Let It Be Me (Let It Be Me #1) (17 page)

Alex put down his leg and stood up. Kayla tried to guess what he was doing as he took the steps until he was in front of her. He extended his arm out to offer his hand. 

“Come on,” he invited.

She raised one eyebrow, wondering what he was up to. She took it until she was standing in front of him. 

“May I have this dance?” he asked, surprising her.

Kayla looked up at Alex quizzically. 

“You’re testing me aren’t you?” she asked skeptically. Did he want to see if she was really willing to go out of her comfort zone?

He laughed. “Let’s just say I’m testing this dress.”

“What?” He totally didn’t make sense.

“I really wanted to dance with you that night I first saw you wear this dress,” he explained animatedly. “I guess I was just being my old douche self. I didn’t ask you properly.” 

Kayla sniggered with the memory. He has certainly come a long way since then. 

“Then we had to leave the wedding,” he continued, “and I missed my chance again. Take pity on me okay? I know you know how to dance, and you do it well. And no one’s here to see you. There are no stalkers lurking in my backyard.”

She laughed. He was just teasing her.

“So may I have this dance?” he repeated. “I’m here all dressed up and have nowhere else to go. And no one else is here to dance with me, for that matter. Perhaps I can go and ask Mrs. Costelo, but it seems more fun to dance with you.”

Kayla laughed some more, as she nodded her head playfully. 

“Fine,” she said. She also had to acknowledge the fact that she actually wanted to dance with him again.

He took a step closer then placed his hands on her waist. Kayla instinctively placed her hands on his broad shoulders, then they started moving with the music. Kayla looked over his shoulder, to see a glimpse of the water his house had a fabulous view of.

The room was quiet except for John Legend’s crooning.

Kayla took the chance to be this close to him. She knew she was attracted to him. Who wouldn’t be? His kindness and generosity has further heightened her crush. But she knew that nothing could happen out of it. They were worlds apart. 

“Stop thinking, Kayla,” Alex said, breaking into her thoughts. 

Kayla would have laughed at the idea that Alex was getting to know her pretty well, but the intensity of what she was feeling right then stopped her from doing so. Taking his advice, she stopped thinking and just focused on the feel of his shoulders under her palms. 

Feeling a bit more brazen, Kayla moved closer until her arms wrapped around his neck. Alex tightened his arms around her waist. Kayla could almost feel his breath on her forehead. 

She dared to look up into his eyes, and she was almost surprised to see warmth and thoughtfulness in his eyes. Part of her wanted to look away, but she willed herself to maintain her stare. Intoxicated also by his heady perfume, she started playing with his hair with her fingers. She’s always wanted to do that since she saw his disheveled hair when he lost his cap during their collision.

The song ended too soon, snapping Kayla back to reality.

She stiffened as she took her arms away from his neck. Alex kept his hold on her, but had a questioning look on his face.

“I better change,” Kayla said, near panic. She knew it was just an excuse. But she felt like she was suffocating. 

Alex nodded, then finally lost his hold on her. He bent down to take back her purse, then they headed to the stairs. They walked the steps up to the second floor, with Alex going first. He brought her to her bedroom door. “You might want to take a nap,” he suggested. It was his first words after their dance. “I had Mrs. Costelo prepare some sandwiches for us. You weren’t able to eat much earlier. We can meet back down at seven-thirty. Is that enough time?”

Kayla nodded. She appreciated his patience despite her erratic behavior.

“But if you need me before then just knock on my door. I’m there at the end of the hallway,” he said. He pointed to the door. And the idea that he was that close gave her different ideas. She’s been trying so hard not to think of Alex as the sexy man that he was, but she’s been having such a hard time that day.

Kayla felt herself redden and she didn’t want Alex to see. “Okay, thanks, see you,” Kayla said hastily, bowing her head for him not to see. She entered her room and avoided looking back at him. 

It took some time for Kayla to finish taking a shower and changing into jogging pants and a tank top. She was distracted.

Afterwards, she laid on the bed and tried to take his advice to take a nap. But she couldn’t stop her wandering thoughts.  She was thinking what Alex was doing in his room, what he was wearing. Or not wearing. 

