“Thanks,” she said and rushed in.
Jay waited, and a moment later, she came back out. “I need my things. Where are they?”
“Hold on.” He got off the bed, opened the giant walk-in wardrobe, and grabbed her luggage.
Alex widened her eyes at the array of men's clothing in there, all neatly arranged. Very expensive-looking clothing.
Jay put her bag on the bed. “There you go. I’ll go down and find you that aspirin.”
“Jay, those clothes, whose are they?” she asked, pointing to the wardrobe.
“Mine,” he said, winked at her, and then strolled out the room, whistling.
Alex just stood there, staring at the walk-in wardrobe. Those were Jay’s clothes? Oh, shoot! Her head hurt. She couldn’t think anymore. She raided her luggage, found the things she wanted, and rushed into the bathroom.
She took her sweet time showering. The warm water soothed her aching body. After shampooing her hair and cleaning her face and body, she felt a lot better. She dressed herself in skinny jeans and T-shirt and then did her makeup. Once all set, she rushed out and found Jay sitting on the bed, waiting for her.
“Feeling better?”
She nodded, suddenly feeling conscious of her shabbiness, what with her inexpensive jeans and T-shirt she bought from Kmart at sale prices.
Jay got up and came to stand right in front of her. He touched her temples again with his fingers and thumbs and gave her gentle massages.
“Not hurting as much?”
Alex shook her head. “Uh-uh. I always feel better after a good, warm shower.”
“Good.” He moved to grab the aspirin on the bedside table. “Here,” he said, the medicine in hand.
Alex stared at the two tablets as though those things were going to bite her.
“Go on.” He brought his hand higher.
Alex shook her head. “I’m feeling better, thank you. I don’t need them.”
Jay tried hard to hide a smile. He could see she was afraid she really had to take those tablets. He wondered what she’d do if she had a fever or one of the yearly flus back in New Zealand.
“Go on. It won’t hurt. Just swallow.”
Alex shook her head again and started to dash away.
“Oh, no, you don’t!” He chuckled, grabbing her arm. He pulled her back, and to prevent her from running, he placed one hand behind the nape of her neck. “Right, come on.”
Alex felt warm pleasure where his hand was touching her. Her stomach was all fluttery. He was making her feel things she had never felt before. To hide her emotion, she glared up at him. “You’re not my dad,” she snapped a bit too sharply.
He chuckled. “No, I’m not. But since you’re here and I’m responsible for you, you, missy, will do as I say. I don’t want Peter or your dad to hunt me down and torture me if anything were to happen to you.” He pushed the aspirin tablets in between her lips.
Alex kept her mouth shut. Jay was determined and pushed the tablets into her mouth.
Alex could taste the bitterness, and she groaned in disgust. She signaled for him to get the glass of water for her, her finger pointing and her face all scrunched up.
Jay chuckled as he quickly grabbed the glass. Alex downed the whole lot at once—water and aspirin. Once she finished, she shut her eyes and covered her mouth.
“There, not that bad, right?”
Alex opened her eyes, saw him smirking, and slapped his arm. “Stupid man,” she murmured and placed the empty glass back on the bedside table.
“I’ve got something for you.”
“More aspirins?” She teased. When she turned, she saw him on the other side of the room, retrieving something.
“Of course not.” He came to stand in front of her. “Here.”
Alex glanced down and saw a BlackBerry in his palm.
“It’s for you. Thought you wanted to ring home.”
She watched him grinning, her insides turning liquid warm. “But I’m only going to be here for a couple of weeks.”
“In case you get lost and can’t find me. In case you get bored and want to text me. My number is in there.”
“Oh.”
“No worries.” He chuckled. “So are you up for it?”
She glanced at him, her thoughts still on the BlackBerry. “Up for what?”
“Meeting my family.”
“Oh, right. Yeah, I suppose. Let’s do it.”
“Sure?”
“Uh-huh. Though I am rather nervous.”
“Nothing to be nervous about. Come along.” He grabbed her arm. Alex placed the BlackBerry on the bedside table and followed him.
In the hallway, he said, “Don’t forget. Endearment.”
Alex, who was staring wide-eyed with marvel at her surroundings, said, “What would you prefer? Darling or honey?” Then she laughed.
“I like both.”
“Your house is big,” she commented as they came down the stairs. She looked at her surroundings and felt as though she were in a celebrity’s mansion. Everything was so glamorous with white marble floor, enormous glass windows that overlooked an immaculate garden, crystal chandeliers, fancy drapes, and luxurious furnishing.
Jay pulled her closer and placed his hand about her waist as they walked toward the drawing room.
Oh dear, this was not at all what she expected. This girlfriend thing was going to be a bit too real.
The moment Alex stepped into the elegant drawing room, she knew she was completely out of place. The three women sitting on that expensive-looking sofa were all dressed in the latest fashion.
Jayden nudged her forward. Alex nervously glanced up at him. Jay smiled at her and guided her toward the armchair.
Granny Beth frowned at the couple, her blue eyes sharp. Gracie smiled at them, and Kelly just clamped her lips together as she waited for the two people to take their seats.
There was only one seat where Jay was leading Alex. Once he took that seat, Alex wondered what she should do. Stand or find somewhere else to sit. Her decision, however, was taken out of her hands when Jay pulled her down and made her half sit on his lap and half on the chair.
“Grandmother, Mother, Kelly,” Jayden began, “this is Alexandra Stewart from New Zealand.”
At this point, Alex didn’t know what to do. What does one do exactly when one first gets introduced to one’s boyfriend’s family?
“Hi,” Kelly said.
“That’s Kelly, my sister. It’s going to be her wedding,” Jay supplied.
Alex smiled nervously and nodded at Kelly. “Right. Hi,” she said to Kelly.
“That’s Mom, you can call her Gracie.”
“Hi,” Alex said.
“Nice to finally meet you, Alex.” Gracie leaned forward and grabbed Alex’s hand. They shook. “Can I call you Alex?”
“Yes, of course,” Alex replied, laughing nervously.
“I like your accent,” Gracie said. “Jay has been telling us so much about you.”
“Oh, thanks.” Alex’s eyes met Jay’s. He gave her a wide grin and winked. Alex blushed. She wondered what kinds of things he had told his family about her. She’d better ask him when they were alone.
Granny Beth frowned. She didn’t seem to like what she saw and said, “So what do your parents do?”