Indebted Heart

by Stone, Measha

  It was absurd. To be so enamored with someone after a simple look. A brief cast of his eyes. Nothing really. Had it only been her eyes, or the way she softly cast them down when his stare hardened at the thought of her belonging to Bradley, he might have been able to wave off the attraction. But there was more. The easy sway of her hips as she walked toward him. The confident way she held herself as she walked out the door. There was no doubt in his mind she was not a dominant woman, and if she was interviewing for the club, she wasn’t vanilla either. That made her a dangerous employee.

  “May I help you, sir?” the front desk receptionist asked with a forced, polite smile. Her teeth looked too white behind her blood-red lipstick.

  “Yes. I’m here to see Alyssa Sanders.” He smiled. No need to punish the young lady for her bad taste in makeup; society would do that without his help.

  “Alex Tribelli? I’m here.” A cheerful voice sounded from behind him.

  He spun around, expecting to see a short girl in jeans and a sweater with a long braid down her back. Someone small town. He blinked.

  “Alex?”

  “Uh…yes.” He took a step toward her, blinking again. Standing before him was the woman from Bradley’s office. How could that be? How did a young girl from Missouri know about Top Floor? How did she know his father? Did his father know about the club? “Alyssa Sanders, I presume.” Alex tried to smile, but his face seemed to have frozen in shock.

  Her soft brown eyes glistened. The long, thick blonde hair that had been tied back the previous night was loose around her shoulders, boasting large curls that bounced when she moved. She wore a blue and white cotton sundress. Thick straps over her creamy shoulders held up the outfit, and the high waistline accented not only her shapely hips, but her round breasts. Her arms, chilled from the hotel air conditioning, were covered in little goosebumps, but she made no complaint.

  “Hi. Yes. I’m Alyssa.” Her voice pulled him away from his inspection. Her hand hung between them, and he quickly grabbed it to shake it. She gave him a firm shake; no weak grasp, but hearty and confident. He admired that in a woman. He hated feeling like he was going to break their hands when he greeted them during a business meeting. “Is everything okay?” she asked when he didn’t release her hand and continued to openly stare at her.

  “Yeah...yeah...” He dropped her hand and took a deep breath. Get a grip! He acted like she was the first beautiful woman he’d crossed paths with. “Sorry. Long day. My father didn’t describe you correctly at all. I was expecting...well, something else.”

  She gave a soft laugh. “Your father no doubt painted me with a much more juvenile brush.” Her purse strap slid down her arm as she spoke. Before she was able to right it, Alex moved to her and pulled it back up to her shoulder. He could make out the scent of her lotion and took a deep breath. She smiled, a gentle curve of her lips, and stared up at him. He shook his head and stepped back. He needed to get rein himself in. She smelled and looked good enough to devour. If they didn’t get moving, he might do just that.

  “The restaurant is only a few blocks away. Mind if we walk?” He instinctively looked down at her feet. Sensible sandals.

  “Sure.”

  They headed out from the cool lobby and into the sticky, hot night air. Alex was at least a head taller than Alyssa and remained mindful of that fact as he walked, keeping his strides more narrow than usual. He thought about how best to bring up Top Floor. He was sure it had been her in Bradley’s office, there was no doubt about that, and he could not afford for her to say something to his friends before he could.

  “Thanks for inviting me out tonight.” She ended the silence between them. “I know your father asked you to, but it was still nice of you to actually do it.” She gave him a way out of their dinner. Like it really did surprise her he would do this for his father.

  “Dad rarely asks me for anything and makes it impossible to say no.” Alex gave a little smirk. “You just got into town, right?” They came to an intersection and paused while the cars made their way past.

  “Yeah. Yesterday morning, actually.” She nodded.

  “Any leads on an apartment?” he asked. Her hotel wasn’t the worst in the city, but it wasn’t a home either.

  “Yep. Got lucky on that right away. Job too.” The dimple deepened on her cheek.

  He cleared his throat as they walked across the now cleared street. “Yes. The job.”

