by Raina Wilde
She had expected him to pause in front of her for a greeting and therefore had not been prepared for him to reach out and pull the sign from her hand and place it dramatically in the waste bin a few feet away. Before she had time to recover Alex had sauntered back, grabbed her shoulders and planted a resolute kiss on her cheek.
She had meant to be grateful that he had not kissed her mouth. However, her brain was misbehaving and all she seemed to recognize was the fact that he smelled absolutely delicious. Whatever cologne he was wearing was something that she had never encountered before. It was spicy and exotic in a way that the old Axe-spray-Alex had never been before.
Luckily, she recovered before he pulled away so she was fairly certain that he had not been privy to her thoughts gone astray.
Jenna placed her hands firmly on his chest, and pushed. She forced herself not to think about any muscles her hands may have felt through his cashmere sweater. What kind of fighter dressed this well? Wasn’t he supposed to be wearing athletic shorts and a cut off T-shirt?
“Mr. Rockwell.” She proffered a hand to shake. “It’s good to see you. If you’ll follow me to the car we can discuss our strategy on the way to your temporary accommodations.”
Alex continued to smile down on her from his towering six-and-a-half-foot height. Even in heels Jenna was lucky if she topped five-foot-ten. His short brown hair looked almost blonde in the sunlight and Jenna noticed that his once lanky frame had filled out nicely with the harsh muscles he’d always wanted. He must have been working very hard, she thought.
“You look great, Jen.” Had his voice gotten deeper? No. She decided. It had simply been too long since she had heard it in person. She decided not to respond. Instead, she checked her watch and gestured toward the door.
As she took a step toward the exit Alex laid a gentle hand on her arm. It had always surprised her how he could be so ferocious in the cage, yet completely tender in any outside situation. She looked at his hand on her arm and then up into his eyes that were searching her face for… something.
“Jenna. Are we going to get a chance to talk?” He asked softly.
Jenna took a deep breath. She had been prepared for this inevitable conversation but not so soon.
“Mr. Rockwell.” She began. “I am more than willing to discuss anything you wish, as often as you wish, in regards to our professional arrangement. However, I am afraid that anything outside of my duties as an agent, and yours as my client, are to remain strictly off limits.” The speech sounded stiff even to her ears but Jenna needed to ensure that he had no chance of wheedling past her iron reserve. She did not want to discuss the past. She would not discuss it. They would both be better off, she thought, if Alex would simply refrain from bringing it up.
Jenna watched as Alex pulled himself back, clearly getting her message. His eyes contracted and she could tell he was sizing her up. Clearly they both had the ability to surprise each other.
Jenna was glad that the driver was taking them to the waters of Lake Michigan before the high-rise hotel that was located amidst the hustle and bustle of the city of Chicago.
Alex had started to fidget after only fifteen minutes in standstill traffic and Jenna thought that he needed a reminder of how much he used to love this city.
Just then driver pulled the car up to one of Chicago’s public beaches. When Jenna opened her door, allowing the cool fall breeze to waft into the vehicle, Alex finally raised his eyes from the clenched fists in his lap. She could tell that he could smell the fresh water. It was something every Chicago resident became acutely aware of whenever they found themselves within a few blocks of the massive body of water. Alex would not have forgotten, Jenna thought, and she found that her assumption was correct.
Alex unfolded himself slowly from the back seat of the vehicle. He gazed over the churning water and took a deep breath. Suddenly, he revealed a uniquely peaceful grin that Jenna could not remember ever having seen on his face before. Alex slipped off his shoes, rolled the legs of his trousers and began walking through the sand without a glance or word to Jenna.
“Alex,” She shouted at his back, “we have a schedule to follow!”
Alex turned around and waved for her to join him.
“Hurry up then, slowpoke.” He called before continuing his trot toward the water's edge.
Jenna was dumbfounded by the pure bliss that she had momentarily seen flicker across his face. Five years ago, though he had been loving and kind in their relationship, Alex had also been surly and insecure in any situation that hadn’t involved the two of them alone. Later, she had witnessed signs of an arrogant and immature celebrity that had emerged for the public eye. Never, Jenna thought, had he ever seemed as completely happy and confident as this very day.
Knowing that it was a bad idea, but unable to stop herself, Jenna slipped her heels off her feet and threw them into the car. Jenna informed the driver that they would only be a minute, and stepped tentatively into the sand.
She came to a stop at Alex’s side where he was watching the last of the summer boaters surging amongst the waves. When she looked back at Alex she realized that he was watching her, once again, with that wicked half smile.
“Double dog.” He raised an eyebrow in challenge as he stated the well-known dare phrase.
“What?” Jenna’s brain was on overdrive. She could not seem to interpret what Alex was saying when he continued to stare at her in that particular way. He threw a pointed gaze at the water that lapped the shore a few feet in front of them. “No way.” She stated firmly.
He took a goading step closer to the water.
“Absolutely not, Alex.”
“Come on, Jen. Live a little. You love the water.” He proffered an upturned hand for her to grasp. She stared at it as if it were a venomous snake.
