I loved even more. Envisioning a plan, I paced around the front of the empty building. I could have this place up and running in four to six weeks, depending on renovations.
Panic crept in slowly and I rubbed at the pain in my chest. Dad had mentioned something to me earlier this year about looking at places in the Hamptons, but I really wanted to be in the city. If I had my space here, I’d have to live here and I was pretty positive the price range was higher than Manhattan. That was all dependent upon whether or not I decided to stay in the States. Taking a deep breath, I decided not to hit the freak out button. First, I’d need to run the numbers and then go over a pros and cons list. One definite pro was that the store in London was doing well and Bianca had everything under control.
My visa was up in five months, I honestly thought I’d have a better handle on this situation by now. Ronan said I could always file an extension if I needed more time here. More time was needed because I’d been putting more energy into my personal life than my professional one. Perhaps, I’m overthinking it all.
How would Alex feel about me setting up shop here in The Harbour? I pivoted on my heel and crossed the busy street to begin my jog back to his house. What were his future plans? What would happen to us if I didn’t stay here? All of this might have been premature thinking on my part. Why was I even considering Alex in the decisions about my boutique?
My phone buzzed, alerting me to a text.
Alex: Coming home in an hour. I have a surprise for you.
Reading the message, my heart skipped a beat and a smile stretched wide across my face. Was it possible I was considering Alex in my life decisions because I wanted to? I kicked up and ran faster than I ever had in my entire life.
After my shower, Rita insisted making me breakfast. I explained my dietary restrictions to her and she told me that it was not a problem. Turns out her youngest son was allergic to everything—dairy, wheat, nuts, and shellfish. I asked her to join me for a cup of coffee, but she declined and offered a raincheck. Once Rita finished with her work she said goodbye and hurried out the door.
After she left, I grabbed one of my favorite gossip magazines and walked out to the pool. I know I should hate the tabloids, but that’s my vice. I plopped down on one of the blue and white day loungers, soaking up more sun. I’d never felt so relaxed in my life, it was almost as if I was on holiday. I was beginning to understand why Alex loved it out here. It was very calming, especially being near the ocean.
I flipped through the glossy pages, skipping over all the ongoing Kardashian drama. My eyes landed on a story about my brother and Holliday on their way to a breakup. Rubbish. Skimming a few more pages, I came upon ad for Nadia’s Dream featuring Gigi Ellis, my favorite actress. She inspired me to try modeling while at university, unfortunately Ronan got all the talent in that area.
“Honey, I’m home.” I heard Alex call out.
I leapt to my feet, and jogged inside. Seeing him in his dark jeans and a faded New York t-shirt sent my blood pumping and fire sizzling through my veins. I jumped into his arms, pulling his mouth to mine for a wet needy kiss, I devoured him.
He nipped at my bottom lip. “I missed you, too.”
I slid down his body and leaned against the counter. “So where is this surprise?” I asked, wiggling my eyebrows.
He reached into his back pocket and then placed two items into my hands: tickets to a baseball game, New York versus Boston.
“We’re going to a baseball game?”
“Yes, remember the other day when you said you wanted to do something truly American?”
“I recall saying something like that.”
“Well, you said it and I am here to grant that request,” he said, before slapping a ball cap on my head.
“Oh, wow, but what if I wanted to cheer for Boston?” I shot him a sideways glance and tapped the tickets in the palm of my hand. Of course, I was just giving him a hard time.
His brows scrunched together, and pulled the tickets from my hand. “No way, we root for New York, unless they’re playing Chicago, then it’s always Chicago. Oh, one more thing, here is your official game day shirt.” Alex tossed a navy t-shirt in my direction.
I shook my head and stared at my shirt. “Thank you so much, but I have a confession. I don’t know much about the sport of baseball. I promise not to be annoying, but you might have to explain a few things to me.”
He rubbed my shoulders, smoothing his hands up and down my arms. “I’ll help you and I don’t mind at all,” he reassured, laying my uncertainty to rest.
“All right, take me out to the ball game,” I said, stripping off my shirt and then pulling on the one Alex brought me.
We left the house and Alex didn’t drive towards Manhattan, he began driving in the opposite direction.
“I know I haven’t been here all that long, but you know the city is that way.”
He laughed and flicked the turn signal and we started driving along Bay Shore Drive.
“You’re very observant. We’re going to the airport, because we’re flying to the city.”
“Are you serious?”
“I told you that I was a frequent flyer.”
He pressed his finger against the screen for the music and “Kiss Me” by Olly Murs drifted through his Range Rover.
I looked around for any police cars. There were hardly any cars on this stretch of road. Bravely, I unhooked my seat belt and leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. He took my hand in his, bringing the back to his mouth and peppering my knuckles with soft kisses.
“So how was your morning?” He turned down the volume on the radio, glancing at me.
“It was good. I went for a run and well . . . I sort of stumbled upon an empty storefront shop on Harbour Drive. It’s for rent and I had some thoughts about setting up my shop.”
