A Playboy's Love Affair (9 page)

Carly had the perfect excuse and place to simmer her thoughts to figure out what to do next. She would personally see to the finishing details of her beachfront project in San Diego. Carly set her phone to forward any calls from Alex straight to voice mail—in the event he decided to call, which she highly doubted. She also instructed Liv to keep her whereabouts private. Only her boss was entitled to know and that was if he asked. Carly wasn’t ready to deal with any media drama and she planned to take full advantage of her anonymity for as long as she could. She was positive the attention on her wouldn’t last long because playboy would be caught lifting someone else’s skirts soon enough.

Going to San Diego had definitely been her best course of action. Carly stayed for a week and planned to stay another week or two. Every last detail of the project required every minute of her time. Her clients had been swept off their feet by the exquisite nautical design she’d created. The job wasn’t complete yet, and that gave her the perfect excuse to see to the final touches in person. Carly needed more time to get Alex out of her system, although that was proving nearly impossible. It’d probably be easier to accept that she’d have to learn to live without him.

Still, she was surprised at the fact Alex had proven her wrong and had actually called and left her several voice mails, except Carly hadn’t bothered to listen to even one. That would be knowingly giving into temptation. Why was he calling anyway? Wasn’t he supposed to move on to his next conquest? Carly scanned her surroundings as she strolled around her hotel’s pool area when her phone went off.

“This is Carly,” she spoke into the receiver realizing a second too late she forgot to check the caller ID.

“Carly.” Alex’s deep voice sounded on the other end of the line. “Do not hang up.”

How did he get through? Carly looked at her phone’s screen display ‘private number’, she should’ve known better before answering the call. Carly cleared her throat. “Hey…”

“Where are you?” Alex asked.

Carly sighed, thinking of what to say. “Why are you calling? Don’t you have better things to do, other women to chase? What do you want Alex? You got what you wanted, didn’t you? Now, you can cross my name off of your list.” The thought of him chasing other women and forgetting all about her was like a tiny, sharp stab in her chest.

“We need to talk.” Alex’s tone was serious.

Carly sat on one of the pool chairs. “Why? There’s nothing to be said. You won. You got me in your bed. What’s there to talk about? You successfully completed your goal. Bravo.”

Alex uttered something Carly couldn’t make out. Then he said, “It’s not like that. It’s never been like that with you.”

She waited to respond as a couple walked by with their kids. “I’m not stupid, Alex. You’re seriously going to tell me it’s never been like that? Come on, listen to you. Who are you trying to kid?”

“All right, I’ll admit it. Yes, it
was
like that—”

Carly had had enough, talking to him would only lead to one thing and she couldn’t afford to do that, not if it meant keeping her mental health intact. She hung up before he finished talking, and leaned back on the chair when the phone rang again. She pressed the answer button on her screen. “Can you please not call like you’d planned to do since the beginning?”

Alex cussed under his breath. “Stop it, Carly. It’s not what you think. When are you back?”

“I don’t know. Maybe another week or two.” She took a deep breath. “Alex, why are you calling? Can’t you just forget what happened the other night like I have?”

The line went silent for a few seconds. “Would you listen to yourself? You haven’t forgotten it any more than I have. Why are you so upset, shouldn’t you be happy I’m calling you?”

Had he really said that? “Remember when you told me you were an asshole? If I ever had my doubts, I don’t anymore. You’re a pompous ass. And, no I’m not happy you’re calling. You’re messing up my plans for the evening, and they don’t include talking to you.” Carly disconnected the call once more and closed her eyes, easing back in the chair. She put her phone in silent mode but the light announcing an incoming private number call kept blinking. Carly finally answered on the fifth call. “You sure are persistent,” she said into the receiver.

“Hey, listen I was out of line, okay? Can you be back this weekend? I respect your wish not to discuss the other night but I’d still like to see you. I’ll pick you up Saturday, okay?”

“What if I say no?” Saying no to him would mean nothing Alex would show up uninvited anyway.

“Carly. Don’t make this hard, okay? I’ll see you Saturday at seven.” His tone was final when he disconnected the call.

Carly blinked a few times, staring at her phone screen, and finally let out a heavy sigh. Her head kept telling her accepting to see him was a very bad idea, but her heart kept telling her she had to, at least one more time before letting him go for once and for all.

