Then Came Indecision (Southern Love #2) (14 page)

Paul looked at Alexandra, waiting for her to answer.

“First of all, Paul and I aren’t sleeping together.”

Martha smiled. “What are kids calling it these days?”

Paul laughed.

Alexandra glared at her aunt. “And I’m not going anywhere. You need help.”

Martha rolled her eyes. “Dear, I’ll be fine. I can take care of my land.”

“Your doctor wouldn’t prescribe Vicodin if he thought you were fine.”

“He didn’t,” she said with a smile. “I showed him a little boob action and he gave me something better.”

Paul laughed again.

“Martha, I’m being serious. You can barely get around.”

She put down her paper. “Don’t stop living your life because of me. I’ll figure something out. You don’t belong her
e, Alexandra. Please stop letting me hold you back.”

“You’re family,” Alexandra said. “Family comes first.”

“Exactly,” she said. “Now go back to New York with Paul. There’s nothing for you here anymore.”

Alexandra felt her heart fall.
“No there isn’t…”

When they finished their breakfast, Paul helped her clean the dishes.

“I’m going to take a shower,” he said.

“Okay.”

He left the room and disappeared down the hallway.

Martha looked at her. “I need to talk to you.”

“I didn’t have sex with him! We just slept together.”

“Not about that,” Martha said. “It’s about Blaise.”

“Oh…”

“Sit down.”

Alexandra was still for a moment before she took a seat.

“He called last night.”

Alexandra kept her mouth shut.

“He told me everything that happened. He seemed really upset about it, and begged me to help him.”

“I’m done with him, his lies, his stories, his excuses.”

Martha drummed the table with her fingertips. “You’re really done with him?”

“More than done.”

“So, Paul won?”

“What?” Alexandra said. “Nobody won. There was no competition.”

“I guess that’s true
since Blaise has no idea Paul was here.”

“It’s none of his business anyway.”

“Do you still love him?” Martha asked.

“Let’s not go there.”

“Answer me,” she said firmly.

Alexandra sighed. “Would you judge me if I said yes?”

“I would judge you if you said no.”

She looked at her aunt. “So you want me to be with Blaise?”

“No,” she said quickly. “I want you to be with the man you really want. That’s all.”

“Well, Blaise isn’t that man.”

“Did you hear about his fields?”

Alexandra nodded. “He mentioned something about pesticide poisoning.”

“Apparently, it was too late to save the crop. They’ve had to completely start over, and if it isn’t done right, he won’t produce enough by the harvest season. It could kill his business and his legacy.”

She gasped. “I had no idea…”

Martha nodded. “It’s serious.”

Alexandra was quiet for a moment. “I should help him.”

Martha smiled. “I knew you would. I can’t go to his aid but I knew I could count on you.”

“After what he did for you, of course I’ll do it.”

“No,” she said firmly. “You never do something because you feel obligated to. You do it because you want to. It didn’t work out between you two, but I still love him like my own son.”

“Even after all the lies he told me?”

Martha drummed her fingers again. “Blaise isn’t the lying type.”

“Well, it was pretty clear he was lying.”

“I still find that hard to believe. I have faith he is a good person. He’s done and said too many amazing things to drag his name through the mud.”

“You really believe that?” Alexandra asked.

“Yes,” she said. “But my opinion doesn’t matter. It’s your relationship. Do what you will. But I still love him like my own.”

Alexandra rose from the table. “I’ll get ready.”

“That’s my girl.”

After she changed, she waited for Paul to get out of the shower. He came down the hall with a towel wrapped around his waist.

“I have to go,” she said quickly. She glanced at his naked chest and saw the water drops. Her thoughts turned sinister for a moment.

“Where?” He looked at her clothes. “Are you going to the fields?”

“Yes—Blaise’s fields.”

He raise
d an eyebrow. “Why?”

“It’s a long story, but he needs help. After everything he did for my aunt, I can’t leave him high and dry.”

“Do you think that’s a good idea?” Paul asked.

“He can’t hurt me more than he already has.”

He nodded. “I can help too.”

“No,” she said quickly. “But thank you.”

“Okay.” He kissed her on the forehead. “I’ll see you when you get back.”

“Okay.”

“And let’s get dinner tonight.”

She smiled. “Alright.”

Alexandra got the directions from Martha then drove to his house in the country. When she saw the house, she realized just how loaded he was. It was a two-story house with a beautiful yard. A pasture was just behind it with a few horses. The rest of the land was covered in cotton fields and a few warehouses and barns were off to the side. After she parked, she approached the field.

People were running around, frantically compacting the soil and adding manure.
Mounds of extra dirt was being pushed to the road. A few seed planters were off to the side, ready for planting. She looked around and saw Blaise talking to one of his workers. He was shirtless and wearing a baseball cap. She stared at his body for a moment before she shook the thought away. After adopting a stoic expression, she approached him.

“How can I help?

His eyes widened. “Alexandra?”

“I can start the planting. Those machines look identical to Martha’s.”

Blaise looked speechless. He stared at her face for a long time, pain and longing both evident on the surface. When he reached for her, she stepped back.

“Blaise, I’m only here to help. There’s
nothing between us, only friendship.”

