by Leigh, Jo
“And?”
“You wanted me,” he said as he sat up. The sheet fell to his waist. Her gaze lingered on that chest of his.
“I did not,” she said, forcing herself to look away. He was just too beautiful. It played havoc with her determination to put an end to this... this farce right now.
“Oh, yes, you did. It was right there, in your eyes. But there was something else, too.”
“Oh?”
“Yep. Which wasn’t so nice.” He ran his fingers through his tousled hair, then looked at her intently. “You looked sad,” he said. “Sad and confused. I didn’t mean to do that to you. I wanted to make you happy.”
“I know,” she said, wanting to reassure him even while she knew that would be the worst thing she could do. “But you can’t always get what you want. Not even you.”
“You think I might get what I need?”
“Mick Jagger might not be the sage of the ages, you know?”
Alex didn’t respond. His sexy smile was gone now. “I need you,” he whispered.
“No,” she said. “You want me. There’s a difference.”
“I’m not the same man with you, Dani. I’ll never be that man again. You woke me up. Made me feel. How can I go back to business deals and stock exchanges without you? I never realized how empty it was. Honestly. I figured all I needed was a change of scenery. But that wasn’t it at all. It’s you.”
She tried to smile, even though his words were tearing her up. “Nonsense,” she said, struggling to keep her voice teasing. “You’ll meet Miss New York and forget all about me.”
.“Don’t say that.”
“Why not? It’s true. Face it, Alex. I’m a quick fling, that’s all. A little detour on the great highway of your life. We shouldn’t make more of it. It just complicates things.”
“No. It’s not like that. You know it isn’t.”
Dani shifted her gaze so that she wasn’t looking him in the eye. She had to say the next words, even though she knew they were all lies. And she had to make him believe her. “It’s true for me, Alex.”
His stillness told her she’d been convincing. She had to move now, get away from him before he said something that would make her crumple. She headed for the bathroom. “I think you’d better get up and get changed,” she said. “I’d rather Chloe didn’t see you in here.”
She didn’t wait for an answer. She just ducked inside her bathroom and closed the door. Her forehead came to rest on the cool wood. Dammit, why did this have to be so hard? If she’d been asked a few days ago if love at first sight was possible, she’d have laughed. Now, she knew that all the fairy tales about instant romance were true, except, of course, for the happy endings. She’d fallen, all right. Hard. Alex had breezed into her life and messed her up for good. Now how was she supposed to find someone who really could be part of her life? There wasn’t a man alive who could compare to him. Certainly not in Carlson’s Gap.
All she had to do was get through today. They’d be at the street festival, and Alex would be the center of attention. She’d be thrust into the background while the town fell at his feet. That would be a good thing. A taste of what life would be like with the Sexiest Man in the World. Today would make saying goodbye easier. At least, she hoped so.
ALEX DIDN’T WANT TO SIGN autographs. He didn’t want to smile politely, answer questions or have his picture taken. If it wasn’t for the fact that he was helping raise money for Dani’s clinic, he would have turned around and walked away.
But this was for Dani. Maybe the only thing he could give her. So he let Brenda, in her rhinestone-studded jacket and skintight jeans, lead him through the already swelling crowd to a booth set up dead center in the middle of Main Street. His pictures, blown up from the World magazine, loomed all around him on shop windows, banners and even on balloons.
“You’ll stand here, Alex,” Brenda said. “And people will line up in back. The photographer will take one photo each. No more.”
She had him standing in front of the booth. From here, he could see the local radio station remote truck, the NBC affiliate truck and a whole slew of other booths lining the street. Vendors were setting up arts and crafts, snacks and games. The morning sun was warm, yet a cool breeze kept things brisk. It looked to him as if the entire population of Carlson’s Gap was out here doing something. Except for Dani. He knew she was out there somewhere. They’d walked here together, listening to Chloe’s excited chatter the whole way. Each of them had carried a cake, and surprisingly, all three confections had made it to the school booth without mishap. He’d been embarrassed to see that their cakes were priced way above the others, just because he’d helped bake them. But it made Chloe feel important and happy, so he’d let it go.