With trepidation Jenna realized that her plan to utilize personal knowledge of Alex for her own benefit might just be a tool that he could use against her in return.
“Winter is just around the corner.” He flexed his fingers enticingly, still holding them out for her to grasp. “This might be your last chance for months.”
It was a low blow and one he knew she couldn’t resist.
Brushing past him, without so much as a glance at the hand hanging in midair as it skimmed the sleeve of her blouse, Jenna plodded quickly into the water. The sensation of the warm water lapping around her ankles was that of pure, uninhibited ecstasy. She closed her eyes and plunged a little deeper, aware enough to keep the hem of her skirt safely above the water.
She heard a deep sigh beside her and realized that Alex had followed her movements and was standing only inches away as they shared in this extremely pleasurable moment.
“What has gotten into you?” She whispered incredulously. For the first time Jenna felt the risk of working with Alex. She had prepared herself for the Alex she thought she knew. This was an entirely different person.
“Do you really want to talk about it?” He asked softly.
This time when she looked at him, her hazel eyes searching his of deep blue, she understood his meaning immediately. If she wanted to discuss the change in Alex’s personality she would also have to discuss their past. She could not fathom how the two could be linked after so many years, but a flutter in her gut told her that this was territory she was not willing to enter.
Jenna shook her head. Alex continued to look intensely at her, his eyes searching her face for any sign that belied her resolution to keep him at arm's length. Finally he broke eye contact and gestured back toward the waiting company car.
“I suppose that’s enough fun for the day.” Alex stated the words nonchalantly but Jenna thought she sensed a level of tension in his shoulders that had not been there before. She ducked her head and led the way away from the beach.
The rest of the day passed in a haze of formality that Jenna would have revelled in with any other client. It turned out that Alex was outstanding with the children. He allowed them to climb all over hi
s massive frame, hang from his arms and wrap themselves around his legs. He taught some of the teens basic sparring moves and finished up with an excellent speech on the importance of the martial arts for fitness, mental control, and self-defence, though never violence for the sake of violence.
Jenna could not have asked for a better example of the type of fighter she wanted to sell to sponsors. Her surprise was even more profound considering that she had not yet had the dreaded discussion about the need for a change in his reputation. She knew, from his profile, that this was Alex’s first ever youth engagement and, though necessary, she had been unsure of his reaction to her plan. Never before had the athlete agreed to a public event that was anything less than a major showcase function, but for the first time Jenna felt that he might have actually enjoyed himself while promoting his position as a MMA fighter.
As the weeks continued to pass Jenna found it unnecessary to initiate the discussion about a change in image. Alex appeared to have made that determination independently. His behavior was remarkable, she noted, making her search for sponsors much easier than she had initially expected. There would always remain those who wanted nothing to do with Alexander Rockwell, based on his previous antics. Yet, Jenna found that if she could convince the financer to hold a private meeting with her client he invariably won them over.
Jenna had no idea what Alex said, or did, in those meetings. He had made it clear that they were conversations that were better left in private. More than once he implied that his method involved explaining why his attitude had changed and how he intended to maintain it.
“That is something you have been clear about not being interested in.” He stated bluntly when she had asked for an explanation as to his reason for requiring Jenna to wait patiently outside of the meetings.
The truth was, by the time November rolled around, Jenna was more than interested.
Jenna was frustrated that she was finding it more difficult than Alex to maintain a professional demeanor. After the intense moment on the beach of Lakeshore Drive, Alex had decreased his attempts to initiate a personal conversation with his agent. He seemed to have resigned himself to small reminders and intense looks but avoided any overt mention of their past relationship.
Rather than relieve her this tactic drove Jenna crazy. She could rarely find herself in the same room as Alex without wanting to demand an answer for the dramatic change in his behavior. When they were alone in the back of the limo that one of his sponsors had provided Jenna found herself unable to breath and acutely aware of his nearness.
He was winning her over with his kindness, she realized.
Forcing her to have the conversation would have provoked her defenses in a way that Alex knew would negate any chance of Jenna actually listening to what he had to say. Instead, he was providing concrete proof of the transformation in such a profound and subtle way that Jenna found herself wanting to force the words from his mouth.
She almost made it through November by convincing herself that it was best for their professional relationship if she simply let the issue pass.
That plan worked well until the evening of the Thanksgiving holiday.
This would be the first weekend that Jenna was not off at some publicity event or MMA tournament with Alex and his extensive team of trainers, kinesiologist, nutritionist, and promotional items distributors. These events made it easy for Jenna to find time away from the fighter who was kept perpetually occupied.
For the first time in months Jenna found herself facing an extended weekend alone in her apartment. Her parents were fulfilling their lifelong dream of a European tour, and her brother, a Navy Seal, was off the grid until further notice. Lena had extended an invitation for Jenna to join her in North Carolina with her family, but Jenna had declined, thinking that she could use a few days to catch up on some much needed rest. The truth was that Jenna needed some time to fortify her reserve against Alex.
