“I will say though... you’re pretty amazing too.”
“Pretty amazing?” He pressed his forehead against hers. His hands embraced her waist and stroked her back.
Zoe kissed his cheek. “So... what’s for dessert?”
Alex reached into the basket and pulled out a plastic container. “Original New York Style Cheesecake.”
Zoe’s mouth watered. “How did you know I like cheesecake?”
“I may have noticed you eating it at the diner one time.”
“You noticed?” She leaned in closer.
He whispered. “I’m always paying attention to you.”
Zoe kissed his lips.
***
Alex mumbled as his cell rang on his nightstand. Reaching out, he hit his phone to stop the alarm. It only rang again. He groaned and pushed back his covers. He focused his eyes, but still squinted since the sun rays pierced through his curtains.
Alex rubbed his eyes, just as a pounding on his door caught his attention. He pinched the bridge of his nose. What time was it anyway?
By the time he opened the door, Alex’s eyes popped open. Jackson’s eyes bore into him. Alex’s body temperature rose. Tommy stood behind his friend with his mouth downturn.
He flexed his fingers. “Want to tell me what’s going on?”
“Didn’t I tell you not to play around with my sister?” Jackson’s eyes narrowed at Alex.
“What are you talking about? Zoe and I are fine.”
Tommy showed Alex his phone. Alex gasped, spotting the photo he took with a fan a while back. He didn’t see any harm, since it was before he and Zoe became official. The woman was embracing Alex, kissing his cheek.
Alex raised an eyebrow. He remembered. The photo was a selfie on the woman’s phone, but the picture looked as if someone else had taken it. “I don’t know her name, but this was a selfie.”
“It’s all over social media,” Jackson said. “Our band’s Facebook page is filled with comments on this.”
“Okay, but it’s nothing,” Alex said. “We take pics with fans all the time.”
Tommy shook his head. “It’s deeper than that, Alex.” He sighed. “All of the comments are from women claiming to be your exes.”
Alex’s lips parted. “Okay, but that doesn’t mean what they’re saying is true. It’ll blow over.”
Jackson’s jaw clenched. “Guess what they have in common? You dumping them after three months. #3monthAlex is trending more than our band! Is that what you’re going to do to my sister? What’s going to happen when you get bored with her? Dump her like the rest?”
“No, I wouldn’t do that to Zoe.”
“You wouldn’t?” There was a bite in Jackson’s voice and Alex didn’t blame him.
Instead, he asked. “What’s Liam doing about this?”
“Damage control,” Tommy said. “We can’t afford bad publicity.”
Alex ran a hand down his face. Had Zoe seen the picture? He gasped. Would she believe him? The other women meant nothing to him. Not like Zoe. “I’ll fix this.”
“You better,” Jackson said.
“What’s your problem?” Alex cocked his head and then shook it. “I get you want to protect Zoe from me, but I’m—”