Divorced, Free, and Single

by Rosemary Lynch

  “Yes, Elizabeth,” Jane replied, moving closer to her.

  “Have you asked her yet?” his mother asked.

  “Asked me what?” she asked.

  “No, mother, not yet. I will, I promise.” He looked at her.

  “I will tell you later, okay,” he said, smiling at her. She looked at his mother and then back at him.

  “Okay,” she replied, although she had no idea what he was going to ask.

  “Mum, what were you doing, why did this happen, did you go to your appointment on Thursday?” he asked, sitting on the edge of her bed. She shrugged, not wishing to say.

  “Mum?” he pushed. Jane placed a hand on his shoulder and shook her head.

  “Alex, she is tired, let her rest, perhaps Joe knows.” He gave a nod.

  “Mum, I will see you in the morning, Joe wants to come in, and they only gave us ten minutes with you.” He leaned and kissed her cheek.

  “I love you,” he said, stroking her hair with the back of his fingers.

  “I love you too,” she said. Then she looked at him and frowned. “Ask her Alex, life is too short to fuck about.”

  Jane took a startled step back at her language, and then stared at Alex, what was it he was going to ask her.

  “Mum, seriously and you tell me off for swearing.” She laughed and waved her hand, shooing him away.

  “We will see you this afternoon,” he said, with a chuckle, and he kissed her cheek.

  They left the room and Uncle Joe and Tom went in for a few minutes. As they sat in the waiting room, she looked at him.

  “So what on earth is she going on about?” she asked. He looked at her and smiled relief clearly on his face that his mother was going to make it.

  “I will tell you, but not here, okay. It is nothing to be concerned about, I promise,” he said, and kissed her. Her heart did a flip as his tongue entwined with hers. Sod the not getting involved, and have fun being single rule. She guessed Sophie was right and she was a one-man kind of woman.

  “I need to have a word with Richard,” he said, and he stood up and walked over to him. He gave the man a hug, and patted his back. Then they had a long conversation for a few minutes, in which Richard wrote various things in his notebook. He smiled at Richard and gave him a nod.

  “What was that all about?” she asked. He shook his head and tapped her nose.

  “Nothing,” he said, and he pulled his arm around her and drew her into his chest.

  “Oh shit,” he said, pulling his arm back and looking at his watch.

  “What?” she asked.

  “It is eight, we were supposed to meet Jackson for breakfast,” he said. She sighed.

  “It’s okay I rang him and told him what was going on. I said I would text him when we knew how your mum was.”

  “Still the efficient PA, eh!” he chuckled.

  “Yep, well if you won’t let me quit that is.”

  “No you are not quitting on me, I have only just found you,” he said, nuzzling into her face. “Actually do you have my diary on that thingy of yours?”

  “You mean my electronic diary with your meetings on it?” she said, lifting an eyebrow.

  “Yeah,” he laughed. She took it out of her bag and held it out to him.

  “Yes, why?” she asked.

  “Can you cancel everything for two weeks, for me and you?”

  “Me?”

  “Yes, I know it is a bit of cheek to ask, but can you come and stay at the manor, for a while?”

  “Well,” she said, she wanted too, most definitely, if it meant spending time with him. “I will need to a change of clothes and stuff,” she said. He smiled.

  “Okay. I will drive you back to pick them up.”

  “Okay then,” she agreed. His chest rose and fell and he flung his arms around her.

  “Great,” he whispered.

  “I will text Michael and Jack. Oh, Jack, he will be home next week, and I haven’t seen him for weeks,” she said, frowning.

  “What if he came for a few days?” Alex suggested.

  “Is that okay? I mean, what about Elizabeth?”

  “Mum would love the company, besides the house is massive. It is not as if he is a two year old and going to be running around screaming his head off and keeping her awake.” She laughed.

  “Okay, what shall I say?” she asked.

  “What do you mean, say?”

  “Well, do I just tell him I am staying at my boss’s house for the couple of weeks, and would he like to come for a visit?”

  Alex lifted a hand to her face and pawed her cheek with his thumb.

