Page 18 of Alluring

"I'll wait for you by the employee lounge." At the word employee, her body tensed reminding her, once again, that fraternization was against policy.

She felt him walk away and her body relaxed. That is until Steve said, "What the hell was that?"

Alexis didn't know how to answer. And that was because, she didn't know what the hell was going on, either. Jack took her out for two meals, sent her flowers, gave her a mind-blowing kiss, hired her a driver, didn't call forthreedays, and then showed up while she was at work. She didn't feel comfortable saying they were dating. This, whateverthiswas, was too new, too uncertain, but it was clear to Steve that something was going on, so she had to say something. "Um ..."

He stayed quiet while she processed her answer. Then, he wasn't quiet anymore. "Are you dating Jackson Cole?"

Alexis thought it best to say something, anything before things got out of hand. "I'm not sure what we're doing yet. It's too new, so don't say anything to anyone. Okay."

"He called you sweetheart."

She couldn't deny it, so just shrugged. "You won't say anything?" She waited a few beats for him to respond. When he didn't, she said, "Right?"

"Yeah, yeah," Steve said seeming to come out of his stupor. "Don't worry, I've got your back."

Alexis gave him a nod. "I should get these drinks delivered. People are going to wonder what happened to me." She picked up her tray and turned to leave.

"Hey, Alexis."

She looked back over her shoulder, "Yes."

"Whatever might be happening, it couldn't be happening to a nicer person. I'm happy for you."

She gave him a soft smile. "Thanks, Steve."

Alexis came out of the employee lounge and spotted Jack leaning against a nearby wall. A cocktail waitress who from the back looked like Erica, was talking to him. His eyes were on her, but he looked bored.

He must have caught her movement out of the corner of his eye, because when she came into view, his head raised and his eyes locked with hers. He stood from the wall, said something to the person talking to him, and started toward her.

The person turned, and to her chagrin, itwasErica. Great. What was she going to do? Jack was headed straight for her, and he wasn't shy about PDA. Erica was the last person she would want, seeing something like that. She wouldn't hesitate to start gossip, making Alexis look bad, so she could go after her position in the high roller section.

She took a step back giving Jack wide eyes and a hard stare. He seemed to get the hint because he came to stop about two feet from her, lowered his head a little, and whispered, "What?"

Speaking low herself, she said, "I don't want you doing your,Jack thing,in front of my coworkers."

She watched him shake his head, then said again, sounding slightly bemused, "What?"

She hissed in a low voice, "You know, coming in close, hugging me, and attacking my neck."

He tipped his head back and laughed. He then, tipped it forward again, humor in his eyes, still talking low. "Attack is a rather strong word, don't you think?"

"Whatever, what I'm saying is, my coworkers can't know about us. They'll gossip. They'll think I'm sleeping my way to the top. They're already suspicious about how I got the high roller section in such a short time, this will only confirm their suspicions."

That sobered him up, quick. Anger transformed his features. "People talking shit about you?"

"It's work politics, Jack. There's always talk."

"Jealousy."

"What?" Now, it was her turn to sound bewildered.

"They're jealous. You're funny, sweet, sexy as hell, beautiful and your smile lights up a fuckin' room. They cut you down, in the only way theycancut you down, and that's by accusing you of sleeping your way to the top. It makes them look and feel better about themselves because if they admitted, you did all that on your own merit, they'd be wondering what the hell was wrong with them, and they don't want anything to be wrong with them, they want something to be wrong with you."

"Jack," Alexis said softly, unconsciously closing the distance between them. She quickly blinked her eyes, trying to dissipate the sudden moisture that formed.

"But baby, what they don't understand is, youareperfect." At the word perfect her head plopped against his chest. "Can I do my,Jack thing,now?"

Alexis giggled, her whole body shaking, but still managed to nod. Jack wrapped his arms around her and lowered his lips to her ear. "Good, 'cause there's nothing I like better, than attacking your neck."

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