  “It’s weird, right? It’s weird for you that I’m going to work there?” She seemed to know exactly what he was thinking. “The way you walked into Bradley’s office, I assumed you were a manager, or owner, or something.”

  “Assuming is a dangerous thing.” He stuffed his hands into his pockets. “But in this case, yes. I’m part owner.” They came to another intersection and paused again. “It’s not going to be weird,” he assured, looking down at her. She appeared so calm, so confident, so put together. Although she was acknowledging it was an odd situation, she wasn’t concerned it would change things for her. “I do have one favor to ask. My friends, the one’s we are meeting tonight, they don’t know about that part of my life.”

  “Got it,” she said before he could finish his explanation. “It’s not exactly something I run around telling people either.” The light changed, and she began walking across the street. He caught up to her in three strides.

  “Not even your friends?”

  She didn’t answer him. Instead, she turned her expression away from him, following his lead down the street in a new silence. No friends, he decided. No family, no home, no friends. He left the silence between them hang, unsure as to where to take the conversation next. He had, in truth, just met this woman fifteen minutes ago. He knew nothing about her, other than he was physically drawn to her the moment his eyes landed on her. Physical attraction was not something to base anything on alone.

  They came to a small French café, and he opened the door for her, taking in the warmth of her smile as she passed him.

  “These are a great group of people.” He tried to comfort her, to make her feel less nervous...although she hadn't shown any signs of being either. Alex immediately found Jessica standing in the corner of the cafe waving him over. He placed an open hand on Alyssa’s back and led her in that direction. If he splayed his fingers out, he would feel the curve of her bottom, the muscles as she moved. He should have removed his hand. He didn’t.

  Chapter 4

  Alyssa hoped Alex couldn’t feel her trembling beneath his hand. Her heart beat so fast, she was sure everyone could hear it. When she’d walked into the restaurant, a moment of panic consumed her. These people might not like her. They would surely be more intelligent, more worldly, more everything. She hoped she didn't embarrass herself too much.

  The walk from her hotel to the cafe had been stressful enough; the prospect of meeting these new people made it worse. Alex had been kind and respectful as they’d walked, but all she kept thinking about was his eyes. The way they bore into her the night before. The way she wanted to lose herself in them—how easily she could lose herself in them. When he took her hand and didn’t let go, she tried to memorize the feel of him—the warmth of his skin, the tingling the touch sent up her arm. His aura blasted confidence and dominance. Even when he became a little flustered, he righted himself directly. He never lost stride, never took focus away.

  The cafe smelled delicious, giving her stomach another reason to cry out in hunger. She hadn’t eaten lunch. The store where’d she bought her sleeper couch that afternoon had made a huge dent in her wallet. She needed cash for dinner and to get her through until she started earning some tips. What little reserve she had left was saved for the hotel bill and anything unexpected. So, lunch hadn’t been an option.

  A beautiful woman waved at them from across the restaurant. Alex nodded to her. This was his friend? She wasn’t an ugly duck; she knew her worth physically. It was the inside she worried about. What if she couldn't keep up with the conversation? What if she wasn’t
funny or smart enough? What if Alex was embarrassed by her? He’d tell his father, and Paul would be so ashamed of her. The feel of Alex’s hand on her back immediately centered her. She took a deep breath, pushed away past demons, and surged forward. Under his hand, she was calm, collected. She hoped he never moved it.

  They approached a large circular table nestled in the back corner of the cafe. The blonde remained on her feet until they were at the table, then she moved closer to Alex, giving him a hug in greeting. “Hi.” She smiled brilliantly at Alyssa.

  “Hello,” Alyssa managed to tip her lips upward in response .

  “Alex.” The woman swept her eyes from Alex to Alyssa and back.

  “Oh. Yes. Sorry. Everyone, this is Alyssa. Alyssa, this is Jessica, Royce, Erin, Jonathan, Kelly, and Kendrick.” He pointed to each person as he made the introductions. Alyssa tried to mentally jot down the names, but held little confidence in her success.

