Alex

by Paula Ridge

  ALEX

  BLUE EYED DEVILS

  BOOK 5

  BY

  PAULA RIDGE

  Copyright © 2020 by Paula Ridge

  All rights reserved

  Alex is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Contents

  Ch 1 – Melanie

  Ch 2 –Alex

  Ch 3 – Melanie

  Ch 4 – Alex

  Ch 5 – Melanie

  Ch 6 – Alex

  Epilogue – Melanie

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  About the Author

  Ch 1 – Melanie

  The voice in the background is driving me crazy. I can hear her, but the phone is away from my ear. It’s the only way I can stomach the phone calls from my mom and dad. They take turns tag teaming me, but they don’t understand how their meddling is making it difficult to call them every week.

  “I’m on my way to a July 4 celebration at Shane and Amber’s new house. They are having a housewarming celebration with fireworks. There’s going to be plenty of food and people gathered around enjoying a few drinks. I might find somebody there,” I say in an attempt to placate them.

  There’s a long, deep sigh on the other end of the telephone. “Just keep your options open. Not all of them are going to be like Greg. We just want you to be happy. Don’t forget none of us are getting any younger. I know you love your job, but it can’t be the entire reason why you get up in the morning.” My mom can be so pushy at times, but I understand it all comes from a place of love.

  “I still have some outside interests.” I don’t want to tell them how I have signed up to go bungee jumping off a bridge. A friend of mine convinced me to take a walk on the wild side with her. It’s not me, and I am a little scared, but I can’t see any harm in trying something different to shake things up.

  Being a kindergarten teacher is a rewarding profession. I have to admit, seeing their smiling faces looking for me to give them guidance is the highlight of my week. It’s not easy to walk away on a Friday afternoon with no plans. It’s even worse when I have that two-month break during the summers.

  This weekend is going to be my Independence Day. I’m looking forward to the barbecue and fireworks. There’s also something very exciting about jumping off a bridge with only a few inches of rope separating me from a very painful landing. I’m not one to jump into the deep end without a life jacket, so this is going to be a huge departure for me.

  “I don’t think reading a book is what your mother has in mind. We are proud of you, but we think that you have settled for second best for long enough. Find somebody to look at you like you are the only person in the room. That’s when you know it’s the real thing,” my father stresses, with his words sounding hollow in my ears.

  There are exceptions to the rule, however. All of their friends are divorced. They have weathered the pitfalls of financial worries and children nipping at their heels. They are a testament to an older generation. My generation is selfish and wants immediate gratification. It’s all about the attraction before we get to what is between the ears.

  “Your father flatters me. Let’s table this discussion for later when you come over for Sunday dinner. Enjoy your weekend and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. I’m not sure what that would entail, but maybe there are some things a mother shouldn’t know,” she teases and we make the customary goodbyes before I hear the click on the other end of the line.

  I’m already dressed but I take a moment to check my reflection in the mirror behind the bathroom door. My new hairstyle is fun and has this summer feel with red highlights. Changing my look is my way of changing my outlook on life.

  Summer is supposed to be a reprieve from my job. I don’t want to travel, but I do want to explore some of the things in the area; including bungee jumping. Samantha can be very convincing when she wants to be. I’m glad I have a friend to push me through those walls. Boundaries mean nothing to her.

  I pick up the bottle of wine by the door and grab my red sweater jacket from the hook. That’s in case it gets chilly out by the lake. The place looks beautiful, with a manicured lawn and access to the beach across the road. Checking it on Google gave me a bird’s eye view of their property before I even visited.

  I do the same thing whenever I go someplace new. My GPS can be rather fickle and send me down the path of least resistance. There’s always a faster way. Finding it on the Internet is easy when I know what I’m looking for by punching in the address. It’s just a few blocks away so I decide to walk there from my apartment building.

  The sun is dipping below the trees, splashing the sky with many different colors of the rainbow. This is what living is all about when you don’t have to take things too seriously. I have on a short white skirt to go with the canary yellow top. I kick myself when I realize it’s the perfect weather for one of my many summer dresses.

  Coming from a big family means that I’m always getting hand-me-downs. Getting out and paying my own way makes it easier to find my style. It’s a little eclectic, with purple boots with a zipper to the top. They are very comfortable, despite appearances.

  The huge sunglasses are this throwback to a different era where people knew how to express themselves through clothing. People live in competition against one another too much and my father is the same way. He always has to have what the neighbors have. The trailer we used every summer to go camping continued getting bigger until we finally outgrew it.

  They are retired, but still living in their home. Their children, including myself, are no more than 20 minutes away in either direction. It’s a blessing and a curse to be in close proximity. Sunday dinner is always an interrogation by them and my siblings poking fun at my single status. There’s no reason to deny how I have been left behind with my siblings finding their passions and their significant others.

  I love them dearly, but they can be a handful. The only thing they seem to be proud of is what I do for a living. It doesn’t make much money, but I enjoy every aspect - including getting paint on my face.