She had to fight her attraction to him. 

She’ll just end up hurting herself.

Chapter 20

Kayla had another naughty dream about him when she finally got to sleep. Unlike the first time, this was different because she already knew him. It seemed too real.  Instead of feeling refreshed from her nap, Kayla felt anxious. 

And very aroused.

She had to wash her face with cold water to try to calm herself down before it was time for her to go down and meet him.

“Get a grip, Kayla,” she told herself before reluctantly heading down. Kayla shook her head to stop her thoughts. She found Alex by the living room, also casually dressed in a plain grey shirt and cotton drawstring pants. 

He grinned at her in greeting, and Kayla thought how hot he looked in the simple getup.

Stop it, Kayla
.

“I thought we could eat at the verandah,” he said. “You up for it?”

Kayla looked out and saw the stunning view of the water. There was a full moon and the moonlight over the water was magnificent. 

“Hell yeah,” she agreed, trying to act normally.

They walked to the kitchen to collect the tray of sandwiches and two bottles of wine. Alex pointed out where the wine glasses were.

They walked back to the living room. Alex opened the sliding doors and they were greeted with the gust of wind. He laid the tray and the wine on the table then said, “Hold on, I’ll just grab some other stuff.”

Kayla just laid the glasses and pack of table napkins on the table when Alex came back. 

“I got one for you,” he announced. Kayla looked to see he was holding a grey hooded jacket. He was also already wearing a black one himself. 

There wasn’t an end to his thoughtfulness, Kayla thought. 

Alex zipped open the jacket and helped her put it on. 

“Warm enough?” he asked, standing in front of her and holding on the lapels of the jacket she was wearing.

“Yes,” she breathed, but the warmth she felt was amplified by how near he was. And how good he smelled. She was thankful that it was relatively dark and he wouldn’t know she was blushing.

“Let’s eat then,” he said and Kayla was glad for the diversion. She sat at the edge of the daybed, and he sat on the lounge chair. The sandwiches and wine were laid out on the table between them. 

There was an assortment of sandwiches with ham, salmon or turkey. Kayla didn’t really have an appetite but she didn’t want to starve later on so she compelled herself to have some.

While feasting on the sandwiches and the wine, they talked about the movies Alex has made. Kaya was grateful for the rather wholesome topic. She needed to sidetrack her thoughts.

Alex was talking about his earlier movies. Kayla was honest in saying which of his movies she didn’t like.

“How could you not like ‘Get Over It’?” he asked, jokingly. They were talking about one of his earlier films that was a comedy.

“Lame jokes,” she replied truthfully. “Admit it. That time you were just taking whatever movie was offered, right?” 

Alex laughed. “You got me there. Well who could blame me? I was a starving actor. Ben was relying on me too.”

Kayla admired how he wasn’t taking himself too seriously. Kayla was enjoying their conversation that she only realized she had a bit too much wine when she felt a little fuzzy. They were already on their second bottle. Since she has had her fill of sandwiches, she laid down. The back was inclined so she managed to hold on to her wine glass. 

“I’m proud of how you handled today,” Alex said. 

“Thanks to you,” she said, turning right to peer at him. She was losing count of how many times she has thanked him that day. 

“I don’t believe that,” he said. “Even if you went alone, you would have still been strong. That’s what I’ve admired about you since we met.”

Kayla was touched by his confidence in her. She’s gone by on her own for so long now, she never really stopped to think about how she was doing. 

“How did you meet Barry?” Alex suddenly asked.

“Believe it or not, we met at Starbucks,” Kayla admitted, sipping some wine. “He was behind me and it was my turn to get my coffee, I realized I forgot my wallet at home. He offered to pay for it.

“Smooth,” Alex remarked, sarcastically. 

Kayla laughed dryly. “Well it worked, didn’t it?” But she couldn’t help but think if she regretted that happening at all. Would it have been better if she just never met Barry in the first place?

Alex didn’t laugh with her though, and she saw his jaw clench.

“What is it?” Kayla asked. 

He shook his head. He stood up and started pacing.

