Then Came Alexandra (Southern Love #1) (13 page)

“How was your party?” her aunt asked.

“It was okay.”

She turned the page. “At least you’re socializing.”

“Yeah…”

Her aunt drank from her water, her eyes glued to the page.

“Well, goodnight.”

“Goodnight, dear.”

17

When Blaise came home, he banged on Danielle’s door.

She opened it, wearing one of his old t-shirts. “What’s wrong?” she asked immediately.

He stared at her. “I know I promised I would keep all of this a secret, but I need to break that promise.”

Her eyes widened. “What are you talking about?”

“There’s this girl…I want to tell her so she knows there’s nothing going on between us.”

Danielle glared at him. “Absolutely not.”

“Why not?”

“I’m sure your bimbo will tell anyone and everyone. Evan will know I’m here and he’ll know we aren’t together anymore. You know what that makes me? Dead. And you don’t need to tell her anything if you’re just sleeping with her.” Her eyes saddened as she looked at him, the jealousy evident.

“It’s not like that,” he said. “I really like her and I want this to go somewhere. I shouldn’t have asked her out until I figured out how to fix this situation, but the damage is done. Please let me tell her.”

“No.”

He clenched his fists. “I’ll just tell her anyway.”

“Fine,” she said. “But I’ll deny all of it. And to make it worse, I’ll tell everyone we are still together. You’ll look like a cheating asshole.”

His eyes lit up in flames. “You fucking bitch. I’ll throw you out right now.”

She put her hands on her hips and stared him down. “Do it. I dare you.”

Blaise took a deep breath.

“Kick me out. We’ll see how long it takes until he tracks me down. And when I’m lying in the hospital, broken or dead, you can thank yourself for that. You can watch my mother cry over me and all my friends stare at you with hatred.”

Blaise punched the wall, bruising his knuckles. He couldn’t let anything happen to Danielle, to any girl. It violated his code of ethics. Hurting an innocent woman was unforgivable. He couldn’t be so selfish by abandoning her.

“That’s what I thought.”

He gripped his hair in frustration. “So it’s official. You never loved me? You’ve been using me this entire time?”

Danielle’s eyes sagged. “No, absolutely not.”

He shook his head.

“Blaise, I love you. We should get back together. I’m sorry that I’ve been a nuisance to you, but I can change. We already live together. Let’s make it work.”

“I’m not going to love the one I’m with,” he snapped.

“If you pursue anyone else, it’s just going to be complicated.”

“No it won’t,” he said. “I’ll figure out a way to move on while protecting you at the same time.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Do you have any ideas?”

“Yes. I could just tell her the truth and she would understand. If she loved me, she’d work it out with me.”

“Well, I don’t want anyone to know. It’s my life on the line. I can’t trust someone I don’t know.”

“Then you can meet her,” he said.

She glared at him. “I have no interest in meeting one of your bimbos.”

“She’s not a bimbo! She’s an amazing girl.”

“Danielle rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry, Blaise. But I won’t change my mind.”

“I’ll just throw you out, then.”

She walked back into her bedroom. “I’m calling your bluff, Blaise.” She shut the door.

Blaise punched the wall again. “Fuck.” He walked into his bedroom then lay on the bed, thinking of Alexandra.

At least she wanted to keep their relationship a secret. That made things a lot easier for him. If Lana knew they were dating, she would tell Alexandra everything about him, how he knocked up Danielle and asked her to move in. Everyone in town thought they were still together. He definitely didn’t want Alexandra to think that.

He never wanted to kiss someone so much before. And when she leaned in to kiss him, his breath left his lungs. They burned from her loving kiss. The softness of her lips made him want to devour her. He never felt so hot for someone else. He was just as infatuated with her beauty as her heart. She was beautiful on the inside as well as the outside. He was a little disappointed to listen to the story about her ex, but she was here to stay. And he would claim her as his own. As far as he was concerned, she was his. He already lost his temper when he proved it to Gabe.

There was a loud knock on his door, and he groaned when he heard it. He got out of bed then opened the front door. Cole was on the other side, his arms crossed over his chest.

“Why are you here so late?” Blaise blurted.