  There is suddenly a set of footsteps behind me. The neighborhood is really nice, so the possibility of something bad happening is slim to none.

  “You look like you’re walking to the gallows. I know; it’s the way I feel. I had the taxi drop me off a few blocks from my final destination, not sure I will be sound enough to drive home later. By the way, I’m Alex,” he introduces himself and I admire how he is willing to put himself out there, but he is barking up the wrong tree.

  I turn and become breathless due to this masculine figure standing in front of me. He has several tattoos, but they aren’t cheesy on him. Those blue eyes of his peer right into my soul and I lose my train of thought in the face of such a beautiful specimen. His white shirt with a black tribal design is open, with a very thin white tee-shirt underneath, revealing his muscular torso to my eager eyes.

  There’s no mistaking that he could be on the cover of a gentlemen’s quarterly. There’s also something hard behind those blue eyes.

  I can’t speak and my clothing suddenly becomes a little too tight on my frame. I’m not the only one having that problem; something which is evident by the bulge in his cargo shorts.

  “I’m... Melanie...” I splutter with my head in the clouds, unable to articulate anything more than my name.

  “I wasn’t even going to come to this party, but I didn’t have anything better to do. Coming home from Haiti only 24 hours ago has me feeling a little jet-lagged. It’s not easy flying around the world protecting the interests of other people. I consider myself one of th
e lucky ones, though, to be doing something I love. Can you say the same thing? What do you do for a living? If you don’t mind me asking?” He says a whole host of words and I watch his mouth move with just the hint of his delectable tongue sticking out of his mouth.

  “I’m a kindergarten teacher...wait...are we going to the same party?”

  “That must be fun, seeing them before they develop into the people they are going to be. I’m going to a housewarming celebration at Shane and Amber’s new place. I believe that is the place. I’m guessing the cars in the driveway give it away,” he teases and then dashes ahead of me before scaling the backyard fence in one single bound.

  I watch him until he disappears and then I make my way over to the fence. It’s easy to find the latch with my hand over the top. I’m scanning the crowd for any sign of him. Those in attendance are currently talking, with the scent of barbecue meat wafting in the air.

  It’s not a good day to be a vegetarian, but I know from my discussion with Amber they have a plant-based substitute available.

  I don’t see him anywhere, but I don’t know why it matters so much.

  There’s a string of lanterns around the pool. Nobody is using the pool and the chlorine makes it a vibrant blue, so I can see down to the bottom.

  A shadow looms over me and then there’s this splash. Everything becomes disjointed.

  I’m standing there washed-out, looking like a drowned rat. I’m dripping water all over their cobblestone deck in multi-colors.

  The water is bashing against the sides of the in-ground pool.

  Nobody is coming back up after making such a scene. Everybody is mumbling and getting closer to the edge where there’s somebody sitting at the bottom of the pool in a Lotus position. I’m not sure what to make of this spectacle.

  I’m not surprised to see the person responsible is...Alex!

  He has the fortitude to approach me and speak like we are best friends. This means he’s a social butterfly that everybody gravitates towards. He wants to be the center of attention and doesn’t mind doing insane things to get there.

  Ch 2 –Alex

  I’ve always been one to make a grand entrance and this is no exception. Jumping from the top of the house after scaling the fence and the drainpipe makes me a conversation starter. Nothing I do is going to change the outcome of my death coming anytime soon. This is my way of living life to the fullest, without regrets holding me back.

  Some people don’t understand where I get my reckless attitude from. It’s perfect for the military because I’m not afraid of going at it alone. They depended on me to pull out a miracle and it’s the same in private security. I have no problem volunteering for the most dangerous assignments.

  I want to go out on my terms and not on some superstitious nonsense revolving around my father and grandfather dying when they were in their early thirties from heart problems. I’m already heading in that direction with my birthday around the corner. It’s a day that I have dreaded for quite some time, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to stop living because of it.

  My doctor tells me I have nothing to worry about, but what does he know?

  I open my eyes in the water and I can see them looking at me from above. My body goes into action after denying my lungs the oxygen they need to breathe. Swimming to the surface is a breeze and comes with the territory after training for underwater assignments.

  I make a big production coming out of the water with my smile beaming on my face.

  Shane points at me wearing this apron that says ‘kiss the cook’ on the front of it. I notice a few people surrounding somebody that is in the middle. They are offering this person several different towels and then they separate. I see a woman I recognize from meeting on the street, drenched from head to toe.

  She does look good wet, but that is not what I should be taking away from this.

  It’s my fault and I should be gallant about offering my assistance. Propelling myself up onto the deck in only my skivvies has the women in attendance gawking. Those black silk shorts mold to me like glue.

  I walk in a straight line towards her with water following me.