Dani hadn’t said a word about it. But then, she’d been quiet all morning. Of course he knew why. He’d pretty much made a mess of things last night. How could he have been such an ass? Asking Dani to be his mistress while he married another woman? The idea was ludicrous. Insane. Yet, that’s what he’d proposed.
It was a mystery to him that he could have accepted his father’s notions for all these years without question. Maybe he hadn’t wanted to think about it too much. It had always been the excuse he used not to get too close. But now that he did want to get close, he didn’t know how.
“Can I get you something? Coffee?”
He’d forgotten about Brenda. He smiled at her briefly, then went back to looking for Dani. “No, that’s okay.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, thanks,” he said, concentrating on her for the moment. She still seemed as nervous as when she’d first approached him. “Hey, it’s going to work out fine,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll raise lots of money.”
“Oh, yes. I think so, too. Especially after Mr. Chesterton gets here.”
“Pardon me?”
“Your Mr. Chesterton. He should be arriving soon, don’t you think? I’m so excited. Did you see that NBC is here? ‘Entertainment Tonight’ is supposed to be coming, too. And maybe someone from ‘E!.’”
“Ted is coming here?”
Brenda’s expression turned puzzled. “Yes, of course. I thought...”
“What is he going to be doing here, exactly?”
She stepped back a little, clearly in reaction to his tone, but he didn’t care. “He’s bringing Carley Ann Foxmoor. For publicity pictures. He said—”
“I can imagine what he said.” Alex tried to gain control of his anger. He knew just what Ted was trying to do. Bringing Carley was a sneaky damn thing to pull. He’d dated Miss California for several months, and everyone had assumed that something more would come of it. But he’d never made any pretense of the fact that it was just dating. Nothing else. Nothing more. Ted was bringing her here so that he would see Dani next to Carley. So that he would come to his senses.
“I think that’s him now,” Brenda said, her voice quivery. He must have really frightened her. “I’m sorry. It’s not your fault,” he said as he followed her gaze down the street to his left. A black limo approached. That was Ted all right.
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Bradley. I thought for sure you knew. It was such a good idea.”
“It’s Alex, and don’t worry. Your fund-raising will go on as planned. Will you excuse me, please?”
He didn’t wait for her answer. He walked toward the limo, forcing himself to keep his hands from turning into fists. Ted was a good assistant, the best he’d ever had, but this was going too far. They were going to have a little talk.
Just as the limo pulled to the side of the road and stopped, Alex spotted a familiar blond head in the crowd by the registration booth. Dani. What was she going to think when she saw Carley get out of that car? He didn’t need this. Not after his own blunders last night.
The limo driver stepped out and went to the passenger door just as Dani caught sight of him. She was heading his way, Chloe in tow. There was no way to stop her, short of a running tackle. Damn.
�
�WHOSE CAR IS THAT?” Chloe asked.
“I don’t know. It’s big, though, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. It’s like the one Alex’s friend had. Think that’s him again?”
“Maybe,” Dani said. Alex hadn’t mentioned Ted coming back to town. But who else in Carlson’s Gap would have access to a limo?
She waved at Alex, but he didn’t wave back. Even from across the street she could see something was wrong. Her stomach muscles tightened and she felt a lump in her throat. This wasn’t good. She wasn’t sure why or how, but she knew. Something bad was afoot.
She slowed her pace, but Chloe pulled her along. Dani wanted to tell Chloe to stop. To turn around and run the other way, but she didn’t. She just kept walking. It felt strangely like a procession to the gallows.
They reached Alex as the door to the limo opened. Instead of Ted, a woman stepped out. Not just a woman—an extraordinarily beautiful woman. The most gorgeous woman Dani had ever seen in her life. In a dress that showed off every curve of her very curvy body. Tall, long blond hair, perfect makeup, big breasts. A centerfold come to life.
