“What? Where are you going? You can’t hide from your problems. This isn’t like you. You’re the first person to tell me to face things head on.” Nina shook her head, her face looking bewildered.
But she wasn’t the one in love with a jerk, Alex was. And if she went back to her office, she might just ignore what she saw and forgive his transgression. And the last thing she needed was to look at his window all day. So not happening.
Fool me once…
“Yeah? Well, in this case I’ll take the coward’s way out. My heart is broken, and I have to think. I’m going to the cabin. I need to breathe, away from my office.”
Chapter Twelve
At his desk, Andrew slammed the phone down for the hundredth time. Alexandra wasn’t taking his calls. Tired of leaving messages, he hung up whenever the answering machine came on. When she’d left his office, he tried to follow her, but had been bombarded with questions from a group of employees. By the time he got to the lobby, she was long gone.
He’d gone straight for her office and waited, but she didn’t return. She didn’t go home either, so he wasn’t sure where else to look.
Hours went by without speaking to her, and he cursed his stupidity. Instead of being shocked into idiocy, he should’ve gotten Leslie out of his office immediately. At least he’d been smart in one sense. He’d informed security about Leslie, telling them never to allow her past the lobby again. Talk about shutting the stable door after the damn horse had bolted.
It was after seven when his door opened and a beautiful young woman he recognized walked in. Nina. Alex’s cousin.
He jumped to his feet, heart pounding. “Where is she?”
“Now hold on a fucking second. You’re the one who needs to answer some questions here.” She shut the door behind her softly and took a seat at one of the chairs facing his desk.
“I’m sorry. I just—I need to see her.” He ran a hand through his hair.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re the one who is making me look like an ass, buddy.”
“Yeah? How’s that?” Was she there to help or what?
“Because no matter how cute you are, if it weren’t for me, she wouldn’t have given you a chance in the first place.” She smiled.
“Why wouldn’t she have given me a chance?”
She leaned forward, her face serious. “Her asshole ex cheated on her, pretty much dragged all her self-confidence through the mud. She’s had a hard time trusting her own judgment and other people since. She acted like it was a minor breakup, but I know he messed with her head in the end.”
Quiet, he absorbed her words. Anger surged, and he wished for a way to dole out some pain to the idiot, Alexandra’s ex.
“Why are you telling me this?” He needed to find Alexandra, speak to her.
She sighed, shook her head, and gave him a sad smile. “You see this? Her leaving? She would’ve never done that before. She’s confused, scared she’s made a mistake again, and doesn’t want to get hurt.”
“I would never hurt her. I need to find her, please.” Frustration was clear in his voice.
“Yeah? Well you mind telling me what the hell happened here earlier? After that, I’ll consider helping you.” Folding one leg over the other, she leaned back.
“I have no interest in Leslie. The stupid woman can’t get it through her head we’re through, were through months ago. I’m at my wit’s end with her. Short of calling the police on her, I’m not sure what else to do.” When he saw Nina’s unconvinced look, he sat forward. “Look—” He sighed. “What I’m about to tell you is going to sound strange, but just listen. I—the moment I saw Alexandra, something caught my attention about her. It was like an invisible pull. I found out she had a boyfriend so I stayed away, but the connection I felt was always there. Every time our eyes locked from across our offices, I wanted to talk to her. These days of us getting to know each other? I’ve never felt so…at peace. I don’t want to lose that. I would never hurt her. Please, just tell me where to find her. I promise I only want to make her happy.”
“All right, I can tell you’re not the slime she’s imagining you to be right now. That’s telling you a lot. I had a feeling about you two since the night at the club.” She grinned and studied the nails on her hand.
“So, what should I do?”
“How badly do you want her back?” Her dark brows lifted.
“More than anything.”
“Then I believe you’re going to need to go home and change. Where you’re going, you don’t want to be in a suit.” She smiled again and proceeded to give him instructions to get the only woman ever to own his heart back.
Chapter Thirteen
The sound of a loud purring engine filled the quiet air. Snapped out of her daydreams, she put her book down and opened the door to see a sports car approaching.
