by Aimee Duffy
He barked orders to the waiters, asking them to return to the hotel to find whatever centrepieces they could from storage, ordered the maids to dispose of a fifth of the flowers and cursed himself for telling Alexa she couldn’t come. He needed her help.
‘Do you have a minute?’ A familiar voice asked.
He turned to see Maria, her arms folded across her chest and a stern expression on her face. His stomach dropped. She hadn’t looked at him like that since he announced he was going to race speedboats. ‘I’m busy at the moment.’
‘You wouldn’t be run off your feet if you hadn’t sacked the best thing that’s ever happened to you.’ Anger leaked into her voice. He’d never heard her speak that way.
‘It’s better if Alexa isn’t here.’ But the words tasted sour and didn’t ring true, even to his own ears.
Maria crossed the distance between them, pulled a small leaflet out of her bag and handed it to him. He frowned at her.
‘No, it isn’t darling. Read that. And you might want to talk to the Martinas, the Carreros and a few others who regularly visit London for business. You’ll see that you have an apology to make.’
He looked down at the leaflet, a guide to the best hotels in London. Opening it, he saw the advertisement on the inside cover. ‘Together, matching your intellect and interests for your time in London.’
Intellect and Interests? Ric huffed out a disbelieving laugh.
‘It’s not an escort company. The small print states that they match people with similar interests to keep the client company while they’re alone on business. I know a few women and men who’ve hired Alexa for this. Ric, do you honestly think Robert Green would allow this to go on in The Crystal if it were anything else? Do you really believe Alexa would do that?’
He swallowed. Deep down he knew she wouldn’t. He’d spent the better part of the night before looking over reviews and researching the company, all the while knowing he wouldn’t find anything untoward. But what did it matter? He would struggle through tonight alone and manage. He always did. Alexa was leaving in a few days and his apology would be for what? A couple of days in bed? He wouldn’t do that to her. Couldn’t. It would be using her like they’d both been used in the past.
‘Ric, talk to her. Let her help you tonight.’
He looked into the eyes of the woman who’d become his mother and his chest swelled with an emotion so strong, so all consuming that he knew Alexa had been right. He did love Maria and her husband. He’d just been too scared to acknowledge it before.
‘There’s no reason why she would help me.’ What he said to her on Monday couldn’t be taken back easily.
‘She will help you because she loves you.’
He blinked. ‘She doesn’t love me. If anything, she’ll help so she can take the credit.’
The words burned his tongue on the way out. He knew they were a lie and he felt foolish for saying them. Her parting words rang in his head. Why had she helped? Had she done it for him?
‘Enrique Castillo you’re a stubborn, foolish man if you believe that.’ There it was again, the anger. He knew he deserved it.
‘I don’t, not really.’
Her lips curved and warmth filled her eyes. ‘Then what are you waiting for?’
Alexa opened the door and her eyes grew wide. Ric couldn’t take his gaze off her. Dark smudges beneath the silvery orbs broke his heart. The pullover he’d stripped from her body weeks ago seemed to hang on her tiny frame and her usually messy hair was sleek and straight, skimming past her shoulder blades. His heart almost burst out of his chest.
‘What do you want, Ric?’ she asked with false bravado.
‘You.’ It was the only truthful answer.
He grabbed her waist, hauled her against him and his mouth found hers with an urgency he didn’t know was there until he saw her. She kissed him back, threaded her fingers into his hair and pulled him closer. Picking her up, he walked them into the room and kicked the door shut behind him. Lust heated his blood. The warmth and emotion bursting out of him now doubled the love he felt for Maria.
Alexa froze in his arms and ripped her mouth from his. The pain in her eyes broke his heart, and when she pulled away she took half of it with her.
‘No.’ Her voice shook. ‘No.’
‘I didn’t mean…’ He cleared his throat. ‘I came here to apologise, not to kiss you.’ The look she gave him was full of disbelief. ‘I know your business isn’t what I initially assumed. I’m sorry, Alexa. I should never have doubted you.’
