Meant for Love (35 page)

“She is
mine
. You got me?
Mine
.”

“I never said otherwise! You’ve lost your mind if you think there was anything more to what you saw than two colleagues enjoying a beer after a particularly hideous day.”

“You were standing right next to her.”

“Because I was helping her with the fucking computer, you asshole.”

“That’s not how it looked to me.”

“Are you listening to how ridiculous you sound? I never laid a hand on her, and I wouldn’t, because I know you’re into her.” Paul ran both hands through his hair. “I don’t need this shit after the day I’ve had. You can take your accusations and go straight to hell.”

Oblivious to the mess they’d made with their brief altercation, Paul headed for the door.

“Wait,” Alex said.

Paul slowed, but he didn’t stop.

“Paul, wait.”

His brother stopped at the door but kept his back to Alex.

“I’m sorry. I was out of line. I saw you standing next to her, joking around and drinking beers, and I fucking lost it. I should’ve known you’d never do that to me.”

“You’re goddamned right I wouldn’t.”

“I’m really sorry,” Alex said again, hoping this time his brother would believe him.

Paul turned to face him. “So you’re in love with her, huh?”

Alex felt like his brother had gut-punched him. “No, it’s not that.”

“Isn’t it?”

Alex sagged against the counter. “I don’t know. It might be.”

Paul, that bastard, cracked up laughing. “You’re such a jackass, you know that?”

“Yeah, I know. I already said I was sorry. Twice.”
 

“For what it’s worth, I think she’s awesome. You should’ve seen what she got done around here in one day. It’s more than Sharon did in two months.”

“I’m not surprised.” Alex glanced at his watch. “I’m supposed to pick her up in like twenty minutes. Are you going to be home tonight? I should’ve checked with you before now.”

“Yeah, I’m home. No worries.”

“I owe you for all the time I’ve been spending with her.”

Paul waved him off. “No, you don’t. I’d never begrudge you the chance for some happiness in the midst of all the chaos. Just don’t forget we’ve got that meeting with Hope tomorrow at noon.”

“I haven’t forgotten. You’re meeting her boat?”

“Yeah.” Paul straightened out of the slouch he’d slipped into as he leaned against the door. “Oh my God, I almost forgot. The cops found Sharon and got the password. You’ll never guess what it was.”

“Do I want to hear this?”

Paul laughed—hard. “Probably not as much as I want to tell you. It’s AlexMartinezIsADick.”

Alex tossed his head back and laughed. “You gotta be fucking kidding me.”

“Nope, not kidding. I only wish I’d thought to try that. Should’ve been my first attempt.”

“You’re enjoying this a little too much.”

“I gotta get my jollies where I can.”

“Glad I was able to help.” Alex went behind the desk, grabbed a broom from the corner and started sweeping up the broken glass. He couldn’t believe the way he’d reacted to seeing Paul alone with Jenny.
 

“Hey, Al?”

“Yeah?”

“If you love this girl, don’t let her get away. She’s special.”

“I know.” While it pleased him that his brother could see that Jenny was special, it also infuriated him. However, he wisely kept that last part to himself. “Do you think it’s fair of me to be getting so involved with her?”

“What do you mean?”

“Mom and everything. It’s a lot to ask of anyone.”

“If she were the kind of person who couldn’t handle what you’ve got going on, you wouldn’t care about her as much as you do.”

“That’s true, but still…”

“I get where you’re coming from, but how long are we expected to put our lives on hold? For the rest of Mom’s life? There’s no right or wrong answer here. For what it’s worth, I say go for it. We’ll figure it out the way we have already.” Paul pushed open the door. “See you back at the ranch?”

“I’ll be right there.”

“Don’t forget to lock up.”

“Yes, Dad.”

Paul’s raised middle finger was the only indication that he’d heard Alex’s snide comment.

Alex swept up the glass, turned off the lights, shut down the computer and locked the main door. As he walked up the hill to the house, he thought about what Paul had said about timing and also tried to figure out why he’d gone so ballistic on his brother. He was about halfway home when it dawned on him. He was jealous—jealous of his own brother and the easy rapport he’d found with the woman Alex considered his.

“When was the last time you were jealous because of a woman?” If he were being truthful with himself, he’d never experienced that particular emotion before. He’d felt the same way the other night when he heard her invite her old friend Jared James to visit her at the lighthouse. Alex had felt then like someone was peeling back his skin to reveal a rather ugly interior.

Jealous
.
 

As he showered off the grime of the day and shaved, he thought about the other thing his brother had said, the part about Alex being in love with Jenny. Was that even possible so soon after meeting her? Yes, it was more than possible, he decided. That realization had him questioning whether she felt the same way and what he’d do if she didn’t.

“Christ, you’ve got it so bad for her,” he whispered as the water cascaded down upon him. Was it too soon to tell her how he felt? Probably. The last thing he wanted was to scare her off by pushing her for more than she was ready to give. But maybe she was ready, too.

He had no earthly idea how to approach this latest dilemma as he wrapped a towel around his waist and reached for his phone to text her.

Running a little late. Will be there soon.

No worries
, she replied.
I’m running late, too
.

No worries, he thought. That was an apt description of their relationship. It was easy and peaceful and calming and somewhat effortless. All of those things were exactly what he needed when he had so much else to contend with. Since the heat had finally broken, he pulled on faded jeans and a cotton button-down shirt that could use some time with an iron. Hopefully, Jenny wouldn’t care that he hadn’t taken the time to iron his shirt for her. He could always say he was in too big of a rush to get to her to bother ironing, which wasn’t far from the truth.
 

