Then Came Absolution (Southern Love #3)

by E. L. Todd

  “Yep.”

  Abby looked at Paul. “I’m glad your dad is doing well.”

  “Thank you,” he said with a nod. “He gave us a fright for a moment.”

  Alexandra rubbed his arm. “I’ve been trying to convince Abby to meet Toby.”

  “Not happening,” Abby said.

  Paul shrugged. “It’s her choice.”

  “My sister is going to die alone,” Alexandra said.

  “You are too if you keep being a brat.”

  Alexandra glared at her.

  Paul glanced at both of them then laughed. “You two never change.”

  “How was your blow job last night?” Abby asked bluntly.

  Paul’s cheeks turned slightly red.

  “You’re welcome, by the way,” Abby said.

  Paul turned to Alexandra. “And you still tell each other everything.”

  “We’re best friends forever,” Abby said.

  “Great,” Paul said sarcastically. “Now I have two women that know my darkest secrets.”

  “I don’t tell her everything,” Alexandra said. “Your really dark secrets are safe.”

  “Phew,” Paul said.

  The waitress brought their food and they ate together.

  Abby ate her burger faster than both of them. “I’m so happy you are back together.”

  “I am too,” Paul said.

  “Alexandra would never find someone better than you.”

  “Thanks,” Alexandra said with a laugh.

  “You know what I mean,” Abby said. “There is no one better. I love Paul.”

  Paul smiled. “I’m glad I have your approval.”

  “And keep my sister in the city,” Abby said. “I have no one to go antique shopping with.”

  “Mission completed,” Paul said.

  “Alex never belonged in the south anyway,” Abby said. “I couldn’t imagine her working on a field.”

  “It wasn’t bad,” Alexandra said. “I actually like it.”

  “You just liked Blaise.”

  The table fell silent after her comment. The tension picked up.

  “Sorry,” Abby said. “I thought he wasn’t a big deal anymore.”

  “He’s not,” Paul said simply.

  When the bill came, Paul paid for everything.

  “I can pay for mine,” Abby insisted.

  “Nope.” He slipped the cash in and held onto it.

  Abby glared at him.

  “Don’t bother,” Alexandra said. “Trust me.”

  “I’ll get you back, Brother,” Abby said.

  “Brother?” Paul asked.

  “You pretty much are.” She winked at Alexandra.

  “I will be as soon as Alex wants me to be,” Paul said.

  “And I hope that’s soon,” Abby said.

  Alexandra crossed her arms over her chest. “I think everyone else is more concerned about us getting married than we are.”

  Paul laughed. “It seems that way.” He put the tab on the table. “I have to get back to work.” He kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you when I get home.” He rose from the table then turned to Abby. “It was nice seeing you.”

  “Thank you for lunch.”

  “Anytime,” he said politely.

  He left the restaurant and disappeared down the sidewalk.

  “Marry him,” Abby blurted. “Or I will.”

  “That better be a joke.”

  Abby smiled. “The second part was. Not the first.”

  Chapter Nine

  Alexandra made dinner and waited for Paul to come home that night. When he walked inside, he dropped his briefcase on the counter and loosened his tie.

  “The worst part of the suit is the tie,” he said with a sigh. “I feel like someone is choking me all day.”

  She came behind him then pulled his jacket off. “At least you look sexy.”

  “When you work with a bunch of men, it doesn’t really matter.”

  Alexandra hung it up on his coatrack then placed the tie next to it.

  “How was your day?” He kissed her on the cheek then took his watch off.

  Alexandra suddenly had an epiphany. “We’re acting like we’re married.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Did I miss something…?”

  She stared at him for a moment then shook her head. “I cooked dinner and waited for you to come home. You kissed me on the cheek then asked how my day was.”

  He stared at her. “Baby, are you okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. I just…noticed it.”

  “Is that a bad thing or a good thing?”

  “I think it’s a good thing.”

  He put his hands in his pockets then walked into the kitchen. “What smells so good?”

  “Chicken and rice.”

  “That sounds great.” He grabbed his suitcase then carried it to the kitchen table. He went through the paperwork while she fixed their plates.

  “How was work?”

  He sighed then closed his briefcase. “When I was little, my mom would ask my father that very question when he came home. He would get upset and complain about the stress and worry at the office. It put everyone in a bad mood. That’s when I vowed to never do that with my family. I leave my problems at the office.” He put his briefcase on the ground and leaned back in his chair. “In other words, it was dreadful.”

  “I’m sorry you had a bad day.”

  “Let’s just forget about it.”

  She put the dishes on the table and sat across from him.

  “This is amazing,” he said. “I miss your cooking.”

  “Thank you.” She picked at hers but didn’t eat much.

  “What did you do today?”

  “I just hung out with Abby.”

  He nodded. “Maybe you should look for a job.”

  Alexandra looked at him. “Do you need help with rent?”

  “No,” he said quickly. “I think I said that wrong. I meant you should go back to nursing. You’re more than ready for it.”

  “Oh.” She picked at her rice. “I don’t know…”

  He sighed. “I can’t push you any harder than I already have. But you should think about it.”

  “I’m not good at it.”