My shoulders tensed and I finished the last part of my sentence. I didn’t want Alex to think I was a psycho for possibly working and living near him.
“Really?” His hand reached for the console and he pulled out a magazine. “That’s ironic because I picked this up for you at the coffee shop this morning. Rita had mentioned something about one of her favorite stores in the square going out of business and it got me thinking.”
I took the magazine from his hand, noting it was the same one that I had picked up at the market. I smiled as I traced the front cover with my fingertips.
“This is very thoughtful. I guess you and I are on the same wavelength.”
“It appears that way. Maybe you should consider putting some roots down here instead of the city.”
I felt a smile tugging at my face and my heart skipped a beat. Once we parked at the East Hampton Airport, Alex opened my door and took my hand as we walked inside. A thousand thoughts were swimming through my mind. I wondered what he was thinking. We needed to talk obviously, there were some bigger issues lingering.
As we walked outside across the tarmac to the plane, I decided it was time to lay my cards on the table, and possibly my heart. It needed to be done before we fell any deeper into whatever this was between us. I don’t know why I was so nervous, talking with Alex had always been easy. It felt as natural as breathing.
The captain greeted Alex and me before we climbed the stairs. Our flight attendant, Joni, greeted us as we took our seats. The last time I was on a private jet I had been with David. It was only days after we’d come home from that trip in Tenerife that he was arrested on suspicion of sexual activity with a fifteen-year-old girl.
I leaned my head back against one of the large, white plush chairs and Alex sat to the right of me. After Joni brought our drinks, Alex told her to check on us in about twenty
minutes.
“You okay?” Alex caressed my arm, capturing my attention.
“What are your plans for the future?” I blurted without hesitation.
His eyes grew wide. “That’s a question out of left field.”
“Well, we are going to a ball game, it seems appropriate.”
Alex chuckled and it made me smile. “Let’s see, I’d like to expand my business. My plan is to have an office in Manhattan, but I could also see working with clients in The Harbour.”
“Yeah, and I won’t need a bodyguard forever.”
His jaw was tight, and he took a deep breath. Despite the serious expression, his gorgeous eyes remained soft. “You should know that I sometimes work with the military.”
My heart pounded in my chest. “On missions, as in dangerous situations?”
“No, I have a team of men who volunteer for the missions. I don’t usually go.”
“Usually?” For some odd reason, my eyes filled with tears, threatening to carve a path down my cheeks, but I managed to hold them off.
The captain came over the speaker instructing us to buckle our seat belts, since we had been cleared for takeoff. The vibrations from the plane raced through me as my hands gripped the armrest. My question hung in the air, much like the clouds in the blue sky we were now soaring between.
His hand sought mine across the console, fingers intertwining before pulling them to rest on his lap. “I haven’t been on a mission in years, but if I am needed, I would have to go. I hope that puts your mind at ease.”
I couldn’t say I liked the idea of Alex, or anyone for that matter, going into dangerous places. Nabila’s dad had been a pilot in the Royal Air Force. He was killed during a training exercise in Wales. Despite her devastation from losing her father, Nabila said he died serving his country, a country he loved as much as his own family.
“I think it takes a very brave person to fight for their country—honorable. I can’t imagine what that must feel like to give so much, to defend and to save so many people’s lives.”
He didn’t say anything, he didn’t need to. Over the past few weeks, I’d become quite familiar with Alex’s mannerisms. From the way he expelled a deep breath and rubbed his index finger over his mouth, I knew he was thinking about something emotionally painful. He’d done that same thing when he spoke about his affair with Amanda.
I opened my mouth to speak, but Joni breezed through and asked if we like more to drink. We ordered another round of drinks just before the captain announced we would be arriving at the airport soon and we should buckle up. I was hoping I hadn’t said something that would put a damper on this day.
Alex reached for my hand, squeezing tight. “Are you ready to experience your first major league baseball game?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
FORTY MINUTES LATER WE pulled up to the stadium. The ride from the airport had been mostly quiet and that was my fault. Bringing up my time in the military isn’t without its dark reminders. The duration of the flight my mind went back to all the people we couldn’t save, including Sasha.
The guilt still chewed away at me, even after years of therapy. Where my therapist had told me I had nothing to feel guilty about. The final mission was her final day on this Earth. I tried to persuade her from going, but she insisted. And once Sasha made up her mind, there was no talking her out of it. But that doesn’t mean I couldn’t have ordered her to stay, I was her superior after all. I allowed her to be put in a dangerous situation and it ultimately got her killed. I’m sure she was cursing me from Heaven right now, yelling that it was her damn decision to be a part of the mission.
It had been a few weeks since I’d thought about Sasha at all. Eight years later, her death still weighed heavy on my mind. Guilt washed over me for two reasons. One, for thinking about Sasha when I was here with the woman who had consumed my every waking thought since I’d met her and two, because I wondered if one day I would forget Sasha entirely. I had loved her once and I didn’t like the thought of losing the memories I had.
Is this normal to feel this way?
