Page 22 of Alluring

"I like that you're not afraid to eat real food." He leaned over and whispered in her ear. "It gives you those fantastic curves."

"Are you saying I'm fat?" She asked, teasingly.

Jack just growled in her ear, making her giggle.

Jack had a hold of her hand again as they walked out of the coffee shop. She realized, he liked touching her, and honestly, she liked being touched by him. He obviously didn't need to pay a bill, but he did leave a large tip on their table, which she thought was nice.

He guided her through the lobby, out a set of doors that led to the area where he parked his car, and stopped when they got alongside his SUV. "So what do you want to do next?"

"I have to go home. Sunday is the day I do my errands. I don't have time during the week, to get anything done."

Jack nodded his head, opened her door and told her to climb in. They were under way, when Jack asked, "What errands do you need to run?"

Without thinking, Alexis said, "I need to get groceries and my dry cleaning, then clean my apartment, and do some laundry." She didn't say anything else until they were pulling up to a supermarket by her place. "What are you doing?"

"We'regrocery shopping."

"What? No. Take me home, Jack. This is a total waste of your time."

He pulled into a parking spot before turning to her. "Any time spent with you, is never a waste of my time. Now, we're going to the market then picking up your dry cleaning. Then I'm taking you home, you will not be cleaning your apartment, and I might let you do your laundry, so long as you don't have to lug that shit anywhere. If you do, I'll call a service, and they'll come pick it up on Monday."

"I have stackables."

"Stackables?"

"It's a washer and dryer stacked on top of each other. They're inside my apartment."

"Fine you can do your laundry. And while you're doing it, we'll watch a movie, so let's not forget to buy popcorn."

He was out of the truck and opening her door before she had a chance to finish processing this latest development. "You're really bossy, you know that," she said, taking his hand and jumping out of the SUV.

He gave her his devastating grin, kissed the back of her hand, then walked her into the store all without saying a word.

* * * * *

A few hours later, the credits scrolled down the TV screen, as the movie they finally decided on (she wanted to watch a romantic comedy, he wanted to watch an action movie, they settled on a romantic adventure), came to an end. An empty popcorn bowl sat on the coffee table. Jack was stretched out on the couch, and Alexis laid mostly on Jack. He breathed in the sweet fragrance of her hair while drawing light circles on her back with the tip of his finger. He noticed the goose bumps that erupted on her arm and smiled to himself.

He heard her sigh. "Are you tired?"

"I'm always tried," she mumbled against his chest.

He wrapped his arms around her firmly, preparing, before he said, "I want you to quit your night job." He felt her body grow tight, but she wasn't struggling, yet.

"Why would you want that?"

"I don't like that you work so much. I don't like that you're always tired. And, if I'm being completely honest, which I will always be with you, I don't like that you have so little time for me."

"I can't pay the bills if I quit my job, Jack."

He tightened his hold on her, before saying, "I can help." And there it was. The struggling started. She pushed up from his chest, but he had a good hold on her waist and he wasn't letting go.

"Are you insane?" She asked, her voice raised to just under a yell. "We've know each other for about a minute. I'm not giving up my job, become dependent on you for money. What happens when you're done with this? Become bored and move on. Where does that leave me? I'll tell you. Without a job and no way to pay my bills."

He had a long way to go still before she would trust him. For the first time in his life, he rued his reputation. He wished that she could read his thoughts and know that she wasitfor him. From that first moment he held her in his arms and felt the need to protect and cherish. The jolt, he had felt in his chest, as he gazed upon her beauty was so strong it felt like a physical blow. And even now, even with her anger, he felt blessed having her in his arms.

He would get her there, even if it took a lifetime. He would prove it to her, every damn day, until she was so filled up there would be no room for doubt.

"Okay, sweetheart, It's just something I want you to think about. It would mean a lot to me, and when the day comes that I mean a lot to you, I'm hoping you'll give this to me."

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