“I’m not sure. Try them both on and see,” he suggested, at a loss because all he noticed was her milky soft skin and her shapely body that could make her a model—a lingerie model—if only she were a little taller.
“Okay,” she said, smiling. “Here.” She handed one for him to hold. Jayden absentmindedly took it and continued watching her.
Alex was actually very nervous. She thought he looked as though he were about to eat her whole. For what other reason would he stare at her so intensely? Like she was his delicious dessert?
Stay calm, Alex, the voice at the back of her head said. Be confident. Show him. After all, you want him to suffer, don’t you?
Besides, he wouldn’t be able to touch her because he was supposed to be gay.
She slowly pulled the light-blue, off-the-shoulder dress down her body, the light material touching and caressing her skin. After tying the string at her waist, she said, “Well?”
Silence. Blue eyes staring intensely.
“Well?” she repeated, a little nervous this time.
Jayden had to admit she looked amazing in it. “It looks good,” he said, wondering when the heck she asked him that question.
“Yeah, I like it, too,” she said, her hands smoothing the fabric about her waist. “Let me try the other one,” she said, undoing the string.
Jayden had a mental picture of what he would like to do to her next. After she had slowly taken that dress off, he’d like to pull her into his arms and start kissing her, and then—
“I’ll have to take my bra off to wear that one,” she said almost absentmindedly.
“Huh?” He jolted, wondering if she was going to take her bra off and get dressed right there in front of him.
Oh, yes, sweetheart, do that.
Alex bent low toward him so her face was inches from his. He glanced down and saw her creamy cleavage parading enticingly before his eyes. She grabbed the dress from his hand, stood up, turned on her heel, and strolled back to the walk-in wardrobe.
Damn! She wasn’t going to take her bra off in front of him after all.
A moment later when she returned, his eyes widened in delight. The printed sweetheart corset dress fit her perfectly, showing off her slim body, shapely legs, and not to mention those gorgeous breasts. Holy shit! It was only morning, and he was already excited. This was going to be hard, in more ways than one.
All right, Jayden, he told himself, Alex will be gone soon. Only a week more to go, and then she’ll be gone, back to good old New Zealand.
The thought of her leaving, however, didn’t sit well with him. He realized he had become attached to her, that he liked her company, that he might have more feelings for her than he previously thought, and—oh shit—that he might be falling in love with her after all.
Alex put her hands on her hips and showed off the garment like a model would at the end of a runway. “What do you think?”
“I think it looks great,” he said, a tight feeling in his chest. He simply wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her and then tell her he loved her.
“Jayden, are you okay?” she asked, concern showing in her soft voice. She came to stand right in front of him and stroked her fingers through his blond hair. “Are you worried about your sister’s wedding?”
He looked up at her and thought, No, sweetheart, I’m worried what’s going to happen to me when you’re gone.
“It’s okay,” she said, sitting beside him. “Everything is going to be all right.”
Jayden didn’t know what came over him. It just felt right that he pulled her onto his lap. She obediently obliged and wrapped her arms around his neck. Then Jayden snuggled his face against the side of her neck and slowly started kissing her.
Alex sucked in her breath from the excitement erupting within her. She tightened her arms around his neck and groaned. His lips against her skin were so hot. She didn’t want it to end, but she knew it must. She only wanted him to want her, break down, and confess to her that he wasn’t gay and that he might be in love with her. It didn’t seem to be going that way, however, and she didn’t want to get hurt in the process.
She pulled back. “I’m hungry,” she announced. “Can we go down and have our breakfast now?”
Jayden blinked. He was still so lost in his own emotions and his want for her that it took him a few seconds to register what she said.
“Of course,” he replied, trying to regain his composure. “You go down first. I need a shower.”
“Okay,” she said, getting off his lap.
He didn’t feel like letting her go. He felt as though she were leaving him forever. His gut twisted with dread.
He watched her giving him a lovely smile before she shut the door.
“Jayden, what have you gotten yourself into?” he muttered under his breath as he got up. After showering and dressing himself in a pair of Calvin Klein jeans and a T-shirt, he headed down the stairs. He heard loud voices as he opened the dining room door. He saw his father earnestly talking to Sam, his future brother-in-law, who couldn’t seem to keep his hands away from Kelly. Alex was sitting beside Gracie on the far side of the dining table, having breakfast. They were chatting away like old friends.
“Jay,” Sam greeted loudly. “How are you? Long time, no see, man.”
“Hey, Sam,” Jayden greeted, smiling as he strolled into the room. He glanced at Alex, who was watching him.
“Good to see you,” Sam said.
“How was business in Hawaii?” Jayden asked.
“All sorted. Now it’s holiday time.” Sam chuckled. He looked at Kelly and winked at her, a promise in his eyes.
“Good. Hey, have you met my girlfriend Alex?”
Alexandra felt her heart melt because Jayden had just told Sam she was his girlfriend—in a sincere, warm tone.
“Yeah, Kelly introduced us,” Sam said. “Good choice, man.” He winked knowingly.
Jayden laughed. “So what’s the plan for the day?”
“Just me and my lovely bride today,” Sam said. “What about you?”
“Nothing planned,” Jayden replied sheepishly.
Alex picked up her cup of tea and sipped, disappointment building up in her stomach. So there’d be no chance of her ever seeing New York while she was here after all. She might as well go back to bed.
They chatted for a while longer, and then Sam ushered Jay to one side once he had the chance.
“Hey, mind if you do me a favor?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Jayden replied.
“I promised to spend time with Kelly today. I mean, I really missed her, bro. If you don’t mind, would you go to Tiffany’s to get our wedding rings for me?”
“Yeah, sure. Today?”
“Yeah. The payment is taken care of. Just need to fetch them. Mind you, it’s a surprise for Kelly. She hasn’t seen them.”
“Yeah.”
“Thanks, man,” Sam said, patting Jayden’s back.
With the deal done, Sam whisked Kelly away, and Jayden went about having his breakfast.
* * * * *
CHAPTER 18
Alexandra slipped back into the bedroom. She leaned against the closed door and sighed. She saw the BlackBerry Jayden gave her on the bedside table, grabbed it, and started dialing her home numbers. After a few rings, it was picked up by her mom.