  “Hi.” She waved to the table in general. They all gave their greetings, and Alex ushered her to the empty seat beside Kendrick, then took the seat next to Jessica.

  “So…Alyssa, Alex told me you’re from Missouri, right outside St. Louis?” Jessica struck up a conversation after Alex put in an order for appetizers.

  “Yes. Lived there my whole life. My grandmother lived in Chicago, on the north side. I used to visit her in the summers, but I’ve never lived outside of Missouri.” Alyssa took a sip of her water to shut herself up. When her nerves rattled, her mouth usually followed suit.

  “What made you make the move up here?” Kelly, a wildly curly redhead, asked with a sparkle in her eyes that put Alyssa a bit more at ease.

  “My mother passed away about a year ago. She was really the only thing keeping me there. The bar I was working at closed down, so I figured might as well make a change.”

  “I’m sorry to hear about your mother,” Erin said solemnly, reaching across the table, making the others next to her back away, and patted her hand.

  “Oh. Thanks.” Katherine Sanders’ death did not attract many mourners. Alyssa held a memorial service at the house, forgoing a formal funeral—which couldn’t be paid for anyway. Two women from the hospice center where Katherine had been placed in her last month of life visited briefly, each looking uncomfortably at their watches to track the respectable amount of time to stay at such an event. No one else showed.

  “Were you two close? I bet you were—that was a stupid question,” Erin continued.

  “My dearest Erin, how goes the wedding planning?” Alex interjected, saving Alyssa from having to come up with some sort of response that did not sound cold and removed.

  “Hmmm...” Erin blinked, swallowed, and put her face into the menu. “Alex, I can’t figure out what I want. Can you just choose for me?”

  “He’s always ordering for you. Pick something.” Jonathan jabbed his forefinger at her menu. His tone didn't suggest jealousy, but there was a hint of aggravation.

  “Fine. I’ll have whatever you have.” Erin snapped the menu closed and tossed it to the table.

  “How do you know Alex?” Kelly asked Alyssa, but kept her eyes on Erin.

  “Her mother was a co-worker of Dad’s. Worked at the branch down there.” His response relaxed Alyssa. Although nothing had happened between Paul and her mother, she knew he was not proud of how they met. When Paul mentioned he was going to have his son reach out to her when she came into town, she didn’t ask him what he had told Alex. She knew enough to know to keep that past buried. Paul doted on Alex, and the last thing she would ever want to do is to ruin that relationship.

  “Yeah, Mom toted me around to a conference when she didn’t have a sitter. Mr. Tribelli was very kind. He always seemed to have a treat for me whenever I saw him.” Or a winter wardrobe when her mother couldn’t afford to buy new clothes for her and still support her liquor habit.

  “You got stuck going to those construction expos?” Alex looked at her with wide eyes.

  “Yeah. Mom didn’t always have a sitter, and she had to work the booth or something.” She was working something, all right. Alyssa never understood her mother’s need to be second fiddle. Conference centers were her favorite pick-up spot. Mostly because the men there were married and would more willing to keep her on the sidelines. Katherine had no desire to be a homebody or a wife. She just wanted her meals and rent paid for, and married men made that easy. “It wasn’t too bad.”

  “Doubtful.” Jessica laughed. “I remember one time after he got back from one of those expos, he was telling us all about it. Alex’s mom tried her damnedest to pay attention and seem so interested. Alex and I nearly fell asleep in our pasta.”

  “What about work? Have you found a job yet? Still looking?” Erin pressed. Alyssa sipped at her water, relieved when the waitress showed up to take the orders.

  “Do you mind if I make a suggestion?” Alex whispered into her ear as she continued to rake her eyes over the menu in a panic. With all the questions, she hadn’t had time to look, and didn’t know what half of it was anyway.

  “Yes,” she sighed. “Please.” Her eyes met his. He was searching her expression. It was just a dinner order. He was the son of a friend. He was her boss. He was off limits. He was delicious. She coughed and turned away.

