My Only - Alex & Jamie (34 page)

Alex looked back up at Jamie, waiting. Patiently.

Her hands shook and a tear fell down her cheek, “Are you really sure this is what you want?”

“Yes.” He could have said more, pleaded his case further. But he knew that wasn’t what Jamie needed, she just needed a little time to process.

Finally a huge smile spread across her beautiful face.

“Yes,” she said her voice shaking. “Yes, I will marry you.”

Relief and joy flooded through Alex as he stood and scooped Jamie up into his arms, holding her tightly. “I love you, I love you so much. I will do everything I can to be the best husband, the best dad, possible. I promise.”

“There’s just one thing,” she said as she chewed on the inside of her cheek.

His stomach dropped, “What?”

“Can we keep this between us, just until I get a chance to talk to Joey about it?” Nervousness filled her caramel-colored eyes.

He kissed her and, after just a moment, she melted against him. He pulled away slowly, “We can do whatever you want. But just so you know, I asked Joey this morning how he would feel if I asked you to marry me.”

Her eyes widened, “You did?”

“Of course,” Alex said, “I can’t ask your dad for his blessing and that little man has been the man in your life.”

“Yes, he has.” She nodded as tears started falling down her face. “What did he say?”

“He asked if that meant I would be his dad. When I told him yes, he,” Alex paused feeling a little choked up, then clearing his throat continued, “he hugged me and said that it that was the best birthday present ever.”

Jamie shook her head, sniffing, “I can’t believe Joey didn’t say something to me. Usually when he’s excited about something he can’t stop talking about it.”

“I maaaay have bribed him with two extra Go-Gurts for a week if he didn’t spill the beans.”

Jamie’s head fell back as she laughed, “Wow, you’re really getting the hang of this parenting thing.”

Then, taking a deep breath, she beamed up at him, “Okay, then I guess we don’t have to wait to tell everyone.”

Alex smiled as he took Jamie’s hand and placed the solitaire diamond ring on her finger, “I’m glad you said that, because Chelle’s probably told everybody anyways.”

“Good point.” She chuckled, then, looking down at the ring, started tearing up again, “It’s so beautiful. Thank you Alex, I love you so much. I can’t imagine my life without you.”

Alex smiled, “Good. Then my plan worked.”

He leaned down and gave her one more kiss before asking, “You ready to go tell everyone the good news?”

“Yep.” She nodded, wiping her tears from her face.

Alex took Jamie’s hand in his and opened the door. All eyes turned their way. He looked around at his friends and family, smiled and echoed the words Joey had used when he found out he could have his sleepover, “She said yes!”

Everyone cheered and congratulated them.

Joey ran up to them excitedly, “Does this mean I get my Go-Gurts?”

“Yes, little man.” Alex picked him up with one arm as he pulled Jamie into a hug with the other. Alex had never thought he would find the love and happiness he shared with Jamie, and now that he had, he was never letting it go.

THE CROSSROADS SERIES

Chapter One

Amber’s heart races as she walks down the long hall, passing door after door. She can’t stop staring at his strong back as he stalks in front of her. He moves with an easy grace. His long legs carry him with a powerful stride.

Finally, he stops. Pulls out a keycard and slides it into the lock with a loud click. The light turns green.

This is it. Decision time. Is she going to do this or not?

He opens the door, moving to the side to allow her to walk in. His compelling eyes meet hers and a shiver runs from the tip of her head to the bottom of her feet. Her legs feel unsteady as her knees weaken from just his stare. Decision made.

Inside, a surreal orange glow fills the room. She realizes it's coming from a florescent light on the adjacent building's neon sign. Good, she thinks. It's best if this seems as unreal as possible. His jet black hair shines from the golden illumination beaming through the window. He takes off his jacket and hangs it on the desk chair causing his button up white shirt to pull taut against his strong, muscled back.

“Do you want a drink?” At the sound of his deep, sexy voice the tiny hairs at the nape of her neck stand up.

“No.” She reaches down, rolling her delicate gold bracelet around her wrist. She can feel her pulse rapidly beating as her thumb brushes the soft skin below her palm.

“Do you want to sit?” He motions smoothly to the small maroon couch that lines the wall beside the king sized bed.

“No.” Amber stares directly into his piercing blue eyes.

“Do you want to talk?” His question sounds more like a challenge than an inquiry.

Amber shakes her head slowly back and forth, her long dark hair softly brushes over her shoulders. “No.”

She stares, captivated by his tall athletic form. He stands a few feet away from her, legs planted a shoulder width apart, hands hanging loosely by his sides. His eyes never leave hers, never stray down to her low-cut neckline or further, to the rest of her tight black dress.

“What do you want?” he finally asks, breaking the electrified silence.

“I want one night,” Amber replies with a shaky breath, “One night where I can forget. One night where I don’t have to think. One night where I don’t have to take care of anyone. One night where I don’t have to make any decisions. I want one night where all I have to do is feel.”

He doesn’t immediately respond to her request. Instead, with seemingly none of the sense of urgency or intensity that is flooding her entirely, he reaches up and slowly loosens his red tie. Then, after unbuttoning the top two buttons of his crisp white shirt, he removes his cuff links and rolls up each sleeve twice, his gaze never leaving hers.

If it were up to Amber, her cocktail dress would already be on the floor and they would both be in bed. Naked. If she decides she wants something, she takes it. And she definitely wants him.

But somehow his deliberately easy pace is a turn-on. He has an air of authority and the appearance of someone who is to be instantly obeyed. He seems completely…contained.

“How much have you had to drink?” he asks flatly, his tone indicating he is not to be lied to.