“What is it?” she repeated.

“Freaking coffee,” he muttered. “Then you went out with him for what, three years? And here I am, taking it as slow as I could so you could get used to me, and I feel like I’m not getting anywhere.” He was still pacing back and forth and was raising his arms as he spoke. 

Kayla’s heart was starting to pound wildly. 

“Are you drunk?” She had to ask. She looked at her glass that still had wine in it, and then she placed it on the table, like it was the culprit on why she was possibly hearing things.

He stopped pacing then looked down at her. He walked till he was next to the day bed and sat on an empty spot and faced her. 

“I may have a bit of a buzz,” he admitted, “but I know what I’m saying. No girl has ever reached into my heart as you have. I’ve wanted you since that night we literally bumped into each other. But you keep on fighting me. I’m really glad we’re friends, Kayla. But I keep on wanting to kiss you. All I have was the memory of that kiss in the elevator. And after replaying that memory over and over again, I’m not even sure anymore if it really happened.”

Must be the little buzz she also had. Or the naughty dream she had earlier that still left her wanting. But suddenly Kayla got the courage and found herself sitting up and reaching out for him. She rested her hand on his cheek and leaned in to kiss him, closing her eyes.

Just this once
.

She felt him go rigid for a second, probably in disbelief, then she felt him raise his hands to hold on to her head as he deepened the kiss. The kiss instantly brought back the fire they had in the elevator and more. Kayla had tried to forget their very first kiss, but now that she had the taste of it again, she just knew she’s been craving for it all along.

The hint of the wine in his tongue made it more intoxicating. She wanted more.  It seemed like he did too because both of them quickened the pace, like they suddenly couldn’t get enough of each other.

He gently pushed her down until her head was back on the reclined portion of the day bed. He shifted his weight until he was practically lying on top of her.

Kayla opened her eyes then to meet his, and almost couldn’t believe this was happening. For a second she was knocked off from the moment, and her brain was screaming conflicting directions, but her body refused to listen and wanted to get more of him. 

“Are you sure about this?” he asked, probably sensing what she was feeling, as he broke the contact for a second to gasp for air.

Unable to speak, Kayla just let her body do the talking as she leaned up to kiss him again. She trailed kisses from his lips to his chin then down to his neck. She felt the pulse on the side of his neck with her lips. She wanted to stay there and inhale his scent. 

She started tugging on his jacket to take it off.

Just this once
, she repeated to herself.

“Holy shit,” Alex cursed gruffly. “Hold on, Kayla, you’ll get cold. Let’s go inside.” He quickly stood up then reached down to effortlessly carry her. Kayla didn’t know how he did it because her arms and her limbs felt like jelly. As Alex got them both back in the house, Kayla wrapped her arms around his neck and kept on kissing his neck.

“Easy there, tiger,” he growled as he started going up the steps – two steps at a time it seemed. “A man can only take so much.”

He practically ran down the second floor hallway until they reached his bedroom at the end. When they entered, Kayla couldn’t help but look around to see the suite inside. Even through the haze in her mind, she managed to check out his magnificent room. He had a corner view that had an impressive view of the ocean, with the moonlight spilling in.

He laid her on the bed, and stood up to look at her. With the help of the moonlight coming from outside, Kayla saw a look of disbelief and awe in Alex’s face and for a second she wondered what he saw in her.

He took off his jacket and loomed over her, with his knees outside her legs. He leaned down to kiss her again, careful not to crush her. Kayla somehow knew he would be as thoughtful in bed as in everything else, and she appreciated that. 

Kayla couldn’t ignore however the bulge she felt on the side of her leg and she whimpered in excitement. She hasn’t been with a man for two years already. It’s been way too long. 

And the wait seemed worth it.

“Let’s take this off,” he said, pulling on her jacket. Despite the urgency they both seemed to be feeling, he gently helped her take the sleeves out of her arms. He pulled the jacket from behind her and threw it to the floor. With the absence of the jacket, she knew she should have felt cold with the amount of skin exposed by her tank top, but instead, she felt warm all over.

She held on to his waist, silently urging him to kiss her again.