“Does she even realize what she’s doing?” Cash asked.
“You mean by avoiding questions, directing the conversation toward her opponent?” Marlo asked. “Yeah, I saw it.”
“Antonio believes she is innocent.”
In response, Antonio rolled his eyes. “Look, you’ve asked us to test her, and I can tell you. I threw on a whole load of charm, and she wasn’t buying it. Not one bit.”
“Maybe you’ve lost your charm,” Marlo said.
“Not a chance.” Antonio picked up his glass of water and took a sip. “I have fucked every single woman you’ve asked me to. It’s not hard, and it wasn’t difficult to get into their pants. I’m telling you, Alex is different.”
In the past, they had all had some fun in seeing how long their current flavor of the week would last when met with another man willing to take them to bed. Out of all his lovers, Denise was the easiest. Within hours, Antonio had her on her knees, sucking his cock and then taking him deep into her pussy.
Roman wasn’t upset. He didn’t love or have any kind of feelings for Denise. She was a woman he enjoyed, nothing more, nothing less.
He dabbed his lips with his napkin and got to his feet.
“You ever thought about treating her like a girlfriend or your wife?” Antonio asked. “She might open up to a guy she trusts.”
Glaring at his friends, he left the room and headed toward the kitchen. When he heard Alex talking, he slowed his pace so she wouldn’t hear him.
“He must be so scared,” she said.
“You know he has grown attached to you. I did worry how this distance would make him, but now, he’s … maybe tomorrow you can go see him.”
“I don’t know how my dad is going to do that. You heard what happened today.”
“I know. I know.”
“This is all so nuts,” Alex said. “I miss Stuart. I miss going and being with him, you know. Helping.”
“I’ll find a way to convince your father, Alex. For the both of you.”
She sighed. “Thank you, Millie.”
“Always. I will do anything for you, darling.”
“I’m going to head up.”
“I will serve those men,” Millie said. “Don’t worry.”
“Thank you.”
Roman hid down the long corridor and watched as Alex appeared, closing the door behind her. Since leaving the table, she looked exhausted. Like she’d just been given some bad news.
He watched as she stood, pressing her hands to her face. Her shoulders rose and fell with what he imagined were several deep breaths before she dropped her hands and then headed toward the main stairs.
Following behind her, he only made his presence known when she entered her bedroom, and he nudged her inside as he joined her. “What are you doing?” she asked, stepping back from him.
This was another thing about Alex. She never reached for his touch. Never made any excuse to put her hands on him or to be near him. She always created a distance between them.
“Who is Stuart?” he asked.
“Roman, why are you here? Millie made up the spare bedrooms. They’re on the main floor. She’ll show you and your friends where you’re supposed to be sleeping.”
“Not a chance. I sleep next to my wife.”
Her eyes went wide, and then he saw the smile. Seconds later, a laugh bubbled up inside her and spilled out. “Are you kidding me right now? We never sleep together. Never.” She spoke the last word slowly, as if she thought he couldn’t quite keep up.