"I shouldn't have had to, Mark. I told him that I didn't get in the fight to show the size of my dick. He didn't believe me, and therefore didn't step in to help me when they hauled me off to juvie. Hell, it was mostly his idea." Alex set his cup down and folded another piece of toast in half. "It's all over now. She's safe, and the guy won't ever touch another woman."
"I understand, but...” Mark ran his fingers through his hair in frustration, a movement similar to his brother’s. “Dad had me believing you were just a thug, and look at you now. I know it might not mean much, but I'm proud of you. Really proud." Mark sat back and crossed his arms over his thick chest.
"It means a lot. More than you know. Juvie changed me. It made me better, and it set my life in the direction I needed to go. Plus, it made me super tough." Alex stood and flexed. "I can still kick your ass.” He grinned and quickly added, “On that note, I'm hopping in the shower and then going to the office. You guys clean up."
"What? That's not fair!" Mark yelled dramatically, the poor guy seemingly embarrassed by the soft moment.
Alex was, too, from what Jamie could tell.
"Yep. The cook doesn't clean, and the cleaner doesn't cook. You know the old rules from when we were kids. Get to it and stop playing like you're immune from work." Alex smiled and turned his attention to Jamie. "Does he act like this in the office, too?"
"Yep. All day, every day." Jamie laughed and got up as Mark's expression caused them both too laugh. He and Alex were going to be great friends one day. Jamie just hoped like hell that she would be right in the middle of them, able to witness it. “By the way, your girl is waiting for you downstairs. Her watch was on her wrist when she left.”
“Really?” Mark dropped his plate back on the table. “Sorry, bro, gotta go. Duty calls.”
Chapter 18
Jamie spent the day milling around the house, and then waiting for Alex to get back, which wasn't until later that night. They had a quick dinner, and he was out after ten minutes of watching TV on the couch. The security system cameras and everything were fixed and fully functional now. The glass in window and the backdoor were all patched up and looking brand new.
She stayed on the couch with him for the rest of the evening, brushing his hair with her fingers and dropping soft kisses onto his face as he slept. They crawled into the bed just after midnight, and Jamie made sure to move Jake into the bedroom with them and lock the door. She felt oddly safe, amazed because she was sure she would be terrified.
Everything was fine, but she wasn't going to be caught off-guard again. The cops had found the other guy involved in the burglaries in their neighborhood, thanks to Alex catching the first one and holding him until the cops could get there. She fell asleep easily as she curved her body against Alex’s.
He was gone when she woke the next morning, but there was a note on the counter that said he felt better leaving her with the alarm working. He told her to sleep in and head to the office whenever she felt ready.
After a quick shower and two pieces of toast, she was on her way to the office. The sun was finally out and shining, though it was still freezing, which was rather expected for mid-February.
"Valentine’s Day tomorrow," she grumbled as she parked in the garage. She needed to get Alex something for the holiday, but the man needed nothing. Christmas had been a pain in the butt, trying to figure out what to get him. She had finally settled on something sentimental rather than something expensive, but she was out of ideas for Valentine’s.
She would have to ask some of the girls in the office what they were getting their guys. It would have been great to bounce ideas
off of Gina, but...
Sadness rolled over her as she took the elevator up to their floor and walked out to find Gina's desk empty and Alex's door closed. They would need to get a temp to fill the position until they could hire someone.
She knocked on Alex’s door and popped her head in. “I’m home, sweetie.” She grinned as she caught him standing by one of the large windows looking out, a stack of files in one hand.
He smiled when he saw her. “Good to see you, Ms. Connors.”
Jamie’s gaze went instantly to the couch in his office. One of his lawyers sat there, a surprised look on his face.
“Oh! Hello!” She cleared her throat, trying to ignore the burn creeping up her neck and face. “If you need anything, Mr. Reid, just, uh, let me know.”
“Thank you.”
She nodded and quickly closed the door and headed to her office. She grinned. At least she hadn’t stepped in and said something dirty. She walked by Gina’s desk and sighed, hating that it sat empty and would soon be replaced with someone she didn’t know. She made her way to her office and dropped her stuff by the desk.
Mark turned from his normal position and smiled. "You doing okay?"
"Yeah. Just sad because of Gina. She was my only friend here." Jamie shrugged, not able to muster a smile or positive attitude at the thought of missing Gina. Things were going to get worse before they got better for sure.
"I'm one of your friends." Mark smiled and she couldn't help but return the gesture.
"This is true. What should I get Alex for Valentine’s?" She unwound her scarf from her neck and sat down at her desk, but kept her eyes on Mark.
"A nightie." He shrugged. "That's what I'd want."
"Really?" She glanced up as if thinking. "You think he would look better in white or red?"