Alex combed his hair, brushed his teeth and splashed on a bit of cologne. Then he went out to the living room to spend a few minutes with his mother before he left.

When she looked him over from top to bottom, he could tell she was in one of her more lucid periods. “You look nice.”

“Thank you.”

“You should’ve ironed your shirt.” Marion Martinez had made sure both of her boys could do their own laundry and knew how to handle an iron before they left her house. She’d tried and failed to impart some basic kitchen skills, however.

“I know. I’m already running late, though.”

“That’s no excuse to go out looking rumpled.” She surprised him when she stood. “Take it off. I’ll do it for you.”

“Oh,” he said, stunned by the offer as much as the lucidity. “You don’t have to.”

She looked at him with the eyes of the mother he used to know. “Please let me.”

Overwhelmed by her request, Alex unbuttoned the shirt and took it off, following her to the laundry room off the kitchen to keep an eye on her while she operated the iron. But he needn’t have bothered. She ironed the shirt with the kind of skill that came from a lifetime of doing such things for the men she loved. When she was finished, she held it for him while he slid his arms into the cooling sleeves.
 

He turned to face her and watched in stunned amazement as she buttoned it and then patted his chest.

“Much better.”

“Yes, it is. Thanks, Mom.”

“My pleasure.”

He could see that doing something for him had indeed brought her pleasure.

“Are you seeing that nice girl who was here the other day? I can’t recall her name.”

Alex saw to putting the iron away and stashing the ironing board. “Yes, I’m seeing Jenny.”

“I like her.”

“So do I.”

“Bring her to see me again soon, will you?”

“I will.” As tears stung his eyes, Alex hugged her. “Love you, Mom.”

“Love you, too, honey. Now don’t stay out too late. You know how Daddy and I worry when you boys drive at night.”

Alex wasn’t sure what hurt more—the stark reminder of who she’d once been or the sudden return to dementia. “I know, Mom. I won’t be out too late.” He pulled back from her and looked down at her. “Thanks again for ironing my shirt.”

“Your shirt? What about your shirt?”

“Never mind.”

She might not remember, but he’d never forget.

Chapter 19

When she heard the rumbling roar of the motorcycle coming down the lane that led to the lighthouse, Jenny grabbed her jacket and put it on, slung her purse over her shoulder and headed down the stairs to meet him.
 

Filled with anticipation, she stepped outside as he brought the bike to a stop and cut the engine. While he took a good long look at her, she did the same, enjoying the sight of him in a freshly ironed cotton shirt that was rolled up to reveal his tanned forearms, well-faded jeans and the boots he always wore on the bike. His dark hair was messed up from the ride, but the messy look—like everything else—only added to his over-the-top sex appeal. Or maybe it was the fact that she thought everything about him was sexy.

He got off the bike and held out a hand to her. “Those jeans are hot, babe.”

Feeling the now-familiar magnetic pull, she went to him and was thrilled when he wrapped her up in a tight hug. She put her arms around him and held on just as tightly to him.

“You have no idea how badly I needed this,” he said after a long moment of quiet.

“Everything okay?”

He released a deep sigh. “It is now.”

Jenny loved that he seemed to feel better when he was with her, that they brought each other comfort as well as passion and companionship and all the other things they’d found together. But the comfort seemed to be what he needed right now. “You want to talk about it?”

“Later.” He drew back from her so he could kiss her. “I want to enjoy being with you, because I’ve been looking forward to it all day.”

“I’ve been looking forward to it just as much.”

“Well, I promised you a date, so let’s get to it.”

“If it’s not a good night for it, we don’t have to go anywhere.”

“It’s a good night, and it’s going to get even better before it’s over.”

The playful wiggle of his brows was much more in keeping with the Alex she’d come to know. He helped her into the helmet he’d brought for her and showed her where to put her feet.

“It’s probably best if you hold on really tight to me,” he said when she was settled behind him on the bike. “Then there’s no chance you’ll fall off.”

“You’re just saying that about me falling off to get my hands on you.”

“Well,
yeah
. What’s the point otherwise?”

It was her very great pleasure to put her arms around him and to feel the press of his most-excellent ass against her spread thighs. She was already hot and bothered, and they hadn’t even left yet.

“Ready?” he asked over his shoulder.

“I think so.”
 

“All kidding aside, hold on tight and follow my lead.” He fired up the engine, and they took off like a shot down the dirt lane that led to the main road.

She’d had very limited experience with motorcycles. A high school boyfriend had had one, but her parents freaked out when they heard she’d been on it and forbade her from ever going with him again. Being the good girl that she’d been at the time, she’d obeyed their directive, which wasn’t hard, because that guy was a moron, and he’d scared the crap out of her with his crazy antics on the bike.
 

As Alex took her on a thrilling ride on the island’s winding roads, Jenny was glad her parents didn’t know what she was doing, because she absolutely loved everything about it—especially being pressed up against him as he drove. This was nothing like the last time, when she’d been too scared to enjoy the ride. This time was exhilarating and freeing and extremely exciting. But that probably had more to do with the man than the motorcycle.

When they pulled into the parking lot at the Sand & Surf Hotel, Jenny was almost disappointed that the ride was over. Alex got off first, helped her remove the helmet and kept his hands on her shoulders until she got her legs under her.

“How does dinner at Stephanie’s and a movie at the theater sound?”

“It sounds perfect.”

He took her hand and led her inside, where Sarah Lowry was working at the hotel’s front desk.