****

Alex wasn’t happy to find Carly gone the morning after their lovemaking. That wasn’t how things should’ve ended. If Alex were honest with himself, whatever they had couldn’t end just yet. He didn’t know what to think anymore, or what to expect. Alex had a hard time tracking her down. The one person that knew her whereabouts wouldn’t even give him a hint no matter his bribe.

Ever since he met Carly, Alex forgot all about his one rule: enchant them, seduce them, and leave them. Knowing which way was up anymore didn’t matter. For starters, the one enchanted had been him not the other way around. Then, he hadn’t just had sex with Carly, he’d made love to her, yes, he was man enough to admit it. Last, Alex couldn’t leave her. He simply couldn’t let Carly go. Not yet.

Alex had no clue where any of this would lead but wasn’t afraid to find out. His throat suddenly went dry and his heart skipped a beat when she walked down the stairs in strappy leather sandals, and a beige sleeveless wraparound mini dress. Alex straightened himself and walked over, meeting her at the bottom of the stairs. “You look stunning,” he said, taking hold of her hand with his and led her to his car.

“Thank you.” She smiled, allowing him to open the car door for her. “Where are we going?”

“Someplace fun,” he said.

A comfortable silence settled in as he drove them away. Apparently, all awkwardness had left Carly because she was very comfortable playing with his car stereo, first scanning radio stations for songs she liked and later switched to the songs in his iPod. Alex chuckled when Carly finally landed on one of his alternative rock playlists upping the volume to Muse.

“What?” She raised her brows in question and a smile on her face.

“You don’t look the type to be into Muse,” Alex said, keeping his eyes on the way.

“You don’t know many things about me,” she replied.

“So you like Muse. What else? I bet we have more things in common than not.” Alex gave her a side glance.

“We have nothing in common.”

“How about for every little thing we have in common you give me a kiss?” Alex’s lip slowly curled up as he looked at her from the corner of his eye. He had no idea what, if anything else, they had in common, save for the couple of things they did have, but he couldn’t resist teasing her.

“I’m not gonna give you a kiss.” She shook her head and stared out the window.

“Of course you won’t, not if we don’t have anything in common.” He bobbed his head her way. “Come on, Carly, I’m starting to think you’re a coward because you don’t want to play this game. Prove me wrong, you already owe me a kiss anyway.”

“I certainly do not.” She adjusted her dress skirt.

“I like Muse, you like them too. We have something in common, so you do owe me a kiss.” A hearty laugh was forming on Alex’s chest at seeing Carly’s effort to look anywhere else but him.

“Okay, fine. Hmmm…I love taking walks on the beach,” Carly said.

“Wow, you owe me two kisses now.”

Carly gasped and turned halfway in her seat glancing at him. “You don’t. That’s romantic crap, and you don’t do that, now do you?”

Alex couldn’t contain the laugh he’d been suppressing and let it out. “Contrary to popular belief, I do like to take walks on the beach, even if by myself,” he explained.

“I don’t like mushrooms.”

“You don’t like mushrooms?” Alex said in disbelief. “Who doesn’t?”

Carly danced in her seat clapping her hands. “I love watching I Love Lucy reruns.”

Alex rolled his eyes letting out a soft sigh. “You wound me, woman.”

Carly’s joyful laugh was contagious. She sure was having a grand time beating him. “Let’s see… you like burgers as much as I do, and you sponsor the same tee ball team I do. Now how’s that?”

Carly stopped laughing but couldn’t quite get rid of her grin. “Now, that’s cheating.”

“That’s not cheating. I call that being smart. Now you owe me four kisses.” He smiled as he piloted his Range Rover very slowly down, passing pedestrians on either side of his car, front and back and onto the bright fluorescent lights of the touristy Santa Monica Pier.

“From all places, I never thought this would be one you frequent.” Carly rolled down the window, letting the calming sea breeze caress her face.

“There’s nothing wrong with having a different kind of fun,” he said.

Alex found a parking spot, walked to Carly’s side and helped her out of the car. She stepped off to the side allowing him to close the door, but Alex trapped her between his arms against the car, inclined his head and kissed her on the lips. He groaned in Carly’s mouth when she parted her soft lips in invitation. “I’ve missed you,” he murmured.