“Alex!”
Dani watched the woman beam at Alex, rush toward him as if in slow motion and fling herself into his arms. Then her lips were on his, and Dani couldn’t watch anymore. She felt the crowd around her, felt Chloe’s hand in hers, tugging her closer to the car, but none of it really registered.
She was too busy trying to keep herself together. The pain she felt caught her off guard. It was too sharp, too debilitating. It was a struggle not to fall. How stupid she was! How could she have thought, even for one minute that Alex could be hers? It was clear he belonged with the tall blonde, not plain old her.
When she opened her eyes, the kiss had ended, but not the embrace. The woman’s arms were around his neck, and Alex’s hands were on her waist. They were talking. No, Alex was talking.
“That’s Miss California.”
“Carley someone, right?”
“God, she’s gorgeous. I heard they were getting married. I think it was in the Enquirer.”
Dani listened to the two women next to her. She felt hot tears in her eyes, and blinked them back. She couldn’t stay. She couldn’t.
“Come on, Chloe.”
Chloe pulled against her. “I don’t want to go yet.”
“We have to leave. Now.”
“Why?”
“I’ll explain later.”
“Oh, Mom.”
Dani had to tug, but she finally got her daughter to follow her. She felt like a salmon swimming upstream as she fought her way through the burgeoning crowd. Everyone was talking about Alex and the beauty queen. No one seemed the least bit surprised to see them kissing in the middle of the street. The excitement was palpable, and it made Dani feel sick.
His words had been so lovely. Why did they all have to be lies? Hadn’t she learned her lesson? Obviously not. No, it took public humiliation to do that.
“Mom, I think Alex was calling you.”
“No, Chloe. I don’t think so.”
“Where are we going?”
“Home.”
“But what about the booths? You promised I could do spin art. And get hot dogs.”
“Maybe later.”
“Mom!”
“What?”
“You’re hurting me!”
Dani stopped. She loosened her grip immediately, ashamed that she hadn’t even realized what she’d been doing. She turned and bent down so she could look Chloe in the eye. “I’m sorry, baby.”
“It’s okay. It wasn’t bad.”
“I’m not feeling too well, honey. That’s why I want to go home.”
“Are you feeling sick because that lady kissed Alex?”
Dani’s heart sank. She must be completely transparent if even Chloe could see. For a moment, she thought about brushing off the comment, but she’d promised herself long ago that she was going to tell her daughter the truth, unless it would hurt her. “Yeah, kiddo. I’m afraid so.”
“You know, he didn’t kiss her back.”
“What do you mean?”
“He didn’t. I promise. I saw.”
My God, how she wanted to believe Chloe’s words. But believing was dangerous. Too dangerous. “How about we go over to that spin art booth?”
Chloe’s face lit up with a smile. “You mean it?”
Dani nodded. “I’ve been needing a new T-shirt.” She leaned forward and kissed her daughter on the forehead, then stood. She tried to figure out a way to get to the spin art booth without walking past Alex, but it would have meant going blocks and blocks out of their way. No. This was reality. This was what she’d suspected all along. It was only her foolish, dreaming heart that had led her astray. Better to face the facts, and get used to the pain in her gut. She had the feeling it was going to be there for a long, long time.
Taking Chloe’s hand once more, gently, she led her daughter back toward the center of town, toward the huge mass of people surrounding Alex and his lady friend. If she couldn’t avoid the scene entirely, at least she could edge her way around the periphery. She just didn’t want to see.
No one noticed her, thank goodness. She hurried as quickly as she could, without pulling Chloe too roughly. But there were so many people in the way. It wasn’t just local folks, either. One thing for sure, Alex was a draw. There’s no way this little town celebration could have brought a crowd like this. Why not? The Sexiest Man in the World and Miss California? Her little neck of the woods hadn’t seen this much excitement, ever.
“Mom, wait.”
Dani stopped. “What’s wrong?”
“Don’t you hear that?”
“What?”
“Listen.”
