by E. L. Todd
She turned to him, her eyes wide. “Oh…”
“Yeah…”
“I’m so sorry.”
He nodded. “I’m sorry too.”
Alexandra felt the glass she was holding, moving her fingertips across it.
“Since her husband isn’t around, it’s my duty to help her. She has no one else.”
“Now she has me.”
He smiled. “I’m glad she has someone. But you can’t handle the fields on your own.”
“I could if you showed me.”
He stared at her for a long time. “I’m not going to ask why you came here, but I’m assuming it wasn’t to become a cotton grower.”
“Well, no. But my aunt needs me.”
“It’s not good on the body. I spend as much time working on my posture and limiting stress on my joints as I do actually working.”
“Then it’s good you’re the one teaching me.”
He leaned closer to her. “I really don’t mind doing it. I hire people to work on my own fields. It’s not like I do it every day.”
“No, she’s my family. I want to help her.”
He sighed. “Okay.”
“So…is that secretary position still available?”
“It’s yours if you want it,” he said with a smile. “And you can work whenever you want. As long as you get everything done, I don’t care when you do it.”
“That sounds too good to be true.”
“It’s perfect for a student,” he said. “Now you can quit your tech job.”
“Actually, I’m going to keep it.”
“Why?” he asked.
“I can help people without worrying about killing them.”
“Killing them?” He raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah, I don’t have to push medications or do any procedures.”
“Like a nurse?”
She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Yeah…”
He studied her face for a while. “I’ll send you everything by email and you can start working.”
“Thanks.”
He nodded. “And I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
She stared at him, eyeing the outline of his chest through his shirt. It was prominent and strong, unable to be hidden under his layer of clothing. His stomach was tight and flat, straight as a concrete wall. She looked into his eyes, seeing the beautiful color stand out. She’d seen guys with blue eyes before but his were different. They had an unusual shine to them, a brilliance that couldn’t be compared to anything else. Her mouth suddenly became dry despite all the beer she drank. Her heart felt like it would give out from beating so fast. The tightness in her stomach left her winded. Blaise made her feel nervous and calm at the same time. She waited for him to ask her out, to take her out to dinner or to a movie. She thought she didn’t want to be asked out by anyone, but she felt immediately drawn to Blaise like a fire in winter. She was excited to see him every morning, but she wanted to see him outside the workplace, something intimate and personal. Alexandra wanted to know more about him. She wanted to know everything. She waited for him to say something but he never did.
“It was nice seeing you.” He left the bar and returned to his friends, sitting in the booth like nothing was different. She watched him for a moment, suddenly feeling cold and empty.
10
When Alexandra came home for dinner, she brought an ice pack and a heated one for her aunt.
“Why do I need both?” she asked.
“The heat will increase blood flow and loosen the tight muscles around your back. The cold one will vasoconstrict your veins and decrease swelling and pain. You should only have them on for twenty minutes at a time for maximum effect.”
Her aunt stared at her. “Well, at least you’re putting that nursing degree to use.”
Alexandra ignored the insult and put the food on the table.
“Wow. This looks really good,” Martha said.
“Why are you so surprised?” Alexandra said as she took a bite of the chicken.
“The first time you cooked, you set off all my smoke detectors.”
Alexandra laughed. “I was twelve, okay?”
“It’s impossible to burn popcorn. I don’t know how you managed.”
“Well, your microwave is so ancient, all the numbers are rubbed off. I couldn’t tell what button I was pushing.”
Martha smiled. “I’ll give you that.”
“Why don’t you buy another? They are pretty cheap now.”
“Mike bought it as an anniversary gift.” She cut into her green beans.
Alexandra averted her gaze and ate her corn.
“So, you like working with Blaise?” Her eyes were downcast as she spoke.
Alexandra felt her heart rise in her throat at just the sound of his name. “He’s a good guy. He knows what he’s doing.”
“I’m glad you like him. He’s the son I never had.”
She nodded. “He said he would keep teaching me so I can help you.”
Martha finally looked at her. “I already said no. Alex, you didn’t come out here to be a farm hand.”
“No, but you need help.”
“I don’t want that for you. You clearly don’t know what you’re doing, and I’m not going to let you steer in this direction. Stay in school and focus on that.”
Alexandra rolled her eyes. “I didn’t say I was going to drop out and take over your business. I know this is just temporary.”
“I appreciate your help. You’re a really sweet girl. I just don’t want you to get stuck.”
“I’m not.” The room fell silent as they ate. “I got a job at the hospital.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. “So you’re going back to nursing? Thank god.”
“Uh, no. It’s a tech job.”
“They didn’t have any nursing positions?”
“Well, yeah, but…I didn’t want them.”
Her aunt eyed her, giving her a stern look. “I’ve been very patient with you, Alex. Now will you tell me what’s going on?”
“Nothing,” she said quickly.
