Don't Promise (Don't 3)

Alexa appeared in the doorway. “It’s ok. You don’t have to go through so much trouble because of me.”

“Scrambled better?”

I ignored her. She needed to eat something. I’d light up the grill and toss the steaks on if that was the only way to get her to eat.

“Really, Luke. I’m fine. I-I—” She reached for the countertop as her boot slipped on the hardwood floor.

I reached over just in time to hook my hand around her waist before she tumbled to her ass. Fuck. She was more shaken than I realized.

“Gotcha.”

I couldn’t help the sudden instinct that kicked in. The one that said I needed to protect her. I’d catch her if she fell. I’d hold her until she was back on her feet.

Her palms flattened into my chest. The only thing keeping her from wiping out was my arm. It was like one of those damn trust exercises we did in camp sometimes. And right now Alexa was telling me I had her trust. I was a place she could fall.

I snaked another arm around her and saw her eyes light with expectation.

“You keep rescuing me today.”

No one had mistaken me for a white knight. “You were going to bust your ass,” I reminded her.

She shook her head. “Not just that.”

By now I probably should have stood her upright, but I held her firm and close to my body. My cock twitched. Everything was fucked up, but I couldn’t control how my body wanted her.

We both remained motionless when her phone started to ring. It was in her back pocket.

“Do you want to get that?” I asked. It hadn’t stopped since we left the hospital.

“I don’t think so. I know it’s Jake.”

“Hmm.” I looked into her eyes. Truth was I didn’t want her to pick up the phone either.

I didn’t want someone else in the middle of this. Whatever in the hell this was. And Jake. Well, he was a dick.

The phone rang again.

“He’s going to keep calling.” Alexa twisted her lips together.

“Want me to talk to him?”

“No. I can handle Jake.”

I made sure she was standing and had her balance before I let go. She turned away from me to answer.

“Hey, Jake.”

I heard how sweet and soft her voice was for him. I wondered if that act worked.

She ran her fingers through her long hair. “I know. I know. You don’t have to say it like that.” She paused. I guessed he gave her an earful. Bastard. She didn’t deserve that.

“Jake, if you’d just listen to me for a second…”

I clanged a few pots while I looked for the frying pan. I kept one ear in Alexa’s direction.

“It’s not that bad,” she insisted. “Really, my fans aren’t going to care.”

She groaned and twirled on the heels of her boots. “I don’t think it happened like that … uh-huh … I know. You’re paranoid. It’s going to be ok. My fans are more forgiving than you.” There w