She stood frozen and silent. He longed to pull her back into his arms, but knew he’d risk pushing her too hard, too fast. ‘I want you to finish what you came here to, and then I want you to come to the ball with me. As my date.’
Anger sparked the storm in her eyes. ‘You want my help? That’s what this is about? Go bugger yourself Ric.’ She stormed past him and pulled the door open. ‘Get out.’
‘Yes, I want your help, but I want you with me too.’
‘Why?’
He sucked in a deep breath, knowing that once he said the words he would be more vulnerable than he had ever been living on the streets. Sharing love with two people he knew loved him was one thing; putting his heart on the line to be rejected was another. But he was sick of running scared. Sick of chasing anything to fill the void inside him when the answer stood in front of him. He needed Alexa in his life. Needed the light and fun and carefree spirit that she brought.
‘I love you and I don’t care what happens next. I don’t care what the media find. I want you, and only you. I can live through the rest.’
Her mouth fell open and silent tears streamed down her face. ‘What if they dig up your past, like you’re scared they will? What if one of those women sells their story? What about your reputation?’
‘It’s terrifying, Alexa. I’ve hidden from my past for so long, to have it made public used to be my biggest fear, but it’s not any more.’ The tears continued to stream down her face and his thumb itched to wipe them away, but he wasn’t sure she’d let him. ‘Losing you scares me more than anything else.’
‘I…I don’t know what to say,’ she whispered.
Ric almost laughed. Almost. If his heart hadn’t been smashed into a million shards he would have found the humour her statement should have brought. Alexa always knew what she wanted to say.
‘Tell me what you want and you can have it,’ he said.
She frowned at him, despite the tears. ‘Like I could go anywhere I wanted to for dinner?’
‘No. I mean anything. If you want me, I’m yours. If you want marriage, I’ll have you down the aisle so fast you won’t be able to change your mind. If you want me to leave you alone…’ He swallowed hard. ‘I…I can do that too.
Her body trembled and his froze, waiting for her answer.
‘I need time to think. I can’t just decide now.’
He nodded, fought the urge to demand to know now. After all he had done, he could wait for her.
‘I’ll get dressed and help you with the prep. Is everything okay with the flowers?’
Ric shook his head. ‘Too many flowers, not enough centrepieces, the chef has lost the menu and I haven’t had a chance to check the seating plan.’
She shook her head and smiled. ‘I’ll fix it. Promise.’
He believed her like he should have done last week. Before he left, he turned around. ‘Whatever you want, it’s yours.’ He trailed a path down her damp cheek with his finger. ‘I mean it, Alexa. I love you.’
She looked up at him, her eyes open, wide, terrified. ‘I believe you.’
He closed the door, knowing there was nothing else he could do. He’d laid his soul bare and given her all the control against his nature. Now all he had to do was pray Maria was right. Pray Alexa loved him enough not to run away.
After dealing with the flowers, finding more centrepieces, rewriting the menu from memory and adding a few table places for guests that hadn’t RSVP’d, Alexa felt like
superwoman.
For the last hour, she’d introduced her father to everyone she had met when she was out with Ric, except for him. She still hadn’t made a decision and it wouldn’t be fair to him to bestow Robert upon him.
Now, Robert was chatting to Santos sans his she-devil wife—some nonsense about the state of economies and the benefits of joining the Euro. Her gaze wandered over the guests mingling, snatching themselves a pitiful portion of food from the buffet, and then across to the rail. Taking her chances swimming to shore was more tempting than the chocolate fudge cake she’d insisted be served.
‘Would you like to dance?’ Ric’s whisper in her ear made goosebumps rise on her skin.
Her heart throbbed out an unhealthy beat which made her wonder again about the heart attack. When she turned to see him in a tux, his expression so open and pain clear in his eyes, she quickly changed her mind. Her heart was broken, not unhealthy.
‘Yes.’
