Then Came Indecision (Southern Love #2) (5 page)

Paul paid for their tab
even though Alexandra didn’t want him to. But he was the most stubborn person she ever met. When they left the restaurant, her friends waited before they walked to class.

Paul grabbed her and pulled her
aside. “Have dinner with me tonight.”

“I just had lunch with you.”

“So? I want something with just the two of us.”

Now she realized she gave him the wrong impression. She kept doing it over and over. “I only kissed you so you’d leave Gabe alone.”

He nodded as his eyes darkened. “So that meant nothing to you?”

“I wouldn’t say that…”

“Do you have any idea how much pain I’m in over you?” He released his hold on her hand. “Knowing you were with someone else kills me every time I think about it. I’m constantly on the edge, ready to tear someone’s throat out. So don’t ever kiss me unless you fucking mean it.”

She averted her gaze.

“Look at me when I talk to you.”

Alexandra looked at him.

“Do you understand me?”

“I’m sorry. It was
the only way I could get you to stop.”

“I don’t give a shit,” he snapped. “When you kiss me, I want it to be because you want to. No other reason. Don’t ever disrespect me like that.”

“I said I was sorry,” she whispered.

He stared at her. “Now you have to have dinner with me.”

Alexandra sighed. “I have homework.”

“I’ll pick you up at seven.”

“What? I just said no.”

“Too bad.” He grabbed her face and kissed her on the forehead. “I’ll see you then.” He stepped away and walked back to his car.

Her two friends stared at her, desperate to hear the tale. She sighed then walked to them, knowing they were going to pick her brain until there was nothing left.

Chapter Eight

Alexandra waited by the door until she saw Paul’s car pull in. She immediately went outside and shut the door quietly behind her. Paul killed the engine then walked up to her.

“How was school?”

“Great,” she said quickly. “Let’s go.” She walked to the passenger door.

He didn’t move. “I’m going to say hello to Martha. It would be rude not to.”

“Oh. She’s asleep.”

Paul raised an eyebrow. “It’s seven…”

“Well, she had a long day.”

“I thought your aunt was the hardest worker
you’d ever known?”

Alexandra was growing frustrated. “Well, everyone has an exception. Now let’s go.” She opened the door and got inside. Just as she sat down, the front door opened. “Damn…”

Aunt Martha looked at Paul. “I heard you were in town.”

He smiled. “It’s nice to see you. I’m glad your back is better.”

She pulled him into a hug. “Thank you, sweetie.”

He hugged her
then pulled away. “How are you?”

“I’m doing great. I’m very blessed that I have such a wonderful niece to help me out.”

Paul smiled at Alexandra. “Yeah, she’s pretty great.”

Alexandra sighed then came back to the front of the house.

“Although, I wish she’d come home with me,” Paul said.

“That makes two of us,” Martha said. “Alexandra is too smart to be growing cotton and taking English classes.”

“Can you two stop ganging up on me?” Alexandra asked.

Aunt Martha ignored her. “Are you staying with us, Paul?”

Alexandra tensed.

“I’m just taking Alexandra out to dinner.”

“Oh,” Martha said. She looked at Alexandra then back at Paul. “I’m guessing my niece didn’t give you my invitation?”

“Invitation?” Paul asked.

Martha sighed. “Come stay with us, dear. You shouldn’t be staying at a cheap motel, blowing your money.”

He smiled. “I would love to.”

Alexandra didn’t like the sound of that.

“Good,” Martha said. “Get your stuff and come back. You’ll always have a home cooked meal, none of that fast food garbage.”

“I do like your cooking,” he said politely.

“Suc
h a suck up,” Alexandra mumbled.

Paul looked at her. “What was that, baby?”

“Nothing…”

“Well, you two have fun.” Martha walked back into the house.

Paul walked toward her with a triumphant smile on his face. “I miss sleeping with you.”

“I have my own bedr
oom. You get the couch.” She got back into the passenger seat and shut the door. He sat in the driver’s seat a moment later then left the property.

“Two can fit on the couch,” he said.

She stared out the window.

“Why did this invitation take so long to get to me?”

“Because I don’t want you to stay with us. Aunt Martha is just too polite.”

“Aunt Martha says exactly how things are,” Paul said. “If I weren’t welcome, she would make that very clear, and probably with a gun.” He turned to her and watched her. “And why don’t you want me to stay?”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “You know why.”

He pulled into the parking lot then turned off the engine. He grabbed her hand and held it, running his fingers across the knuckles. “I would never do something you weren’t comfortable with. We dated for a year before we finally had sex. I can be as patient as you want.”

She let him hold her hand.

“But if you are that uncomfortable, I won’t stay.”

“Really?” she whispered.

He nodded. “I admit it would be nice to save forty bucks a day and not eat out for every single meal, but you’re more important than that.”

She looked at him. “You would do that?”

“Baby, you know I would do anything for you.”

She sighed. “You can stay with us.”

He smiled. “Thank you, roomie.”

She glared at him.

He laughed. “It was just a joke.”

“Promise me you won’t do anything.”

His face turned serious. “I promise I won’t do anything
unless it’s crystal clear you want me to do something.”

“Thank you.”

“But what’s the big deal if something did happen?” He stared at her face. “I think you’re more worried about yourself than me.”

Alexandra looked away.

“That’s what I thought.”

