Tears burned her eyes and she realized how stupid she was being. The hurts from her past were pushing her toward feeling like shit when she knew that Alex didn't feel that way about her at all. He cared for her and thought she hung the moon.
Then why hide me?
"He's an idiot, but most men are. He's just not used to having someone that he plans on keeping for a while. Tell him that it hurts you and once you've been crystal clear about it, then you can get defensive and hurt if he does it again." He smiled. "You're beautiful and he's a lucky man. Period."
"Thanks." She wiped at her tears, feeling childish. "It's fine. I need to just be clear with him about it. I'm letting my past haunt my future."
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "We all do. It's going to be fine."
"Thanks, Mark."
"Me on the other hand... I'm thinking about filing for divorce. I'm so tired of not being loved." He squeezed her once and let her go. "I keep thinking it's going to get better, but it just doesn't. She wasn't cold or borderline cruel when we met. I don't know what the fuck changed inside of her, but it's like night and day. I'm almost at my breaking point."
It was her turn to comfort him. She reached out and rubbed his back as he leaned over the rail in front of them.
"You need to do what you think is best, but exhaust all other options first. Divorce sucks badly." She glanced up as Alex walked out onto the porch. He turned to look at her and lifted his eyebrow as his gaze moved down to her rubbing Mark's back.
She jerked her hand back like she it was being burnt.
"What's going on?" Alex asked and moved toward them.
"We're just talking about shit. You wanna join us?" Mark stood up and moved back, making room for Alex to slip past him.
"Not really. I'm ready to go." Alex reached for her hand. "Come on. Flight’s in thirty minutes."
"Oh really?" Mark glanced from Alex back to her. "I was hoping that you guys were staying for another night. I wanted to bring you out to the house."
"Sorry to once again disappoint you." Alex tugged Jamie past his brother and wrapped a possessive arm around her. "Call if you need anything."
"Right. See you later Jamie." Mark waved and moved to lean against the railing again.
She followed Alex, but made the mistake of glancing back. "He looks miserable."
"Not sure why that would be. He has a beautiful wife, and it would seem the attention of my girlfriend far more than he should. Nothing to be sad about at all." Alex dropped her hand and opened the door. His expression was tight with anger.
"Right." She got into the car and turned to face him. "I'm your girlfriend now? I thought I was just your PA. Remind me of the on and off times again. I'm getting a little confused."
"Is this what this is all about?" He turned to her and narrowed his beautiful blue eyes. "You're pissed that I told the lawyer you work for me, so you come out on the porch and love on my heart-broken younger brother? That how it's going to work?"
"Are you fucking kidding me right now?" She huffed and crossed her arms over her chest, moving to the other side of the car. "Take me home and don't say another word to me."
"Jamie. You have to see it from my point of view. You were rubbing his back and have been basically cuddled up to him since we got here."
"You're out of your mind." She wiped at her tears as they started to drip onto her cheeks. He was the ass she imagined him to be. "Remind me the next time I want to make you feel better not to hit my knees for you. Nothing like sucking a man's dick and then him calling you his secretary instead of his woman. Extreme confidence builder there."
He touched her leg and scooted closer. "Stop it. That's horrible. You know how I feel about you."
"Yep. I sure do." She didn't say another word, but watched the world go by outside the window nearest her. He was an asshole, and she didn't want to clear things up about what she and Mark had been doing. The fact that his world was falling apart was enough to gleam him a friendly hand on his shoulder from anyone. It should have been Alex that did it, but heaven forbid he act out of character around his brother. Heaven forbid he care.
They flew home in silence, the hot love making session having been put on hold. Their relationship was a freakin’ yo-yo. It did feel like they were teenagers again. She didn't have much to say as they sat in the back of the car either, though Alex reached out and took her hand about halfway home. She didn't push him back, but she didn't give much thought to making things right either.
His phone buzzed and accidentally connected to the car stereo as the message from his caller was recorded.