“Please don’t disrespect me with a lie.”
Alexandra looked down at her plate.
“Look at me.”
She met her gaze.
“I’m worried.”
“Don’t be,” she said gently. “I’m just choosing a different path.”
“And what was wrong with the other one? Did something happen at work?”
“No.”
“You only worked as a nurse for a year before you left the profession. Isn’t that a little quick to throw in the towel?”
“Can we talk about something else?” she said quickly.
Martha shook her head then finished her dinner.
“Blaise told me what happened to his parents.”
“It was very sad. I’m glad he became an outstanding young man.”
“It seems like he doesn’t care for the business much.”
“Well, he’s the biggest cotton manufacturer in the south. I’m sure it’s stressful, but it’s nothing he can’t handle.”
Alexandra looked at her aunt. “You have a lot of respect for him.”
“More than words can say.”
She finished her meal then pushed it away.
“Do you like Lana and Hannah?”
“They are great,” she said simply.
“I’m glad you made some friends.”
Alexandra smiled. “I’m not totally unpleasant.”
“But you’re shy. If I didn’t point a flashlight at you, you would blend with the shadows.”
She carried her plate and washed it in the sink. After she dried it, she cleaned up the kitchen, making sure it was spotless as Martha left it.
“You seemed to come down here at the right time,” Martha said. “Having you around has made everything easier on me.”
“Blaise offered me a job as a receptionist so I should be out of your hair soon.”
Martha eyed her. “I don�
��t dislike having you here, Alex. You can stay as long as you want.”
“I know, but it’s still rude that I’m crashing here.”
“That’s what family is for,” she said with a smile. “They are the only people in the world you can be rude to and get away with it.”
“You have a point,” Alexandra said.
“And Blaise gave you a job?”
“It’s a secretary position.”
She nodded. “That was very nice of him.”
“He seems intent on solving all our problems.”
“When Mike died, he came to the house every day. He had his own mourning to do, but he still put me first.”
The more Alexandra heard her aunt praise Blaise, the more she liked him. He seemed perfect in every way. He had a heart of gold, and the confidence of a god. “How old is he?”
“Twenty four.”
“Wow.”
“What?” Martha asked.
“That’s such a young age to own your own company.”
“Well, it’s nothing he can’t handle.” She rose from the table and kissed her on the cheek. “Goodnight, dear. And thank you for dinner.”
“Make sure you put that ice pack on before bed.”
“I will.” She left the kitchen and disappeared into her room.
Even though Alexandra was tired, she didn’t feel like sleeping. She grabbed her phone from her bag then walked outside. She stared at the screen for a long time before she turned it on. Like she expected, there were hundreds of messages from her friends. Paul had the lead in most calls. She skimmed through them then deleted them. She composed a mass text message to everyone she knew.
I’m well. Thank you for checking. I miss you all.
She turned off her phone again and sighed. The only reason why she kept her phone off was because she didn’t want anyone to track her down, especially Paul. Talking to him would just break her heart. It was better this way. Now she could really clear her head and find whatever she was looking for. She was searching for an answer, but she hadn’t even found the question yet. Alexandra never felt more confused. She hoped time would heal all her wounds.
11
Alexandra woke up early to look presentable. Last time she worked with Blaise, she looked like hell. She let her hair fall around her shoulders, and she wore shorts and a bright t-shirt, which weren’t covered in wrinkles like last time.
When she walked outside, he was already hard at work.
“Hey,” she said awkwardly. Every time she was around him, she felt tense and nervous.
“Good morning,” he said with a smile. He was examining the dirt of the rows.
“How does it look?” she asked.
“Good. The manure seemed to help.” He stood up and wiped his hands on his jeans. She noticed the definition of his thighs. They were solid. “I think we’re ready for planting.”
“That sounds good.”
“Let’s head to the warehouse.”
“Okay.”
They walked inside then examined all the machines.
“You’re supposed to drive these?” she asked incredulously. They looked like cyber aliens to her. There were too many arms and levers. And the panel of buttons was equally intimidating.
“It’s just like driving a car,” he said with a smile.
“On a different planet, maybe.”
“Everything seems frightening until you learn more about it. I assure you, they are easy to operate.”
Alexandra didn’t seem convinced.
“I’ll show you,” he said with a laugh.
He had her sit inside the machine as he directed her hands. He explained the use of each button and how to operate it. When his hand brushed hers, she felt the electricity singe her fingertips. It was innate and powerful. She wondered if he felt it too. He seemed so indifferent to her that she wasn’t sure. Alexandra felt like she only got male attention from guys she didn’t like, not the ones she actually adored. She had a feeling Blaise wasn’t an exception.
When they deposited the seeds into the rows, Alexandra took over and did a few on her own. She missed her measurements a few times but she got better with practice. When the sun rose high in the sky, they quit for the day. Blaise drove the machine back into the warehouse and Alexandra watched him.