Jenna spent the morning typing out emails to her parents and brother, who would each reply in their own time. She then watched the distant parade from her balcony before deciding that it would be best not to venture out into the chaos of the city on the holiday. Instead, she resolved to occupy her time with all of the special activities that she rarely had the opportunity to enjoy on a regular basis.
Jenna lounged on her barely used, designer couch with a short novel that she was able to finish reading in only a handful of hours. She couldn’t remember the last time she had allowed herself the luxury of reading something that did not apply directly to her career. As the streets emptied and families settled down for their meal Jenna found a moment to pull her elliptical out of the closet and push through a brisk cardio workout. Feeling invigorated, but sweaty, she decided that a shower was in order.
Forty minutes later Jenna, who had been dozing on the couch in her plush terry cloth robe, awoke sharply from a loud noise. For a moment she was disoriented. Her eyes took in the untouched mug of coffee on her end table, her robed body, and the twisted towel that encased her hair and was pulling at her scalp.
The noise sounded again and she realized that it was the door buzzer to her condo.
She padded over to the intercom and activated the security camera.
Alex stood outside her building with a large cardboard box and a guilty grin.
She had almost decided to pretend that she wasn’t home when Alex shifted the apparently heavy box and rang the bell again.
“What are you doing here?” she spoke into the microphone.
“You going to let me in?” Alex responded, raising an eyebrow in challenge.
“You didn’t answer my question.” Though she couldn’t imagine what he was doing outside her condo, Jenna could not suppress the small twinge of excitement that raced through her body at the sight of him.
“I came for Thanksgiving.” He spoke as if stating the obvious.
“What?” Was he crazy? “Alex, I’m not cooking a turkey in here, I didn’t invite anyone over.”
“I know. That’s why I brought dinner to you.” He lifted the box and shook it in front of the camera as if the sight of cardboard was enough to entice her. For all she knew, the box was empty and, even if it wasn’t, she was positive she did not want to be alone with Alex Rockwell in her home.
“Are you going to let me in already or are you going to make me stand out here while all of this delicious food gets cold?”
She was about to buzz him in when Jenna realized what she was wearing. No makeup, wet hair, and absolutely indecent attire. She pulled the robe tighter to cover her breasts but it did little to hide the impressive amount of cleavage displayed through the plunging neckline.
“Oh crap.” She swore. She hadn’t realized that her statement had gone over the speaker until she heard Alex’s chuckle return from the other end.
“You’re not naked, are you?” He peered into the camera lens, pretending that he might be able to see her reflection inside. Jenna knew very well that there was no video feed at the entrance to the building but the act still made a blush rise up her neck and cheeks.
“No, I’m not naked!” Jenna slapped her forehead when he laughed again. Too late she had realized that her overzealous denial had confirmed his suspicions to be dangerously close to the truth.
“Come on, Jen. I’m not going to bite.” The innocent comment wreaked havoc on Jenna’s emotions. She knew he had meant absolutely nothing sexual by the comment, and it was true that he would never actually bite, but a sudden flash of Alex’s mouth being close enough to her skin… well, she felt the flush begin to rise again.
Jenna gave herself a mental shake. Get a hold of yourself, girl.
“Tenth floor.” She pressed the lock release and instantly regretted her decision.
With sheer panic Jenna cast a glance around her quaint condo, silently praising her mother’s training that had instilled an appropriate level of neat freak in her children. She sprinted to her bedroom, estimating the amount of time it would take him to
cross the lobby, hopefully wait for an occupied elevator, and ride the lift to the tenth floor.
For one idiotic moment Jenna considered pulling on a flattering day-dress, but she knew Alex would recognize that immediately as an attempt to impress.
Instead, she decided to belie his assumption about her nudity and settle for the casual lounging outfit she would have chosen for a night alone. Jenna pulled on a pair of black stretch pants that were comfortable with the added benefit of slimming and elongating her muscular legs. She then chose a long sleeved, sheer, printed top over a black tank. Jenna did not bother with socks or shoes but rather moved on to a quick application of makeup. She realized that there was no time for a full array of product, instead she settled for a hint of blush, mascara and a pale pink lip-gloss.
She had just finished brushing her damp auburn hair when she heard a quiet knock on the door. She braided it casually as she walked down the hallway and adhered it with a dark tie.
One glance in the hall mirror told her that she had successfully pulled off a look that was both fresh and effortless. Jenna smiled to herself and took a deep, calming breath before opening the door.
As he brushed past her toward the kitchen Jenna gave him a mildly reproving look. Try as she might to hide it, she was amused by his unexpected appearance.
“I like your place.” He was taking in the details of her elegant, but comfortable, home while pulling a series of clear storage containers from the box. From her vantage point she could see sliced turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, stuffing, green beans, and even two slices of crème-topped pumpkin pie.
“Did you cook all of this?” She asked incredulously. Those were not restaurant takeout containers.
“Nah,” Alex laughed. “I got my nutritionist to tell the chef that I could take a weekend off from chicken and rice.” Jenna had forgotten that Alex had now gained enough sponsorship to employ a personal chef. She shook her head in amazement. This account was turning out better than she could have ever anticipated, as long as neither of them screwed this up, her promotion was in the bag.