  “Well – you could say, you are spending a couple of weeks at your boyfriend’s, and would he like to come down and meet him – if you want to be, that is – my girlfriend?”

  “I’d love to be your girlfriend,” she whispered, her eyes gazing into his.

  “I’ll do it now,” she said, pulling out her phone. “When can we go up to get my stuff?”

  “Well, mum’s going to be in for a few days.”

  “Shall we go tomorrow and get it over with?” she suggested.

  “Okay,” he agreed. She nodded and began to text.

  “Jack, Michael, I had to fly back from Scotland as Alex’s mum had a heart attack. I am going to be staying at his house in Devon for a couple of weeks. Jack, Alex has asked if you would like to come for a few days so that I can see you before you go back to Uni, Michael you too if you want. I’d like you to meet him, as he is my boyfriend now. I am popping home Monday, 1’ish to pick up clothes etc, so if either of you are around it would be lovely to see you. I will be heading straight back to Devon. Give me a ring if you can come, and I will give you the address. I love you both, Mum xxxxx” Send.

  “Wow you text mega fast,” Alex said, watching her. She smiled at him and text again.

  “Claire, Sophie, going to be staying in Devon for a couple of weeks, with Alex ~ guess who is my boyfriend! Love you both, Jane xxx!”

  She went to put her phone away, when it bleeped.

  “Yay, so happy for you babe, see you soon, love you too. Soph xxx”

  It bleeped again.

  “OMG see I told you he was the one! Be happy, c u soon Claire xxx”

  He was still staring at her phone.

  “My best friends, Sophie and Claire, I can’t not tell them. I‘ve been driving them nuts,” she said.

  “What about,” he asked.

  “You,” she confessed. He smiled and then looked to the door as Uncle Joe and Tom came out of the room.

  “Okay?” Alex asked as he stood.

  “Yep, come on I’ll take you both home,” he offered.

  “Thanks, Joe,” Alex said. Taking up her hand, they walked out to the car park, loaded their suitcases into the boot, got into his car, and headed back to Brooke Manor.

  “Thanks, Joe,” Alex said, as they got out of the car.

  “Thanks, Joe,” she said, giving him a wave as they pulled off down the drive. As they walked up the steps, the front door opened.

  “Maria,” Alex said, to the housekeeper.

  “How is she?” she asked, as they entered.

  “She is going to be okay. She will be in hospital for a few days, and Jane and I will be staying for a couple of weeks, until she is feeling better.”

  “Yes, Sir,” she said. “Do you want anything?” she asked. He shook his head.

  “No thanks, I think we will hit the sack for a few hours.” Richard bent to pick up their cases.

  “No, Richard, go and get some sleep yourself, and thank you again for helping mum.”

  “I am glad she is going to be okay, Sir,” he said, giving a slight dip of his head.

  “Me too,” he replied. Picking up their cases, they headed upstairs. At the top, he turned right.

  “Am I not sleeping in there?” she asked, pointing to the room where she had stayed last time. He shook his head and smiled.

  “I thought you might sleep in my bed, with me?” Sh
e smiled back, and took a deep breath.

  “That would be nice,” she said. As they entered his room, she glanced around. It was traditional with a four-poster bed, although he did have a wide screen TV fixed to the wall. He dropped their suitcases, and walked over to the window where he drew the curtains. He had a huge bookcase full to the brim and overflowing with books, a desk in the corner with a laptop sat on the top. A massive wardrobe in the corner, and another door, to the en suite she presumed.

  “Sorry, I did not even think to ask if you were hungry,” Alex said, walking up to her. She shook her head.

  “No, I’m okay at the moment, thanks,” she replied. Her eyes ran over his face, and her heartbeat rose as he stared at her. Pulling her to him, his mouth settled on hers, her lips parted, and her response as natural as breathing she kissed him back. His hands raked through her hair, and then to her shoulders where he griped hold of her.

  “Jane,” he said, and his eyes bored into her, holding her transfixed. “I love you.” She swallowed as her heart shook, and her whole body trembled.

