Page 67 of Alluring

Alexis ran a hand over her face, wincing from the pull of the IV.

"We have to talk about what happened. Are you feeling up to it?"

Alexis gave a slight nod. "I don't remember much. I went to the gym and worked out, for a ridiculously short time," she gave him a small smile, "then wanted to see the pool. I remember looking around, saw the hall that led to the sauna, I'd never been in one and wanted to see it. I went inside. The heat was relaxing, so I laid down for a few minutes. I got too warm and I decided to leave." This was the part were her memory got fuzzy. She rubbed her head, trying to remember.

"Take your time." Jack gave her hand a squeeze.

"I remember trying to open the door, but the handle wouldn't move. I yelled and banged, but no one heard me." She remembered it getting so hot. "I started feeling dizzy and sat on the floor. The air felt cooler there so I laid down." Alexis closed her eyes. "That's the last thing I remember."

Jack recited the events that happened after he found her. "The police discovered the main unit control box on the outside of the sauna had been tampered with. The heat setting was turned up to maximum.

"I have never been so scared." Jack gripped her hand tighter, but Alexis didn't complain, the look on his face caused her greater pain. "When I was holding your limp body in my arms ... I don't think you realize what you mean to me Alexis. If I lost you, it would break me. You're my whole world."

Alexis felt tears running down her cheeks. Jack tried to sweep them away, but they kept coming. "Don't cry, sweetheart."

"I love you too, Jack. So much."

He leaned over and kissed her, gently at first, and then with more intensity. A throat clearing in the room broke them apart. When Jack leaned away, Alexis saw a doctor standing at the foot of her bed.

"Well, I guess you're feeling better," he said with a smile. "I'm Dr. Kaplan, in case you don't remember. You were pretty out of it yesterday." He picked up a chart at the end of the bed and flipped through it. "If everything checks out okay, I'll release you today, but only if you promise bed rest for at least two days. Also, you'll need to stay out of the sun for about a week. Your body will be sensitive to the heat for a while. And finally, no exercise and plenty of fluids." He looked up from the chart his eyes meeting Jacks. "There's a couple of officers outside wanting to take a statement from Miss Taft. Shall I let them in?"

Jack looked over at Alexis. "You ready for that, sweetheart?"

She gave him a nod.

"Send them in," Jack said, to the doctor.

"Jack, the doctor said two days and it's already been three."

"I'm not taking any chances with your heath, Alexis. You almost died."

They were fighting about Alexis staying in bed yet another day. She would go stir crazy. She understood she couldn't leave the hotel, knew she couldn't go outside, but she had to get out of the penthouse. She wanted to get out, walk around, go shopping. Hell she didn't care if she just stood in the lobby, as long as she was out of this room.

Alexis rolled her eyes. "I did not almost die. I've got to get out of the house. I feel like a caged animal. You of all people must know how I feel."

"Why do you say that?" Jack inquired.

"Really? Beingtoldyou had to stay in one room and that you couldn't leave. That would drive you insane. Now I've humored you for a whole extra day, warden. You have to let meout."

Jack ran his fingers through his hair. "Fine, but I'm staying with you. From now on you don't go anywhere alone until this person is caught. I mean that, Alexis. I'm not taking any more chances with your safety. I can't go through that again."

Alexis stared at Jack while she processed what he said. It wasn't that he wanted her to stay in bed because of doctor's orders. It was because he didn't want her leaving the house and getting hurt again. "I promise not to go anywhere by myself even in the hotel if that makes you feel better."

Jack gave a sharp nod. "It does. I'll assign a security guard to you, when I can't be around." Alexis started to say something, but he held up a hand. "Please don't argue with me about that."

Alexis giggled. "I was going to say, if that makes you feel better, then that's fine."

He gave her a sheepish smile. "Alright, get dressed. You've been pardoned."

"Yeah! Thank you." She popped up, gave him a quick kiss and ran to the bathroom.

"You don't know how wonderful this feels." Alexis turned her head to look over at Jack. She sat in a pedicure chair getting her toes done. Jack was in the chair next to her (not getting a pedicure) and looking bored. "You know, I'm sure I'll be perfectly fine here if you want to come back in about an hour."

He looked over at her, took her hand and gave her a kiss on her palm. "No, love. I'm not leaving you."

The nail tech sighed.

Alexis smiled on the inside. God she loved her man. "Well, what do you want to do next? Your choice."

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