No other cabins were nearby. Most of the property that surrounded the immediate area belonged to her. Neither the make nor the model of the car was clear in the gathering darkness. All she knew for sure was that the thing was expensive. Low to the ground, the sleek body hummed, stopping in front of her cabin.
She walked toward the vehicle and stopped a few feet away when the driver’s-side door opened.
Andrew stepped out of the car wearing a black T-shirt and jeans.
“What do you want?” She hoped he didn’t hear the strain in her voice.
“I didn’t take you for a coward.” His eyes pierced hers, the low light enough to show the anger on his face.
“What? What the hell are you talking about?” Was he crazy? Had he forgotten what she’d seen?
“You left. Didn’t give me a chance to explain, decided without asking that I was guilty of whatever it was you thought was going on.”
“Oh, it was clear to me what was going on. I don’t need to hear this.” She should just walk away and not waste her time with him. She turned, but stopped when he spoke again.
“Yes, you do. Don’t you want to know what happened? What really happened? Know if you were wrong for leaving?” He took a step closer as he spoke.
“No.” Her sad attempt at confidence failed miserably; her voice came out a shaky whisper. Sounding certain was difficult when she’d been questioning everything the past few hours. She stepped back and tried to put some space between them.
“Liar! You want to know.” He sounded so sure, she wanted to slap his confident smirk away.
She folded her arms across her chest and snorted. “Yeah? Why would I?”
“Because you care.” Voice gone soft, he stepped closer. “Just as I care.”
Her stomach churned, and her heart thudded in her ears. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“It’s OK to be scared or insecure. It’s not OK to allow those feelings to dictate your life.” It frightened her, the way he looked at her, as though he were able to see her deepest, darkest secrets.
“Fine, talk. Say what you need to and go.” She widened her stance, shoving her hands in the back pockets of her denim skirt.
“I’m not sure why Leslie did what she did. Never in the time we dated did she try anything like that. She was always very put together, very proper.” Disbelief appeared in her eyes. “Look, she caught me off guard when she took of the trench. I was in shock when she threw herself on my desk. No woman has ever done that, not in my office.”
Anger exploded through her. Instead of yelling as she wanted to, her voice softened and hitched when she spoke. “Do you take me for an idiot? Oh, yes, poor Andrew. I feel so bad for the poor rich man. It’s just so terrible, women throwing themselves at him all the time. It’s a wonder you don’t go into hiding. If you’re here to feed me crap, get the hell out. I know a plate of bullshit when I see it.”
“It’s not like that.” He started to pace in front of her while he spoke. “I’ve been feeling restless for a while. When you moved in to the office across the street I was instantly attracted to you. I asked about you. I found out you were in a relationship, so I let my attraction sit on the back burner. When I saw you at the club, all alone, something pushed me toward you. After that—” He stopped, turned, and looked at her. The pained but serious look he gave her made her breath catch. He tunneled his fingers through his hair all the while staring at her.
“After that?” She prompted him and held her breath, heart galloping in her chest.
“After that, I knew you were it for me.” He went back to pacing. “I suck at big romantic gestures; the best I can do is flowers, cards, dinner, and jewelry. If it weren’t for my assistant and my calendar, I’d forget my own birthday. When involved with a new project, I turn into a workaholic, but I can try to slow that down. I need to dominate in the bedroom. I can’t change that part of me.”
He sounded as if he wanted to warn her away. Did he say he wasn’t romantic? He’d cooked for her, sent her two exotic flowers with his own handwritten notes, taken her to see a musical, and given her a purple Buddha charm on a bracelet. Plus, they’d done so much snuggling she melted into a puddle of goo whenever she remembered. More than romantic, he was a naturally caring person. And if she was right, he cared for her.
“Why are you telling me this?”
He moved closer until he was right in front of her. He cupped her jaw with a shaky hand. “Because I need you. I’m not going to go away. My life, it’s empty without you.” He took a deep breath.
She clenched her hands into fists. “So, what will you do if I say no?”
“Never leave you alone until you agree to come back to me. You’re mine; you know it, and I know it.” His voice trembled with alarm.
