A Playboy's Love Affair (15 page)

“Wow. Is that why you ride a bike too?”

“No. I ride it because I like the freedom it gives me. It’s got nothing to do with my dad or anything like that,” he explained.

She studied him. “I don’t mean to pry but what made you take the decision to divorce your parents at sixteen? Wasn’t that a bit too harsh? I mean, we all have issues with our parents but from
that
to do what you did, it’s quite a stretch.” Carly leaned in his direction before she continued, “I’m not judging you, it’s simply curiosity on my part.”

Alex straightened in his chair. “It wasn’t the best decision but it was the only one a thoughtless sixteen-year-old could think of to make the statement he had the right to choose what he wanted to do with his life. Unfortunately, right, wrong or indifferent it’s too late for taking any of it back,” he responded.

“Is that why you’re the black sheep of the family?”

“Sweetheart, I’m the black sheep all right but for millions of other reasons.” He reached for his glass of wine.

“So, your sister and your brother—”

“Yes,” he cut in. “Emma and Ian are my stepsister and stepbrother.”

“What about the orphaned children’s charity? You do a lot of work there but never boast about it. Why do you hide such a nice deed?” She took a drink from her wine.

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I don’t see why the world needs to know I’m actually a good guy.” He raised his glass of wine. “Cheers! You haven’t told me how it is that we’ve never met before.”

“We would’ve met at Paul’s wedding. Does that ring a bell?” She quirked a brow.

He looked at her, a wry smile on his lips. “I was otherwise engaged.” Alex hadn’t stood as Paul’s best man like he should have because at the time he thought that was getting too close to what he never wanted a part of.

“Right. Anyway, Kiera has only been married to Paul for about a year now. Guess, we just missed each other.” She smiled, swirling her wine glass. “Why don’t you tell me why you’re the black sheep of the St. Joneses?” she asked, looking over the rim of her glass as she sipped her wine. “I’m willing to bet it’s all for show.”

Alex pursed his lips. “I don’t like being told what to do or how to live my life, Phillip did that. He tried to get me to follow his steps in his financial world, obviously my goal’s been everywhere else but. I was a very pissed off young kid who wanted to rule the world.” Alex laughed. “I still want to rule the world,” he said, drinking from his wine. “Anyway, everyone knows how that part of the story ended once I turned sixteen. Like I said, it wasn’t my best decision but there’s nothing I can do about it now,” he added.

The waiter brought their food and Alex eased back into conversation with Carly finding they had more things in common than not, from favorite bands, food, movies, to places. He was enraptured by the fact that there wasn’t anything superficial to her, which he already knew in being around her the last few weeks. Carly gave him as good as she got. Alex didn’t know where in his categories of women he’d place her. Carly wasn’t anything like any of the other women he’d dated before, she was her own unique category. He hadn’t a clue what had happened to him, the more time he spent with her the deeper those darn roots grew somewhere inside his chest.

Not once before did he play with the thought of feeling this way about anyone, let alone be with anyone for as long as he’d been with Carly. If she decided to go back to her own place, her old self, and told him she never wanted to see him again, he’d missed her terribly. He hoped it never came to that. Not if there was anything he could do about it. Alex took Carly to a few other galleries and shops. He had a hard time not paying for everything she bought because the woman wouldn’t allow it. After spending all day at the small village, he drove them back to his chateau.

“You’re such a bad host,” Carly teased as he opened the door to his place.

He slid an arm around her waist, pulling her to him. “I’ve been faulted of many things but certainly not about me being a bad host.” He smiled devilishly.

“I have a sweet tooth and you forgot dessert.” Carly pushed away from him, leveling her gaze with his.

Alex firmed his grasp on her. “Darling, I’m dessert.” His hand fisted in her long locks bringing her to him, his searing lips covering hers. A coughing sound came from the other room; his eyes slid open, breaking the spell of the kiss. Alex strode into the living room pulling her along with him. “What are you doing here?” he said to the visitors in his house, tightening his hold on Carly’s hand when she tried to tug it free. “Your nightclub brawl in L.A. Remember that?” Phillip, his dad, waved a copy of a magazine with a picture of Alex and Jay.

