Jenna
When Alex gets back my stomach twists up in a knot. I can tell by the look on his face everything’s changed. There’s a deadness behind his eyes, resolution in the set of his jaw.
So I was right. Whatever game Alex was playing with me, it’s over now. He’s doing a job for my father, and it just got called in.
“Let me guess,” I say when he sits down, to let him off the hook. “That was my father and he wants me home on the next plane.”
Alex purses his lips. “Pretty much, yeah.”
“And if I refuse?”
The dead eyes meet mine. A shiver runs down my spine. Who knows the things Alex has done for my father? What crimes or violence he’s committed that take the life right out of his soul? He shoves a hand through his dark hair.
“He also forbade me touching you.”
I feel like someone slapped me. The contract with Tacone may be off, but my dad still thinks he can control my love life. And of course Alex isn’t going to fight him. He can’t. In fact, Alex could be in real trouble. That thought pulls me out of my own selfish snit. “Right. Yeah. I won’t say anything.”
“Jenna, I have to bring you back. It’s my j-”
Oh, fuck this. I stand up and toss my napkin on the table. “I know-it’s your job. My dad is boss, so whatever he says goes. I guess I thought-” I stop, pressing my lips together to keep them from trembling.
Alex throws American cash on the table and stands up, too. “Thought what, baby?”
I shake my head. “Nope. Not your baby. Never mind. I was wrong.” I leave, even though I know without a shadow of a doubt he’ll be right behind me.
“Wrong about what, Jenna?” If I didn’t know better, I’d swear I hear panic in Alex’s voice as he follows me out.
I ignore him, walking swiftly up the beach. This is the last time I’ll feel the squish of sand beneath my feet. Tomorrow Alex will drag me back to the Windy City. No more morning walks, no more carefree days.
I don’t entertain the idea of running away-not even for a minute. Alex isn’t going to let me out of his sight. And even if I did manage to get away, he’d find me. I’m not stupid. I know the only reason my dad didn’t send him sooner was because it suited him and business to have me gone for a while.
I shouldn’t be pissed at Alex. I knew going into this he was doing a job. I knew he’s a player. And yet I still let myself get lulled into imagining we were starting a relationship. We were building something special, something unique.
“Jenna.” He grips my elbow and whirls me around.
When I shake his hand off my arm with anger, he releases it so fast you’d think I burned him. He holds his palms out. “Jenna, I’m sorry. Tell me what’s going on in your head. You’re mad because I didn’t listen? Because you have plans and you shared them with me and I’m still bringing you back?”
Okay, no. That’s not why I’m mad, but I’m actually kinda softened by the fact that he thinks that’s it. It means he did listen.
“No.” I shake my head. “I’m not mad at you. I just don’t want to go.”
“Bullshit.”
Damn. Alex’s way of calling bullshit probably scares grown men into peeing themselves. There’s so much force and anger behind the word, it’s a wonder I don’t flinch. Or maybe I do, I’m not sure. I’m trying too hard not to cry.
But there’s no way I’m going to confess to him my real woes here. He has an inflated enough ego-he doesn’t need to know that I fell head over heels for him and I’m crushed to be reminded that he’s here because my father sent him, not for anything more.
“Just leave me alone.” I start marching back to the hotel again.
“Jenna, hold up.” He arrives by my side, matching my swift pace. “I’m sorry. I’ll help you out when we’re back in Chicago-set you up with your own place-anything you need. Just because you’re going back doesn’t mean you have to live at home or give up on your dreams.”
I stop, because his gesture is unbelievably sweet, even though it’s not the one I wanted. My nose burns, but I manage to hold back my tears. “Thanks, Alex. That’s kind of you.”
“Yeah?” He ducks his head, trying to peer in my face. It’s dark, though, and the moon is just a sliver.
“Yeah, thanks. I’m sorry I got mad. This isn’t your fault. It never was.”
He slips an arm around my waist, but I dance away again. When we get to my suite and he follows me in, his brows are down, eyes troubled.
Well, too bad. I’m the mystery he’s not going to solve tonight.
Or any other night. I had a nice hookup with Alex. He was the perfect guy to lose my virginity with, but if I want to keep my heart from getting crushed any further, I’d better keep my distance.