“For how long?” Licking at her dry lips, she watched his eyes zero in on her tongue.
“Forever.” His voice took on a firm tone.
“Why?”
“Because I love you. Yes, I love you. I know you probably think it’s too soon, but you slipped in and settled into my heart.”
Her look showed disbelief. He sighed, lowered his head, and then jerked it back up to look at her with determination. He got down on his knees, and her eyes widened.
“What are you doing?”
His hands gripped her hips, and he looked up into her eyes. Concern was on his face. “I love you. I’m not leaving until you say you believe me.”
“Andrew—”
“Alexandra, I love you. Please, please, don’t break my heart. Say you want to be with me as much as I want to be with you.”
Heart so full, she was sure it was going to burst, she stared at him for a moment. “Yes. I’ll give us another chance; I love you too.” Her voice softened. “My life would be miserable without you in it.”
He claimed her lips in a kiss. It was slow and sensual, full of promise and sweet surrender. After a moment, he pulled back and gave her a hungry look.
“I love that you’re dominant. I wouldn’t change that in you. For everything else, there’s always compromise.” She gave him a teasing grin.
He sighed. “Thank God. I was afraid I was going to have to bribe you into taking me back.”
Her brows lifted in curiosity. “How in the world would you have done that?”
He gave a sheepish grin and pointed to the car. “I brought chocolate cheesecake and another chick flick.”
She laughed at his grimace and hugged him tight. Yeah. He’d do just fine. She pulled his head back down for another kiss and was immediately consumed in the fire of his touch.
Chapter Fourteen
Held tight in his arms, she was giddy with happiness. He kissed her with so much intensity it left her breathless. He consumed her lips, possessing every crevice of her mouth. As if stamping his own brand over her, he licked and nipped at her lips and jaw.
They moved toward the front of the car, and he pulled off her tank top. Parting only long enough to allow the removal of the material, he continued devouring her lips. Her bra came off with one quick snap, and her breasts filled his hands. He immediately set his fingers on squeezing and tweaking the taut tips.
She moaned and tugged on the T-shirt he wore, ready to tear it if it didn’t come off soon. He pulled off the shirt. He shoved her skirt and panties down her legs.
She latched her lips on to his nipple, her tongue flicking across the flat disk. He groaned.
Happy to drive him wild, she dipped her hand into his jeans and rubbed on the length of his hard cock.
“Jesus, woman.” His groan was enough to push her on.
She nipped at his tight little bud, smiling when his cock jerked in her hand.
“Fuck. That’s good.”
He spread her pussy lips, two digits going straight for her hungry cunt, and his thumb flicked her sensitive clit.
“Andrew, yes, fuck me.”
She rolled her hips on his fingers and moaned, tightening her muscles around them. All she needed was for him to fuck her with his fingers a few times and she’d go over.
He pulled out of her so fast, she almost screamed in frustration.
She looked up at him.
He lifted his fingers to his mouth, curled his tongue around the digits, and sucked on her juices. “You’re mine.”
Grabbing her hands, he turned her to face the hood of the car. He felt the metal for heat then pushed her to lean forward. Her nipples grazed the warm steel. She looked over her shoulder at him. She wiggled her hips and smiled when his eyes filled with passion.
“Alexandra.” Dark and possessive once again, his voice made her knees weak.
“Hmm?” A whimper escaped her. She continued to watch his hooded gaze.
“You have been a very bad girl.”
Oh, good God, yes. Yes, yes, yes.
Her head whipped up and down in agreement. Arousal grew as she waited to see what he’d do next.
Slowly, he caressed her ass cheeks, his hands squeezing at her rounded globes. He tapped her left side with his palm. The light sting was minor, just enough to make her moan.
“Instead of leaving, you should’ve stayed and talked to me.”
Slap.
The pressure from each tap fanned the flames inside her cunt and ratcheted up her need. She moaned and thrust her ass out for further punishment.
“For hours, I was worried about you, was unable to reach you.” The deep timber of his voice fascinated her; his words held her enthralled.