“John’s been bugging me to visit you.”

He rolled his eyes. “I told you not to talk to him.”

“Well, when he follows me everywhere I go, I can only do so much.” He walked inside then looked at his brother. “I think you should do the deal.”

“Well, I’m not going to. This can’t be negotiated.”

“Do you have any idea how much money is involved?”

“Who gives a damn?” Blaise said. “We have plenty of money. We don’t need any more.”

“More money wouldn’t be the worse thing in the world.”

Danielle came down the hall, wearing a nightshirt. Her thighs were showing. “What are you arguing about?”

“Leave us,” Blaise snapped.

She rolled her eyes and walked away.

“When’s the wedding?” Cole asked with a smile.

“Shut the fuck up,” he snapped.

Cole put his hands in his pockets. “So, are you going to do it?”

“What?”

“The deal,” he said.

“I just said no,” he snapped.

“Come on, man.”

Blaise felt himself explode. “I only have you as a partner on paper because I pity you, but you don’t contribute anything to this company—at all. You have no weight to make business decisions. That’s final.”

“Well, that isn’t fair.”

“Really?” Blaise said. “Start carrying your own weight and I’ll consider it. Right now, you get free money every month.”

“I’m just trying to help.”

“You’re just trying to stuff more money into your wallet,” Blaise said. “Believe me, money doesn’t mean everything.”

“Whatever.” He sighed.

“Can you get the fuck out of my house now?”

“Is Danielle not putting out or something?”

“I haven’t fucked her in months,” Blaise said. “And that’s beside the point. I’m pissed at you right now.”

Cole turned toward the door. “Call me when you aren’t being such an asshole.”

“Then don’t expect me to call at all.”

Cole slammed the door behind him.

Blaise went back to bed, angrier than he was minutes ago. His beautiful night with Alexandra had been ruined. He hoped tomorrow would be a better day, not one tainted by his ex or his family drama. Just one beautiful day was all he wanted.

18

Alexandra slept in the next morning and got ready for their date. She found a yellow dress and kept her hair down, trying to look pretty for him. She didn’t spend a lot of time in front of the mirror, but she made an effort today.

When she walked outside, Blaise was waiting for her.

He stared at her, approval in his eyes. “I like it. You remind me of a spring flower.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” She came to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He immediately picked her up, smiling. Her happiness controlled her actions, and she leaned in and kissed him gently. Blaise squeezed her as he returned her affection.

He lowered her to the ground. “That was a wonderful start to our date.” He grabbed her hand and helped her get into the passenger seat.

When they drove out to the road, Blaise rested his hand on her thigh. Alexandra covered it with her palm, caressing his knuckles with her fingers.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“It’s a surprise,” he said with a smile.

She looked out the back window, seeing his dog stand in the tailgate. “Did Bane help you plan this?”

“It was his idea. He’s the mastermind behind everything.”

“Maybe I should go on a date with him.”

He laughed. “I’d be extremely jealous.”

“He is pretty cute.”

“Hey,” he said. “I’ll have to beat him up.”

“I got my money on Bane.”

He squeezed her fingers. “You’re adorable, Alexandra.”

She blushed.

They drove down a deserted road then moved into the trees of the forest. The trees blocked the heat of the summer sun. Blaise stopped the truck and killed the engine.

“It’s beautiful here.”

“I think you’ll like it.” Blaise got out of the truck and opened the tailgate. He grabbed a blanket and backpack. Bane jumped out and started to sniff the area.

“I can carry the blanket.”

“I’m good,” he said quickly. “This way.”

She walked alongside him as they walked a few feet into the forest. He moved to the left until he reached an open field. Wildflowers grew from the dirt. The trees surrounded the clearing, giving them a few patches of shade. “Wow,” she said. “This is so cool.”

He smiled then set everything down. He opened his backpack and dispersed the food on the blanket.

“You made lunch?” she asked.

“I can do more than plant cotton.”

“Apparently.” She grabbed a sandwich and dug in.

Blaise put a few tennis balls on the blanket. Bane nudged one with his nose, begging Blaise to throw it.

“That is so cute,” Alexandra said. She grabbed the ball and threw it across the clearing. Bane chased after it.

