"Go for it." Dark circles sat under his beautiful blue eyes, much like his brother Mark seemed to be sporting every time they saw him.
"Mark called and will be coming up on Saturday with all of the paperwork from the estate sale."
"Good."
"He wants to know if he can stay at your place. He's having a few financial difficulties."
"No." Alex kept his steely gaze on her.
"Alright. He can stay with me." She crossed her arms over her chest. "Next topic is your notes for the meeting on Tuesday."
"Wait. What the fuck? My brother’s not staying with you. That's not happening." He sat up in his chair and leaned toward her. The aggressive look on his face would have been sexy if he didn't mean it in a negative manner.
"Then he's staying with you. There’s plenty of room at your house. You're being an ass about this." She moved to the edge of her chair, ready to challenge him. Their 'moving to the next level' would definitely include her holding her own in a fight with him.
"Fine. I don't give a shit. Whatever." He stood and threw his hands in the air, which was too dramatic for even him.
"Alex? What the hell’s going on? Is this,” she gestured back and forth between the two of them, “too much? What’s the problem? Because it feels like one moment you can’t keep your hands off me, and then next my touch burns you. If we have to work together and live almost on top of each other… I just don’t get it.” She stood up and walked toward him. He was passionate, but overly emotional? No, that was not his style.
"Fuck." He turned to face her, the color having drained from his face.
Her heart almost stopped from the look on his face. Something was wrong. Extremely wrong.
"What’s going on?" She reached out for him, but he pulled back.
"I just met with Annette." He ran his fingers through his hair.
"Oh..." Sickness rolled through her. Were they getting back together? Had he slept with her?
A knock at the door interrupted them.
Gina stuck her head in. "Sorry; Mr. Billmore’s on the phone. He's in no mood to call back."
"I'll get it. Thanks, Gina." Alex moved toward Jamie and waited for Gina to close the door. When she did, he touched the side of Jamie’s face. "We'll talk tonight."
"Alright." She turned, wanting to push farther, but there was no reason to. He needed to answer the phone, and she needed something cheesy or greasy to make life seem better.
Jamie walked out of the office, and quietly closed the door to find Gina watching her.
"Food?" Gina picked up her purse.
"Sounds good." Her angst would have to be properly put away. If Alex was going to break her heart, she needed something comforting. Food.
Chapter 10
Jamie finished up her day and spent the evening waiting for Alex to finish. She gave up and headed back to her apartment after nine. A salad dinner and then a long swim left her bored and cranky. She’d eaten enough crap food and her body was starting to tell her.
She threw a movie in the DVD player and sat on the couch, waiting for Alex to knock on her door. She dozed off, and around two in the morning she finally texted him, only to get a short reply that they would talk soon. Images of him and Annette wouldn’t leave her head, or her dreams. Why in the world hadn't he just brought the pile of work home with him? Unless he was out with her.
Something flared up inside of Jamie. She wasn’t sure what it was, but it made her irritable and possessive.
Morning too
k forever to come and was there too soon. "Why are men such a pain in the ass?" She sat up on the couch and stretched, aching everywhere.
She dressed in a simple green dress and flats, pulled her hair into a messy bun and put on a little bit of lipstick. The weekend was upon them again, which meant that she might get some time with Alex one way or the other.
After fighting through traffic, she made her way into the office and walked through the lobby to see Nicholas waiting and chatting with Gina.