Alex wrinkled his brow. “That’s old news. Did you travel all the way here just to wave that piece of shitty news in my face?”

“It may be old news to you but the media uses it against me every time they get a chance.” Phillip regarded Alex. “I’m tired of your blunders, Alex.” He paced around the room.

“Phillip, stop!” an elegant woman said, standing between the two men.

“Mom…”

She smiled, walking in his direction, closing the distance between them. “We were in Marseille. We didn’t know you were here until a reporter asked Phillip at a conference for his thoughts about your latest…” She stopped as her eyes spotted Carly standing behind Alex. “Hi, I’m Lillian St. Jones.” She walked to Carly’s side and lightly kissed both her cheeks.

“Carly Mitchell, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Her voice was barely audible. “I think it’s better if I leave you all to your family conversation.” Stepping back, she left the room without giving anyone a chance to say no.

“She’s lovely,” Lillian said to Alex.

“Why are you here?” Alex asked.

“Lillian, why don’t you answer that? This was your idea after all.” Phillip stood by the French doors leading into the terrace.

Lillian pursed her lips. “Alex, we’ve wasted nineteen years in this senseless wrestling match between you and your dad. I think it’s time this ends.”

“He’s not my dad, remember?” Alex replied.

“He’s your only dad.” Lillian tipped her chin up, casting him a censorious gaze.

“Alex I understand I had no right in making decisions for you, trying to force you to follow my steps was a mistake. Heck, you walked out on us before I even had a chance to send you off to college.” Phillip paced, gesturing with a hand. “You’ve made my life hell since with all the media attention. I don’t know if I should thank you. I’m not even sure if it’s helped, more than it’s caused damage.” Phillip closed the distance. “Putting everything aside, whether you believe it or not, I’ve always loved you as my own son. I’m proud of you.”

Alex stared at Phillip, he tried to say something back but couldn’t make the words come out. That was a low blow, his stepfather—the only dad he knew loved him and was proud of him? What the heck? Alex had dedicated his life to piss him off, how was he supposed to respond to that? He expected anything but never to hear the words he’d just heard.

Lillian touched his forearm. “Alex, dear,” she said, breaking the uncomfortable silence that had settled in. “You’re thirty-five, I’m sure you don’t intend to continue this careless behavior. You wouldn’t want to deprive your kids of their grandfather.”

“What kids?” Alex walked to the opposite corner of the room, turned back around facing Lillian. “First, I’d have to get married, and you know where I stand there. It’ll never happen, don’t worry about me depriving anyone from anyone, mom.”

Lillian furrowed her brow in confusion. “I thought your relationship with Carly was getting serious. Everyone’s talking about how you’ve given up your bachelorship—”

“Says who?” Alex asked. “I haven’t yet given up my single status. There’s nothing serious about us. There never will be.” That wasn’t entirely true. He hadn’t officially given up his single status yet, that much was true. But things were going somewhere with Carly, Alex just wasn’t ready to admit it to people until he knew she felt the same way toward him because in the event she didn’t he’d look like a fool.

“Listen honey, why don’t you come to Marseille this weekend and bring Carly along?” Lillian’s gaze met Phillip’s across the room.

Alex nodded. “I’ll talk to her about it, but I can’t make any promises.”

“Promise you’ll at least give it some thought, all right?”

Alex nodded, allowing Lillian to embrace him in a motherly hug as they said their goodbyes. This was too much to take in one day. The last thing he’d expected was for his parents to show up, especially not for his dad to tell him he was proud of him. Dammit. What was he supposed to do now? Act like the dotted son as if nothing had ever happened? Alex strode out of the living room and headed to his bedroom looking for Carly. She was the only person he cared to be with now, perhaps the only one who really got him. He planned to get lost in her luscious body for the rest of the night. Tomorrow would be another day, he’d think more about today’s revelations then, but tonight he was done.

Chapter Eighteen

Carly hadn’t meant to eavesdrop on their family argument but curiosity got the best of her. She should’ve just gone straight to their bedroom then she wouldn’t have heard Alex say how he felt about their relationship. Wait. What relationship? There was none. He made it clear to his parents and wasn’t even careful to keep his voice down. Had Alex forgotten he wasn’t alone, that she was only a few rooms away? If he cared even a tiny bit, the least he could’ve done was lower his voice or keep his thoughts to himself.