“That rum and coke was my first, and I didn’t even finish it,” she answers honestly as all of her nerve endings begin to tingle with anticipation.

Taking two wide steps, he crosses the room, effectively closing the distance between
them in what feels like a millisecond. He is standing in front of her, his broad, wide chest even with her hungry eyes. His scent, a combination of soap and earthiness, surrounds her and causes a fluttering in her belly. She lifts her chin as her eyes scan up to meet his.

“What’s your name?” he asks. His gravelly voice sends an aching need through her that begins pulsing between her legs.

She doesn’t hesitate.

“I’m done talking.” She reaches up and winds her arms around his neck as she lifts on her toes to press her lips to his.

She softly kisses him for just a moment before he engages. Taking over, his firm lips do not leave any question of who is in control. She feels the roughened pads of his fingertips graze the side of her neck as his large hand wraps firmly at the base of her scalp tilting her head even further up, giving his mouth complete and total access to hers.

A soft whimper of need escapes her lips as they part. His tongue sweeps inside, meeting hers in a sensual caress. He claims her, owns her with his passionate kiss.

His hand possessively grips her hip as his other continues to hold her head in place, exactly where he wants it. His dominance creates a fierce desire that quickly spreads through her body, consuming her like a wild fire. Her hands move down his shoulders. She feels his muscles ripple beneath her touch, sending a tremor through her arm and down her spine.

He tears his mouth from hers as he quickly pulls her dress over her head. Then grabbing the back of her thighs he lifts her up, pressing her back against the wall. She feels his erection pressing firmly against her silk covered mound.

“Is this what you want?” he growls as he rocks his hips into hers.

A jolt of pleasure shoots through her core at the intimate contact. Her panties, already damp, are now soaking wet with arousal.

“Yes,” her voice is barely audible above the loud siren.

She tries to ignore the noise. She reaches to kiss him again but she can’t. The siren is growing louder and louder. She closes her eyes and tries to just feel. She wants nothing more in
this moment than to lose herself in animal sensation. She bucks her hips towards him, searching, desperate with need - but feels nothing.

She opens her eyes again and is greeted with nothing more than the sight of a plain white ceiling.

What the hell? She closes her eyes, willing herself back into the erotic escape, and then opens them once more.

White ceiling.

Damn.

Amber shook her head to clear it, and then turned to look at her alarm clock,
sitting on her nightstand and blaring its unwelcome song. All her senses returned to her at once. She realized she was not in DC, back in that hotel room, at all. She was lying in her bed, at home in Harper’s Crossing. And that wasn't a siren she heard just moments ago. It was the shrill cry of her alarm clock, jerking her unwilling consciousness back to reality. She reached to turn it off as disappointment flooded her. Exhibiting what (she considered) admirable restraint, she refrained from throwing it at the wall across the room.

“Why do I always have to wake up before the good part?” she grumbled under her breath.

Then she noticed the time.

Damn!

She picked up the phone and quickly scrolled through her contacts. Before she was able to find the correct one the phone began vibrating in her hand as Haley’s picture appeared.

Amber pressed the answer icon, “Hey…”

“Where are you?” Haley interrupted.

“Still in bed. I overslept. But I will be there in fifteen.”

“No, don’t rush it’s fine. Sophie stopped by to invite us to a party and stayed to help out. I only called because I was worried about you.”

“We’re that busy?” Amber didn’t think her small boutique shop could possibly be so slammed that Haley wouldn’t be able to handle it on her own, especially since they open at ten and it was only ten-fifteen.

“Um...it’s the fifteenth.” Haley’s voice sounded confused. “Are you okay?”

Damn, how had she forgotten the date? On the fifteenth of every month, Amber opened Bella, her clothing store, an hour early and invited the women that were staying at HCWS (Harper’s Crossing Women’s Shelter) to come and use their gift cards.

Each month, Amber donated gift cards to the shelter, and the women staying there could earn the cards by participating in programs. The shelter offered everything from counseling to self-defense classes. The morning of the fifteenth was Amber's favorite time of the entire month! Something happened to a woman who was trying to get her life together when she slipped on a beautiful suit or office dress and looked at herself in the mirror. It was like she suddenly saw herself as the strong, capable woman that all of the HCWS counselors had been trying to convince her that she was. It was like the belief in her own abilities magically entered into her consciousness as the fabric slipped over her body.

Amber had seen the transformation happen a hundred times, and would never tire of it if she saw it a thousand more.

Dang, girl, she chastised herself – get it together!

Her phone buzzed from another incoming call.

“Hold on Hales.” Amber said as she checked to see who the call was from.

She sighed. Of course! Why was she even surprised? It was that kind of morning.

She put the phone back to ear to wrap up with Haley. “I’ve got to take this call, Hales. Don’t worry, though, I’m fine. I’ll see you in a few.”

Amber disconnected Haley’s call and took a deep breath before answering the other. She pressed the button, took a deep breath, and moved the phone back to her ear.

“Hi Mom.” Amber tried to sound as upbeat as possible.

“Hey, Sweetie,” her mother slurred.

Amber felt her entire body tense as she carefully controlled her tone, “Mom, where are you?”

“Um, well, I can see the road but can’t see the sign.” She giggled, “Hey handsome, do you know where we are?”

“Yeah, a shitty motel. Can she give us the money or what?” Amber heard a man’s gruff voice in the background.

“Hold on! I haven’t asked her yet, Bubba,” her mother loudly whispered.

“You can tell Bubba she said no.” Amber said flatly, not wanting to draw this conversation out any longer than necessary.

“What?” her mother asked, her voice shaking.