“If you don’t mind, I have guests waiting to talk to me.” Alex stomped out of the room and back to the party.
Jamie watched him go. “I’m worried about him. He doesn’t seem himself as of late.” She didn’t realize she’d said the words out loud until Murray nodded and spoke.
“I don’t blame you.” Murray went back to cleaning the counter. “You’re not the only one worried about him.”
What was she supposed to do?
Jamie turned Nicholas’ card over and over in her hands. The brunch had long since finished. She hadn’t returned to it after talking to Alex in the kitchen. Instead, she’d gone down to her room and let him deal with his guests. He hadn’t called her back in, so she figured it was okay.
She stared at the expensive card twirling between two of her fingertips. She had already programmed the number into her phone, but she hadn’t sent him a text yet. She wasn’t sure what to say. He seemed like a nice guy, who was funny and handsome. She knew he would make the dinner into an amazing date, but every time she thought about texting him, Alex’s face popped into her head. He’s not interested in you. You’re just his PA. Don’t pretend there’s something there that isn’t. He didn’t hire you to date you. Do your job, get in and get out. It’s that simple. But somehow it wasn’t. Maybe getting out and going on a date would help.
A knock on the door distracted her from making a decision.
“Jamie? It’s me. Alex.”
Jamie sighed. “You can come in, Mr. Reid.” She heard the door open and Alex’s footsteps as he came around to sit across from her on the other couch.
He looked at her with an embarrassed expression. “I’m sorry,” he said, “for today.”
So, what was the correct way to handle this? Coddle him? Forgive him? Or tell him not to be an idiot and still keep her job? “You can drink at your own party, Mr. Reid,” Jamie said carefully. “It’s perfectly acceptable and I’m sure your guests would agree.”
“Would you stop addressing me so damn formally, Jamie?” Alex snapped. “I’m trying to apologize for acting like an asshole! I know you can talk to whomever you damn well please, but it drives me crazy.”
She blinked in surprise. “Pardon?” Did he just admit to being jealous?
He stared at her, his chest heaving. “Look! I know I
told you to come and mingle. That doesn’t mean you have to shack up with the first guy that hands you his business card.” He pointed to the card in her hand.
“This,” she held the card up and then stuffed it in her pocket, “is none of your damn business. I thought you came here to apologize for drinking.” She jumped up, anger taking control of her mouth. “And if I decide to go out with Nicholas, then that’s none of your business.”
“It is if it stops him from investing or he tries to hire you and pull you and my business away.” Alex waved her off, shaking his head. “I don’t even know why you’d want to date that trust fund jackass anyway.”
“As a matter of fact, he doesn’t have a trust fund,” Jamie retorted. “He couldn’t even afford food when he started Sunrise Applications. He lived off of Ramen noodles and care packages from his parents.”
“Oh, care packages,” Alex said sarcastically and rolled his eyes. “Trust funds come in different forms. It’s a hell of a lot better than being sent away and ignored for all of your life.”
Jamie froze, she realized Alex must have continued drinking when the party finished. He was drunk. “Is that what happened to you?” she asked softly, her irritation disappearing instantly.
Alex swallowed. “It doesn’t matter. I came here to apologize and instead I’m yelling at you.” He ran his hands over his face. “I don’t have any right to be jealous, but sometimes you drive me crazy, Jamie.”
She shook her head. “I don’t, Alex. It was your choice to drink today, I just suggested, as your PA, that you slow down. That’s all that happened today. I work for you, you’re my boss. Plain and simple. I won’t do anything to jeopardize that, I promise.” She stood. “I think you should leave.”
Alex stood as well, but instead of going to the door, he grabbed Jamie and pulled her toward him. Jamie’s breath hitched and a shiver ran down her spine. Whether that was from fear or lust she had no idea. Unlike when Stephen had grabbed her, Jamie now felt completely in control. Alex would let her go the second she pulled away, she was sure of that. Except, she didn’t want to pull away. Not quite yet. Images of Tara flirting with him, the idea of him drinking because he was jealous that another man was flirting with her, how incredibly sexy he looked in a white button up shirt and black dress pants… all of it flashed through her head and she kind of liked it.
His lips met hers, harsh and gentle at the same time. It held the same longing that had been there two nights ago when she’d wished so hard he would kiss her. She wanted this and yet…
Jamie swallowed and let him kiss her again. She deserved something amazing, right? She just wasn’t quite sure what that amazing was. Slowly she pulled away from him and stared down at his chest. He’d unbuttoned a few buttons on his shirt and his creamy tanned skin teased her. She imagined running her lips and tongue over it. "I think you should go," she whispered, torn between wanting him to stay and asking him to leave.
Alex nodded and stepped back. "I'll see you at work on Monday, Ms. Connors." He sounded so resigned that Jamie's heart almost broke. Almost.
"Good evening, Mr. Reid." She moved and held the door open for him and waited until he left before she sighed and slumped against the closed door. He would never come into her apartment again and kiss her. She realized that now. That opportunity would never present itself again.
She wasn’t sure how long she stayed leaning against the door, sitting on the ground, until she heard a splash in the pool outside. It had grown dark. She moved to the window to see Alex in the pool, swimming laps. The water made his chiseled arms and torso glisten in the light that lit up the pool like a display. The sight of him reminded her of the power he always emanated, even in bed, and it made her blood run hot. She’d given that up. For what?
Chapter 7
Jamie crawled into bed. She couldn’t get the image of Alex in the pool out of her head. Just thinking about his body made her wet. “Get a grip on yourself,” she muttered to herself as she pulled the covers up over her. “He’s your damn boss. Let it go!” But the image of him swimming laps imprinted the backs of her eyelids as she drifted off. It didn’t take long to fall into a restless sleep where dreaming was her only escape.