The smile he gave her brightened his whole face and her belly flipped.
‘Alexa, I don’t believe you have introduced us.’
Damn. Her heart raced as Robert turned from his conversation with Santos who excused himself. ‘Father, this is Enrique Castillo. He’s the founder of this charity event.’
Ric extended his hand to her father. ‘Alexa did most of the work.’
‘Really?’ Robert’s incredulous tone grated on her nerves.
Ric nodded seriously and she thought she saw a hint of anger burn in his eyes. Her father turned to her and really looked at her. Everything inside squirmed and wriggled under his scrutiny. He sent her one of his genuine smiles which crinkled his eyes and made her heart throb. When he smiled at her like that she wondered if that’s why her mother fell in love with him in the first place.
‘Alexa, I am very impressed.’
She blinked, and her lips parted. It was the first time he had told her that.
Ric’s arm slid around her waist and he stepped in close to her side. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest. ‘Your daughter is an amazing woman, Mr Green. I couldn’t have organised the event without her.’
Robert assessed Ric for a second, then gave another of his smiles. ‘Did I hear you ask my daughter to dance?’ At Ric’s nod, he continued. ‘Then don’t let me keep you. I’m sure there will be lots of time to get to know one another.’
After another handshake, her father left them. She gaped at his retreating back, wondering what the imposter had done with her father. Then again, maybe now that she was acting with a little more class, Robert was beginning to see her for the young woman she was, not the terrible teenager who’d caused him so much grief. Hope swelled when she considered that things might even get better between them.
Ric traced a finger from the cut in her dress up her spine, drawing her back to reality. Her skin tingled all over at the touch. Alexa turned to him and smiled. ‘Thank you.’
‘How about that dance?’
She followed him onto the dance floor amongst the other couples swaying to the light jazz band. There was so many emotions jittering around inside, Alexa couldn’t think about anything at all. All she knew was that being without Ric was killing her spirit, but there were still too many barriers in the way. Even a quick call to Sarah and Jenna didn’t solve anything, but when Sarah mentioned a double wedding next year, Alexa didn’t feel the usual chill which usually accompanied thoughts of marriage.
Ric pulled her close and she slid her hands onto his shoulders. Looking up into his eyes, misery seeped from her pores at the desperate hope on his face. She guessed he wasn’t scared of showing his emotions any more, least of all to her.
Darting a glance around the room, she spotted a few specifically chosen reporters and photographers. She couldn’t doubt that he didn’t care about their relationship going public, because the whole world would know if she decided to be with him.
‘Alexa, the waiting is painful.’
She snapped her attention back to him. Her heart bounced into her throat at the look in his eyes. They swayed with the gentle rhythm of the boat and turned to the music. She couldn’t keep the reasons for not being together inside any more.
‘We argue all the time,’ she blurted. His eyebrows rose, but he continued to lead her. ‘You refuse to compromise. I don’t want to be a possession. I don’t want to be your woman at home waiting up all night for you to finish work. If I stay, I’ll be lonely.’
‘We haven’t argued much lately.’ His slow grin jellified her knees. ‘Before, I wanted to hide my past from you. I didn’t want you to look at me with disgust. I should have known you wouldn’t, Alexa, but I was scared. I didn’t want you to get close so I pushed you away, I ordered you around because I like control. I can work on loosening up.’
The grin slipped from his face. ‘Maria and Antonio have asked if I want to buy into the new resort and the hotel. I can’t do all that myself and they’re both hoping to be silent partners so I’ve been interviewing for an area manager, someone who can deal with all the urgent matters so I won’t have to.
‘Before you came here my life was dull. You showed me how to live and I don’t want to go back to the boring me.’
Tears welled and streamed down her face. His thumb rubbed them away. ‘What if I can’t keep my mouth shut next time stick-insect or someone like her insults me? With my reputation, you’ll lose all the respect you worked hard for. You could lose everyone here.’