  She watched him as he made his selection, as well as hers. A glass of wine was coming her way. He didn’t give her the impression of being controlling, just comfortable with being in charge, with making the decision. It’s just dinner, Alyssa!

  Thankfully, the conversation began again, and she was not the center of it. Back home, she’d had only a few friends, and none of them were extremely close. Most of them she knew from a club or munch group, and they only got together when their attention was focused on their sex lives. The even shorter list of relationships she’d had over the years hadn’t taken place in public. She was rarely wined and dined. Mostly tied and flogged. She was happy that way, though. Simple. Keep it simple. No real emotions to get all muddied up when the honeymoon faded and they broke it off. She did most of the breaking off; no need to have them go through the unpleasantness of ending things. Better it come from her. Easy.

  Thomas’ had been the only relationship to continue after the breakup. He saw himself as her big brother. Watching over her at play parties, club events and such. He’d been all for the move to Chicago. New scene. New beginning.

  The group of friends felt so close, so much closer than most families. Her grandmother had been the only family she had growing up. Katherine didn't speak to her mother very much, mostly just when she wanted to send Alyssa up to Chicago for the summer. Her grandmother was always kind, always nurturing, and always up for an adventure. When Alyssa was scared of going into the water the first time, Grandma had taken her to North Avenue beach and showed her how it was done by running and diving headfirst into the cold water. Soon, Alyssa was running in after her, squealing with delight.

  She missed her grandmother. Colon cancer had stolen her away when Alyssa was only twelve—when she needed her most. Katherine declared Alyssa old enough to see to herself and left her alone most of the time. Sometimes, she’d be gone for days with a boyfriend, and Alyssa had to fend for herself. Paul never knew about those times. He would have found a way to have someone stay with her or come down himself. She didn’t want to put him out. He and his wife had done so much for her, she didn’t want to interject into their lives any more than she already had. She owed him a huge debt for all the times he provided for her when her mother couldn’t…or wouldn’t.

  Each of the women at the table conveyed comfortable happiness. She also had picked up a vibe from both Kendrick and Royce that made her watch them more closely. They seemed to be as comfortable as Alex about being in control. Nothing big, and not anything most people would even pick up on. But she noticed the small shake of Royce’s head when Jessica went to order another beer, then quickly changed her order to a soda. Kelly started to make plans with Erin to go on a shopping trip, and Kendrick g
ave her hand a quick squeeze, stilling her argument when Erin started to make excuses as to why she couldn’t make it. She wondered if Alex had seen the signs, if he knew his friends would most likely be very open to his business and lifestyle. Considering how close they all seemed, it made no sense for him to keep it a secret from them.

  It was easy to sit with this group. They all seemed to open their arms to her. She leaned back in her chair, listening to the humorous banter between Kelly and Jessica, and felt Alex’s arm on her chair. He didn’t move it when she bumped him. Instead, he casually played with strands of her hair as the conversation continued. A forward move, something she would have pulled away from normally, but it felt so natural, she simply allowed herself to enjoy it.

  “I’m tired,” Erin suddenly announced. “How about we call it a night?” She began to gather her purse. Jonathan stared at her with an odd expression. Surprise? Shock? Irritation?

  “Sure. Fine.” Jonathan stood from the table. The others seemed to be just as confused as Alyssa as the couple began to scooch their way out of the corner and say their goodbyes. Erin glared down at Jonathan, who shrugged and waved her toward the exit.

  “That was weird, even for Erin,” Kelly remarked once the couple was gone.

  Jessica looked over at Alex and Alyssa. “Did she say anything to you?” she asked Alex, who shook his head in response.

  “I barely spoke to her this week. She texted me about the restaurant, but that was it.” Alex removed his hand from behind Alyssa and straightened in his chair. “She’s usually pretty stiff, proper,” he said by way of explanation. “It’s odd for her to up and leave before dessert, or at least the mention of dessert.”