They walked into the restaurant and took their seat by the window. Paul stared at her like he usually did, his eyes lingering on her. He glanced at her lips every few minutes. He was never discreet about his gaze. He would blatantly stare at her
and not give a shit if she noticed.

His gaze was so intense
, she looked away. “How’s your family?”

“They’r
e good. Boring as usual.”

“And work?”

He shrugged. “It sucks working with your dad.”

“Was he pissed when you left?”

“Not really. I told him I had an internship.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Why would you lie?”

“What else would I have said?”

“Did you tell them we broke up?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because we aren’t broken up,” he said firmly.

“I’m getting really sick of hearing this,” she said with a sigh.

“Excuse me?”

“Nevermind,” she said quickly. “I just can’t believe you didn’t tell them the truth.”

“Why would I break my mother’s heart for no reason? She would beat the shit out of me if she knew I lost you.”

Alexandra hated thinking about his family. They were the nicest people she ever met. “I miss them.”

“They miss you too.”

They were silent until the waitress came over and took their order. After she left, it was silent again. Paul reached across the table and held her hand.

“I miss this,” he whispered.

“What?”

“Just touching you. I loved feeling your back against my chest while we slept. Even months later, I still can’t sleep without you.”

Her eyes softened.
“Paul…”

He kissed her hand then returned it to the table. They stared at each but remained silent. His hand felt warm next to her, acting as a personal heater. He still wore the gray shirt he had that morning. Alexandra glanced at his chest a few times.

After their food was brought, they ate quietly. It was the first time Alexandra didn’t feel nervous around Paul. It felt normal again. He still held the napkin tight in his palm while he ate. He still had perfect table manners, eating like a guy who came from money.

When the bill came, Alexandra grabbed it.

Paul snatched it away. “I’m not doing the check dance with you ever.”

“Let me pay my half.”

He laughed. “My girl doesn’t pay for shit.”

“Paul, I’m not your girl.”

“Stop saying that,” he snapped. “You don’t sound convincing at all.”

She sighed. “I told you I needed time.”

“And I’m giving you that.”

“No you aren’t.”

“Yes, I am. If not, I would have dragged you back to New York by the hair. You’re lucky I’m such a gentleman.”

“Gentleman?” she said with a laugh.

“That’s right.” He stood up then pulled her from the seat. He held her hand as they walked outside and got back into his car. They drove back to his motel to gather his things before they returned to her aunt’s house.

“What are you doing this weekend?” he asked.

“The girls want to drag me to a party.”

He nodded. “The girls and Gabe?”

She rolled her eyes. “Leave him alone.”

“What?” he snapped. “He seemed pretty fucking pissed when he realized I was your boyfriend.”

“You’re not my boyfriend! And he was mad because we just talked about it.”

“Talked about what, exactly?”

“I told him I wasn’t in the right place to be in another relationship, and that was my polite way of letting him down easy. But then he said he didn’t have feeling for me so I felt like a conceited asshole.”

“Well, he clearly does.”

“I think he was just upset I lied to him.”

“I don’t,” he snapped.

When they parked outside, they carried all his belongings inside and piled it in the living room. Alexandra pulled out an extra blanket and pillow and laid it out for him on the couch. When she was done, Paul was standing in his boxers. The muscles of his chest and stomach were prevalent even in the darkness. The tattoo down his ribs was noticeable, the blank ink contrasting against his pale skin. His hips were thin and his boxers hung low. His legs were thin but defined. Paul ran every morning and it showed. She swallowed the lump in her throat while she stared at him.

He came closer to her then stopped when he was a few inches from her. He grabbed her hand brought it to his lips, kissing it softly. Then he placed it on his chest, knowing she loved feeling it. Against her will, her fingers moved across the skin. His put his hands on her hips and pressed his face closer to her. His warm breath fell on her face, making her heart race. Emot
ions coursed through her like electricity. Before her hormones took over her thoughts, she stepped back and walked into her room, the image of his chest ingrained in her mind.

Chapter Nine

Alexandra woke up early the next morning so she could tend to the fields. When she entered the living room, Paul was still asleep on the couch. The blanket was bunched around his waist, revealing his chest. She stared at his side, looking at the lyric quotes that were inked onto his skin. His chest rose and fell at a steady rate. When Paul was asleep, he always looked so peaceful. She tore her gaze away and walked outside.

When she reached the field, she stopped and stared at the wide expanse of land. It stretched for miles. Whenever she was in the fields, she thought of Blaise. They hadn’t spoken in almost a week. He called her excessively, and le
ft so many voicemails that her phone stopped functioning. She didn’t listen to any of them. His story was always the same. The longer she spent time with Paul, the more she realized she didn’t belong with Blaise. If he could hurt her so much, he obviously wasn’t the right man for her. Paul hurt her when he kissed that other girl, but it wasn’t the same. She couldn’t explain why.

After she finished her chores, she walked into the warehouse and sat in the loft for a long time. She pulled her knees to her chest and felt a few tears fall. She hated crying over Blaise. Enough time had passed. She needed to just forget about him and move on. And Alexandra had no one to bla
me but herself. She was the one who decided to take a chance and sleep with him when she only knew him for a month. It was a very stupid decision.

The worst part was not having anyone to talk to. Paul was always there for her, but this was a subject that couldn’t be breached. Just because Paul hurt her didn’t mean she wanted to hurt him in return.