Dani did. She heard the murmur of the crowd. A siren somewhere off in the distance. Her name.
It was Alex. He was calling her. How did he know where she was? “Come on, Chloe.”
She started walking again, this time tugging her daughter behind her.
“But he’s calling you.”
“I heard him. Thank you.”
“Don’t you want to see why?”
“I’ve already seen enough for one day.”
“But...”
“You’ll understand when you’re older.” Dani heard him call for her again. Then she heard another voice. Karen Stovall’s.
“She’s over here, Alex. By the pie toss booth.”
“I see her!”
Dani didn’t recognize that voice. All she did know was that she had to get out of here, fast. If only Chloe would hurry!
“Mom, they’re all looking for you. Wait.”
“No. Come on.”
Chloe grabbed her with both hands and slammed on the brakes. Dani was jerked back, surprised at her little girl’s strength. She had to stop. If only Chloe could understand how badly she needed to escape.
“Mom, look.”
She followed Chloe’s gaze right into the crowd. Something odd was happening. The people seemed to be part of some master plan, choreographed by an unknown director, for they moved, as one, to create a path right smack-dab in front of her. It was like watching the Red Sea part. At the end of the newly created path stood Alex Bradley.
He walked toward her. Alone.
Chapter Sixteen
Dani felt frozen to the spot. She couldn’t run, even though everything in her screamed to move, just go! But she was held steady by the gaze of a man twenty feet away.
She was aware of the crowd, even though she couldn’t move her eyes. They stared at her, at him, their faces turning from side to side as if watching a tennis match. The closer Alex got, the quieter everything became.
What she couldn’t figure out was what he wanted. Why make this scene so public? Wasn’t she humiliated enough?
Oh, no. Behind Alex, the woman, Miss California. She was hurrying after him. Dani listened to the click, click of her heels on the pavement. Wanting to look at her, Dani tried to shift her gaze, but Alex was only ten feet
away, and the connection was too strong. So Carley was left to her peripheral vision, which was enough. Even in her strange “almost there, but not quite” state Dani was overwhelmed with how beautiful, how graceful she was. She belonged with Alex. He deserved someone like her.
Alex drew closer, and somehow Dani managed to take a step back. With that one move, she tried another, but something—no, Chloe’s hands at her back—stopped her. Her own daughter wanted her to make a spectacle of herself in front of every last person she knew on earth. Dani prayed for an earthquake. For Superman to swoop down and take her away. Anything, just so she wouldn’t have to hear Alex tell her goodbye.
It was too late. He stood in front of her, close enough for her to see the light flecks of gold in his dark brown eyes. To see the worry lines on his forehead. To see his beautiful full lips pressed together so tightly they appeared white.
“Why did you run off?” he asked.
She swallowed, trying to get some moisture in her mouth so she could speak. “I didn’t run off,” she said, her voice sounding only a little raspy. And not nearly as shaky as she thought it would.
“I called your name. You kept on going.”
“You were occupied at the time.”
“I didn’t ask her to come here.”
“Okay.”
“I didn’t ask her to kiss me.”
“I see.”
“I don’t love her.”
“Uh-huh.”
His hands moved to her upper arms. He squeezed her firmly enough that she could feel each individual finger. His big hands. The fingers that had crept over her body with infinite tenderness. That had grabbed her own hands and held them firm while he thrust into her until she came in a glorious burst of ecstasy.
“Dani Jacobson,” he said, his voice as commanding as it was intimate. “I love you. I need you.”
“Don’t,” she said. “It can’t work. You and I both know that.”
“Yes, it can. It will. I want you to be my wife.”
She shook her head. “Stop it, Alex. We’ve been over this before. Please let me go.”
“I can’t let you go.”
She caught and held his gaze. She had to let him know she was serious. More serious than she’d ever been before. It was her life at stake here, and his. No more games. No more tricks. Just the truth. “I can’t be the wife you want. And I won’t be your mistress. Not now. Not ever. Now, please, let me go.”
