"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." 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 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 that 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 heartbroken 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 have him call 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. 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 glean him a friendly hand on his shoulder from anyone. It should have been Alex who 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 away, 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.
"This is Alex Reid. I'm away from my phone. Leave your name and a short message and I'll return the call when I can."
A loud beep sounded.
"Alex," the voice was sexy and a little too familiar. "It's Annette. I need you to call me when you get this, baby. It's really important okay? No ignoring me to make me jealous or sad. I need to talk with you. Its business-related and I know how much you love business."
The message ended and Jamie's stomach tightened. He was worried about her and Mark? That was the most ridiculous thing she'd ever heard. She only saw Mark when she was with Alex, and that had been a total of three times, maybe four with all they had going on over his father. She jerked her hand out of his.
Annette, on the other hand, was an old lover who just wouldn't drop out of Alex's life. The thought of him calling the red-headed minx back left Jamie broken even more.
“That was nothing.” Alex reached for her hand again. "Hey. Talk to me."
"Really? What do you want me to say?" her voice was soft and laced with pain.
"Tell me that nothing is going on with you and Mark."
She snapped her attention toward him. "Is that a joke? Of course nothing’s going on! He's your brother, Alex. He's filing for divorce and having money problems. He wants a relationship with you and misses your father. I was just telling him that we were here for him. Excuse me for fucking caring for him. I'll make sure to steer clear in the future."