  “I love you, Alex,” she whispered, and she did, with all of her soul. He kissed her, his tongue delving into her mouth, twirling and teasing hers. She pulled at his t-shirt, and lifting it up she broke from his lips for a second as she pulled it over his head. He pulled at her blouse, and the buttons flew off everywhere. Lifting her, she wrapped her legs around his waist and he threw her onto the bed. She kicked off her trainers, and grasping at the buttons of her jeans, he undid them and pulled them off.

  Jane did the same to him and he crawled on top of her, kneeling over her, still kissing her. His hands unclasped her bra freeing her breasts, he threw it to the floor, and his mouth smothered her nipple.

  She gasped, as he licked and kissed her stomach and her body arched towards him as he pulled off her knickers. He took off his pants, and began to kiss the inside of her thighs causing her to groan even more, and pull at his hair.

  His finger slipped inside her wet, dark, sex and he probed, pushing in and out until she screamed with need, but he did not stop. His tongue was now lashing her, whipping in and out, his teeth biting, nipping at her clit as his nails dug into the flesh on her thighs.

  “Alex, for god sake,” she screamed at him. He looked up and grinned at her.

  “Can’t you take it?” he whispered, as he crawled across her stomach towards her. She shook her head.

  “No, I need you now...,” she groaned, and his mouth smothered hers, it was wet, and the taste of herself on his lips, drove her wild.

  “I want you, Alex,” she pleaded, as she rubbed her face against his cheek, inhaling him and nipping at his ear. He moved up her body, and her mouth took in his cock, her hands grabbing at his firm buttocks as she pulled him towards her.

  “Oh, god Jane,” he groaned, as he thrust in and out of her mouth, his hands resting on the headboard behind her, he gripped it tight. She removed her mouth for a second.

  “What, Alex, can’t you take it,” she purred, before licking the end and swirling it around her tongue as he watched her. Pulling out of her mouth, he slid down her body, and she opened her legs ready.

  “You are beautiful,” he whispered, caressing her breast with his hand.

  “And you drive me wild,” she whispered back, and then she gasped as he entered, and thrust up inside her hard. Grabbing his shoulders, she spun him over onto his back.

  “I want to go on top,” she said, and she sank onto him, and groaned as he penetrated her very core. He grabbed both her breasts and squeezed them as she began to ride up and down on him. Leaning her breasts waved in front of his mouth and he licked them.

  “Oh, god,” she moaned as she watched him. “Oh, god, Alex,” she cried and her eyes rolled to the back of her head as she came. It was so intense, that she dug her nails into the muscles on his shoulders, as her whole body went into a spasm. She was in so much pleasure that she felt out of her body. As she came back to earth, she opened her eyes and he was smiling at her, his sexy, green eyes, looking at her lovingly, longingly.

  “I want you, Jane,” he whispered.

  “Take me,” she begged. She lifted her hand and cupped his cheek, and leaning over she kissed him. He swept her hair from her face, and held her head as he kissed her back.

  “Turn over,” he whispered, “I want you from behind.” He spun her onto her front, lifted her bum, and entering her pussy from behind, he held her hips, and thrust hard.

  “Oh, god, Alex,” she moaned, as he rocked her back and forth.

  “Jane, I love you,” he gasped, and he came, filing her until she screamed in ecstasy. He collapsed onto her back, sweating, and breathing heavily as he kissed her neck.

  “Oh god, you are amazing,” he whispered breathless, and burying his face against hers.

  “You too,” she said as her fingers traced over his arm. He shuddered at her touch, and she smiled, and closed her eyes contently. They fell asleep, both drunk on their sex, and exhausted from the night.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Alex awoke first and he lay, propped on one elbow watching her as she slept. He was incredibly happy, but something was still not right. Alex slipped out of bed, picked up his trousers from the floor and took his phone out of his back pocket. He crept into the en suite, closed the door, and stared at the picture that he had taken of her the first night they were together. He smiled and dialled.

  “John,” he said. “It is Alexander Hartley-Stone.”

  “Alexander, oh, how is your mother?” he asked out of politeness.