His eyes darkened in despair. “Did you think about what I said yesterday?”

“There’s nothing to think about. Now what would you like me to do?”

“Alexandra, nothing ever happened with Danielle.”

She sighed. “If you bring it up again, I’ll leave.”

He rubbed the back of hi
s neck. “You don’t have to help me,” he said quietly. “But thank you.”

“I know I don’t.” She stepped away and headed to the machine and got to work. The rows of soil that were ready for planting were injected with the seeds. Everyone worked together so no one was injured. All the workers looked like ants crawling across an anthill.

Alexandra didn’t look at Blaise while she worked. She pretended he didn’t exist. For all intents and purposes, he didn’t. The sweat dripped down her brow as the heat increased throughout the day. When everyone took a water break, they walked into the open warehouse and drank water and had lunch. She sat in the corner and ate her sandwich alone. Blaise joined her a moment later but he wasn’t eating.

She didn’t look at him while she ate.

“Please let me ask you one more thing.”

Alexandra drank from her water. “What?”

“Is there anything I can do to prove my honesty? Please name it.”

She played with the cap of her water bottle. “There only seems to be one witness to the relationship, and that’s Danielle.”

“So, if she told you everything, you’d believe me?”

“She would have to be pretty convincing.”

He nodded. “Okay. I’ll talk to her.”

“Can we drop this now?”

Blaise watched her face. “I miss you so much.”

“Not this either,” she said quickly.

He sighed then adjusted his hat. “How are you?”

“Empty,” she said flatly.

“I’m sorry I hurt you so much. But I swear I’ve been honest the entire time.”

Alexandra leaned against the wall. “Did you confront your family about the fields?”

“Not yet. I haven’t had the chance.”

“That was really low of them.”

“I know it was,” he said sadly.

“If your brother was involved, you should cut him off.”

“Definitely.”

Alexandra pulled her knees to her chest.

“Why did you come today?”

“You needed help.”

“So?” he said. “If you actually believe that I’m a cheating asshole, why would you help me?”

She averted her gaze.

“Alexandra.”

She hated hearing her name from his lips. She used to love it, but now it just clutched her heart. “I already told you why.”

“That wasn’t the right answer. Something stronger than obligation brought you here today.”

“What do you want me to say
?” she whispered.

“You know what I want you to say.”

“No.”

“Alexandra.”

“No,” she repeated.

“If you still feel that way, you should have faith in me.”

“I don’t believe in faith,” she snapped. “I believe what I see with my own fucking eyes.”

“That was just an act.”

“It looked pretty convincing to me.”

Blaise clenched his fists. “Do you honestly think you fell in love with someone that twisted and sick?”

“I have horrible judgment of character.”

“Or you’re unnaturally good at it,” he snapped. “You never suspected I was doing anything when we were together because there was no reason to. There were no red flags.”

“I think secrecy and not knowing where you lived were pretty big.”

“You wanted to be a secret. I didn’t.”

“Let’s just drop it,” she said.

He stared at her, making her feel unnerved by his look. “And what happened yesterday?”

“You really don’t remember?”

“Don’t be a smartass,” he said. “You freaked out when I touched you. What was that?”

“Oh.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her air.

“Tell me,” he said firmly.

“It was nothing…”

He
leaned toward her. “I can read you like an open book, Alexandra. I know that wasn’t nothing.”

“We should get back to work.”

“The cotton can wait.”

She shook her head. “Your livelihood can’t.”

He grabbed her hand. The electricity coursed through her veins. After the way he hurt her, she couldn’t believe he still ignited her in such simple ways. Every touch was as powerful as a sudden shock. “Alexandra, please tell me.”

She pulled away. “It’s none of your business.”

“Yes it is my fucking business.” His voice grew louder. “You’re my girlfriend. I take care of you.”

“I’m not your girlfriend,” she snapped.

“Yes, you are. I don’t care how many times I have to repeat it.”

“Blaise, I’m not!”

He glared at her. “Fine, we’ll do this the hard way.”

“Coming here was a bad idea.”

“But you did it anyway,” he said. “And I wonder why.”

“You’re unbelievable.”

“Now tell me, Alexandra.”

“Drop it.”

“No.” His eyes enlarged. “Did someone hurt you? Just tell me. I’ll fucking kill them.”

She got to her feet and walked toward the door. “I need to get back to work.”

He followed her. “I’ll find out anyway. You may as well tell me.”

Alexandra ignored him.

“Alexandra, please.”

“If you want to chase me away, you’re doing a job of it.”

He sighed. “I just love you, okay? What’s the crime in that?”

“It ruined my life. That’s what.” She walked away before he could get in another word and returned to work.

After she worked for a few more hours, she returned the machine to the warehouse and washed her hands in the sink. She was filthy, far dirtier than she ever was on her aunt’s fields.

“I really appreciate your help today.” Blaise appeared beside her, his shirt returned to his body.

“Of course.”

He stared at her, his arm
s across his chest.

“I should go.”

“You must be hungry. That was a long day.”

“It’s okay,” she said. “I have somewhere to be.”

“Come on. You haven’t even seen my house.”

“Because you hid it from me for so long,” she snapped.