by Locklyn Marx
But now, her savings account was showing only three hundred and eighty-three dollars. A sick feeling settled in her stomach. How was that possible?
She scrolled down through the withdrawals. Someone had transferred the six thousand dollars into her checking account, and then, over the past three weeks, had been taking it out in increments at different ATMs.
It had to have been Leo. He must have known her banking password and her ATM password. But how? And what was he doing with the money? Spending it? Or had he taken it just so she wouldn’t have a way to leave him?
It was a scary thought. Her pulse began to pound, and her heart fluttered in her chest.
She needed to leave him. But how?
According to her iPhone screen, she had about fifteen hundred dollars in her checking account. She could get somewhere on that, but then what? The money would only pay for cheap hotel for a couple weeks. Definitely not enough time to get a job.
Maybe she could rent a room from someone, she thought. If she did that, she’d be able to keep her costs down. But where?
There was a knock on the bathroom door. “Honey?” Leo called. “Do you want me to save this chicken? Or just throw it out?”
“You can throw it out,” she said, quickly exiting out of her banking website. She didn’t think he would come in, but she wasn’t going to take any chances.
It was okay, she told herself. Tomorrow she’d go to the bank and open up a separate account. She’d make sure he didn’t know about it. She’d start building her savings up, and after a couple of months, she’d leave. Anytime he’d had an episode like this in the past, he’d always been better for a while afterwards.
But that night, when they’d crawled into bed, he’d done something that had made her toes curl.
“I’m sorry,” he said, kissing her softly on the forehead, “for how I was earlier. I just get upset when I think about you leaving me for someone else.”
“I know,” she said. Her heart was pounding in her ears and adrenaline coursed through her body.
And then he reached out and grabbed her wrist under the blanket. He squeezed it so tight that for a moment, she was afraid he might break it. Then he let go. And in the darkness of the room, she heard his voice.
“If you ever did leave me,” he said quietly. “I’d kill you.”
The next morning, she was on the train to New York.
Chapter Eight
Reid hadn’t said anything the whole time Alexis was talking, and once she’d finished, he stood up. His lips tightened into a straight line, and he pulled his shoulders back. “I’ll kill that asshole,” he said. “You said he’s here?” He started looking around the room, like he was thinking he might find Leo lurking around somewhere.
“I don’t know where he is ,” she said. “The message just said ‘sorry I missed you.’ He called and left it, but who knows where he called from? He knows I’m here.
So if he’s not here, I think he will be soon.”
Seeing Reid’s reaction was actually making Alexis feel better. She hadn’t told anyone about Leo. Ever. So now that she’d confessed what had been going on, and Reid was acting like he wanted to go and confront Leo head on, it made Leo seem a lot less intimidating.
“I’ll beat his ass,” Reid said simply. “So don’t worry about it.”
She shook her head. “Thanks,” she said. “But I really don’t think that’s going to help.”
He sat down next to her. “I wish you’d told me this before,” he said. “You don’t have to worry about anything.”
She felt tears well up in her eyes. Just hearing those words made her feel so much better. But they were just words. The bottom line was that Reid didn’t know Leo. Hell, he hardly even knew her.
“Alexis,” Reid whispered. He’d moved closer to her on the bed, and he pulled her close. She buried her face into his chest and let herself cry.
“It’s okay,” he said. “It’s okay. You’re fine, it’s going to be okay.”
They stayed like that for a few minutes, until she pulled back and wiped her eyes.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I hate crying. It’s so useless.”
“It’s not useless.” He stood up and ran his fingers through his hair. “Okay,” he said. “I’m going to order room service, and then we’re going to figure out what to do.”
“Okay.” She looked down at her hands and took a deep breath. “I’m going to take a shower before the food comes.”
She headed for the bathroom, and once she was under the hot spray, she closed her eyes and let her muscles relax. And for just one second, she pretended that everything was going to work out.
***
Reid ordered macaroni and cheese, chicken potpie, and a huge plate of mashed potatoes. He knew Alexis needed to eat, and lobster and caviar wasn’t going to cut it.
She needed comfort food.
“Are you trying to put me into a carb coma?” she asked when she saw the food.
She was coming out of the shower, her long blonde hair tied back in a ponytail.
She was wearing a tank top with teeny tiny straps and a pair of shorts that revealed those long, tan legs. He knew he shouldn’t be having such wicked thoughts about her when she was in the middle of a crisis, but he couldn’t help but think how easy it would be to slide her clothes right off and have his way with her.
“You need soothing food,” he said. “And wine.” He poured her a glass.
“I’m going to become a fat drunk,” she complained. But she was taking the glass and sipping from it.
“Better?” he asked after a few minutes.
“Better.”
“Good.”
He took a plate from the tray and loaded it with food, then set it in front of her.
“Eat.”
“Yes, sir.” She did a mock salute and then took a bite of mac and cheese. “It’s good,” she said.
“It better be, for fifty dollars.”
“Fifty dollars for macaroni and cheese?”