“Don’t say that,” Blaise said. “It’ll go to his head.”

“I’m sure it already has.”

Blaise finished his sandwich then looked at Alexandra. “Did you like your food?”

“It was wonderful.”

“There’s more if you’re still hungry.”

“No thank you.”

He lay back and looked into the canopy of the tree. She lay beside him and studied the leaves of the trees. The glade was peaceful and quiet. The sound of the rustling leaves flittered to their ears. Bane chewed on his ball while he lay beside the blanket.

Blaise grabbed her hand and held it on his stomach.

Alexandra noticed how hard it was, like a concrete wall.

“My dad and I used to come here to shoot.”

She turned to him. “You used to hunt?”

“No,” he said quickly. “Just target practice. It was something just my dad and I shared. My brother never wanted to come.”

“I’m honored you took me here,” she said quietly.

“It’s like your loft. I come here to hide.”

“Are you trying to hide right now?”

“Yes,” he said. “I like hiding with you.”

She turned on her side and hugged his waist, pressing her face close to his. His breathing picked up as she touched him. “I like hiding with you too.”

He glided his fingers through her hair, feeling the soft strands. “You’re so beautiful,” he blurted.

She blushed. “I think you’re beautiful too.”

He smiled. “There’s no comparison, Alexandra.”

“You’re the only person who calls me that,” she whispered.

“And I’ll be the only one who ever does,” he said with confidence.

When he stared into her eyes, she felt like she was home. Everything else in the world didn’t matter. It was just the two of them. She knew Blaise wouldn’t just be another person that left her life as quickly as he came. He was special, someone who was already in her heart. And if she wanted to keep him there, she had to give it all to him. “My first year working as a nurse, I came onto the nightshift like any other day.”

He stared at her while she spoke, realizing she was opening up to him.

“The patient was a drug seeker. He’d been in the emergency room ten times that year, trying to get his prescription of pain medication. Everyone knew why he was there and what he wanted. As soon as I walked in, he said he was in pain, writhing on the bed. I assumed it was all an act. I walked out and ignored him, attending to the patients who legitimately needed help. But he kept crying and moaning, delirious with pain. I walked in and looked at his catheter bag. It was full of blood.” She swallowed the lump in her throat, remembering the incident clearly. “The nurse from the previous shift inserted the catheter incorrectly. She enlarged the bladder balloon when it was still in his urethra. As a result, it completely destroyed the organ, making him bleed internally. By the time I realized what happened, it was too late. He died in surgery.” She felt the tears bubble under her eyes. “It was all my fault. If I had just listened to him, I would have caught it.”

He leaned over her and cupped her face. Blaise stared at her then kissed the moisture around her eyes. “It wasn’t your fault, Alexandra.”

“He died because I didn’t do my job right.”

“It was an honest mistake,” he whispered. “And you didn’t put the catheter in. You didn’t do the killing blow.”

“But if I—”

“Alexandra,” he said gently “It wasn’t your fault. You behaved just as anyone else would. It’s a typical the boy who cried wolf story. If he hadn’t lied and said he was in pain so many times, you would have taken him seriously.”

“That doesn’t mean he deserved to die.” She tried to control her tears but they continued to fall.

“No, it doesn’t. But that doesn’t mean you’re responsible for his death.”

“Then why do I feel so horrible?” She sniffed.

“Because you’re compassionate, caring, and amazing. You care. Most people don’t.”

She pulled him into a hug and held him tightly. His body felt protective when it lay on top of hers. She closed her eyes and tried to control her racing heart.

“You shouldn’t let this ruin your career, Alexandra. You’re a good nurse.”

She shook her head. “I don’t trust myself.”

“You just saved someone’s life the other day.”

“That doesn’t vindicate my earlier mistake.”

He pulled away then kissed her tears. “Forgive yourself, Alexandra. You’re too young to carry such grief.”

Alexandra took a deep breath and tried to calm her mind.

“I’m very honored that you shared that with me.”

“You’re my best friend,” she whispered.

He smiled. “You’re my best friend too.” He pulled her to his chest and snuggled beside her, his hand running through her hair to calm her.