Carly wrapped her arms around his waist. “I missed you too,” she whispered against his lips.

Alex let her go and took her hand, leading her toward the rides.

“Really Alex, I never thought there was a big kid in you.” Carly glanced at him as he pushed her on to the line for the Ferris wheel.

Alex had lots of fun seeing her blush every time he made her hop on every ride they both could fit in. He enjoyed most beating her at a handful of three-point shooter sets, and a tie at skeeball.

“Let’s go. I’m famished.” He pulled her toward him.

Carly giggled. “Oh, I don’t know, Alex. I think I’ve had my fair share of food between the cotton candy and the chocolate ice cream dipping dots.”

“Darling, I fail to see how that’s considered food. You’re sugar overdosed.” Alex put an arm around her shoulders and led her to a seafood restaurant overlooking the beach.

Carly smiled sweetly back at him from the chair opposite his at their table. “Thank you for taking me out tonight.”

Alex took her hand as he glared at the excellent ocean view their window provided them. “I’m glad you’re having fun.” His gaze narrowed on her. “Please don’t leave me again,” he said over the loud music playing in the background. Carly tugged her hand from his grasp. “Carly.” He firmed his hold.

A waitress took their order. Alex asked for a draft beer and Carly for a fun strawberry lemonade loaded with rum. They broke the rules ordering a couple of appetizers to share, settling on a two-pound bucket of Cajun spiced beer shrimp and blue baby crab cakes. After a few minutes the waitress was back at their table with their order, and Carly ordered another fun strawberry lemonade loaded with rum.

“Where were you last week?” Alex asked, breaking the silence.

Carly reached for a napkin to wipe her fingertips. “In San Diego, finalizing the details of a project.”

Alex considered her words taking a drink from his beer glass. “Will you be going back?”

“I may go back for a day or two, not sure yet. It depends on my other project. My client will be having a grand opening and has invited his ingenious designer to attend.” She pointed her thumbs at her, a proud smile on her face.

“Alrighty…” Their waitress stood between their table and the people’s next to theirs. “We’re going to play a movie trivia game. Are you in?”

Alex stared up at the waitress and glanced in Carly’s direction, letting out a quiet laugh as her eyes popped in surprise. “Yes, we’re in,” Alex replied.

“Cool,” the waitress replied and went on explaining the rules of the game, the movie trivia was about Casablanca. Alex and Carly had to get all four questions right. If they missed, one of them would have to do a dance.

“Who played the role of Rick Blaine in Casablanca?” the waitress asked.

“That’s easy, Humphrey Bogart,” Alex answered.

“That’s right! Great job. You have three more to go. The lady’s turn now.” The waitress turned to Carly. “What song does Ilsa ask Sam to play for her?”

Carly blushed and glanced at Alex for help. “Um…”

“Three, two, one, sorry. Better luck in the next round.” The waitress turned back in Alex’s direction. “What is Rick’s nightclub called?”

“Oh come on! Too easy.” Alex eased back in his chair grinning. “Rick’s Café Americain.”

“Keep up the good work. Okay, next one. Who said: Kiss me. Kiss me as though it were the last time.” The waitress narrowed her eyes at Carly.

“Ah…” Carly looked around the room.

“Oops, sorry. Nice Try. Last one.” The waitress turned back to Alex. “Who said: How extravagant you are throwing away women like that. Someday they may be scarce.”

“Captain Louis Renault,” Alex replied.

“You rock!” the waitress called out, giving Alex a high five, and swirled back around to Carly. “I’m sorry. Now you have to do the losers’ dance.”

“What!” Carly exclaimed. “I’m not dancing in front of all these people.” Carly let out a nervous laugh.

“Sure, you are sweetheart,” Alex cut in, standing up and pulling her from her chair.

“You’re not serious,” Carly said, incredulously.

“Babe, I’m dead serious.” Laughter filled his eyes.

“Give it up for Carly!” the waitress shouted, clapping, as Beast of Burden by Rolling Stones played in the background.

Carly eyeballed the amused audience by their table, and let go of Alex’s hand. She walked to an empty booth, stepped on the chair and stood on top of the table. “You want me to dance?” she shouted to her audience, leaning over, placing a hand by her ear.