“There’s lobster in it.” Just because they were having comfort food didn’t mean they couldn’t class it up just a little bit. He took a bite of his own food. He was sitting at the desk a few feet away from where Alexis was sitting, Indian style, on the bed. He didn’t trust himself to be close to her without trying to strip her naked. The last thing she needed right now was for him to be all over her. But God, it was testing his self-control to want her so bad and not be able to do anything about it.
They ate in silence for a few minutes.
“Listen,” she said finally. “I want you to know that I’m really thankful that you listened to everything I said down there. But I also want you to know that I’m fine. I can handle things by myself.”
“Oh, really?” he asked. “You can handle things by yourself?”
She nodded.
“How?”
“I’ll make a plan.”
“Uh-huh. And what kind of plan, exactly?”
“I don’t know. One where I change my name and head into the witness protection program?”
“Oh, good idea,” he said, rolling his eyes. He set his fork down on his plate and looked at her seriously. “I think we need to think about getting a restraining order.”
“A restraining order?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “That way Leo won’t be able to come near you.”
She shook her head. “A restraining order won’t stop him.”
“Maybe not.” He wasn’t an idiot. If someone was crazy enough to want to hurt you, they probably wouldn’t care about a piece of paper they told them not to. But still.
It was a way to make sure that if Leo came near her, Alexis would at least have some recourse. “But you still have to do it.”
“Yeah.” She gazed off into the distance and took a deep breath.
He went and sat down next to her on the bed. “Look,” he said, “you don’t have to do it on your own. I’ll help you.”
She shook her head. “Yo
u don’t have to help me.”
“I’m going to take care of it. I have a lawyer, he can give us some advice.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket. “I’m going to go call him and I’ll be right back.”
***
Alexis watched Reid walk out into the hallway, not knowing exactly what to do.
Part of her wanted to push him away – it was too confusing, him trying to take control after what she’d been through. How could she let someone do that? She needed to face this thing with Leo on her own, to stand up for herself for once. Didn’t she?
When Reid returned a few minutes later, he looked determined.
“Okay,” he said. “So here’s the deal. You have to file restraining orders in the state you live in. So that means you’re going to have to go back to Pennsylvania. Then, there will be a hearing in ten days, where you present your case to the judge. And he’ll issue the permanent order.”
Alexis shook her head. There was no way she was going back to Pennsylvania.
No fucking way.
“I’m not going back there,” she said.
“I’ll go with you.”
Her eyes met his. She wanted to fight, wanted to tell him that she didn’t need him to go with her. But she was too tired and too relieved. Reid made her feel protected.
She didn’t have the strength to go back to Pennsylvania and face Leo on her own.
Suddenly, she just wanted to forget about all of it – Leo, the restraining order, Pennsylvania, everything. So before she could think about what she was doing, she moved toward Reid and brushed her lips against his. His eyes widened in surprise.
“Alexis,” he started.
“Shh,” she whispered. “Please.” She kissed him again, and this time, he kissed her back. Desire overtook her body, blotting out everything else – the stress, the worry, the fear. All she could feel was the heat coming off Reid’s body, and the burning ache to be close to him.
The kiss deepened and became more intense, and Reid reached down and pulled at the bottom of her shirt, his hands sliding up under the fabric and over her breast. Her nipple hardened under his touch and her breath accelerated.
They fell back onto the bed, his mouth moving from her lips down over her neck, tracing burning kisses on her skin. He moved all the way down, kissing over her stomach and then giving her a wicked grin as he tugged her shorts off.
Alexis moaned, writhing on the bed in delicious pleasure. She’d never wanted anyone so badly in her life.
Reid moved his hands slowly down over her hips and looked up at her, his gaze penetrating. His eyes never left hers as his tongue moved over her panties. Electricity burned through her body in a hot current.
Her breath caught in her chest as Reid reached up and slowly pulled her panties over to the side. She felt his breath against her clit, and Alexis moaned again, louder this time.
Slowly, deliciously, he moved his mouth back toward her, his tongue moving in slow circles as his hands held her hips.
“Reid,” she moaned. “Reid, I can’t… I’m going to come.”
He moved his tongue faster until the rhythm matched the thrusts of her hips. Her orgasm overtook her, and Alexis thrust her head back as the delicious waves rolled through her body.
He slid back up her body, kissing over her stomach, her breasts, and her neck until he finally reached her lips.
She felt him slide inside of her, moving faster and faster until they both came.
Then he collapsed on top of her, kissing her forehead as he pushed her hair softly out of her face.
He pulled her close and held her until they both drifted off to sleep.
***
Reid woke up at two in the morning. Alexis was sleeping next to him, her breathing soft and deep. He watched her for a moment, taking in the curve of her lips and the way her hair spread across the pillow. She looked so peaceful.
He slid out of bed and checked his cell phone. There were missed calls and emails from Richard, wondering where he was, reminding him about different things they needed to discuss before their meeting with Vista Collection.