  Paul took a deep breath. “You saved two people who were on the brink of death. Don’t give me that excuse. If you’re scared, you shouldn’t be. If I do my job wrong, a guilty person could escape imprisonment. That’s something that keeps me awake at night. But it will happen no matter how hard I try to prevent it. It’s inevitable. And I’m not going to stop being a lawyer because of it—ever.”

  “It’s not the same thing,” she said quietly.

  “One of my clients was raped. I was prosecuting a defendent and I almost lost based off a technicality. How could I live with myself if he went free? That victim could have been you, Alex. So yes, it is the same thing.”

  She tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’m just not ready.”

  “You’re never going to be ready if you run away from everything all the time. You ran to Georgia first, and now you’re running away from your profession. That mentality needs to change, Alex. I’m not kidding.”

  “I know you aren’t,” she snapped.

  He flinched at the anger in her voice. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  She averted her gaze.

  “I’ll drop it.”

  “You should.”

  He finished his dinner then carried the plate to the sink. “I’ll sleep on the couch tonight.”

  “Why?”

  “I made you upset, didn’t I?”

  “That doesn’t mean you get kicked out of your own bedroom.”

  “It’s our bedroom, Alex.”

  She placed her plate on the counter. “You sleep with me, Paul. I don’t want that to change.”

  He put his hands in his pockets. “I’m just trying to do what’s best for you—honestly.”

  “I know…”

  “You never have to work
again if you don’t want to. I make enough money for both of us.”

  “I would never do that,” she said simply.

  “Then what do you want to do?”

  “I—I don’t know.”

  Paul rubbed his chin. “What are you passionate about?”

  She shrugged. “People.”

  He nodded. “Alex, it sounds like you’re passionate about the very thing you are running from.”

  “I know,” she said quietly.

  “Well, you should think about that.”

  “Blaise said something to me…”

  Paul stared at her. “What did he say?”

  “That I shouldn’t be a nurse.”

  “That piece of shit doesn’t know his nose from his ass. Fuck him.” His voice became angry almost instantly.

  “He said I should be a doctor instead.”

  Paul stilled at her words. He crossed his arms over his chest. “That isn’t a bad idea. Do you want to be a doctor?”

  “I don’t know…if I can’t be a nurse, how can I be a doctor?”

  He was quiet for a long time. “You want my advice?”

  “Always.”

  “As a doctor, you are going to lose a lot more patients. It doesn’t matter what type of medicine you go into. If you’re prepared for that, I think you should do it. I know you’ll save more lives than you lose. But if that’s not something you can deal with, then it isn’t right for you. You need to change your thinking if you want to pursue it. And if you do, you have my full support. And I’d be extremely proud of you. Hell, I’d quit the firm right now.”

  She smiled at him.

  “I’ve always wanted a sugar mama.”

  Alexandra wrapped her arms around his waist. “You really think I can do it?”

  He kissed her forehead. “I know you can.”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “In the meantime, maybe you should volunteer at a hospital. Get back into it slowly before you make the plunge?”

  She nodded. “I’ll think about it.”

  “Okay.” He rubbed her back then pulled away. “I think I’m ready for bed. It’s been a long day.”

  She stared at him, feeling the desire come forth. Alexandra needed to move on from Blaise, and she knew this would be the best way to do it. She stepped closer to him then wrapped her arms around his neck.

  Paul circled her waist and stared at her, waiting for her to speak or move.

  “Are you too tired to make love to me?” she whispered.

  He took a deep breath then cupped her face. “I’m never too tired for that.” He pressed his mouth overs then kissed her gently. His other hand gripped her waist and pulled her into him. Alexandra felt her heart accelerate when she knew the moment had arrived. His lips devoured hers, caressing them softly.

  She unbuttoned his shirt then loosened his belt. Paul kept kissing her as he grabbed her shirt then pulled it off. Alexandra felt the heat flush her skin when she felt his bare chest. The muscles were tensed with excitement.

  Paul unclasped her bra and it fell to the floor. Then he picked her up and carried her into their dark bedroom. When he placed her on the sheets, he moved on top of her. Alexandra wrapped her legs around his waist while she loosened his slacks. She pulled them off then took the boxers with them. Paul kissed her as he kicked off his shoes and socks.

  He kissed her stomach and her hips while his fingers played with her jeans. He got them off then felt the material of her thong. He slipped it off then pressed his mouth to her entrance, kissing the moisture between her legs.

  Alexandra moaned while she felt him.

  Paul wrapped his arm around her waist then moved her further up the bed, resting her head on the pillow. He positioned himself between her legs then kissed her, conveying all his love for her in the embrace. Alexandra ran her fingers down his chest then gripped his back, focusing all her thoughts on him.

  He broke their kiss then pressed his face close to hers. “I love you.”

  “I love you too,” she whispered. She ran her fingers through his hair.

  Paul kissed her forehead then opened his nightstand. He picked up a foil packet then ripped it open. He quickly rolled the latex down his shaft, leaving a good pouch at the end.