  “Not great, she had a heart attack last night, but she is okay. However, that is not why I rang,” he said, biting on his lower lip.

  “What do you want?” he asked.

  “I want to take your offer,” he said and the line when quiet for a moment.

  “Are you serious, cause if you are pissing with me I am not going to be amused, Alex?”

  “No, I am serious, John. If you still want my company draw up the paperwork.”

  “Right, and we agree, twenty million, and I get all your clients, including Jackson?”

  “Yes, you get the lot,” he agreed. “I do not want any of it.”

  “Okay, I will have the contract sorted by the end of the week,” he said.

  “Thanks, John.”

  “No thank you, Alexander, pleasure doing business with you.” Alex hung up, and placing the phone onto his brow, and gave a deep sigh. John had been after his company for the last four years, ever since he signed Jackson. He had fought the takeover, fiercely, but now there was something even more important in his life than A.H.S. Publishing was.

  He left the en suite and threw his phone onto his desk, and slipping back into the bed he snuggled up next to her. She stirred and opened her eyes, and as she smiled at him, he knew he had made the right decision.

  “Hi,” she said.

  “Hi,” he replied, and he lifted a hand to her face and swept her long hair out of her face. He leaned over and kissed her, lovingly, passionately and in that moment he decided, next weekend he would ask her to marry him. They made love, slowly and gently and took a shower together. They both dressed in shorts and t-shirts, as it was forecast another hot, sunny day.

  After a quick breakfast-lunch, Alex drove them to the hospital.

  “Hi mum,” he said, as he walked into her room, carrying a bouquet of flowers. “How do you feel?”

  “I feel like I want to go home,” she moaned, and she smiled at the flowers. “They are beautiful, thank you,” she said. Alex kissed her cheek and sat by the side of her bed.

  “Where is Jane?” she asked.

  “Oh, she will be here in a minute, I sent her off to get some chocolates.”

  “What?” his mother said, in disgust.

  “No, not like that, I wanted to talk to you first, without her here. I have something to tell you.”

  She pushed herself up her bed.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Okay, but Jane d
oes not know yet, and I do not want you to say anything to her, as I am planning to do it at the weekend.”

  “Do what, Alex?” she pushed.

  “Ask her to marry me.” His mother’s eyes widened in delight and she smiled.

  “Oh thank god, she will say yes won’t she?” she asked concerned.

  “Well, I bloody hope so,” he said, with a chuckle. “Oh, and I have sold the business to John,” he added.

  “You have done what?” she cried.

  “Sold the business to John and he is drafting up the contract this week.”

  “Alex, I do not know what to say,” she said, stunned, that he had done it.

  “How about congratulations,” he said.

  “Congratulations,” she replied.

  “Hi, can I come in?” Jane called from the door.

  “Of course dear, come on in,” his mother said. Alex looked at his mother.

  “Nothing,” he whispered, and she nodded in agreement.

  “Are these okay,” she said, giving him a box of dairy milk. “Sorry but they did not have much choice.”

  “They are fine, thank you,” he said, taking them from her and giving them to his mother.

  “Thank you,” Elizabeth said, with a slight chuckle. “So what are you two up to today?” she asked. Jane looked at Alex.

  “Not sure, do you fancy going to the beach?” he asked Jane.

  “I would love to go to the beach,” she said, with a smile. She was not sure whether to take up his hand, as she did not know if he had told his mother they were dating. Alex answered that questioned by putting his arm around her shoulder, and pulling her in close. Elizabeth gave a contented sigh, and gripped the box of chocolates tight, although she knew the doctor would not allow her to eat them.

  “So have the doctors said how you are doing, when you can come home?” Alex asked her.

  “I am fine, but they want to keep me in for at least a week. I shall go mad,” she complained.

  “No you will rest. I will grab you some magazines, or is there a book you prefer?” he asked.

  “Oh anything will do,” she said, with a wave of her hand.

  They stayed for another half an hour and left as she began to tire.

  ***

  She held her trainers in one hand, and Alex held her other as they walked the length of the beach, and she was so happy.