Once we exited the limo, I took Ella’s hand in mine. I watched her entire face light up as she took in the view of the stadium. Warmth crept back into my chest and the iciness that momentarily gripped my heart melted away.
“Wow.” She stood outside Gate Four with her hands on her hips and shook her head. “It’s simply amazing.”
“Come on, this way.”
Immediately, my old friend, Cole Simmons, greeted us. During summer breaks he worked at my family’s shipping company. He stayed with the company for many years, working his way up to the executive level. Now, Cole worked for the team, which was how I was able to get us the tickets for this afternoon’s game.
“Cole,” I said, gripping his hand. “Thanks for getting us these tickets today.”
“It’s no trouble, anything for an old friend.”
After introducing Ella to Cole, he took us on a tour through the Hall of Champions and down to the field where we met a few of the coaches and players. Then Cole had arranged for Ella and me to hit a few balls with their all-star pitchers, Daniels and Griggs.
Daniels was getting a little too handsy with Ella, putting his arm around her trying to show her how to swing the bat. She wasn’t stupid. I’m sure she got it after the first demonstration. It took everything in me not to stalk towards them in complete caveman style.
Ella. Mine. Fuck you.
I didn’t care if he was a professional athlete; I’d have no problem laying him the fuck out right here on the field in front of his teammates. Maybe I should take it as a compliment. After all, she looked sexy with her t-shirt knotted up, showing just a bit of her stomach, and those long legs on full display in her shorts.
On her fifth try, Ella swung the bat, driving the ball right down the middle of the field. My second swing hit high and right, lucky for me it was a fair play.
Once fans started to fill the seats, Cole escorted us to the Club Level where the luxury executive suites were located. We walked into the Champions Club Suite, where the team’s two World Championship trophies were on display in a large glass case. Retired jerseys of some of the greatest players in baseball hung on the walls in large frames. The view of the field was incredible, including the Manhattan skyline in the backdrop. It seemed as if every part of the stadium was visible.
“Wow, this place is incredible,” Ella remarked, as she stepped farther into the suite. “A private bathroom, a full bar and look at these beautiful chairs. This place is bigger than my flat in London.”
“Listen, I have to get going, but you two enjoy the game,” Cole said sidestepping around the bar to shake my hand once more.
“In here? We’re watching a baseball game from in here?” Ella asked, her voice cracking with excitement.
He nodded, and then pulled the door open. “Nice to have met you, Ella.”
“You as well, Cole.”
“Catering should be here in about thirty minutes, before the game starts, to set up and all your dietary requests have been met.”
“Thanks, buddy, take care,” I said, slapping my hand to his shoulder.
Once the door closed, I pulled Ella into my arms. “If you were a baseball and I was a bat, would you let me hit that?” My hands grabbed her ass and squeezed.
“Oh no, you did not just say that.” She pushed away from me and shook her head.
“That pickup line wouldn’t work on you?”
She just laughed, and walked around to the bar. “Do those not so subtle sexually charged lines ever really work?”
I shrugged and joined her behind the bar as she made a vodka soda. When she finished, she poured a scotch for me. We took a seat at the bar table in the middle of the room and I flipped on the flat screen to listen to the pre-game coverage.
“What’s the worst pickup line you’ve heard?” she asked, before taking a drink.
I laughed. “Nice package, let me unwrap it for you.”<
br />
“No way, some girl actually said that to you?”
“Yeah, but in her defense, she was really hammered. What about you?”
“This one is so gross. A guy walked up to me in a pub, he grabbed my hand, and placed it on his cock and then said, ‘I made a protein shake and the straw is in my pants.’”
“I hope you punched him.”
“I did better than that.” She cocked an eyebrow. “My hand was still on his dick so I squeezed it and his balls—hard. I told him to never fucking say that to any woman ever again.”
Cringing, I felt pain shoot through my own dick and balls. “Ouch, on behalf of men’s balls everywhere, I want to say he didn’t deserve that, but he definitely did.”
“Absolutely, a total wanker, and I was sure that Nabila was going to scratch his eyes out,” she said through a laugh. “What’s the lamest line you’ve heard?”
That was a no brainer. “Hey, you work out?”
“That’s it?” she asked, shaking her head.
“Yep,” I replied, tossing back the rest of my scotch. “She said that right before puking on my shoes.”
“Poor girl, she was so nervous you made her vomit.”
“I don’t think it was me that made her vomit.” I rolled up to my feet and walked to the bar, filling up my glass with more scotch. “Okay, your turn, lamest pick up line.”
“Great legs, what time do they open?”
I shook my head. Hearing this, I couldn’t help but feel that the male species was a complete disappointment. Ella came around the bar and poured herself another drink. There was a knock on the door. I pulled it open to find the catering staff with four carts of food. Damn, Cole hooked us up.
After they left, Ella and I helped ourselves to the food. All items that were gluten-free were appropriately labeled. Everything looked and smelled delicious, from the chicken tenders, to the truffle fries and the mini bacon cheeseburgers.
Bound to Me (The Harbour Series Book 1) Page 11