Fuck him. Reid didn’t need any reminders. In fact, the only reason Richard was even calling was probably because he wanted to get some info he could use at the meeting to make himself look smart.
Reid a notepad out of the desk drawer, then settled into the chair and started going over the points he wanted to hit at the meeting. Every so often, he’d look over at Alexis to make sure she was okay. Occasionally, she’d turn over and sigh into the pillow.
He concentrated on his work, trying to anticipate any last minute questions Vista might have. He went over everything he could think of, compiling facts and figures on all the other successful campaigns The Lawson Agency had run.
When the sun started to come up at around six, he began looking up flights to Pennsylvania. They’d fly out this evening, right after his meeting, and file for the restraining order tomorrow. He’d bring Alexis back to her apartment to get her things, making sure that asshole Leo didn’t come near her.
He booked them two tickets on the flight that left at seven o’clock. She could sleep on the plane, and when they got in, he’d take her to a hotel. He’d feed her and put her to bed, and then tomorrow morning, they’d go down to the courthouse and file the order.
If Leo was here, in Florida, they wouldn’t have to worry about him being in Pennsylvania. Not that Reid cared either way. If Leo was there, it would be more of a pain in the ass, but Reid would also relish punching the asshole in the face.
At seven o’clock, Reid ordered room service -- coffee and scrambled eggs with bacon.
When it was delivered, he answered the door and rolled the tray into the room.
The noise must have woken Alexis, because she sighed and opened her eyes, blinking sleepily. She sat up and looked at him. God, she was gorgeous. Her long hair tumbled around her shoulders in tousled waves, giving her a sexy, just-woke-up look. Her shoulders were bare and the top of the sheet just covered her cleavage. It was all he could do not to run over there and jump into bed with her.
“Sorry if I woke you,” Reid said. “But I thought we could have breakfast together before I have to start getting ready for my meeting.”
She blinked again, and then pulled her hair into a ponytail, sliding the holder off her wrist and onto her hair. “What time is it?”
“A little after seven.” He poured her a cup of coffee, added cream and sugar, and brought it to her.
“Thanks,” she said, and took a sip.
“So I booked us flights for tonight,” he said. “At seven.”
“Flights?” She frowned.
“Yes. To Pennsylvania. So we can file the restraining order and get your things.”
She set the cup down gently on the nightstand. “I haven’t really decided about that yet,” she said.
He stared at her. “What do you mean?”
“I just mean that I’m not sure that’s what I want to do.” She bit her lip.
“You’re not sure that you want to go back to Pennsylvania?” He sat down on the bed next to her and reached for her hand. He rubbed his thumb slowly over her wrist.
Her skin was so soft.
“Yeah. I just… I’m not sure how I want to proceed.”
“Look, don’t be scared.” She wasn’t meeting his eye, and instead was looking away from him and down at the sheets. He reached out and turned her face toward him gently. “I’m going to be there with you every step of the way. You won’t have to see Leo on your own. I’ll go to your apartment. I’ll go to court with you. I’ll be there for all of it. Okay?”
She nodded, but it was the kind of nod you gave when you weren’t really sure you were going to do something and just wanted whoever you were talking to to be quiet.
She tightened her grip on his hand and pulled him toward her. Her lips brushed against his, and she pulled him down on top of her.
“Hey, hey, hey,” he said, pulling back. “What’s going on?”<
br />
“What do you mean?” Her mouth moved against his neck.
“I mean, what are you doing?”
“Kissing you.”
“I know but…” He pulled back a little bit more. His body was screaming at him to take her. But his heart and mind were telling him that wouldn’t be fair. Alexis was obviously using a physical connection to avoid talking about the real issue. “Don’t you think we should talk more?”
“Talk?” Her eyes darkened. “What do we need to talk about? Apparently you’ve got I all figured out.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I just wish you’d have asked me before you went ahead and booked flights.”
“I did ask you,” Reid said. “Last night, remember?”
She scooted away from him on the bed, and he reached out and tried to pull her close. But she turned away. “I just wish you’d have talked to me about it more,” she said. Her voice was flat.
“Okay,” he said slowly. “Fine. I’m asking you now. Do you want to go back to Pennsylvania?”
“No.”
“No?”
“No. I don’t.”
“So you just want to run away from everything and forget about it?”
“I wouldn’t expect you to understand,” she said bitterly. She rolled her eyes and leaned over the side of the bed, rummaging through her bag until she found a tank top.
She pulled it on and then flipped her ponytail over her shoulder.
“Then why don’t you explain it to me.” Reid was getting pissed now. Alexis had no right to be talking to him like this. He understood she was going through a hard time, but come on. He’d done nothing but be nice to her this whole fucking time. And why the hell didn’t she want to go back to Pennsylvania? He realized she didn’t want to see her ex-boyfriend, but why was she so resistant to the idea of filing a restraining order against him? Was it possible that she still wanted to work it out with Leo?
The thought caused an unfamiliar sensation to ripple through his body. It was a sensation he was used to when it came to work, but had never experienced when it came to women. Jealousy.
