Guardian Angel (14 page)

Alex didn't find it difficult to obey Jared's command. At that moment she doubted if she could find the energy to move her big toe. She was just dozing off when Mavis bustled in carrying a tray.

"Hmm, you do look peaked," the housekeeper com
mented, placing the tray on the night table before assisting Alex into a half-sitting position. "I brought you juice and a soft-boiled egg."

"I have to get dressed," Alex protested faintly. "We're leaving this morning. I'm not even packed yet."

"Child, you're not going anywhere," Mavis said firmly, now busy straightening the tumbled covers. "Jared said you're to stay in bed until you're better and that's just what you're going to do. You don't need to fret, everyone's already gone, so you'll have plenty of peace and quiet."

"Gone?" Alex gave a dismayed gasp. "Everyone?"

"Left a half hour ago. Jared said he'd tell your secretary you're ill and that you're not to worry about anything. I'll be back in a little while and I expect to see that you've eaten." She was out the door.

Alex lay back, allowing the numbness to wash over her body. Jared hadn't even come in to say good-bye. No
matter what, she could have hoped he would at least have had the courtesy to do that. Obviously not. She had no appetite for her breakfast, but out of deference to Mavis, she ate.

By the time the housekeeper returned for the tray, Alex had dozed off, feeling very alone and unwanted.

She spent most of the day sleeping or just staring up at the ceiling. Mavis brought her a mug of soup for lunch, but she could sip only about half of it before pushing the tray away. She blamed her lack of interest in food more on her illness than the fact that Jared had left without saying good-bye to her.

When it turned dark, Mavis came in to turn on a light and see if Alex wanted anything. She had made sure to keep Alex supplied with juices and a pitcher of ice water all day. The last time she had gone in, Alex had been sound asleep, so she only turned the lamp on at its dim
mest setting.

Alex wasn't sure what later awoke her, only that some
thing or someone was in her room. Stirring, she turned her head to see a tall figure standing with his back to her near the window.

"Jared?" she called out softly, unable to believe her eyes.

The figure turned and walked over to her bedside. "How are you feeling?" He leaned over and braced one hand against the top of the headboard.

"But you went to L.A. this morning." She still thought she was dreaming that he was standing there.

"Just to check in, sign whatever needed to be signed, and let the board know I'm still breathing," he joked.

Alex's smile was a faint semblance of her usual one. "Meaning you went down there and rattled some cages."

"Just have to show them I'm still the boss." Jared's fingers trailed lightly ac
ross her cheek and down her jaw
line. "Mavis gave me strict orders that I wasn't to overtire you, but I did want to see how you were feeling." He sat down on the edge of the bed where Alex had slid over to clear a space for him.

She wasn't sure if it was Jared's touch or her elevated temperature that was giving her the hot flashes. "Don't you have to go back to your office?" She knew he rarely took any time off for himself and this length of time away from the business was a record for him.

"Trying to get rid of me already?" He lifted a teasing eyebrow while sending his hand drifting along the neck
line of her nightgown and down over the soft roundness of her breast, noting the nipple standing up at his brief, teasing touch.

She shook her head. "It's just not something you nor
mally do," she whispered, wishing her breathing hadn't sped up at the sensual caress.

Jared lightly brushed stray strands of hair away from her forehead and framed her flushed features with his cupped palms. "There's a lot of things I don't normally do," he replied cryptically, looking down at her with an intense gaze.

Alex studied him, not knowing that her pale features only intensified her delicate bone structure. "Why did you come back?" she couldn't resist asking, reaching up to fiddle with one of his shirt buttons and slowly unfastening it to reveal the crisp hairs.

His smile was enigmatic. "Because it's nice to be around you when you're so pliable," he murmured, bending over to brush a gentle, mind-shattering kiss against her lips. For a scant moment his tongue appeared, tracing the out
line and leaving his mark before parting her soft lips and tasting the sweet, dark caverns of her mouth. Alex moaned softly and slid her arms around his neck, but as she raised her head a weak dizziness overcame her, a
reminder of her illness. She gasped and dropped back down onto her pillow. Jared smiled ruefully. "For a mo
ment I forgot how sick you are," he said, caressing her cheek. He stood up and turned to walk out the door. "Mavis said she'll be bringing you some soup and that you're to drink it all. I'll come see you first thing in the morning. If you need anything during the night, just call out. I'll leave my door open."

After Jared left, Alex lay there, unable to believe that he had flown back up because of her. Again the question came to her, but why? She had a deep-seated feeling that she'd soon find out.

CHAPTER SIX

Alex didn't recover as quickly as she anticipated. Months of meals on the run, when she did think to eat, and nights of little sleep had left her with little resistance to the virus that attacked her.

Jared had become so alarmed when Alex's temperature rose to a dangerous level on the second day, he insisted a doctor come out to treat her. He was not happy when the doctor explained that the cause of her illness was due to her lack of taking care of herself.

It was a little over a week before she began to feel a bit better. She crawled out of bed one afternoon and made her way to the bathroom.

"Ooh," she groaned, studying her reflection in the mir
ror. Where her skin had always portrayed a sheer, translu
cent finish, it was now a pasty white. Usually clear bright-green eyes appeared to have a cloudy film over them, and her usually shiny hair hung in limp strands, having been without a shampoo for the past week.

"Not your usual glamorous self, are you?"

Alex slowly turned her head to see Jared leaning against the doorway.

"Yes, thank you, I'm feeling much better," she mocked in a husky voice. "Just because I look as if I belong in one of Edgar Allan Poe's poems doesn't mean I don't have any feelings." She braced her hands against the cool porcelain sink, feeling her small reserve of strength rapidly leave her body.