Carly didn’t know what hurt the most: hearing him say he’d never get married and have kids, or how he hadn’t yet given up his precious single status, or the dry way Alex said there was nothing serious going on between them—and there never would be. She couldn’t be mad, even if his words hurt.

None of it was new information. Carly had no expectations things would get that far. But, she was certainly furious at the fact Alex had confirmed her biggest fear, there wasn’t anything especially important about their liaison. Staying a day longer by his side would only make her a bigger fool. Alex had already broken her heart and that was all her fault because she’d allowed it. Carly should’ve known better, she should’ve never let things get this far between them. It was already late to walk out because her heart had been shattered in pieces by his emotionless words. Then again, this was her last opportunity to leave if she wanted a chance at putting herself back together someday.

Carly pulled out her suitcases from the closet. Whether her designer clothes got wrinkled or if her shoes got scratched, didn’t matter. She pulled open every drawer and flung things inside her cases as she went.

“What are you doing?” Alex strode in the room.

She walked out of the closet with all her dresses in hand. “I’m leaving,” Carly said, throwing the bunch in her case. She walked past him to the bathroom, taking a deep breath, trying to calm down the sobs trapped in her chest, battling to come out. She collected the items on top of the vanity and headed back in the direction of her suitcase.

Alex grasped her arm, halting her midway. “Why?” he asked.

“It’s about time I leave.” She tugged her arm from his grasp but he only tightened his hold.

“What’s going on?” he asked, firming his hold on her forearms forcing her to look up at him.

“Why don’t you tell me?” Her gaze was moistened by the tears threatening to roll down her cheeks any minute now.

Alex pressed down his fingers against her flesh bringing her closer to him. “Answer me. Everything was fine a couple of hours ago, what’s going on? Why are you leaving?”

Carly flinched. “You’re hurting me.” She pushed him away, trying to put some distance between them. “And you’re delusional. Nothing has ever been fine. Ever. Since I crossed paths with you everything’s gone downhill for me but nothing’s gone south for you. Somehow you always come up on top.”

Alex let her go. “Seeing as you were the first to go there, then, allow me to say you’re wrong.” He looked at the suitcases on the bed and back at her. “Everything went downhill for me since the first time I laid eyes on you. Your little lie to your sorry excuse of an ex-fiancé cost me millions. Because of you, darling, I could’ve lost my firm, everything I’ve worked so hard for. If you’re going to accuse me of something then make sure you have all the damn facts straight.”

She narrowed her eyes at him, stepped back, looked around the room, then back at him. “As I recall that’s where your absurd contract came into play. Tell me Alex, why not sue me for defamation and financial damages, wouldn’t that have been a better route to keep your firm afloat a while longer?” She walked to her suitcases. “Or is fucking me worth millions?” she said, dropping the items in her hands in the cases. “Which reminds me I may no longer have a job when I get back, thanks to you, perhaps I should create an ad or something offering my services. A fuck worth millions, catchy don’t you think?” The zipping sound of a small cosmetic bag filled the silence that’d fallen for a second or two.

“Stop this now Carly!” Alex twirled her around.

“Let me go!” The turmoil of emotions inside her was getting out of control. Breaking down in front of him wouldn’t do her any good.

Alex held her close to him, taking in long breaths as if calming himself down. “You can’t just walk out. Help me out here Carly, what did I do wrong now? Answer me. What’s all this, what happened?” he asked, searching her face.

“It’s hard to believe how you act as if you haven’t got a clue.” She turned her face away from him. “If you want to play it that way, I heard every word you said to your mother Alex.”

He lowered his gaze, recalling his earlier words to his mom and looked back at Carly. “It’s not what you think.”

“So how is it? Tell me how it’s not what I heard.” She freed herself from his hold, putting up her hands in front of her. “Stop. I don’t want to hear what you have to say.” She walked back to the bed where her already-full suitcases laid on top. “Let it go, Alex. Why bother yourself with any of this. It’s about time this ridiculous situation ends anyway.” She tossed a pair of shoes in one of the cases. Their argument only helped build up the anger, frustration, and hurt, into a knot in her throat, making it too hard for her to talk.