  “I apologize for getting you wet but it’s only water. I’m sure Amber has something dry for you to wear until your clothes are laundered. I hope you can forgive me. I get impulsive at times and do crazy things in the spur of the moment. It makes me feel alive,” I explain, but she’s really not listening to me and I can’t blame her for being a little miffed.

  “You really should know your audience before you do something like that. I appreciate the apology but it’s not necessary. I’m a big girl. I’m not going to melt because of a little water,” she laughs and punches me playfully on the shoulder.

  I like that she has a good sense of humor and doesn’t take things too seriously. I’m always afraid of making a bad first impression. Trying to please everybody is a fulltime job. It’s nice to unwind and forget about everything, without feeling like I’m doing something wrong.

  Her blond hair catches the sun and I stare without meaning to. “I’m glad to hear that. It would kill me to think that I ruined any chance of you having a good time. You could join me in a double cannonball salute. Are you game? It’s not like you’re going to get any wetter,” I challenge and I’m not sure how she’s going to respond, until she dives into the water holding onto her knees with me following suit.

  This time the splash is mostly localized to the other side of the pool where there are fewer people to upset. I have to admit that her sense of eccentricity is quite enticing. Her strokes across the pool are seamless and she appears to have been born in the water.

  I admire her form and there’s no way that I can possibly keep up with her. Her athletic prowess is something to admire. Her skirt comes off and I think for a moment I’m going to get a brief peek at her unmentionables. This proves to be false when she reveals to be wearing a tasteful white bikini underneath.

  She dangles her foot out of the water. Somehow, she took off her boots before diving in.

  “I know what you were thinking. I’m not that daring.” She swims to the other side with me watching intently, feeling like this breath of fresh air that has come into my life.

  She isn’t afraid of getting her hair wet like other women. This woman enjoys doing spontaneous things. She’s got this carefree attitude, something indicative of what you would find with children with no boundaries. It stands to reason her open mind comes from working with kids.

  I’m not interested in anything that’s going to last longer than a cup of coffee. It’s not like I’m going to be around to enjoy it. Not even my colleagues know of my fear of turning 30 in the next couple of months. It’s like a time bomb going off in my head with the ticking getting louder with every day that passes.

  She lifts herself from the pool and somebody is there to greet her with a beach towel to wrap around her waist. I breathe a sigh of relief to see that it’s Shane. He’s already taken and spoken for. It makes seeing her with another man palatable, despite the growing unrest inside my head. I want to get to know her better and she’s making it easy.

  I snatch two beers from the ice chest with the water dripping off of my fingertips. Placing one against my chest causes me to shudder. I use the other to catch her unawares and she jumps out of her skin when I press the naked bottle against her back.

  I swing it around until it’s in her hand. “I thought you could use this. I think I see the reason why you are a good teacher. You have retained some of that youthful innocence from your childhood. Not many can say that with a straight face and mean it. They get too caught up in life to understand it’s important to shake things loose from time to time,” I say with my hand on her back, guiding her away from Shane, but he’s already talking to somebody else before he even realizes my sleight of hand.

  She takes that bottle by the neck and swigs it back like a true champion. This girl grew up around men. She knows how to have a good time without appearing dainty. Ther
e’s nothing delicate about her. She has curves in all the right places.

  She takes a deep breath and clinks the beer bottle against the one I’m holding. “I’m not sure where you came from, but a lot of people could learn something from you. It’s not right to take life too seriously. The headlines are full of depressing topics, so I try to avoid the news as much as possible. Being with good friends and having fun is what life is all about,” she expresses, and I follow her into the house with my eyes glued to the backside of her white bikini.

  She takes me through the house without even knowing where she’s going and I’m not complaining. The music playing outside is muted by the time we are in one of the spare bedrooms, which is tastefully decorated.

  There’s no doubt in my mind Amber is the mastermind behind the decor. Shane didn’t know anything about paint colors. Swatches would have him scratching his head in confusion.

  He’s lucky to have a feminine influence in his life.

  I could only wish to have something like that but I’m not foolish. My time is limited and I’m going to make the most out of what time I have left.

  I spin her to face me with my two hands on her hips. She’s warm to the touch and I sense a fire inside, pleading with me to come out. Her fingers tremble when she touches my bare chest and I’m biting on my bottom lip, afraid to get any closer at the risk of getting burned. I don’t mind a sinful excuse to explore her body but I’m not going to do anything without her express consent.

  “It’s fun being a different person. Adult situations like this don’t happen often. I’m afraid to admit my life is finger painting and teaching kids the difference between right and wrong.” She reveals a little about herself but it doesn’t scare me away.

  “What is the difference between right and wrong? I would like very much for you to educate me. Is it wrong to enjoy a woman’s company? Is it wrong to find her completely irresistible? I know it feels right to touch you like this. I know it feels right to be here with you. Is there really anything wrong with the way that we express ourselves physically? Can you answer those questions for me, teacher?” I can tell from the pout of her lips and that visible glaze in her eyes she wants me to kiss her.