Jared took immediate notice and stepped forward to take her into his arms. "You just have to play the tough guy, don't you?" he asked gruffly, shaking his head in wonder at her stubborn nature.

"You've got it," Alex muttered, resting her head against his shoulder. "Never say die, that's me."

He placed her back in bed and pulled the covers around her. He took his time in adjusting the blanket over her breasts.

"Will you stop it!" She irritably slapped at his wander
ing hands. "Have some pity for a dying woman."

"You should be so lucky." He smiled as he sat on the edge of the bed. His eyes betrayed his concern for the dark hollows of her cheeks and the unnatural pallor of her skin. "After a good dose of Mavis's cooking and some fresh country air you'll soon be back to your old cynical self."

"I plan to be back in my office the day after tomorrow," Alex argued.

"No way."

"I have a budget meeting to prepare for."

"Nope."

"You're due to fly to London next week and I'm sup
posed to tag along."

"Canceled."

Alex studied Jared through narrowed eyes. It wasn't difficult to see that any of her objections would be over
ruled. "I hate being sick," she stated flatly.

"Good, because you're not exactly the model patient." He leaned over and dropped a kiss on her forehead. "You look as if you're ready for a nap."

"I just woke up from one," she pointed out irritably.

"You need to build up your strength," Jared said softly, rising to his feet. "Take advantage of all this coddling, Alex. I have an idea this is something new for you."

She couldn't argue that her eyelids were drooping. She hated this helpless feeling of being out of control.

"You just wait until I'm back on my feet." Her words were slurring.

Jared smiled again, a gentle smile that Alex didn't see. "Baby, that's just what I'm waiting for."

It turned out to be another three days before Alex could get out of bed and stay out for any length of time. As it was, she was allowed only as far as the living room, where she was ensconced on the couch in a bundle of blankets with books and magazines placed at a convenient distance.

She was surprised at the time Jared was spending away from his office. Although his mornings were spent in his study on the telephone to Chris, he spent a good part of the afternoons and evenings with her.

On one such afternoon Alex finally decided to question him.

"Jared, are you sure you should spend so much time away from your work?" she asked casually. "After all, there's so much going on right now between the deal you made with Rashid and the dealings with those London bankers."

She wasn't surprised when he took his time answering. By going to the bar and fixing himself a drink he delayed his reply even more.

"Maybe I'm trying to find out how well they can do without me there," he said lightly.

Alex shook her head. "Not you. You have to be in control. You need to know everything that's going on, to be in on it all."

Jared walked over to the couch and perched himself on the arm. "What has it gotten me?" There was a strange intensity in his voice. "I head one of the 'five hundred' corporations, but I have little to call my own. I'm sure I'm considered one of the playboys of the business world, but I haven't found enough time even to properly court a woman, if I had found one who suited me. What woman would have put up with my erratic schedules or preoccu
pation with my work? I certainly wouldn't blame any woman who would accuse my career of being my mistress and, believe me, I've heard many complaints about that when I've had to beg off from a social engagement because of something that had come up at the office. Chris is nursing an ulcer because of our hectic schedule. You've been sick because of that same schedule." He uttered a harsh laugh that was sad in its own way. "Do you know what the newspapers call us? The Dynamic Trio; the three – people no one can stop. It makes you stop and wonder if it's all worthwhile. What will we have to show for it besides making Fernwood even larger and more powerful? Who will we leave it to?" he asked bleakly.

Alex reached out and grasped his clenched hand with her own. She was gaining a lot of knowledge into the inner man that astounded her. In a blinding flash she caught a glimpse of a very lonely man. A man who for all his riches and choice of beautiful women to grace his side and bed still spent a great deal of time alone. With an instinct as old as time itself, she rested her cheek against their clasped hands.

"Why do you do this?" she whispered, still fighting the softer emotions coursing through her veins. "I swear you're only trying to make me feel sorry for you so I won't ask for a raise."

Lean, slightly callused fingers stroked her cheek, then a pair of warm lips followed the same path. "Shall I tell you what you do to me?" he murmured in return. "Or show you?" The fingers pressed lightly against her lips before she could reply. "No protests now, Alex. Our time is coming."

Later that night she lay awake pondering his words. Her emotional side wished for a repeat of that tumultuous night with Jared while her rational half told her it would be disastrous. She knew she couldn't be his lover and his protector too. Tim was right, who was going to protect her?

The next day Alex felt strong enough to get up and dress for breakfast. Jared's surprised look and smile when she walked into the dining room was enough of a good morning for her.

"Looks like you lost about a size." He glanced at her jeans with a critical eye.

"Don't keep it in, Jared," she advised sardonically. "Go ahead, say what you feel."

"She's definitely feeling better," Mavis announced, walking in and placing a full plate in front of Jared.

"Does that mean I can have more than a soft-boiled egg and oatmeal?" Alex wrinkled her nose at the memory of the unappetizing fare.

"Maybe a couple of pieces of bacon," the housekeeper compromised, before bustling back to the kitchen.

"She thinks a lot of you," Jared told Alex when they had been left alone.

"I like her too." She smiled. "I have to admit it's nice sometimes to have someone fuss over you."

"If you feel like it, we can go for a short ride after breakfast. It isn't too cold out today," he suggested.

Alex's face brightened at the idea. She had to admit she was beginning to feel cooped up lately.

As promised, after breakfast Jared took Alex on a short ride into the hills. Her eyes began to regain their glow of happiness at being outdoors and enjoying the fresh air.