  That’s when Alexandra felt the panic set in. Blaise entered her mind, the beautiful blue eyes that she stared at under the stars in the sky. All the afternoons they spent in the loft in the warehouse, all the times they would just stare at each other and say nothing at all. She tried to ignore it but it wouldn’t go away.

  Paul pulled her to him then positioned himself at her entrance.

  “Wait,” she said.

  Paul took a deep breath.

  “I thought I was ready. I’m not.”

  He said nothing, still leaning over her. He hid his face so she couldn’t see it. Suddenly, he moved off her and ripped the condom off. Just by watching his body movements, she knew he was pissed. He grabbed clothes out of the drawer and threw them on.

  “Paul, I’m sorry.”

  He stormed out of the bedroom.

  She ran after him until she reached the front door. “Paul, I’m so sorry.” She grabbed his arm so he wouldn’t leave.

  He yanked it away viciously. When he looked at her, there was a deep fire burning in his eyes. He was angrier than she’d ever seen him. It was like the darkest part of him had surfaced. He looked identical to the night when Gabe tried to force himself on her. The ferocity etched on his face couldn’t be tamed. “Fuck you, Alex.” She stilled at the hatred in his voice. He had never spoken to her like that. “You fucked him so easily, didn’t think about me once when you let him inside you. But now you can’t even make love to me, your loving boyfriend of two years. Go fuck yourself.” He marched out the door then slammed it behind him.

  Chapter Ten

  Blaise was still an empty wreck. The days passed with no meaning. He had no idea how his crops would do, but he didn’t even care if they did survive. He didn’t care about anything. Never in his life had he felt so numb. He stopped going to school entirely. His only friend in the world was Kane.

  That night there was a knock on the door. Blaise sat in his living room and looked at the blank television screen. If he didn’t move or make a sound, maybe the person would just go away.

  “Open the door, jackass.”

  Blaise sighed, knowing his brother wouldn’t leave.

  Cole opened the door and walked in. “You should lock your door.”

  “It doesn’t make a difference…”

  Cole put the pizza on the table with two bottles of water. “Hungry?”

  “No.”

  “I doubt you ate today.”

  “Stop trying to be Mom and just leave me alone.” He leaned back on the couch.

  “Come on. I’m trying to help you.”

  “No,” Blaise said. “You’re just trying to get back into my good graces.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. I’m just worried about you. I’ve never seen you like this.”

  Blaise placed his feet on the coffee table and sighed.

  “There’s gotta be a way we can get Alex back,” Cole said.

  “If there were, I would have found it.”

  Cole opened the box and took a slice. He ate it while he put his feet up. “Do you know where she is?”

  “New York.”

  “Maybe you should go talk to her.”

  “And say what?” Blaise snapped. “I have nothing new to say to her. She’ll just ask me to leave. And I’m sure Paul wouldn’t appreciate it. He would throw a punch then I’d kill him. I wouldn’t want to make Alexandra hate me.”

  Cole finished his slice then grabbed another. “What about Aunt Martha?”

  “What about her?”

  “Have her vouch for you.”

  “I already did,” Blaise said. “It didn’t get me anywhere.”

  Cole sighed. “Is there anyone else she’s close to?”

  Blaise thought for
a moment. “I know she isn’t close with her mom and dad, but she has a sister. Apparently, they are best friends.”

  Cole put down his plate. “Talk to her. Tell her everything. That’s probably your best move.”

  “And say what?” Blaise said. “She probably has no idea who I am.”

  “If they are best friends, I’m sure she knows exactly who you are.”

  “Even so, there’s nothing I can do to persuade her.”

  “You have to try,” Cole said.

  “She lives in New York.”

  “Take a plane.”

  Blaise sighed. “Cole, it’s over. There’s nothing I can do.”

  “Do you love this girl or not?”

  “Of course.”

  “Then don’t give up,” Cole said.

  “She’s in love with someone else now.”

  “If she loves you as much as you love her, then that relationship is only a sliver of what yours was. You have the right to make her believe the truth. Then she can decide fairly between the two of you. If she doesn’t have all the information, she could end up with the wrong guy. You need to do something.”

  “Why the hell do you care so much?” Blaise stared him down. “This isn’t your problem.”

  “You’re my brother. Of course, I care.”

  “You’ve never given a shit before.”

  Cole nodded. “Because I was a horrible brother. I’ve learned the error of my ways.”

  “I don’t even know how I would find her sister.”

  “Aunt Martha will tell you.”

  Blaise shook his head. “I really don’t think she will.”

  “She knows you would never hurt her, so she might. And as long as you make it clear you aren’t there to bother Alex, there shouldn’t be any problems.”

  “I guess I can ask.”

  Cole clapped his back. “Let’s go.”

  “As in we?”

  “I’ll drive,” Cole said.

  “I’m not drunk.”

  “Sure…”

  Blaise sighed then followed him out the door. When they drove to Martha’s house, all the lights were out. She must be asleep. Blaise got out of the truck then knocked on the door loudly. The dogs looked at him then went back to sleep.

  Martha opened the door a moment later, a gun in her hand.

  “It’s Blaise,” he said quickly.

  She turned on the light then put down the gun. “You shouldn’t come to someone’s house at midnight and not expect to be shot.”