Determination flared in his eyes and hardened his jaw. He slid a hand up her back and twined his fingers in the hair at her nape. Her breath and heartbeats sped when she realised what he planned to do. Before she could think, his lips crashed down on hers and she was lost in him. The party melted away as she pressed her whole body against him, linked her hands behind his head and parted her lips.
He plundered her mouth in a sensual torture that made a slow-burn flush through her veins. When he pulled away she opened her eyes to the flash of cameras pointed at them. Panic stole through her as she darted her head around.
‘Alexa, I don’t care about what anyone else thinks. Just you. And if anyone else treats you like Mrs Santos did, I’ll deal with it.’ He leaned in closer and whispered, ‘If you love me, I don’t need anything else, but what do you want?’ He pulled her back into the dance, ignoring the prying eyes and flashing bulbs from the cameras.
‘I want you to tell me the truth.’ She looked up at him. ‘Tell me how you got the scar. Tell me what the nightmare was about.’
His whole body stiffened as she waited for his answers. Panic pitched in her tummy again. She’d started to believe they could work, but if he couldn’t share himself with her, how could they be together?
He controlled whatever emotions he felt and leaned back in to whisper, ‘I was stabbed when I was fifteen by another homeless man who wanted my spot for shelter. The nightmares—’ His breath caught and she pulled back to study his face.
The haunted look in his eyes melted her heart. ‘You don’t have to tell me.’
‘I’ll tell you everything you want to know. They’re all from my time living on the streets. Sometimes it feels like I’m back there.’
More tears spilled down her face as her soul hurt for the little boy he’d been, afraid and alone.
‘Don’t cry for me, querida.’ His thumbs brushed the tears away. ‘I’m happy now. Have been since you stumbled into my home in your undergarments.’
Alexa laughed, the tears clogged her throat and made her sputter a little. ‘And the extreme sports?’
Ric frowned, like he was thinking how to answer. ‘I felt empty for a long time. I think I wanted to feel alive, but now I know adrenaline wasn’t what I was looking for.’ He bumped his nose against hers.
‘Where would we live?’ It was the last hurdle for her. Could she up and leave her life?
After he spun her around again, he answered, ‘Wherever you want. London, here, India, I don’t care as long as I’m with you.’
She rose on her tipt
oes and kissed him, briefly this time thinking she’d given the press enough to write about for a while. ‘I love you.’
‘And I love you.’ His arms banded around her waist. ‘We’ll work out everything else together.’
Epilogue
‘Lex if you don’t come up here I swear on Dior I’ll hurt you.’
Alexa scurried to her feet. When Jenna swore on Dior, she was serious and if her scowl was anything to go by, her patience was at an end. Smoothing down the pink silk bridesmaid dress, Alexa turned back to plead Ric with her eyes.
The smug git grinned. ‘I’m not helping you out of this one, Green. You’re on your own.’
She pouted and his smile grew wider. ‘So much for giving me everything I want.’
Just then Jenna grabbed her hand and hauled her into the crowd of squirming women who were trying to push their way to the front of the herd. Alexa decided if she stayed at the back of the crazy women, her feet wouldn’t get crippled. Jenna threw herself among the thrall and Alexa giggled. She’d never seen anyone so keen on catching a bouquet, especially considering Jenna was next in line to get married.
Sarah climbed onto a chair with her husband hiking up the skirts of her stunning, handmade gown. She reminded Alexa of Snow White or some other fairy-tale princess. Happiness swelled in her heart as she watched the exchange between Sarah and her new husband, giggling and kissing, they looked head-over-heels in love. Exactly how she felt when she was with Ric. Well, when he wasn’t letting her mad-hatter friends push her into doing this.
Sarah held the bouquet up for all to see. White tulips entwined in red ribbons fluttered in the April breeze. Goosebumps rose on her skin and she rubbed her bare arms, wishing she was back in Marbella. She’d forgotten how cold London could be in the spring.
‘Right, ladies. On the count of three.’ Sarah turned her back to the crowd of women.