He hopped down and wiped the sweat from his brow. A refrigerator was inside, stocked with bottled water and juice. He opened a water then handed it to her, drinking his own. “Don’t get dehydrated.”
She was parched so she drank the whole bottle.
He smiled at her. “You did good today.”
“So I didn’t break anything?”
“Not that I know of.”
“At least I’m improving.”
“How’s Martha doing?”
“Good. I gave her something to put on her back.”
He nodded. “She needs to rest. In a few days, she’ll start to get restless. I know her. There isn’t a lazy bone in that body.”
“I may have to tie her up like a hog.”
He chuckled. “She’s too strong. She’d have you tied up before you could blink.”
“Hey, I’m thirty years younger than she is.”
“And thirty years less experienced.”
She laughed. “You have a point.” After their conversation was started, their relationship naturally formed. She didn’t feel so nervous around him. He always made her laugh, made her happy.
“Are you free tonight?”
Her heart raced in her chest and her palms started to sweat. Did he just ask her out? Alexandra hoped he did. When she looked into those blue eyes, she felt her knees turn to jelly. “Yeah.”
“We can go over the files and everything you are supposed to do.”
“What?”
He eyed her. “For the secretary position.”
“Oh,” she said sadly.
He stared her, looking at her features.
She tried to recover. “Sure. Do you want me to come to your place?”
“It’s okay. I’ll bring my computer by tonight. You can do most of it from home. Just make sure you answer my calls as often as possible. Give me your school schedule so I know when you aren’t available.”
“Okay.”
He turned toward his truck. “I’ll see you tonight, then.”
Alexandra felt her heart fall as she watched him go. She was stupid for ever assuming such a perfect guy would notice her. She probably stuck out like a weed in the garden, deadly and annoying. After a heavy sigh, she walked into the house and got ready for the afternoon.
When she was in class, she thought about Blaise, wondering what he was doing. How did he run such a large organization all on his own and still made time to help her aunt? He was so compassionate and caring, she had a hard time understanding it. Selfless people like that didn’t exist. And selfless guys were a myth. She’d been spending a lot of time with him, but he still didn’t make a move. Perhaps he thought Alexandra was family since he thought her aunt was family. Alexandra didn’t feel that way at all. When she stared at his chest and his shoulders, she thought of other things that weren’t family friendly.
“Is everything okay?” Gabe asked.
“Huh?”
They were sitting in the library, tucked in a corner. She had her textbook open but she wasn’t reading. She had been staring at the wall for half an hour, thinking about Blaise the entire time.
Gabe stared at her. “You seem distracted.”
“Oh. I’m just stressed.”
“About your new job?” he asked.
“Sure,” she said.
“I wouldn’t worry about it. It’s only one day a week.”
“Yeah…”
He turned back to his textbook and made his notes.
Alexandra couldn’t stop thinking about Blaise. The only good thing about it was the fact that she wasn’t thinking about Paul, her life in New York, or what happened at the hospital. That was something to be grateful for.
&nbs
p; When she went home that night, she showered and did her hair, curling it so it hung around her shoulders. She wore jean shorts and a t-shirt. Since she wasn’t in the city anymore, she didn’t wear most of her clothes, thinking they were too dressy. She stuck to casual wear and waited for him on the porch. She moved in her rocking chair, staring into the distance of the fields.
Dirt billowed in the air as his truck moved down the dirt path. She felt her heart race like it always did when he was near. She kept her face straight when he parked and got out.
“Beautiful evening,” he said as Bane followed behind him. The dog turned to the two Rottweilers and they ran off together, fighting over old tennis balls and demolished toys.
“That’s why I’m sitting out here.”
He took the seat next to her. “What were you thinking about?”
She flinched at the question. “School.”
Blaise smiled. “You’re staring at something so beautiful, and you’re thinking about school?”
“I guess I’m a bit odd.”
“It’s okay. I’m odd too.” He looked at her. “Are you ready to get down to work?”
She nodded.
They walked inside and moved to the kitchen.
“Where’s Martha?” he asked.
“She went to bed early. She just wasn’t feeling well.”
Blaise looked concerned. “Does she need anything?”
“No, I think she’s already asleep.”
“Okay.” He sat down and pulled out his laptop. “I sent everything to your email.”
She pulled it up. “I got it.”
Blaise explained everything she was responsible for. Alexandra wrote down his directions in a separate word document just in case she forgot. He watched her and nodded slightly.
“I want detailed reports every evening, saying our gross profit for the day.”
“Okay,” she said.
“Do you have any questions?”
“No, it’s pretty simple.”
“Well, you’re a better receptionist than a cotton grower.”
She glared at him.
“You know I’m teasing,” he said with a smile. “I’ll pay you a salary rather than hourly since I don’t when you’ll be working and I can’t measure it.”
“That’s fine.”
He nodded then closed his laptop.