Mr. Marcelo raised a brow at his daughter. “He’s not gay, Britney. A man knows when another man is gay.”
“Oh! Daddy, how much longer must we do this?”
“Until we can get all the money we can,” Mr. Marcelo replied. He sat down beside Britney and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Sweetheart, we need his money to tide us over. We need his money if we are going to survive in this world. You know very well we are about to go bankrupt.”
“I know, Daddy,” Britney muttered. “But it’s just so boring. Jayden doesn’t want me. He’s not interested in me.”
“Ah, but that’s what he wants you to think,” Mr. Marcelo said, touching the tip of her nose with his finger. “You’re a beautiful girl. What man doesn’t want you? Now, be a good girl and do as Daddy said. I heard Jayden has a girlfriend. Is that true?”
“Daddy!” Britney snapped. “That mousy girl is not Jayden’s girlfriend. I’m going to be his girlfriend.”
“Then you’d better do something quick. Beth said Kelly’s hens’ night is tomorrow night.”
“Ah, yes. Kelly’s bachelorette party. I think I shall come along,” Britney announced. “Beth will welcome me with both arms.”
“And do what you must do,” Mr. Marcelo said. “Good night, sweetheart. Don’t you let your old man down.”
“I won’t, Daddy,” Britney replied meekly.
Mr. Marcelo kissed her forehead and then left. Alone, Britney went about showering and preparing herself for bed when the doorbell range.
“At this hour?” She groaned as she stomped toward the door. She pushed the intercom button and shouted, “Who is it?”
A male face appeared in the small LCD screen on the wall to the left of the door. “It’s me, darling.”
Britney’s face lit up immediately. “Oh, Kyle!” she screamed with excitement. “Come in. I’m so bored.”
Once the door opened, Britney threw herself into Kyle’s arms and started kissing him passionately.
“You missed me that much, huh?” Kyle said once his lips were free.
“Yes. Yes,” she said as she enthusiastically led him to the bedroom.
* * * * *
CHAPTER 16
The day had been long and filled with unexpected events. Jayden felt like a zombie as he drove home at three in the morning. At the same time, however, he felt exhilarated. With the window down and the fresh breeze on his face, he felt at peace. It was therapeutic, to say the least.
Once home, he quietly sneaked through the front door and tiptoed up the stairs to his bedroom. There, he slid in and quietly made his way to the wardrobe in the dark. He felt like a damn thief in his own bedroom, but he couldn’t take the chance of waking Alex. She was probably tired after her shopping expedition with Kelly and Stephanie. Knowing them, they’d probably made Alex try on every piece of clothing they could find for her.
He shut the wardrobe door and switched on the light. Once he found his pajamas, he tiptoed to the bathroom to shower. Ten minutes later, he was back into the darkness of his bedroom. The idea of sleeping on that uncomfortable sofa yet again caused him to groan unpleasantly. Perhaps Alex wouldn’t mind him sleeping beside her on the bed. After all, she couldn’t very well protest when she was asleep.
Mind made up, he went to the large, luxurious bed and slid in between the sheets. He rested his head on the soft pillow and sighed with satisfaction. He spread his arms out, hoping to touch the sleeping Alex beside him. Only there was a cold, empty space. He frowned and spread his hands out farther into the forbidden side.
He bolted up and switched on the bedside lamp. The room flooded with dim, glowing light. The space on the bed beside him was empty. He glanced around the room and saw a lump of a person cocooned under a mountain of blankets on the sofa with only a mop of dark hair visible.
Good Lord! Alex had stolen his bed—twice! What did she want to prove? That she could comfortably sleep on the sofa and he couldn’t?
In a flash, he was standing by the sofa, gazing down at her. She looked to be in a deep sleep, though he couldn’t see much of her except for her hair. Damn it. He didn’t want to disturb her, but he knew she’d be sore in the morning.
He bent down and slowly pulled the blanket away. Before he realized what was happening, he swore under his breath—stunned at the sight he beheld before him.
Alex was in deep sleep all right. She looked so peaceful and—dear God—so damn enticing he couldn’t help but keep gawking at her. It was only a moment later that he realized she was not wearing her pajamas she usually wore. Tonight she wore a pink T-shirt and sexy grey short shorts that showed way too much of her slim, shapely legs.
Jay stroked his fingers through his thick hair. Was it just him and the fact that he was getting too tired, or did Alex’s skin look soft and smooth? And yes, he wanted to touch her, slowly running his fingers up her legs.
Perhaps he had been standing there ogling at her for too long because she suddenly shivered delicately, drawing herself in and turning over.
He bent low and scooped her into his arms. Her hair brushed against his nose as she turned her sleeping face toward his. The wonderful smell of spring danced around him. He brought his nose closer to her hair and inhaled deeply. He sighed, loving the scent as he gazed at her face. Suddenly, he wanted to kiss those luscious lips.
Jayden! the voice at the back of his head said. You’re tired and you’re hallucinating. Put Alex to bed and then go to sleep.
He nodded at that sound advice and turned on his heel. At that moment, Alexandra fluttered her eyes open.
“What are you doing?” she asked, her voice soft and husky, like those hot babes in James Bond movies who were ready to seduce Bond. Only he knew too well Alex was not trying to seduce him. Her next words confirmed that.
“Put me down.”
He stared at her. There was something different about Alex. He also noticed her lashes were long, thick, and dark.
“Well?” she queried. “Aren’t you going to put me down?”
He cleared his throat, still too stunned to register the fact that she had changed so dramatically.
“I’ll put you down when we reach the bed,” he said finally.
“My bed is that way,” she corrected tiredly, pointing to the sofa.
“Your bed is there,” he replied, nodding to the bed. “And don’t argue with me. Go back to sleep.”
“Bully!” she grumbled sleepily, her eyes closing and her fist weakly punching his chest.
“Ouch!” he chuckled, teasing her. Her punch felt like an itch to him. “Why did you do that?”
Alex opened her eyes. “‘Cause I want to hurt you,” she retorted.
“Why do you want to hurt me?”
Alex wanted to say, Because you lied to me. Instead, she said, “Put me down, Jayden.”
“All right.” He gently put her down on the bed. Alex immediately rolled off and marched back toward the sofa. Jayden swiftly caught her arm and swung her around.
“What?”
Jayden realized her thick, bedroom-tangled hair looked different. The color had changed. It was ash brown with a hint of blond, and under the dim light, it was glossy. Her whole complexion looked healthy, fresh, and milky.